I tried using it today without wifi and it did not record. I believe you have to have wifi first and then if it gets disconnected from the network it continues to record. The problem is when you unplug it and take it somewhere without wifi and then plug it in. It will not record then
I wanted to record continuously from the raw RTSP, but didn't find a project that works with my version of the cameras (and some just have incomplete instructions, like yi-hack-v3). Instead, I'm recording continuously to SD cards, which I'll copy to hard drives. Here's how I set up my Yi Home Camera 1080p cameras to record continuously- 1) Disable both "Smart Detection" (motion activation) and "Activity Detection Recording" (detecting motion in captured MP4), to capture all footage (not just clips where something happens - continuity is important for some needs) 2) Check your camera's memory card often enough to learn how much memory it will use for a given time period. 3) My Yi Home Camera 1080p cameras each use 8.2-11 MB per minute with continuous recording, one file per minute 4) That's about 14.5 GB per day (10 MB/min * 60 mins * 24 hrs) 5) I've got 128 GB cards in my cameras (118 GB reported by my Linux PC), which this version of the firmware seems happy with (version 2.1.0.0E_201809191630), so that's up to eight (8) days continuous recording time. 6) Four cameras, that's about 400 GB per week, so I'll need about 2 TB per month to archive footage. 7) To keep the cameras having as much uptime as possible, I may buy four more cards, just swap out, swap in, then copy last set at leisure. 8) This was meant to be a cheap and easy home CCTV system, cost so far has been $210 shipping incl (4 Yi cameras $130, 4 Samsung U3 EVO 100 MB/sec microSD cards $80). Archiving hard drives will be another couple hundred, plus another $80 for the ready-to-swap microSD cards. 9) Copying the cards will take around 20 minutes apiece (118 GB / 100 / 60 = 20-ish), so I'll do them while in the shower or making a meal
Thanks for sharing your setup. It seems like it is a lot of work. I use my WiFi cameras mostly for notification and I have my PoE cameras for 24/7 recording which my 2TB harddrive records up to 10 days before looping over.
The behavior of this camera has been verified. Once you set it up with an SD card; - If you lose WIFI, the camera will continue to record to the SD card and when WIFI returns you will be able to see what was recorded while no WIFI was available. AS LONG AS YOU NEVER LOSE POWER DURING THIS TIME. - If you unplug the camera at any time, when it turns back on it must connect to it's known WIFI signal or it will never start recording again until it can connect to it's known signal. I do not know why it is made this way. It seems like a universal feature among these inexpensive cameras though. I have searched high and low for an inexpensive camera that I can set up at home and then transport to a location without WIFI and have it record to an SD card... I cannot find one. They all need WIFI signals or you must buy a massively expensive security system.
LifeHackster thank you for the time you spend with these in-depth reviews. I have 2 questions -- 1. Can you truly access the camera from anywhere using the Yi app, for example if I am out of state miles away? 2 . Can the camera be set to begin recording only if motion is detected? I have suspicion a neighbor has a spare key to my apartment entering on at least one occasion when I was away., I want to set up a camera to catch him in the act. Looking forward to a review to see which portable battery packs are compatible with this camera. Subscribed!
Hello...thanks for subscribing...to answer your ?...1. Yes, you can access the camera through the app anywhere you have internet connection..either Wifi or data plan on your phone. 2. Yes the camera can be setup to record only when there is activity and also all the time if you want. You can definitely catch somebody..and if it is your neighbor, you will easily recognize him/her...as to the battery pack, I already made a video of it... ua-cam.com/video/ZLCK3-Vk9UQ/v-deo.html
I used an Anker 26800 mAh battery for one of my home Yi Cameras. Enough power for about 2.5 days. Not a lot of time. My next step is to use one of the Sealed Lead Acid Batteries SLA 12 volts (these are very cheap). I just have to figure out the best way to get USB 5 v DC from it. (My first thought was to just bust open a car utility plug USB, but apparently there are two basic methods of converting the voltage, one is cheap and inefficient, the other costs a bit more but is significantly more efficient.) A Yi on a battery with an SD card would defeat any disconnect of your electricity, internet. A good trick is to have one camera looking at another camera. Anyone messing with the first camera will be caught on the second camera. Messing with a security camera indicates criminal intent. Cover over the little blue light on the second camera. Today I plugged an SD card (64 GB, but check for your specific camera model) into one of my Yi Cameras and soon noticed a Time Scrubber Graphic along the bottom in the Full Screen Mode. There's a red-orange band starting at the time I inserted the card. It's a bit fussy, but poking the band puts it in Playback mode so I can look at recorded video. Clicking the band again brings up a time/date thing in the middle of the frame. clicking on the Fast Forward Arrows puts it back to Live. One of my cameras is looking at a hummingbird feeder. The video is normal speed, but jerky, which somehow works great for the birds because you can see the wings--to the eye these are just blurs.(Watching the video on a smartphone is a rapid battery drain) I wouldn't use one of these cameras as a dashboard camera....but I think it would do as an inexpensive rear view camera. No accidents? it'll just keep looping on the SD card. The resolution is high enough to capture a license plate and driver's face. So there are two purposes for these cameras. 1. Keeping the honest people honest. Let it be known that you have cloud based security cameras 2. Catching bad actors-- low probability but.... Hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing your setup and tips. As to dash cams, I agree of not using this as such. There are way better cameras out there that are designed to be dash cams.
WillINGo1 26800 mah for 2.5 days is it continuous recording or on motion detection ?..if I use it as dashcam on 20000mah power bank on motion detection how many days it may record considering an hour video everyday...? Pls suggest..
@@Ravikalavidh1259 It was on continuous record. I'd forgotten about this. I'd just installed a Yi on continuous, connected to an Anker 20000 for two days in my car and checking it? Yep it's dead. (It was still working when I'd taken it out of the car). What's a bit odd is that the camera was warm (it's been raining and about 60 degrees (16C)). What's in the camera that uses this much energy? (another of my seemingly endless grumblings... I just spent ten minutes looking for a USB to USBC cable to recharge it. The newer Anker 26800 will charge off my MacBook Pro power supply, but not the older (2016) Anker. And I never got around to using an SLA (sealed Lead Acid) battery, but they don't seem to be a denser (more mHh) This is a good overview www.energystoragenetworks.com/7-differences-lead-acid-lithium-ion-batteries/ There should be some 24-7 dash camera options that charge a battery while you're driving and then keep the camera operating until you next drive the car.
The 1080 version of the yi will work with any memory size microsdXC. XC = xtreme capacity, in theory it is unlimited storage up to 2tb or based on the current size available in the market. When they created the XC standard, they were trying to make it future proof. Current market maximum size is 512gb microsdXC. Very expensive and limited supply. If any phone or gadget support max 64gb microsdXC Then you can put in 128GB microsdXC or 200gb or 256gb or 512gb microsdXC. All my yi home and yi dome camera has 64gb or 128gb. My phone has 128gb. Most box say 64gb because 64gb was the common storage max at the time. Again u can google this for more information. I also used 128gb in all my dash cam. I'm sure one day they will make a new standard beyond XD for higher and faster speed and storage.
Quick question, you mention the only time you can view it life is if there is wifi or if i sign up for the cloud. Meaning if i dont have wifi at all but i can still sign up and be able to view it life right? Also do you know the cost for signing up?
In the proper setup and not the one in this video... Yes.. you can view the camera live as long as the camera is connected to WiFi and your phone is connected to the internet either via WiFi or data on your phone's plan.
@@LifeHackster thanks a lot, i think your videos are awesome! They r very helpful. I purchase the camera and it works great. One last question do you know if there is anyway that this camera can be connected to a open wifi? Meaning one that does not ask you for a password. I try but it keep saying incorrect password and there is no password.
Thank you for the informative videos. Does the motion detect still work while the camera is powered but not have access to wifi? Thank you for your help.
I am a user of this camara , let me tell you in some cases this camara doesn't support to various mobile , in term of password incorrect or you can't able to connect through wifi inspite of wifi available there . But I recommend that if it don't support in one phone then try to other phone then it definitely work .It happens to me so I recommend to all friend
Good description and info on explaining this video...I already knew the Yi cams would record video to sd cards without wifi--I have some older Dlink wifi cams and they record to a sd card and optional cloud recording and I tested this scenario 4yrs ago and the Yi cams 2mnths ago and they recorded to sd cards when wifi was disconnect or when internet went down/power outage---FYI: I have all my security cams on APC UPS 650va or 450va(which have 2.5 to 3.5hrs of power backup) so if this scenrio happens in real life I still get recordings to sd cards...I have some of my cams facing my utilily/cable boxes to capture if anyone would cut lines...I also have Arlo cams,Maximus Kuna Security Light and a Skybell HD doorbell cam which are all stricting cloud recording so its best to have both cloud and local/sd card recordings ( backups to backups😄😄👍👍)...I also know on the Yi cams that the 6secs video clips record to the cloud for free for 7days--Again good video..question were you going to make video on "Lens Distortion setting?
Yes. I agree with redundant backups if you can. I've been researching power banks last week just to power the Yi camera during outages and the Walmart brand that I got can power it for 8 hours..there is catch though which I'll say on my upcoming video. I got another backup power/charger that I'm testing right now and even the manufacturer states it can be used as a UPS for 5V or 12V cameras...so you don't have to mess with 120 volts like the traditional UPS...I'll show that on my upcoming video next week. Also, I didn't forget about the "lens distortion setting" video...I'm planning to make the video soon..probably after next week...Thanks
Hello, I have a few questions. 1) Do you have to have WI-FI to initially set it up? Or can you use it straight out of the box with never ever using wi-fi and 2) Since there's no switch on the monitor and I won't be using the app, does it default to only recording when it senses motion? Or does it default to record continuously?
