New Camera Won't Connect to Network

[CameraHeadache]

Hi!

I have a brand new camera (opened today), model IP2M-841W that will not connect to my network...

The wifi network is dual-band which supposedly can be a problem, so I disabled the 5 GHz band. No luck.

I tried the ethernet cable option, but the light on back never turns green. However, despite that, it will (very briefly) show as connected to my router, but the IP address isn't coming from my router (I don't use the standard 192.168...).

The desktop config tool never shows the camera, and if I go the Ethernet setup option via Android, it gets stuck on the network selection (won't let me choose the network and so I can't advance to the next screen).

Weirdly, this is my 2nd Amcrest camera. The first connected without issue and worked for about 10 months. Then suddenly, I couldn't connect. I went through the tech support # and they had me send it back for a replacement. Since I have the same issue with a new camera, seems like the issue is network related.

Anyone have any suggestions?

[CameraHeadache]

I forgot to add that the light on the back generally stays red. Occasionally for variety, it will be an orange color.

[Revo2Maxx]

Hello and Welcome to the Forum...

Sorry your having some issue with your Camera and network connections...

I am not sure where you bought the Camera and I am going to guess that it is new to you and while they can look new for long time I am going to guess that the Person that owned it before or maybe someone before that used it and has set it for a StatiC IP... SO

First thing I would do...

There is a LED.. That LED is also a Reset Button... There you will have to PRESS and hold it until it Resets the camera this might take 20 or 30 seconds but last one I did was about 10...

Connect camera to your Network ViA cable, Put power to Camera, wait for camera to Cycle, once that is done pickup camera PRESS and HOLD LED in you will feel it becoming a switch hold until camera resets... Once all that is done you will have to setup on what ever IP your router gives it so check back there in a minute or 2 after reset...

Then once you do that you can do the Setup on your phone or over WebUI to setup your Wifi within the Camera. I would set your Wifi and or Cable Ip Static to what makes you happy...

[CameraHeadache]

[/quote]

I am not sure where you bought the Camera and I am going to guess that it is new to you and while they can look new for long time I am going to guess that the Person that owned it before or maybe someone before that used it and has set it for a StatiC IP... SO

Revo2Maxx,

Thanks for the reply. I hadn't considered it might be a used camera... Purchased as new from Amcrest Direct on Amazon. Despite that your suggestion seems on point.

The IP that flashes up for the camera is 192.168.1.108, and that couldn't be assigned by my router.

To the hard reset suggestion, it doesn't seem to work. When not connected via ethernet, no amount of holding that button down will yield any response at all. However, when the ethernet cable is connected, I get two states:

Orange light - no response to pushing the button. I have to disconnect the power and reconnect to get any change.
Red light - Pushing and holding for about 10 seconds results in an audible click, then the light briefly turns to yellow, then the camera turns around, with the light going back to red.

From what I've seen online, the result from the reset button from red seems to indicate a reset, but the 192.168.1.108 IP address is still there.

From limiting searching, it seems like others have reported orange lights, but I've not seen a solution. Seems like a return is in my future...

[Revo2Maxx]

Sadly might be bad.. However before calling in for a RMA lets try something for kicks...

Bring up your Computers All Settings and then go to network, then Ethernet Properties, Internet Protocol V4 TCP/IPv4 Properties, then just above ok click on Advanced, Then Click on Add for IP address. Now insert an address something like 192.168.1.100 and subnet of 255.255.255.0 save. Then to be safe click add if your Default Gateway is missing and put your normal gateway address in there nothing new just the default of your current ... Click on ok and may or may not have to reset your computer but I would just to be safe...
Then when your system comes up you will be on your normal IP but the new one will let you after your system comes back online and your camera is connected to your router and waiting, Bring up Internet Explorer and type in the 192.168.1.108 Ip address and if the camera is able to be accessed you should be able to get into it...

[CameraHeadache]

Thanks for the alternate suggestion.

The IP change is something that I tried, also with odd results. After changing the IP address on my laptop, I was able to ping the camera successfully, but neither IE, nor Chrome could get a response. While connected like that, I also tried the Amcrest IP Config tool. With that tool, a search never returned any devices and the manual add option just returned a possibly specific, but equally possibly ambiguous, 'Failed to login'.

[Revo2Maxx]

Yes sadly this sounds like a bad camera.. If the Camera was out of warranty I would have an idea of what the issue is but seeing it is Under Warranty I would contact Amcrest and see if you can get a RMA started to get you a Replacement.. These are nice cameras, I do have a few.. Maybe if your able to I would see if your Replacement could be the 841 V3 while I don't own any myself it is the New Kid on the block and if you don't need the Alarm in and out or Audio In or out that the older one offers then v3 would be a good way to go...

[gregschief]

Hi Revo2max,

I have the same issue, old IP4m-1051b. What ideas do you have? Tried loading firmware on microsd too. No dice. I will try anything.

[Revo2Maxx]

I would double check that the cameras power supply is in good working order. It will need to be a 5vdc power supply. If there is a Micro SD card in the camera. For testing I would Remove it. Then see if it will boot up. If it don't it could be a bad Camera. my 1051 just started doing this same thing. I had it in service and I took it out of service and put a different camera in the place for now. I have not had a chance to look it over to find out what is going on. I tried to do a Reset but it fails and I no longer have access to it. I will have to get it on the Bench and see if I can get anything going with it. I have a few 841's that I had out of service for backup that I just used one of them for the time. Been sick for last few months so have not felt like doing much for my self...

[Revo2Maxx]

Well for me that didn't take long.. So what I did wrong the first time when I brought it in the house was I used the wire with a different power supply. This time I used a different wire and power supply and for me that was the issue. I didn't check 2.4 (that was where it was connected before) however I was able to connect it to 5 side seeing that was where my phone was already connected.. Sorry like I said kind of under the weather.. I will reset again and connect to 2.4 if that don't work I will report back however my guess is that my issue was a Cable issue.