I just purchased an Orbi AX3000 (RBK653) mesh system. It works perfectly for all my WiFi needs except for my Amcrest cameras. Before I purchased the Orbi I made sure that it did support 2.4GHz wifi as I knew my cameras required that connection frequency. BUT.. I cannot get them to connect. I have even tried the ethernet method without success. It seems that they require a dedicated 2.4GHz network to work and there is no way to set that up (at least as far as I can figure out). So... My options are:1) Ditch the Orbi mesh and go back to a regular dual band router that has a dedicated 2.4ghz signal. I really don't want to do this as I like the Orbi and it works great. 2) Get new cameras that will work. This is the option I am leaning towards. These Amcrest units are kinda old and I am not opposed to getting newer cameras. My question is... What wireless cameras is everyone using with their Orbi mesh system? Thanks!!

The discussion was probably not clear. The goal is to get the IoT device (camera in this specific case) connected to the Orbi WiFi network. Over 90% of the time, this is totally straight-forward. Open the smartphone app, follow the directions, and "done". For those few instances where the software developer has created a requirement for the phone to be connected at 2.4G before the app will function (which should be none of their damn business!), customers need a work-around. Once the IoT device learns the Orbi SSID/password, the need for a work-around goes away. My (ancient, original) Orbi provides the ability to turn off broadcasting the WiFi SSID on the 5G WiFi, which forces smartphone to connect at 2.4G. Newer products eliminated that feature, so customers seek other alternatives. One method is to turn off the Orbi WiFi entirely and create a WiFi Hot Spot on a phone with exactly the same WiFi credentials as the Orbi. (I believe this requires two smartphones. One for the Hot Spot and one to run the smartphone app.) After the IoT device has been connected, the Hot Spot is taken down and the Orbi restarted. A WiFi Extender or access point can perform the same role, but it is more complicated. i.e. the Orbi SSID needs to be changed temporarily while the Extender broadcasts the desired WiFi SSID/password. Once the charade has accomplished the desired purpose (teaching the IoT device the WiFi credentials), the everything can go back to "normal". Whew! Sorry for the tedious explanation.

Rob6805 wrote:Ok, I figured out what was going on. The extender lost it's signal. It's connected to the main router and not the satellite. How do I get the extender to use the satellite signal? Using an extender is supposed to be a temporary fix to get the camera set up. Once the camera is learned the SSID/password of the Orbi WiFi, it should connect automatically. Have you turned off the Extender and then power cycled the camera? (WiFi devices are designed to recover after power outages. They remember only the SSID/password and search for a WiFi access point when power resumes.)

My (limited) experience with WiFi cameras has been that they are all installed the same way: the smartphone app creates a QR code containing the WiFi SSID & password(I have used a QR reader app to verify this) the camera is pointed at the QR code the camera connects to the 2.4G WiFi access point with the best signal that has those parameters In addition, my practice when replacing WiFi systems is to give the new system exactly the same WiFi SSID/password as the one being replaced so that WiFi devices connect automatically and I do not have to rush around re-configuring them. That said, I positively LOVE Wyze cameras (although my primary "security" cameras are from Reoliink). With "Internet of Things" (IoT) devices, I have come to realize that there is some logic to choosing a platform first, and buying devices which fit the platform. After about the sixth app installed on my phone to manage smart plugs, cameras, etc. I thought, "why do I have so many damn 'apps' on my phone?" Sorry to ramble on. My college football team fell in disgrace today and that has soured my mood a bit.

Hello and thank you for the reply. My issue is that when using my phone to connect the cameras to the Orbi wifi I need to be on the 2.4ghz network. How do I get my phone to use the 2.4ghz network?

I want to add the solution I came up with. First off, I tried lowering the Transmit Power Control down to 25%. I got my phone to connect to the 2.4ghz network but I still could not acquire the cameras. So...and I have read that this is what others have done. I dug up my older Netgear range extender (It's a pretty good one) and connected that to the Orbi network and configured the range extender to broadcast a 2.4ghz signal. I connected my phone to the EXT network and was able to connect the cameras without issue. This should not have to be the case. I chatted with a couple of different Orbi support agents and they are aware of the issue but there is no official work around. IMO, this is a big design flaw with the Orbi system. In that it does not support (at least not easily) legacy 2.4ghz IoT devices. I may return the Orbi at some point, but that is still open for now as it does work really well and has super fast speeds. We shall see.. Thanks!!

Amcrest Pro HD 2.4GHz camera won't connect to Orbi WiFi

11 Replies

CrimpOn
Guru
Nov 06, 2022
My (limited) experience with WiFi cameras has been that they are all installed the same way:

the smartphone app creates a QR code containing the WiFi SSID & password
(I have used a QR reader app to verify this)

the camera is pointed at the QR code

the camera connects to the 2.4G WiFi access point with the best signal that has those parameters

In addition, my practice when replacing WiFi systems is to give the new system exactly the same WiFi SSID/password as the one being replaced so that WiFi devices connect automatically and I do not have to rush around re-configuring them.