1. You will need a Wifi to set it up. Any changes in the settings will need WiFi. 2. Depending on how you initially set it up...but from the factory, the camera will record continuously.
@@LifeHackster I have a health issue called Electro-hyper-Sensitivity so I have real issues when I use any wi-fi. I have my whole house hard wired with ethernet chords for this specfic reason. I saw this video and it influenced me to purchase 2 Yi 1080p Home cameras because you said they could be run without Wifi. The only problem is, to get the cameras going and set up, you have no choice but to hook it up to Wifi and once you do, regardless if you have it hooked up to the Cloud or the App or not, the cameras still continiously put out a wifi signal. How do you get around that? Is there any way to run it just off AC power and no wifi signal at all? How do you get the camera to stop emitting its own wifi signal searching for a network? I hot spotted it to my phone to set it up, but once I turn off the app, the camera stops working and continiously emits a signal searching for the wifi connection. The blue light just keeps blinking. Do you have a way around this?>
I just bought the WYZE cam but don't own a smartphone, this one seems perfect for me at night to watch my car from Vandals. I want to record on a chip to show Police to stop this madness and destroying my car. is it sold on Amazon??
You need to have a smart phone or an apple or android tablet to be able to install the camera. The micro SD card are sold at Amazon and also locally in big box stores.
are you a Filipino? btw, if you wanna save the files from the camera, do you have to take out the sd card every time you want to do it? and what is the limit for the storage? is it only up to 32GB?
very thanks. i have a quastion. 1) i will use it in place there is no signal or internet, can i use router without internet data to recording in sd card via phone ?
The Yi camera needs WiFi to initially setup and also needed to change the settings. If you are planning to record in a place without internet access, you might need to look into car dash cameras and some of them has built in WiFi that you can access through your phone. amzn.to/2fT35no
You have a talent for explaining things in a clear, precise, unambiguous manner. Thanks for the reviews. When I realized the Yi cameras used a USB/Micro cable for power, I too recognized the potential for an "off grid" application. Please let us know how that hack has worked out for you. There are Amazon reviews that make claims that the users were successfully able to use a 64GB micro SD card with thier Yi camera. Do you place any credence in those claims? I wonder if there is a hack that would allow the Yi camera to utilize a small, portable hard drive for data storage.
Thanks for the feedback...my battery powered back up Yi camera still works pretty good and I occasionally unplug it just to check it out... ua-cam.com/video/ZLCK3-Vk9UQ/v-deo.html As to the 64 GB memory card...I haven't tried it out and I'm ok with a 32 GB. The most active camera that uses it gets me 8-10 days of recording and the least active, I can get up to 2 months. My cameras only record when there is activity/motion. As to the portable hard drive, not yet, Yi home cameras are proprietary and doesn't support RTSP unlike other Wifi cameras. The only recording option at this time will be with the micro SD card or their cloud service.
The 1080 version of the yi will work with any memory size microsdXC. XC= in theory unlimited based on the current size available. Meaning if 256 micosdXC is available then it will work. If they make 512XC or 1 terribite sdXC then yes it all works. Bc the XC standard was created for up to 2tb storage. However it still limited to what is available in the market. I'm sure one day they will make a new standard beyond XC for higher and faster speed and storage.
Sir, thank you for ur informative video. I got a question? Can I pull out the micro SD card and watch the recorded video file later by inserting it into the micro SD slot of my phone? Pls, I need ur answer.
So the YI Home Camera will automatically record to the micro SD? Even if the WiFi is on and the camera is plugged in- the SD card will constantly save recorded video? thank you for this video!
I am trying to set up the camera in my studio and the WiFi Network requires a Username and Password. The camera will not connect and only wants a Password, not a username. So does this mean I will not be able to access wifi from the camera? If I just use the camera to record onto the SD card, this is fine, but the camera keeps saying "waiting to connect" over and over again. What can I do? Thank you!
Elyse Johnson Art - if the camera says waiting to connect then it is not setup yet and it will not record to the micro SD card. Type in your SSID which is your network name for your Wifi and make sure it is 2GHz..if the name of your network has 5 on it then you might have a 5GHz wifi..most newer routers will have both.
Hi, thank you for all of your help. So this morning I set up the camera in my apartment where I have WiFi. Then I plugged the camera in to an external battery and carried it to my studio where there is No Wifi. When I got to my studio, the camera was still on but the light was blinking blue and it had only recorded some of my commute and was no longer able to record any video onto the SD card. What should I do? It doesn't seem like the camera can record without WiFi
Hello Sir. I just purchased the Yi 1080p security camera on Amazon for $59 dollars which I think was kind of expensive. what do you think about the price? I have a question: Where can I purchase a longer cord that plugs into the wall outlet that's compatible with my Yi 1080p camera because I want to place the camera in my living room high up about 7 feet? Also, how can I contact the company if I want to sign up for cloud & for customer service related issues? Thank you so much. Love your videos.
The price for the camera is way cheaper than other brands like the Nest/Dropcam. Any micro USB cable will fit the Yi cameras - amzn.to/2thRUdL As to support - help.yitechnology.com/hc/en-us/categories/204669328-YI-Cloud Hopefully this helps..
Hello Sir, thanks for responding but can you post a link on where you purchased your backup battery from for your Yi home security camera? You got it from Walmart? Also, I need a link for a 32GB SD Card that I will need for my new Yi 1080p home security camera. Sorry but I'm new at this kind of stuff so I want to make sure I order the right items for my camera? Thank you so much.
The one from Walmart works but it reboots the camera when the electricity is back on. The one that I got is from Talentcell - which is perfect for the Yi camera - amzn.to/2taqxhl As for the 32 GB card..I got the cheapest at amazon - Sandisk - amzn.to/2taKtRx Hopefully this helps...
Thanks for the idea on power, good video, but the WiFi is via my phone hotspot, so when I go out, it goes with me. Then, the lack of available WiFi seems to make the YI go to 'sleep' after 1-2 hours, with no recordings (even on 24/7 continuous) slightly defeating the object of it being a security camera! It reactivates itself as soon as I return and with the WiFi hotspot switched on. It should work standalone recording to the SD card until it's full. Or I pretend it's the nineties and go out without a mobile phone.
@@LifeHackster I will :D Yes, I think the firmware has something to do with it - also YI contradict themselves regarding the WiFi. They say on the Amazon UK site an internet connection is needed "for the camera to function properly". The UK stock has the 'WiFi needed' version perhaps. Thanks for the reply :)
There is a small piece of relevant info that is not contained in the video. That is, this camera doesn't start recording without WiFi. You need a WiFi to commence recording. Thereafter the WiFi is required only for viewing. Not necessary for the entire duration. When you turn on the camera without a WiFi connection, it keeps scanning for WiFi (indicated by blinking blue LED) and does not record. So, you cannot use this camera completely without WiFi.
Thanks for the info... You are right, if the camera turns off and turns back on without WiFi, then it will not record.. it needs to have constant power..that is why on my test, I used a power bank...
Great review. Useful! I am confused about your last statement about the worst scenario: no internet, no electricity and the camera get stolen or destroyed but the information still recorded at the clouds recording storage... how the video would get to the cloud without internet?
Marcos Fioravanti - It is depending on how your internet is setup. Some internet providers sets up your modem/router with UPS, so even with electricity is out, you will still have internet for a short while. Then with the camera with its own backup battery, then it will still record until it gets destroyed. Also even if it gets destroyed, if you can get to the micro SD card, then you will be able to retrieve the footage. Hiding the camera or install it high up in a ceiling or wall that it cannot be easily reached is another option...
If you have another camera overlooking where your electrical panel and internet/cable panels are, then you can get a video of them (recording to the cloud) when they are just walking in to cut your power etc...Anyways, there is no foolproof system...NVR system can still be traced and found even if it is locked up. If people want to get to your home... statistics shows that most burglaries are opportunistic..and just by having cameras in your house (working or not) will deter most of them...I had a worst case scenario moment with Hurricane Harvey...we have to evacuate...2 hours before landfall, electricity went out which lasted for 3 days...we were not able to go home until the 3rd day..no camera or security system can prevent your house from being looted....Luckily, we have vigilant neighbors that stayed and patrolled the streets the 2 nights that electricity were out....
In the Northwest all the breaker panels are inside. Yes if someone wanted to they can attempt to snip the live power line going to the house, but thats probably gonna be the last thing theyll do before thier electrocuted.... Most people breaking in will either be stopped because you have cameras or they wouldnt care. I don't think youll have someone trying to cut power to your house in order to break in....
LifeHacker - great video on the battery backup with no wifi, however I'm confused how you are viewing the footage as a dash cam. YI get that your external battery pack is supplying the power, but how is the video being displayed on your phone? How do you have your phone or camera setup to do this? - Thanks
I wasn't viewing it from my phone at time of the test. The footage is what I got after the test when the camera was hooked back up again on WiFi. Thanks.
Thank you for this video...1 question while on detection only can i go on the app at anytime and check the house out as I wish or is it only when I'm alerted. Thank you sir
I’m assuming you are asking on the regular use like with WiFi on...yes, you can check out footage anytime. But if you are asking on if the camera is not connected to WiFi, then no.. you will not get alerts or check out the cameras footage until it is hooked up with WiFi again.
