If it not connected to the base it won’t record anything . Just turn the switch off on the back of the cam.
Just an update, my base station hase not been working for 2 years now and they cant provide me with a new one since its been “out of stock” so i decided to do a bit of testing…after putting the base station in my freezer for about 15 min i plugged it back in and wouldn’t you know it works, which tells me that a component inside is over heating and shutting it down, since im never going to see a replacement i may take it apart and thermal image the circuit board to see what component it is and replace it myself…ill keep you posted on what i find.
That is interesting. There are multiple explanations and many that may not involve overheating though:
- Thermal Cycling: Electronic components sometimes benefit from a process called thermal cycling. The sudden change in temperature can cause the expansion and contraction of materials within the device, which might have helped to re-establish connections that were previously broken or compromised. This could change again over time, so keep an eye out. It could basically be that something has a short in it and thermal cycling forces it to contract and reconnect better in some way.
- Static Discharge: Electronic devices can sometimes accumulate static electricity over time, which can interfere with their functionality. The cold temperature might have caused the accumulated static charge to dissipate, allowing the hub to function properly again. I am not totally sure what to do to prevent this from recurring though. Maybe it was just bad luck and won’t happen again.
- Condensation and Moisture Removal: If the hub had accumulated moisture or condensation internally over time, the cold environment of the freezer could have temporarily solidified the moisture, preventing it from causing short circuits or other issues when the hub was powered on. It’s possible that as it warms back up and the condensation expands again, it might stop working again.
- Capacitor Revival: Electrolytic capacitors, commonly found in electronic devices, can degrade over time. The low temperature might have temporarily improved their performance, allowing the hub to function again. This effect might be temporary, but it could explain the sudden revival.
- Resetting Internal Sensors: I don’t know if the hub has this, but some devices have internal temperature sensors or other sensors that might have malfunctioned over time. Exposing the device to a drastically different temperature could have forced these sensors to reset or recalibrate, allowing the hub to start working again.
- Component Realignment: If the hub had some loose or poorly aligned components, the contraction caused by the cold temperature might have helped to realign or re-seat these components, thereby restoring proper connections and functionality.
I’m sure there are countless other explanations, but I’d love to hear more if you find any other insights. This might be something we suggest to people in the future. Thanks for sharing! That is really interesting.
What I’d like to know is what made you decide to put it in a freezer?
The base gets warm after numerous months of use if it doesn’t have good air flow The base has air vents on the side and bottom, they need free air flow. I usually turn mine of every 3-4 months, let it cool off, then blow out the vents with a low pressure air then plug back in. Back in business
I get that, my router, my external drives get hot with time and use bit it has never crossed my mind to shove them in a freezer
It is a good troubleshooting method. I have seen people squirt freon on IC chips a long time ago, to test for overheating.
I used to keep a fan on above my old Commodore floppy drive.
Basically the unit was very hot so i assumed that a capacitor on the board was getting hot, it has been non functioning for almost 2 years but i never bothered to unplug after my last wyze wizard interaction. Hot equals bad news for electronics so i threw it in my freezer to test my theory.
I just learned something new, thanks!
You may not be aware that there is a robust market for refurbished Apple devices with lives much longer than 4 years. Sadly Wyze has not made that happen for its products.
I am well aware of the quality of Apple products as I own multiple devices. I have two 2008 Mac Pro’s running Sonoma both in service as a media server and file server. You can’t compare Apple to Wyze, Apple’s products are top of the line with a price tag to match. Wyze on the other hand produces low end and low priced gadgets.
Also, refurbished products that Apple sells are less than four years old and I wasn’t referring to buying a 4 year old refurbished item, I was talking about buying 4 year old brand new item. Electronics don’t have very long shelf life.
FYI - As of today 03/12/2025, the outdoor cam base station is listed as in-stock for $9.99 in the Wyze Shop via the Wyze app. Presumed to be new since it does not state refurbished. Cables not included.