What is going on with the "Free" Cam Plus Lite

[WildBill]

@joeking23244

As soon as a company comes out with a way to have a security camera system without routing everything through their servers and rather let you store it locally people will flock to that company!

There are already several companies that do just that. I have some Amcrest cameras and an Amcrest NVR, all is local, no cloud. However, I don’t get person, pet, package and vehicle detection. At least not yet. The cameras are IP based, some POE some wifi.

[SmokeyTheBear]

Hahaha

[SmokeyTheBear]

@G.Gavaghan

The argument I keep hearing is that “Wyze never promised self-hosting”. I know. I am fully aware. My question is WHY. It is completely doable. The only thing that is required is the willingness to do it, and yes, no small amount of cash - programmers ain’t free - but neither would the software be free.

The fact that the only way to do it today is via a ‘hack’ is probably one of the big reasons that many users are not interested in it. Were there an official software for self-hosting, which integrated with the hardware at the firmware level (just like the Wyze app), this would be a non-issue, and would attract a larger percentage of the user-base. Of course that would reduce the number of users using their service, and hence their monthly income.

Sadly (IMHO), in the end it’s all about the money, not the technology (which I guess answers my question of Why). So I’m not angry at Wyze for not providing a way to self-serve. They are in business to make money after all. (I believe) It really is that simple.

I concur… WHY people don’t understand that was the norm before the clouds

[MrEngineer]

The ONLY reason why Wyze’s cameras are so inexpensive is because their new business model is to make their profit on subscriptions.

It doesn’t make a difference that “they used to do IP” because they eventually found out that selling a camera dirt cheat without a subscription was not a sustainable business model.

So, if you want an IP camera so that you can self-host, there are plenty available from other companies for more money.

[SmokeyTheBear]

@G.Gavaghan

(And if the “gamers” you hang with are sketchy about digging into their router, they are certainly not the “ardent gamers” of which glorified stories are told to children at bedtime all across the inter-webs. They just like playing video games).

The kind of cameras you remember that used to be more prominent were simply webcams. They were standalone devices with internal web servers.

True enough. (Though I don’t think that’s what ‘webcam’ means).

In the days before NAT routers were common, many were accessible publicly.

Only if you had no basic understanding of networks, or how your cameras communicated, in which case you are absolutely correct, and you probably shouldn’t be messing with that kind of thing.

They didn’t magically solve ANY of the networking and management issues involved in self hosting.

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” - Arthur C. Clarke.

I think you and I have had very different experiences setting up networks in general and self-hosting services in particular. What issues are you referring to? Configuring and securing your router and network? If you aren’t doing that already, please send me your IP. Setting up some software, maybe playing with some firmware settings? None of this is scary, and I assure you there is no magic involved. (Well maybe a little).

Lastly, I’m not trying to be a pr*ck and pick apart everyone’s posts. I am sorry if I’ve ruffled anyone’s feathers, that was not my intention. My only intention is to point out that “self-hosting” is both possible and necessary, and I congratulate Wyze for allowing the use of the alternate firmware to fulfil that need. (I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming they had a choice in the matter). I’m just asking for them to go a little bit further and supply the matching software so we don’t need 3rd party apps. I would be ever so grateful for a single-vendor solution.

Cheers

@G.Gavaghan

@Customer

They provided the RTSP firmware due to vocal minority user demand. The whole point was to get those users off their backs as they continued to develop their cloud “ecosystem”.

Hi Customer - Thank you for that information. It does make me a little more optimistic about the alternate firmware knowing they at least laid hands on it, and it isn’t just some homebrew concoction (like something I would write). (But now I feel bad for getting all up on their backs about it!)

G.Gavaghan you good sir are AWESOME and I appreciate the laughs you’ve made my day

@G.Gavaghan

@Newshound

But RTSP discussions have essentially hijacked the thread at this point, so try to stay on topic.

Excellent and accurate point. Being one of the hijackers - I apologize, both to the readers in general, and the question-asker in particular. While I do enjoy sparing with MrEngineer, I do need to make a stronger effort to stay on-topic, and not just follow the wind.

Cheers

And my opinion I would say winner of the sparring match is you good sir… great sportsmanship

[SmokeyTheBear]

I never asked you why their cameras were so inexpensive but thanks for your clarification.

Have a wonderful day

[gordonmeyer]

As an early adopter, I volunteered to pay for Cam Plus Lite after the patent fiasco. In the last several weeks tho I have discovered that not only has person detection stopped working on all of cameras, it won’t let me enable it again. Tech support just took the report and forwarded it to engineering. No resolution. No suggestions. Just silence. I’ve asked to cancel my Lite subscription and will begin dumping my dozen cameras. It was fun while it lasted.

[Newshound]

They are having Cam Plus issues ATM that they haven’t resolved yet. But they are working on it.

[Customer]

@G.Gavaghan

Hi Customer - Thank you for that information. It does make me a little more optimistic about the alternate firmware knowing they at least laid hands on it, and it isn’t just some homebrew concoction (like something I would write). (But now I feel bad for getting all up on their backs about it!)

Yes but unfortunately they neither support, maintain, nor distribute Wyze branded RTSP firmware for any of their cameras anymore. There are also independent 3rd party projects.