Very nice info this is what I am going to do for my car....could u pls suggest .if I use it as dash cam on motion detection(park monitoring) mode with 20000 mah power bank, considering. daily one hour recording how many days it may last ....pls suggest 🙏..as someone is puncturing tyres at night on roadside parked my car
I would go with the dash cam route with parking mode monitoring.. I did review several dashcams the last few weeks but hasn't really tested the park mode but I might in later videos.
@@LifeHackster i have seen many reviews on dash cams...maximum of them are impact sensors not motion detector..so its of no use if some one puncturing with sharp tool camera won't sense much impact to record it...so if camera records sneak peak also is mi 360 with less price in India...what's ur opinion? Kindly do videos on dash can night vision with motion detection parking monitoring..🙏
The Viofo A129 that I recently reviewed also have motion detection in parking mode not just impact sensor. I haven't tested it in the video but I did test it and it works pretty good. I'll try to do more dash cam videos in my future videos.
Hi like your video and your scenario current I'm curious does this have motion detector or just continuous recording you can't set it for one of the other can you? Thank you best wishes for happier and less crazier New Year
Life hackster, can you answer this for me. If I buy this camera can it record 24/7 in my car if I plug in into a large powerbank? Do I have to pay extra for 24/7, and how fast will the 64gb card memory use if it's used 10 hours per day?
If you have ur phone with you, your cell data carrier seamlessly kicks in and keeps the YI app recording while you drive away from ur house's wifi. Have you try using a tablet? The one without data plan.
It shouldn't matter if my data plan kicks in. The camera records independently from the phone..the phone is only used to view footage and change settings..
Good evening great video, I have a question can you show how to setup the camera for the loop recording and if the recording fill the SD card they erase automatically and start recording again? Thanks again
@@andreyfonseca8221My 1080p Dome camera accepts 4gb to 32gb.. do yourself a favor, go for the max, 32gb.. you wont regret it. Also, the Micro SD Ultras are very affordable..
Yes...usually when electricity is out... your router/modem will be out too. Companies install a backup battery for the modem/router when you have their phone service.
Any recommendation on security cams that do not use any wireless technology ? We have made a decision to not use wireless (WiFi) technology as a family and therefore use only Cat5 cables. .I do not need it to be able to send video/alerts to my phone. I only need to be able to review video if I have noticed packages missing or if something is damaged.
Wow I can’t believe 7years later I’m coming back to this video. Spent a lot of money buying top brand name dashcam and they don’t last long. But I have a bunch of of YI home security still in package didn’t use them because when Wyze came out I decided to go with them and at least 13 of wyze cam lol😂( don’t judge me) So I’m going use the YI’s as dashcam already have a back up 750w battery hooked up in my car. Let see if I can install at least 8 of those YI’s for a whole 360 in my car.
One more question my friend...upon setup do I have to do every camera individually.....i have the yi home camera family pack 4 in 1...thanks again buddy
Hi, Can xiaomi dafang camera also record without wifi? i bought it recently and sometimes it just goes offline without any problem in electricity and internet and i have to reset it.. any suggestions to fix this?
Hey, thanks for your video. It helps. But I have one more question. You did answer that it will loop if the editor card is full and for a 32gb card will may expect a 5-6days recording. So during these 5-6days, video footage will be saved as separate files or they will be only one. It will be sad that if anything happened at the end of 5-6days recording, it will be soon looped.
I have another question for you LifeHackster. I received my new Yi 1080p home security camera a few days ago. I downloaded the android mobile app and installed my new camera. Everything went fine but the Yi mobile app gave be an option to save my wi-fi password into the app? That concerned me & made me nervous. Is it safe to save my wi-fi password in the mobile app when it gave me that option? Should I save my wi-fi password or not? Any advice for my protection? Also, if I delete my Yi security camera from the mobile app can I easily re-install it back without any problems? I might have to hard reset the camera right? Thanks for the response.
I have my wifi password saved by the app since the start. It will make your next setup faster if you are going to install another camera in the future. It is your choice, you don't have to..It should be safe..Your Wifi password protects you from other people that are physically near your house so as to hook up to your internet... Deleting the camera and reinstalling it should be the same as setting up a new one. Make sure that you reset the camera first.
This is a surprisingly decent camera, i got one in the sale on Amazon, haven't fully used it properly yet but it's pretty good. I have an older pinhole camera with a mini DVR which now freezes up quite often, this YI 720p camera makes that look like a piece of junk, especially since it only cost me £20.. granted you need a fairly decent/standard smart phone as well, but still. The app is pretty good too. My only concern is that you need the app to see what's going on, hopefully support doesn't end.. what happens if you can't sign into the app anymore in future? It should work like a normal app, no sign in required.
The Yi does need a smartphone and the app to use the camera. You need to sign in to your account, that is why signing in is necessary. I only have to this one time in my iphone and the app will remember my credentials and doesn't prompt me anymore until I choose to log out.
Also, the night vision video wasn't that great though. Do you think I should choose Auto, SD or HD when I re-install my Yi camera back onto the mobile app? Also, I couldn't stop, pause, rewind, or fast forward the video while it was playing. Is that normal? Thanks.
R Luke which Yi do you have? The 1080p? Choose HD for high definition..and it doesn't have fast forward or rewind per se but you can scroll the slider left or right to get to the footage that you want to view.
Yes, you can and the hours of footage will depend on the micro SD card capacity and the amount of motion the camera has to record. I have a 16 GB on one of the Yi's and can record more than 15 days worth of footage and I also have one with a 32 GB card but only able to fit 8-9 days just because there are a lot more motion.
Hello, I have a camera exactly like this and it stopped recording voices. It records videos without sound. What should I do ? I reinstalled and it didn't help.
Hey it's a very nice camera, the the great thing is it also works without any wifi. Just complete the initial setup first. Then insert the memory card in the camera connect to power source and it will automatically record but to see the files saved without WiFi can only be viewed once the memory card is inserted into a laptop.
Thanks for that info. Do you know if you can view footage from your cell while away when not connected to wifi. If not, is there away to do this without being connected to wifi?
If you still check comments for this video...how to get timestamp on the actual videos from SD card? Timestamp is only visible on my phone during the previews.
This spy camera is the Yi camera, but is it the 720 or the 1080 one or does it matter. Because I want to buy the one that can be used with memory micro SD card, and no wifi
I own 5. After the free year they record to a 32gb chip for 6 seconds only. For longer recording you have to buy a subscription to the Yi Cloud for about US $ 149.00/year for only 15 day recordings. (you have to delete them to continue recording) $189/yr for 30 day recordings. There seems to be no way to make it record more than 6 seconds onto the chip.
You can access more recording off the chip by tapping the video. It will show a bar on bottom where you can scroll to other parts as if it had recorded full time. But on screen without tapping you get only 6 seconds.
They don't advertise it and it does record without WiFi except that you need to have WiFi to view the recordings or use Live view not unless you take the micro SD card out and view it in your computer...which will be a hassle.
Does it loop record on sd card, when it gets full deletes old stuff and goes with most recent stuff or I have to manage files, like delete every so often
Gihlbert C it does loop and you don’t have to go back and delete stuff. In my back yard it took month and a half to reach max capacity and to start looping. Front of the house maybe 3 weeks, cause it’s busy
Hello, IF I set one of these cameras up for motion detection with an SD card and no cloud would the camera still send alerts when motion is detected? Will I be able to view these remotely as the motion takes place also from my cell phone?
Yes you can...As long as you have WiFi/internet on your camera, you can access the footage from the micro SD card. It will also send you activity alerts if set up.
I just want to ask sir if what will happen if the maximum storage for micro SD has been use. Does the camera automatically delete all the files or we need to manually delete it? Thanks
Does the camera itself need the wifi? I connected it at home and plan to use it in my shop that doesnt have internet connection yet. Can i view the shop from the camera even then?
To view the camera, it needs internet connection. Setting up, changing the settings and viewing the camera needs an internet connection. It will record without WiFi if it is hooked up constantly with power (I use a power bank), then it will record footage and you can view it whenever it is connected to the internet again...
I am thinking about updating my homesec cameras to YI cameras, the only thing I would like to see is idea for setting the cameras up, like how they look installed on a home... I only see image of the cameras like on a wall but no wires.
Depending on your install...these cameras can be placed on top of a shelf...in my case..one on top of the piano and the other one on top of the console table...the wires run behind the camera and behind the shelf or table. I also have a dome camera installed in the ceiling and I drilled a hole for the USB cord to go through the attic where it is plugged in an extension cord for power.
Thank you for that, I received my 720p home camera, I have added the 32gb class 10 micro SD, where in the app can I find the recordings? I have setup so its 24\7 but cannot find anywhere where I can view the recordings from earlier today
If you are watching it in portrait mode, just tap once the footage and the bottom will switch to timeline..where you can slide left or right to view recorded footage. You can also turn it to landscape mode..clicking the expand arrows on lower right and you will see the timeline..
Yes..it has a 6 second clip recording feature but you can always install a micro SD card and you will be able to record motion events without the cloud subscription.
@@LifeHackster Thank you for your response. I have a further question. If I am not using Yi app, how could I get the notification via my phone? For instance, when I use google nest, I have to use nest app in order to get notifications if someone is around my house.
I have an old PC "Vista" can I use this with it to view my street in front of my home??? for my need is it better with a dashcam in my house looking out at my car or this camera ?