That said, I positively LOVE Wyze cameras (although my primary "security" cameras are from Reoliink).

With "Internet of Things" (IoT) devices, I have come to realize that there is some logic to choosing a platform first, and buying devices which fit the platform. After about the sixth app installed on my phone to manage smart plugs, cameras, etc. I thought, "why do I have so many damn 'apps' on my phone?"

Sorry to ramble on. My college football team fell in disgrace today and that has soured my mood a bit.
- Rob6805
  Tutor
  Nov 06, 2022
  Hello and thank you for the reply. My issue is that when using my phone to connect the cameras to the Orbi wifi I need to be on the 2.4ghz network. How do I get my phone to use the 2.4ghz network?
Rob6805
Tutor
Nov 06, 2022
I want to add the solution I came up with.

First off, I tried lowering the Transmit Power Control down to 25%. I got my phone to connect to the 2.4ghz network but I still could not acquire the cameras.

So...and I have read that this is what others have done. I dug up my older Netgear range extender (It's a pretty good one) and connected that to the Orbi network and configured the range extender to broadcast a 2.4ghz signal. I connected my phone to the EXT network and was able to connect the cameras without issue.

This should not have to be the case. I chatted with a couple of different Orbi support agents and they are aware of the issue but there is no official work around. IMO, this is a big design flaw with the Orbi system. In that it does not support (at least not easily) legacy 2.4ghz IoT devices. I may return the Orbi at some point, but that is still open for now as it does work really well and has super fast speeds. We shall see..

Thanks!!
schumaku
Guru
Nov 06, 2022
There is no technical reason (certainly not WiFi band related) why the mobile should require a current 2.4 GHz connection - there is no way to choose the client band. The cause is simple poor app design ...

I would start e.g. here https://support.amcrest.com/hc/en-us/articles/4962586306317-How-to-Connect-An-Amcrest-Smart-Home-Camera-to-the-Amcrest-View-Pro-App-Using-the-Camera-s-QR-Code-
- Rob6805
  Tutor
  Nov 06, 2022
  That is the directions I followed using the phone app. The phone needs to be on the 2.4 network to aquire the cameras.
  
  I'm kinda past this step now. I'm ok using the extender. BUT.. now there is another issuem. Ugh.. The phone app live view works perfectly while I'm connected to the home wifi. But when I'm away it doesn't. It won't connect. I'm really getting tired of this. I've had three previous "regular" routers and never had an issue with the cameras or phone app. Now with this Orbi it's a mess... Ugh.....
  - Rob6805
    Tutor
    Nov 06, 2022
    Ok, I figured out what was going on. The extender lost it's signal. It's connected to the main router and not the satellite. How do I get the extender to use the satellite signal?
CrimpOn
Guru
Nov 06, 2022
Rob6805 wrote:

My question is... What wireless cameras is everyone using with their Orbi mesh system?

Network cameras is a really complicated topic.

What do they need to view? (thus where do they need to be mounted?)

How will they be powered? (battery? solar panel? Power over Ethernet (PoE)?, USB? ordinary 120v plugin?)

Where will video files by stored? (NVR? SDCard in camera? Network cloud?)

How will video files be viewed? (smartphone app? Windows or Apple Client?)

Is there an existing Home Automation ecosystem? (Apple Home Kit? Amazon Alexa? Google Home?)

Interested in Video Doorbell? Will cameras and doorbell be on same app?

I rejected a typical NVR plus coax wire to each camera and went first with some battery powered WiFi cameras. Soon realized batteries were not my preferred solution. And, I prefer to mount cameras "under" eaves, porches, etc. Makes solar panels awkward.

Then installed some Reolink WiFi cameras, which required finding 120v outlets nearby. Holes in walls. Used smartphone app and Windows Client. Then had issues with WiFi coverage. Added access point in garage.

With the new access point, moved to PoE cameras connected to a PoE switch in the garage.

Kept "moving up" from 1024 camera, to 2MB, to 5MB, to 8MB, and now one 12MB camera (GREAT picture!)

Have several Wyze cameras now. Inexpensive. One pans & tilts to watch the cat move through the garage rafters. All USB powered. Hmmm. I actually have no cameras inside my house. All point to uninhabited spaces!

My feeling is as long as network cameras are more of a personal hobby, "Try em all!" Once other people are supposed to interact with the cameras, the ecosystem becomes more and more important.

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Amcrest Pro HD 2.4GHz camera won't connect to Orbi WiFi