Ok. I deleted the Yi camera from the mobile app and now I want to re-install it back onto the mobile app but this time I will not save my Wi-Fi password on the mobile app. Hopefully I have the option again not to save my Wi-Fi password to the mobile app. I want to start fresh again installing everything. I might I have to uninstall the mobile app and re-install the app so it will forget my previous option to save my Wi-Fi password. Thanks again for the quick response.
Hello sir I'm from Philippines 🇵🇭 I buy yi dome soon but I have a question, if my sdcard is full of recordings how to erase the files? Need to out from camera or we have delete option on yi apps? Thanks a lot :)
I've had a set of YI cameras for 9 months. For no reason, they stopped working at 6 months and again 3 months later. This time it's a dead end. I reinstalled the App and tried to log in. It didn't recognize me. I went online. Their website is a mess. One camera just keeps saying "Waiting to Connect" It will not record to the SD Card. But it will keep saying, "Waiting..." Another camera that I didn't try to re-log into is still recording. It's got the wrong date and time...but it might help. Yi's website is a pain to use, doesn't seem to be anything except confusing. My search for reliable functional security cameras continues. And because I unplugged the camera it appears that it will no longer record. AND they cannot work looking through a window at night. I glued a black rubber O-ring to the lens surround to block out the reflection of the infrared lights. Absolutely did not work. Even at an angle, the lights still reflect back into the lens.
I still use my Yi cameras that I have reviewed since the start of this channel. I haven't even replaced my micro SD cards. I have set it to record when there is activity though. Anyways, contact their support and see if they can help -> help.yitechnology.com/hc/en-us As to cameras working through a window, any camera that has a IR LED on at night will cause a glare. The only option is to turn off night vision (IR LEDs) and use outdoor lighting so that the camera can detect, see and record motion. I will be doing a video about this soon.
@@LifeHackster Thanks for the video and the reply. One by one the cameras stopped connecting to the Yi App. It did this in August and I went through the steps to re-connect that camera. Also after the first micro-SD card was filled up, it refused to record anything more. I tried to reformat the card from within the App. I don't think it worked. I reinstalled the App on my iPhone, and discovered that my id/password no no longer worked. I tried resetting it through the Yi website, was emailed a link to do this. It asked for a name instead of an email address. In any case none of it worked. [This is a common problem, steps/process that are illogical or circular. Illogical: the App for ID uses an email address, the password reset uses a Full Name. Trying to use anything not an email address on the App clearly doesn't work. Also using either an email or Full Name is a serious security exposure]. Circular is the email I just received from Yi , "With respect to this issue, please reset the camera and repair the cameras to the application. Please uninstall and reinstall the application. For further assistance, please reply to the email or visit us at help.yitechnology.com/hc/en-us. " Please reply to the email is the only way out of the circle. Often this option isn't available. It's common in bureaucracies and corporations; respond with 'We'd love to hear from you' and then give the same path that led to the 'we'd love to hear from you,' auto reply. ] After my comment above, I tried putting in a fresh card, turning on the camera and letting it run a bit then taking out the card to see if anything had been recorded on the card. Nothing. I then took the one camera that seemed to still be recording to micro-SD card, pulled out the card put it in a card reader. I had been recording until about 2 days before. I reinserted the card, connected the camera to a power source and set it up. Two days later I checked it, blue light still on, no recording. The beef I have about this sort of thing is the cameras started fading off and I just added it to my list of things to do..... But then my neighbor told me about a series of car burglaries and a car theft in my small neighborhood. I should had these guys on the camera. Okay, stuff happens. So I said I'd fix the cameras and set a couple of them up in an area I'll record these crooks when they come back. But now 1) nothing works and 2) it's not at all clear why 3) there's no 'basic mode' --reset the camera, insert a card and let it run and 4) are we not all sick of having to endlessly find new ways to fix the same problem that should either not happen or have a clear path to solving? The reason we are all here watching your video (thank you) is the company selling this product has a dysfunctional website.
Is there anything you have to do to turn on recording once you place the SD card in? Also, can you access the SD card recordings thru app or do you have to take out the physical card and use a reader? Thanks!
The camera will default to recording on motion..as long as there is continuous power even when WiFi is out. You can access the footage through the app when WiFi is restored and if not, you have to physically remove the card and view them in your computer.
@@LifeHackster when the recordings have reached the capacity of the micro SD cart, will the oldest recording be erased to allow the new takes to be recorded, in a loop?
Thanks for the video. I need this one to record interviews where no WiFi is available. Two things: In continuous recording mode to the sd card, will the camera starts recording as soon as plugged into power? and will it stops recording as soon as it is disconnected from power source? The second thing is: can I view the files on a PC directly by inserting the SD card or do I need an app or software to view them? Finally, please reply with a direct link to this model or similar since the link you posted takes me t multiple models and I need this model in specific; powered by power bank and records audio/video when powered on on the sd card Thank you
I did this video last year and I don't know if Yi updated their software because a couple had made a comment that every time you plug in the camera, it will search for WiFi and will not record until it finds one...I made this video for the purpose of setting it up as a backup when the electricity and WiFi goes down. With a backup power supply, the camera will not power down and it will continue to record to the micro SD card. To answer your question, it might not work for your intended purpose.
Hi, how can i record on the SD? I put in the camera and that's it? Or i need to set something on the settings? And if i want to see the recordings, i should put the sd on my pc? Or i must use the app necessarily?
Just put it in the camera and by default, the camera will be recording to the micro SD card. You can pull out the SD card and use the computer to watch it but it is a lot of hassle... just use the app for that.
Hi, as I work I need to view my child with helper through my phone. Can this be done without WiFi? As some helpers here in Hong Kong disconnect wifi intentionally
No. The camera needs WiFi so that you can connect to it to use live view or access the recordings. The camera will still record to the micro SD card though but you just cannot access it via your phone until it is connected back to WiFi.
I tried using it today without wifi and it did not record. I believe you have to have wifi first and then if it gets disconnected from the network it continues to record. The problem is when you unplug it and take it somewhere without wifi and then plug it in. It will not record then
It happens the same for me
I wanted to record continuously from the raw RTSP, but didn't find a project that works with my version of the cameras (and some just have incomplete instructions, like yi-hack-v3). Instead, I'm recording continuously to SD cards, which I'll copy to hard drives.
Here's how I set up my Yi Home Camera 1080p cameras to record continuously-
1) Disable both "Smart Detection" (motion activation) and "Activity Detection Recording" (detecting motion in captured MP4), to capture all footage (not just clips where something happens - continuity is important for some needs)
2) Check your camera's memory card often enough to learn how much memory it will use for a given time period.
3) My Yi Home Camera 1080p cameras each use 8.2-11 MB per minute with continuous recording, one file per minute
4) That's about 14.5 GB per day (10 MB/min * 60 mins * 24 hrs)
5) I've got 128 GB cards in my cameras (118 GB reported by my Linux PC), which this version of the firmware seems happy with (version 2.1.0.0E_201809191630), so that's up to eight (8) days continuous recording time.
6) Four cameras, that's about 400 GB per week, so I'll need about 2 TB per month to archive footage.
7) To keep the cameras having as much uptime as possible, I may buy four more cards, just swap out, swap in, then copy last set at leisure.
8) This was meant to be a cheap and easy home CCTV system, cost so far has been $210 shipping incl (4 Yi cameras $130, 4 Samsung U3 EVO 100 MB/sec microSD cards $80). Archiving hard drives will be another couple hundred, plus another $80 for the ready-to-swap microSD cards.
9) Copying the cards will take around 20 minutes apiece (118 GB / 100 / 60 = 20-ish), so I'll do them while in the shower or making a meal
Thanks for sharing your setup. It seems like it is a lot of work. I use my WiFi cameras mostly for notification and I have my PoE cameras for 24/7 recording which my 2TB harddrive records up to 10 days before looping over.
The behavior of this camera has been verified. Once you set it up with an SD card;
- If you lose WIFI, the camera will continue to record to the SD card and when WIFI returns you will be able to see what was recorded while no WIFI was available. AS LONG AS YOU NEVER LOSE POWER DURING THIS TIME.
- If you unplug the camera at any time, when it turns back on it must connect to it's known WIFI signal or it will never start recording again until it can connect to it's known signal.
I do not know why it is made this way. It seems like a universal feature among these inexpensive cameras though. I have searched high and low for an inexpensive camera that I can set up at home and then transport to a location without WIFI and have it record to an SD card... I cannot find one. They all need WIFI signals or you must buy a massively expensive security system.
Ikr, they just gotta get into all our business
Maybe its because of security reasons 🙂
LifeHackster thank you for the time you spend with these in-depth reviews. I have 2 questions -- 1. Can you truly access the camera from anywhere using the Yi app, for example if I am out of state miles away? 2 . Can the camera be set to begin recording only if motion is detected? I have suspicion a neighbor has a spare key to my apartment entering on at least one occasion when I was away., I want to set up a camera to catch him in the act. Looking forward to a review to see which portable battery packs are compatible with this camera. Subscribed!
Hello...thanks for subscribing...to answer your ?...1. Yes, you can access the camera through the app anywhere you have internet connection..either Wifi or data plan on your phone. 2. Yes the camera can be setup to record only when there is activity and also all the time if you want. You can definitely catch somebody..and if it is your neighbor, you will easily recognize him/her...as to the battery pack, I already made a video of it... ua-cam.com/video/ZLCK3-Vk9UQ/v-deo.html
Hello, can you schedule recoding, like for example.. Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm?
You can schedule when you will receive notifications of motion, but that's it. Would appreciate a subscribe!
We’re can I get this camera thanks
I used an Anker 26800 mAh battery for one of my home Yi Cameras. Enough power for about 2.5 days. Not a lot of time. My next step is to use one of the Sealed Lead Acid Batteries SLA 12 volts (these are very cheap). I just have to figure out the best way to get USB 5 v DC from it. (My first thought was to just bust open a car utility plug USB, but apparently there are two basic methods of converting the voltage, one is cheap and inefficient, the other costs a bit more but is significantly more efficient.) A Yi on a battery with an SD card would defeat any disconnect of your electricity, internet. A good trick is to have one camera looking at another camera. Anyone messing with the first camera will be caught on the second camera. Messing with a security camera indicates criminal intent. Cover over the little blue light on the second camera.
Today I plugged an SD card (64 GB, but check for your specific camera model) into one of my Yi Cameras and soon noticed a Time Scrubber Graphic along the bottom in the Full Screen Mode. There's a red-orange band starting at the time I inserted the card. It's a bit fussy, but poking the band puts it in Playback mode so I can look at recorded video. Clicking the band again brings up a time/date thing in the middle of the frame. clicking on the Fast Forward Arrows puts it back to Live.
One of my cameras is looking at a hummingbird feeder. The video is normal speed, but jerky, which somehow works great for the birds because you can see the wings--to the eye these are just blurs.(Watching the video on a smartphone is a rapid battery drain)
I wouldn't use one of these cameras as a dashboard camera....but I think it would do as an inexpensive rear view camera. No accidents? it'll just keep looping on the SD card. The resolution is high enough to capture a license plate and driver's face.
So there are two purposes for these cameras. 1. Keeping the honest people honest. Let it be known that you have cloud based security cameras 2. Catching bad actors-- low probability but.... Hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing your setup and tips. As to dash cams, I agree of not using this as such. There are way better cameras out there that are designed to be dash cams.
WillINGo1 26800 mah for 2.5 days is it continuous recording or on motion detection ?..if I use it as dashcam on 20000mah power bank on motion detection how many days it may record considering an hour video everyday...? Pls suggest..
@@Ravikalavidh1259 It was on continuous record. I'd forgotten about this. I'd just installed a Yi on continuous, connected to an Anker 20000 for two days in my car and checking it? Yep it's dead. (It was still working when I'd taken it out of the car).
What's a bit odd is that the camera was warm (it's been raining and about 60 degrees (16C)). What's in the camera that uses this much energy? (another of my seemingly endless grumblings... I just spent ten minutes looking for a USB to USBC cable to recharge it. The newer Anker 26800 will charge off my MacBook Pro power supply, but not the older (2016) Anker. And I never got around to using an SLA (sealed Lead Acid) battery, but they don't seem to be a denser (more mHh) This is a good overview www.energystoragenetworks.com/7-differences-lead-acid-lithium-ion-batteries/
There should be some 24-7 dash camera options that charge a battery while you're driving and then keep the camera operating until you next drive the car.
The 1080 version of the yi will work with any memory size microsdXC. XC = xtreme capacity, in theory it is unlimited storage up to 2tb or based on the current size available in the market. When they created the XC standard, they were trying to make it future proof. Current market maximum size is 512gb microsdXC. Very expensive and limited supply.
If any phone or gadget support max 64gb microsdXC Then you can put in 128GB microsdXC or 200gb or 256gb or 512gb microsdXC. All my yi home and yi dome camera has 64gb or 128gb. My phone has 128gb. Most box say 64gb because 64gb was the common storage max at the time. Again u can google this for more information.
I also used 128gb in all my dash cam.
I'm sure one day they will make a new standard beyond XD for higher and faster speed and storage.
Thanks for the info..I might need to try it out.
Quick question, you mention the only time you can view it life is if there is wifi or if i sign up for the cloud. Meaning if i dont have wifi at all but i can still sign up and be able to view it life right? Also do you know the cost for signing up?
In the proper setup and not the one in this video... Yes.. you can view the camera live as long as the camera is connected to WiFi and your phone is connected to the internet either via WiFi or data on your phone's plan.
@@LifeHackster thanks a lot, i think your videos are awesome! They r very helpful. I purchase the camera and it works great. One last question do you know if there is anyway that this camera can be connected to a open wifi? Meaning one that does not ask you for a password. I try but it keep saying incorrect password and there is no password.
Thank you for the informative videos. Does the motion detect still work while the camera is powered but not have access to wifi? Thank you for your help.
I am a user of this camara , let me tell you in some cases this camara doesn't support to various mobile , in term of password incorrect or you can't able to connect through wifi inspite of wifi available there .
But I recommend that if it don't support in one phone then try to other phone then it definitely work .It happens to me so I recommend to all friend
Good description and info on explaining this video...I already knew the Yi cams would record video to sd cards without wifi--I have some older Dlink wifi cams and they record to a sd card and optional cloud recording and I tested this scenario 4yrs ago and the Yi cams 2mnths ago and they recorded to sd cards when wifi was disconnect or when internet went down/power outage---FYI: I have all my security cams on APC UPS 650va or 450va(which have 2.5 to 3.5hrs of power backup) so if this scenrio happens in real life I still get recordings to sd cards...I have some of my cams facing my utilily/cable boxes to capture if anyone would cut lines...I also have Arlo cams,Maximus Kuna Security Light and a Skybell HD doorbell cam which are all stricting cloud recording so its best to have both cloud and local/sd card recordings ( backups to backups😄😄👍👍)...I also know on the Yi cams that the 6secs video clips record to the cloud for free for 7days--Again good video..question were you going to make video on "Lens Distortion setting?
Yes. I agree with redundant backups if you can. I've been researching power banks last week just to power the Yi camera during outages and the Walmart brand that I got can power it for 8 hours..there is catch though which I'll say on my upcoming video. I got another backup power/charger that I'm testing right now and even the manufacturer states it can be used as a UPS for 5V or 12V cameras...so you don't have to mess with 120 volts like the traditional UPS...I'll show that on my upcoming video next week. Also, I didn't forget about the "lens distortion setting" video...I'm planning to make the video soon..probably after next week...Thanks
Ok...thanks..
Loved the dash cam like test. I own a food truck and would like to put cameras in there for our crew members. Thank you.
I always enjoy your videos. 😀 Nice job
Hi sir ,
Can you recommend me a new one without using WiFi ?
Hello, I have a few questions. 1) Do you have to have WI-FI to initially set it up? Or can you use it straight out of the box with never ever using wi-fi and 2) Since there's no switch on the monitor and I won't be using the app, does it default to only recording when it senses motion? Or does it default to record continuously?
1. You will need a Wifi to set it up. Any changes in the settings will need WiFi. 2. Depending on how you initially set it up...but from the factory, the camera will record continuously.
What if you chose to connect it to wifi and then suddenly the power gets cut off, will the camera automatically save the video to sd card?
@@LifeHackster I have a health issue called Electro-hyper-Sensitivity so I have real issues when I use any wi-fi. I have my whole house hard wired with ethernet chords for this specfic reason.
I saw this video and it influenced me to purchase 2 Yi 1080p Home cameras because you said they could be run without Wifi. The only problem is, to get the cameras going and set up, you have no choice but to hook it up to Wifi and once you do, regardless if you have it hooked up to the Cloud or the App or not, the cameras still continiously put out a wifi signal. How do you get around that? Is there any way to run it just off AC power and no wifi signal at all? How do you get the camera to stop emitting its own wifi signal searching for a network?
I hot spotted it to my phone to set it up, but once I turn off the app, the camera stops working and continiously emits a signal searching for the wifi connection. The blue light just keeps blinking. Do you have a way around this?>
I just bought the WYZE cam but don't own a smartphone, this one seems perfect for me at night to watch my car from Vandals. I want to record on a chip to show Police to stop this madness and destroying my car. is it sold on Amazon??
You need to have a smart phone or an apple or android tablet to be able to install the camera. The micro SD card are sold at Amazon and also locally in big box stores.
Great video! But does it record continously or it records when there motion?
How long can it last on your small power bank? A day?
About 8-10 hours.
You can select if you want continuous or during motion only... power bank last for 8-10 hours motion only recording.
@@LifeHackster Where would one find the settings for continuous or motion only recording? Very nice video by the way.
are you a Filipino? btw, if you wanna save the files from the camera, do you have to take out the sd card every time you want to do it? and what is the limit for the storage? is it only up to 32GB?
very thanks. i have a quastion. 1) i will use it in place there is no signal or internet, can i use router without internet data to recording in sd card via phone ?
The Yi camera needs WiFi to initially setup and also needed to change the settings. If you are planning to record in a place without internet access, you might need to look into car dash cameras and some of them has built in WiFi that you can access through your phone. amzn.to/2fT35no
You have a talent for explaining things in a clear, precise, unambiguous manner. Thanks for the reviews.
When I realized the Yi cameras used a USB/Micro cable for power, I too recognized the potential for an "off grid" application. Please let us know how that hack has worked out for you.
There are Amazon reviews that make claims that the users were successfully able to use a 64GB micro SD card with thier Yi camera. Do you place any credence in those claims? I wonder if there is a hack that would allow the Yi camera to utilize a small, portable hard drive for data storage.
Thanks for the feedback...my battery powered back up Yi camera still works pretty good and I occasionally unplug it just to check it out...
ua-cam.com/video/ZLCK3-Vk9UQ/v-deo.html
As to the 64 GB memory card...I haven't tried it out and I'm ok with a 32 GB. The most active camera that uses it gets me 8-10 days of recording and the least active, I can get up to 2 months. My cameras only record when there is activity/motion. As to the portable hard drive, not yet, Yi home cameras are proprietary and doesn't support RTSP unlike other Wifi cameras. The only recording option at this time will be with the micro SD card or their cloud service.
I agree! thanks!
I agree. That's why i subscribe him
The 1080 version of the yi will work with any memory size microsdXC. XC= in theory unlimited based on the current size available. Meaning if 256 micosdXC is available then it will work. If they make 512XC or 1 terribite sdXC then yes it all works. Bc the XC standard was created for up to 2tb storage. However it still limited to what is available in the market. I'm sure one day they will make a new standard beyond XC for higher and faster speed and storage.
Sir, thank you for ur informative video. I got a question? Can I pull out the micro SD card and watch the recorded video file later by inserting it into the micro SD slot of my phone? Pls, I need ur answer.
saikat barua no
So the YI Home Camera will automatically record to the micro SD? Even if the WiFi is on and the camera is plugged in- the SD card will constantly save recorded video?
thank you for this video!
Yes..the camera will record by default on the micro SD card.
I am trying to set up the camera in my studio and the WiFi Network requires a
Username and Password. The camera will not connect and only wants a Password, not a username. So does this mean I will not be able to access wifi from the camera?
If I just use the camera to record onto the SD card, this is fine, but the camera keeps saying "waiting to connect" over and over again. What can I do?
Thank you!
Elyse Johnson Art - if the camera says waiting to connect then it is not setup yet and it will not record to the micro SD card. Type in your SSID which is your network name for your Wifi and make sure it is 2GHz..if the name of your network has 5 on it then you might have a 5GHz wifi..most newer routers will have both.
Hi, thank you for all of your help. So this morning I set up the camera in my apartment where I have WiFi. Then I plugged the camera in to an external battery and carried it to my studio where there is No Wifi. When I got to my studio, the camera was still on but the light was blinking blue and it had only recorded some of my commute and was no longer able to record any video onto the SD card. What should I do? It doesn't seem like the camera can record without WiFi
I haven't experienced that but I searched the "blinking blue light" and try these out: www.yitechnology.com/support/answer/id/17/tid/0/qid/14/oid/file
Hello Sir. I just purchased the Yi 1080p security camera on Amazon for $59 dollars which I think was kind of expensive. what do you think about the price? I have a question: Where can I purchase a longer cord that plugs into the wall outlet that's compatible with my Yi 1080p camera because I want to place the camera in my living room high up about 7 feet? Also, how can I contact the company if I want to sign up for cloud & for customer service related issues? Thank you so much. Love your videos.
The price for the camera is way cheaper than other brands like the Nest/Dropcam. Any micro USB cable will fit the Yi cameras - amzn.to/2thRUdL
As to support - help.yitechnology.com/hc/en-us/categories/204669328-YI-Cloud
Hopefully this helps..
Hello Sir, thanks for responding but can you post a link on where you purchased your backup battery from for your Yi home security camera? You got it from Walmart? Also, I need a link for a 32GB SD Card that I will need for my new Yi 1080p home security camera. Sorry but I'm new at this kind of stuff so I want to make sure I order the right items for my camera? Thank you so much.
The one from Walmart works but it reboots the camera when the electricity is back on. The one that I got is from Talentcell - which is perfect for the Yi camera - amzn.to/2taqxhl
As for the 32 GB card..I got the cheapest at amazon - Sandisk - amzn.to/2taKtRx
Hopefully this helps...
Thanks for the idea on power, good video, but the WiFi is via my phone hotspot, so when I go out, it goes with me. Then, the lack of available WiFi seems to make the YI go to 'sleep' after 1-2 hours, with no recordings (even on 24/7 continuous) slightly defeating the object of it being a security camera! It reactivates itself as soon as I return and with the WiFi hotspot switched on. It should work standalone recording to the SD card until it's full. Or I pretend it's the nineties and go out without a mobile phone.
Lol..just pretend it is still in the nineties:) ...but they might have updated their firmware since this video.. I have to test this again..
@@LifeHackster I will :D Yes, I think the firmware has something to do with it - also YI contradict themselves regarding the WiFi. They say on the Amazon UK site an internet connection is needed "for the camera to function properly". The UK stock has the 'WiFi needed' version perhaps. Thanks for the reply :)
Hello, great video!
Do you happen to remember how much memory it takes for a hour of footage?
There is a small piece of relevant info that is not contained in the video. That is, this camera doesn't start recording without WiFi. You need a WiFi to commence recording. Thereafter the WiFi is required only for viewing. Not necessary for the entire duration. When you turn on the camera without a WiFi connection, it keeps scanning for WiFi (indicated by blinking blue LED) and does not record. So, you cannot use this camera completely without WiFi.
Thanks for the info... You are right, if the camera turns off and turns back on without WiFi, then it will not record.. it needs to have constant power..that is why on my test, I used a power bank...
Hi Lifehackster,if i turn on with wifi,then off the wifi,will it record for whole day?
Does it do loop recording? It seems a great idea to do a power bank backup while it's charged in the wall to secure a stable power source.
Yep. I just confirmed this. It's a big FAIL. Why not camera, power, card>> record video basic settings?
@@WillN2Go1 what are the options?
Great review. Useful!
I am confused about your last statement about the worst scenario: no internet, no electricity and the camera get stolen or destroyed but the information still recorded at the clouds recording storage... how the video would get to the cloud without internet?
Marcos Fioravanti - It is depending on how your internet is setup. Some internet providers sets up your modem/router with UPS, so even with electricity is out, you will still have internet for a short while. Then with the camera with its own backup battery, then it will still record until it gets destroyed. Also even if it gets destroyed, if you can get to the micro SD card, then you will be able to retrieve the footage. Hiding the camera or install it high up in a ceiling or wall that it cannot be easily reached is another option...
If you have another camera overlooking where your electrical panel and internet/cable panels are, then you can get a video of them (recording to the cloud) when they are just walking in to cut your power etc...Anyways, there is no foolproof system...NVR system can still be traced and found even if it is locked up. If people want to get to your home... statistics shows that most burglaries are opportunistic..and just by having cameras in your house (working or not) will deter most of them...I had a worst case scenario moment with Hurricane Harvey...we have to evacuate...2 hours before landfall, electricity went out which lasted for 3 days...we were not able to go home until the 3rd day..no camera or security system can prevent your house from being looted....Luckily, we have vigilant neighbors that stayed and patrolled the streets the 2 nights that electricity were out....
In the Northwest all the breaker panels are inside. Yes if someone wanted to they can attempt to snip the live power line going to the house, but thats probably gonna be the last thing theyll do before thier electrocuted.... Most people breaking in will either be stopped because you have cameras or they wouldnt care. I don't think youll have someone trying to cut power to your house in order to break in....
Hello i have a question even if no have internet or wifi and then the cctv camera its still recording or not? I hope you can answer my question😊
LifeHacker - great video on the battery backup with no wifi, however I'm confused how you are viewing the footage as a dash cam. YI get that your external battery pack is supplying the power, but how is the video being displayed on your phone? How do you have your phone or camera setup to do this? - Thanks
I wasn't viewing it from my phone at time of the test. The footage is what I got after the test when the camera was hooked back up again on WiFi. Thanks.
Thank you for this video...1 question while on detection only can i go on the app at anytime and check the house out as I wish or is it only when I'm alerted. Thank you sir
I’m assuming you are asking on the regular use like with WiFi on...yes, you can check out footage anytime. But if you are asking on if the camera is not connected to WiFi, then no.. you will not get alerts or check out the cameras footage until it is hooked up with WiFi again.
Very nice info this is what I am going to do for my car....could u pls suggest .if I use it as dash cam on motion detection(park monitoring) mode with 20000 mah power bank, considering. daily one hour recording how many days it may last ....pls suggest 🙏..as someone is puncturing tyres at night on roadside parked my car
I would go with the dash cam route with parking mode monitoring.. I did review several dashcams the last few weeks but hasn't really tested the park mode but I might in later videos.
@@LifeHackster i have seen many reviews on dash cams...maximum of them are impact sensors not motion detector..so its of no use if some one puncturing with sharp tool camera won't sense much impact to record it...so if camera records sneak peak also is mi 360 with less price in India...what's ur opinion? Kindly do videos on dash can night vision with motion detection parking monitoring..🙏
The Viofo A129 that I recently reviewed also have motion detection in parking mode not just impact sensor. I haven't tested it in the video but I did test it and it works pretty good. I'll try to do more dash cam videos in my future videos.
@@LifeHackster thank u very much🙏
how long did your 4000mah battery pack power the yi camera for, before the battery was depleted?
It can power the camera around 8 hours.
Hello, can I know the name and brand of this camera, and cost and from were can I got it? Thanks
Yi home camera at Amazon.
thanks for the video. so Yi camera doesn't have built-in battery, it's NOT cordless?
Yes, it needs to be plugged in.
Hi like your video and your scenario current I'm curious does this have motion detector or just continuous recording you can't set it for one of the other can you? Thank you best wishes for happier and less crazier New Year
Is it continuous loop recording with the SD card?
Only one question; can it record at night? I'm looking for an effective wifi-less or self-wifi camera to put in my stable
It can record at night...you need to set it up first using WiFi...
@@LifeHackster does footage stay on SD and not go anywhere?
Life hackster, can you answer this for me. If I buy this camera can it record 24/7 in my car if I plug in into a large powerbank? Do I have to pay extra for 24/7, and how fast will the 64gb card memory use if it's used 10 hours per day?
I use 2 phones + powerbank. Firstly make personal hotspot ant share wifi, second, connect your spare phone to your wifi and connect camera. Thats it,
If you have ur phone with you, your cell data carrier seamlessly kicks in and keeps the YI app recording while you drive away from ur house's wifi. Have you try using a tablet? The one without data plan.
It shouldn't matter if my data plan kicks in. The camera records independently from the phone..the phone is only used to view footage and change settings..
Well detailed and thought out review.
Thank You.
Good evening great video, I have a question can you show how to setup the camera for the loop recording and if the recording fill the SD card they erase automatically and start recording again? Thanks again
It automatically loops record which erases the old footage to record new ones.
@@LifeHackster do you know if the camera comes with a micro SD ir how much GB an sd needs to be for a 24 hours recording
@@andreyfonseca8221My 1080p Dome camera accepts 4gb to 32gb.. do yourself a favor, go for the max, 32gb.. you wont regret it. Also, the Micro SD Ultras are very affordable..
i have it but to do continuos recording need to keep the app open,if u do something else is gonna stop...What do u think?
When you toggle the "activity detection recording" to off, then the camera will record 24/7 to the micro SD card.
This works great on battery pack. I've done this around the house and on the baby stroller around the house.
Yes. My setup with the back up power supply still works without any issues.
In case somebody has already mentioned it? You need a battery backup for both the camera and Internet.
Yes...usually when electricity is out... your router/modem will be out too. Companies install a backup battery for the modem/router when you have their phone service.
so this camera can record with out wifi?
Great test idea
Thank you.
Thanks for your quick reply....you now have a new subscriber
You are welcome and thank you for subscribing.
Awesome video, how did you bring the camera with you in your car, whare do I plug it in ?
Any recommendation on security cams that do not use any wireless technology ? We have made a decision to not use wireless (WiFi) technology as a family and therefore use only Cat5 cables. .I do not need it to be able to send video/alerts to my phone. I only need to be able to review video if I have noticed packages missing or if something is damaged.
Check out my Reolink NVR camera videos..
New subscriber here and this was absolutely amazing I just ordered my YI today.🥰
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Did it record without wifi
How do you get it to record without it
@@keaonia2 just install SD card
Wow I can’t believe 7years later I’m coming back to this video. Spent a lot of money buying top brand name dashcam and they don’t last long.
But I have a bunch of of YI home security still in package didn’t use them because when Wyze came out I decided to go with them and at least 13 of wyze cam lol😂( don’t judge me)
So I’m going use the YI’s as dashcam already have a back up 750w battery hooked up in my car. Let see if I can install at least 8 of those YI’s for a whole 360 in my car.
Do any of YI cameras have motion detection or night vision ?
Gr8 vid
Do I need to carry out the full process that includes the qr code etc every time I switch on the cam
And how many hours or days of recording would a 10000 Mah battery give??
No, it shouldn't. It will power up, do self check and automatically start recording.
I haven't tested it but my setup has 3000 mAh and it lasted about 12 hours.
What security cameras is this ??
One more question my friend...upon setup do I have to do every camera individually.....i have the yi home camera family pack 4 in 1...thanks again buddy
When setting up, it needs to be every camera..just click the (+) icon to add more cameras.
What is the actual setting you're using? Can motion detected videos be saved to sd card for more than 6 seconds?
Do you know if this offline recording ability applies to all of the Yi Home cameras or just this specific model?
As far as I know, to all the Yi cameras... it records to the micro SD card and you will only use WiFi if you are accessing it from the app...
LifeHackster awesome thanks!
do all cameras record without wifi?
Hi, Can xiaomi dafang camera also record without wifi? i bought it recently and sometimes it just goes offline without any problem in electricity and internet and i have to reset it.. any suggestions to fix this?
I have no experience with a xiaomi dafang.
been looking for this for years why don't everyone think like we do
Thank you, I am not sure why your video isn't first when I type home security no wifi!
Hey, thanks for your video. It helps. But I have one more question. You did answer that it will loop if the editor card is full and for a 32gb card will may expect a 5-6days recording. So during these 5-6days, video footage will be saved as separate files or they will be only one. It will be sad that if anything happened at the end of 5-6days recording, it will be soon looped.
The footage will be on separate files and the camera will delete videos that are the oldest first.
Thanks!!
I have another question for you LifeHackster. I received my new Yi 1080p home security camera a few days ago. I downloaded the android mobile app and installed my new camera. Everything went fine but the Yi mobile app gave be an option to save my wi-fi password into the app? That concerned me & made me nervous. Is it safe to save my wi-fi password in the mobile app when it gave me that option? Should I save my wi-fi password or not? Any advice for my protection? Also, if I delete my Yi security camera from the mobile app can I easily re-install it back without any problems? I might have to hard reset the camera right? Thanks for the response.
I have my wifi password saved by the app since the start. It will make your next setup faster if you are going to install another camera in the future. It is your choice, you don't have to..It should be safe..Your Wifi password protects you from other people that are physically near your house so as to hook up to your internet...
Deleting the camera and reinstalling it should be the same as setting up a new one. Make sure that you reset the camera first.
This is a surprisingly decent camera, i got one in the sale on Amazon, haven't fully used it properly yet but it's pretty good. I have an older pinhole camera with a mini DVR which now freezes up quite often, this YI 720p camera makes that look like a piece of junk, especially since it only cost me £20.. granted you need a fairly decent/standard smart phone as well, but still.
The app is pretty good too. My only concern is that you need the app to see what's going on, hopefully support doesn't end.. what happens if you can't sign into the app anymore in future? It should work like a normal app, no sign in required.
The Yi does need a smartphone and the app to use the camera. You need to sign in to your account, that is why signing in is necessary. I only have to this one time in my iphone and the app will remember my credentials and doesn't prompt me anymore until I choose to log out.
YI has gov connections.
Also, the night vision video wasn't that great though. Do you think I should choose Auto, SD or HD when I re-install my Yi camera back onto the mobile app? Also, I couldn't stop, pause, rewind, or fast forward the video while it was playing. Is that normal? Thanks.
R Luke which Yi do you have? The 1080p? Choose HD for high definition..and it doesn't have fast forward or rewind per se but you can scroll the slider left or right to get to the footage that you want to view.
i dont have wifi can you set it up to record only when there is motion & how many hours will it hold on the sd card!
Yes, you can and the hours of footage will depend on the micro SD card capacity and the amount of motion the camera has to record. I have a 16 GB on one of the Yi's and can record more than 15 days worth of footage and I also have one with a 32 GB card but only able to fit 8-9 days just because there are a lot more motion.
Does this work for all yi cameras
Hello, I have a camera exactly like this and it stopped recording voices.
It records videos without sound. What should I do ?
I reinstalled and it didn't help.
Hey it's a very nice camera, the the great thing is it also works without any wifi. Just complete the initial setup first. Then insert the memory card in the camera connect to power source and it will automatically record but to see the files saved without WiFi can only be viewed once the memory card is inserted into a laptop.
Thanks for that info. Do you know if you can view footage from your cell while away when not connected to wifi. If not, is there away to do this without being connected to wifi?
If you still check comments for this video...how to get timestamp on the actual videos from SD card? Timestamp is only visible on my phone during the previews.
Not with the Yi here in the US... I say that because their international version seems to have it.
Ok thanks. I have the international version - does not have timestamp.
This spy camera is the Yi camera, but is it the 720 or the 1080 one or does it matter. Because I want to buy the one that can be used with memory micro SD card, and no wifi
Either one should work. If you want it as a spy camera, there are other cameras out there that specifically works without WiFi.
What other cameras work without WiFi
I love the video reviews. Thanks for sharing, have a bless day
Thank You. I appreciate it.
I own 5. After the free year they record to a 32gb chip for 6 seconds only. For longer recording you have to buy a subscription to the Yi Cloud for about US $ 149.00/year for only 15 day recordings. (you have to delete them to continue recording) $189/yr for 30 day recordings. There seems to be no way to make it record more than 6 seconds onto the chip.
You can access more recording off the chip by tapping the video. It will show a bar on bottom where you can scroll to other parts as if it had recorded full time. But on screen without tapping you get only 6 seconds.
I did that....the bar keeps jumping back to the live time. It not letting me go back to view motion at all. What am I doing wrong?
Is it possible to have it switched to the battery Bank when the power goes out but continue to draw power from the wall when there is power?
I think you found the answer ;)
How long can camera work with battery pack without connecting to power outlet? (Aproximatelly)
can this continuous recording?
Thank you, you really explain it very well and you solved a very important question for me
You are welcome.
i want to ask you if it has the option to record only when it detects motion ,without wifi ?
They don't advertise it and it does record without WiFi except that you need to have WiFi to view the recordings or use Live view not unless you take the micro SD card out and view it in your computer...which will be a hassle.
Does it loop record on sd card, when it gets full deletes old stuff and goes with most recent stuff or I have to manage files, like delete every so often
Fat Ninja same question !
Fat Ninja yeah it does i have one. I have a 32gb card in it
Gihlbert C it does loop and you don’t have to go back and delete stuff. In my back yard it took month and a half to reach max capacity and to start looping. Front of the house maybe 3 weeks, cause it’s busy
It does!
Hello, IF I set one of these cameras up for motion detection with an SD card and no cloud would the camera still send alerts when motion is detected? Will I be able to view these remotely as the motion takes place also from my cell phone?
Yes you can...As long as you have WiFi/internet on your camera, you can access the footage from the micro SD card. It will also send you activity alerts if set up.
LifeHackster my motion only records 10 sec is their a way to make it record longer on motion detect
That is just the alert notification video...let the footage end and click on "complete clip" to see the whole footage...
I just want to ask sir if what will happen if the maximum storage for micro SD has been use. Does the camera automatically delete all the files or we need to manually delete it? Thanks
The camera will automatically overwrite the old footage.. loop recording.
Thanks for the response. Another happpy subscriber of yours. 😉
Does the camera itself need the wifi? I connected it at home and plan to use it in my shop that doesnt have internet connection yet. Can i view the shop from the camera even then?
To view the camera, it needs internet connection. Setting up, changing the settings and viewing the camera needs an internet connection. It will record without WiFi if it is hooked up constantly with power (I use a power bank), then it will record footage and you can view it whenever it is connected to the internet again...
I am thinking about updating my homesec cameras to YI cameras, the only thing I would like to see is idea for setting the cameras up, like how they look installed on a home... I only see image of the cameras like on a wall but no wires.
Depending on your install...these cameras can be placed on top of a shelf...in my case..one on top of the piano and the other one on top of the console table...the wires run behind the camera and behind the shelf or table. I also have a dome camera installed in the ceiling and I drilled a hole for the USB cord to go through the attic where it is plugged in an extension cord for power.
Thank you for that, I received my 720p home camera, I have added the 32gb class 10 micro SD, where in the app can I find the recordings? I have setup so its 24\7 but cannot find anywhere where I can view the recordings from earlier today
If you are watching it in portrait mode, just tap once the footage and the bottom will switch to timeline..where you can slide left or right to view recorded footage. You can also turn it to landscape mode..clicking the expand arrows on lower right and you will see the timeline..
If I am not using the app and haven't subscribed to their cloud service, will the camera gives me a notifications if someone approach to my property?
Yes..it has a 6 second clip recording feature but you can always install a micro SD card and you will be able to record motion events without the cloud subscription.
@@LifeHackster Thank you for your response. I have a further question. If I am not using Yi app, how could I get the notification via my phone? For instance, when I use google nest, I have to use nest app in order to get notifications if someone is around my house.
Nice. Vid....what. Doorbell or. Security cam. For. A. Cabin in the. Woods...(no. Wifi)....i can plug in outlet or. Use. Battery.....thanks
hello LifeHacker does it record the sound too?
Yes, it does.
Can the camera record save on your phone without the sd card
I have an old PC "Vista" can I use this with it to view my street in front of my home??? for my need is it better with a dashcam in my house looking out at my car or this camera ?
You need to have a smart phone or a tablet to install this camera.
Your utility panel outside the house? Is this normal in the rest of the world? In the Netherlands, everything is inside the house...
Not really. Some houses have it inside too...
Ok. I deleted the Yi camera from the mobile app and now I want to re-install it back onto the mobile app but this time I will not save my Wi-Fi password on the mobile app. Hopefully I have the option again not to save my Wi-Fi password to the mobile app. I want to start fresh again installing everything. I might I have to uninstall the mobile app and re-install the app so it will forget my previous option to save my Wi-Fi password. Thanks again for the quick response.
Cool..You are welcome.
Hello sir I'm from Philippines 🇵🇭
I buy yi dome soon but I have a question, if my sdcard is full of recordings how to erase the files?
Need to out from camera or we have delete option on yi apps?
Thanks a lot :)
You don’t have to erase them. They loop over meaning old footage will automatically gets deleted to record new ones.
@@LifeHackster how long when you say old footage or old record?
It takes 3 days or more?
Thanks bro.
I've had a set of YI cameras for 9 months. For no reason, they stopped working at 6 months and again 3 months later. This time it's a dead end. I reinstalled the App and tried to log in. It didn't recognize me. I went online. Their website is a mess. One camera just keeps saying "Waiting to Connect" It will not record to the SD Card. But it will keep saying, "Waiting..." Another camera that I didn't try to re-log into is still recording. It's got the wrong date and time...but it might help. Yi's website is a pain to use, doesn't seem to be anything except confusing. My search for reliable functional security cameras continues. And because I unplugged the camera it appears that it will no longer record.
AND they cannot work looking through a window at night. I glued a black rubber O-ring to the lens surround to block out the reflection of the infrared lights. Absolutely did not work. Even at an angle, the lights still reflect back into the lens.
I still use my Yi cameras that I have reviewed since the start of this channel. I haven't even replaced my micro SD cards. I have set it to record when there is activity though. Anyways, contact their support and see if they can help -> help.yitechnology.com/hc/en-us
As to cameras working through a window, any camera that has a IR LED on at night will cause a glare. The only option is to turn off night vision (IR LEDs) and use outdoor lighting so that the camera can detect, see and record motion. I will be doing a video about this soon.
@@LifeHackster Thanks for the video and the reply. One by one the cameras stopped connecting to the Yi App. It did this in August and I went through the steps to re-connect that camera. Also after the first micro-SD card was filled up, it refused to record anything more. I tried to reformat the card from within the App. I don't think it worked. I reinstalled the App on my iPhone, and discovered that my id/password no no longer worked. I tried resetting it through the Yi website, was emailed a link to do this. It asked for a name instead of an email address. In any case none of it worked. [This is a common problem, steps/process that are illogical or circular. Illogical: the App for ID uses an email address, the password reset uses a Full Name. Trying to use anything not an email address on the App clearly doesn't work. Also using either an email or Full Name is a serious security exposure]. Circular is the email I just received from Yi , "With respect to this issue, please reset the camera and repair the cameras to the application. Please uninstall and reinstall the application. For further assistance, please reply to the email or visit us at help.yitechnology.com/hc/en-us. " Please reply to the email is the only way out of the circle. Often this option isn't available. It's common in bureaucracies and corporations; respond with 'We'd love to hear from you' and then give the same path that led to the 'we'd love to hear from you,' auto reply. ]
After my comment above, I tried putting in a fresh card, turning on the camera and letting it run a bit then taking out the card to see if anything had been recorded on the card. Nothing. I then took the one camera that seemed to still be recording to micro-SD card, pulled out the card put it in a card reader. I had been recording until about 2 days before. I reinserted the card, connected the camera to a power source and set it up. Two days later I checked it, blue light still on, no recording.
The beef I have about this sort of thing is the cameras started fading off and I just added it to my list of things to do..... But then my neighbor told me about a series of car burglaries and a car theft in my small neighborhood. I should had these guys on the camera. Okay, stuff happens. So I said I'd fix the cameras and set a couple of them up in an area I'll record these crooks when they come back. But now 1) nothing works and 2) it's not at all clear why 3) there's no 'basic mode' --reset the camera, insert a card and let it run and 4) are we not all sick of having to endlessly find new ways to fix the same problem that should either not happen or have a clear path to solving? The reason we are all here watching your video (thank you) is the company selling this product has a dysfunctional website.
Is there anything you have to do to turn on recording once you place the SD card in? Also, can you access the SD card recordings thru app or do you have to take out the physical card and use a reader? Thanks!
The camera will default to recording on motion..as long as there is continuous power even when WiFi is out. You can access the footage through the app when WiFi is restored and if not, you have to physically remove the card and view them in your computer.
@@LifeHackster when the recordings have reached the capacity of the micro SD cart, will the oldest recording be erased to allow the new takes to be recorded, in a loop?
@@LifeHackster I want to only record to the SD card, no app or wifi or cloud, it this possible?
Thanks for the video.
I need this one to record interviews where no WiFi is available. Two things:
In continuous recording mode to the sd card, will the camera starts recording as soon as plugged into power? and will it stops recording as soon as it is disconnected from power source?
The second thing is: can I view the files on a PC directly by inserting the SD card or do I need an app or software to view them?
Finally, please reply with a direct link to this model or similar since the link you posted takes me t multiple models and I need this model in specific; powered by power bank and records audio/video when powered on on the sd card
Thank you
I did this video last year and I don't know if Yi updated their software because a couple had made a comment that every time you plug in the camera, it will search for WiFi and will not record until it finds one...I made this video for the purpose of setting it up as a backup when the electricity and WiFi goes down. With a backup power supply, the camera will not power down and it will continue to record to the micro SD card. To answer your question, it might not work for your intended purpose.
Mr. Abdullah hi there. Just need to know from you, did you tried with the yi camera. Does the camera worked without wi fi?
Are dvr are the ones that dont need wifi but you can hook up to a monitor? If so how do you make them work?
Hi, how can i record on the SD? I put in the camera and that's it? Or i need to set something on the settings? And if i want to see the recordings, i should put the sd on my pc? Or i must use the app necessarily?
Just put it in the camera and by default, the camera will be recording to the micro SD card. You can pull out the SD card and use the computer to watch it but it is a lot of hassle... just use the app for that.
How can you trust it’s not connecting to the internet if it’s able to?
Hi, as I work I need to view my child with helper through my phone. Can this be done without WiFi? As some helpers here in Hong Kong disconnect wifi intentionally
No. The camera needs WiFi so that you can connect to it to use live view or access the recordings. The camera will still record to the micro SD card though but you just cannot access it via your phone until it is connected back to WiFi.
LifeHackster thank you
I
How many day's it can record.
Less than a day ~ 8-10 hours with motion only recording.