Well stated.
The BBB indicates “Wyze Cam” AKA *Wyze Labs, INC"
Rated C+, 2/5 stars, 22 complaints in last year, 29 total.
File your complaint today:
https://www.bbb.org/us/wa/kirkland/profile/security-cameras/wyze-cam-1296-1000048789
Also check with your bank or credit card company. The Federal trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection. If anyone is starting a class action suit count me in. . I don’t like being ignored.
Oh, man. I haven’t set mine up, yet. I had no idea that this was devoid of all the features; continuous record, playback, motion detection. That stinks. Not looking forward to trying to mount this.
I’m sorry so many people fell for the hype. I remember when they came out with these, I was so excited b/c I’ve waited an outdoor version of the V2 for such a long time ( I own several). However, upon looking at the released specs, it was clearly not what I was anticipating. I guess I was lucky I didn’t bite.
I’ve said it since day one, people just wanted an outdoor version of the cams they already love. Everything else is just gravy.
4 hopes for the future:
1) They start focusing on what they’re good at (cheap security cameras). We don’t need anymore cheap junk on the market, if it isn’t going to work properly. I still can’t get the bulbs to work correctly (all are currently disconnected) and most of the contact sensors no longer work after replacing the battery. With these kinds of problems looming, who in their right mind would trust the security of their front door (Wyze Lock) to this ecosystem? That one baffles me.
2) They make a true outdoor alternative to the V2. Man, that would be great, right 
3) They improve the already lacking motion detection settings of the V2. (Been waiting years for that one.)
4) They quit trying to push these subscription services, to the detriment of their original product. (News flash; people bought your cameras b/c they were a cheap alternative to a real security system. You’re paid subscriptions defeat the purpose for most.) I actually have no problem with an optional service to record full-length clips and all that. But the person detection was a promised feature from the beginning.
As I said, I own several of their products. But, having been burned a couple of times already, I didn’t bite on this one. The sad thing is… the major problem with this product is the standalone battery. (You mean I can’t just leave it plugged in?) Most of the other problems might eventually get resolved through firmware updates. But to fix that will require a new product release. So here’s to hoping they work quickly on a WOC V2.
Cheers!
Ok, I’m so happy to hear it’s not just me thinking this camera is a joke. The only thing the camera is good for is a live picture. I think the base station is a joke also. I thought they did field testing so how did they not hear this with the feedback. I WANT MY MONEY BACK
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Yes, contacted tech support and still not working as promoted. Been waiting for RMA and return label ever since. . . .
I’ve filled out RMA and received reply, May take 48-72 hours, over a week ago. Good luck with getting any reply or refund. Starting legal process
It’s surprising to see how upset people can get over a $50 battery operated outdoor camera which seems to have broken some promises, according to the consensus.
All I will say is this, for the uninitiated, battery cams don’t tend to be “easy”. They can often take a bit of effort. You have a to put some work into them and even after you do, they can disappoint, especially vs. wired (power) cameras, just like wifi cameras can disappoint vs. wired (ethernet) cameras.
I know that spending money on something that doesn’t work the way we expect or was promised to us can make us bitter…because it happened to me! (See my posts mentioning Reolink Argus 2 and PTZ cameras), but this camera has been out for what, a month?, 2 months? I spent 4 times the amount of money on my 2 Reolink Argus 2 cameras (the PTZ I won in a contest) and even a year later, they are not working the way I need/want or they were promised to work. Initially, Blink XTs were a letdown for me as well and a year or so in they released incredible firmware which has since made these cameras rock solid for me. Give the company a chance to work on the software. The point is, I didn’t send them back. I didn’t ask for a refund. On one hand, it paid off because now I love my Blink XTs. On the other hand, the Reolinks still make me bitter, but there’s hope because every software release makes them a bit better.
Give them time, imho. It’s the year of COVID and everthing takes longer, no? Give them time to fix the issue OR give them time to process your RMA OR give them time to process a refund.
I had a failed microSD card and warrantied it, 24-48 hr turn around. The RMA was approved but the replacement didn’t get to me for 3 months and this was before COVID. Be patient, is my point.
I don’t know what has changed between Early Access and now but it seems something has! I too read all the good stuff and was so close to buying the camera. The only reason I didn’t is that I completely forgot and they ran out. Early Access is called that for a reason and many of us/you are beta testing these products and software. You aren’t forced to buy the camera before everyone else, you chose to do so. All early adopters should know the risk of getting tech early, those are, growing pains. If you can’t or don’t want to risk that, then wait until the device has been out for a few months and after it’s been reviewed by several outlets and lots of people and then buy it.
I feel like I’m defending the company and am sure I’ll be referred to as a fanboy by a few people after this. I really like how wyze has been present on here and how transparent they ‘try’ to be. They’ve been disruptive in offering value devices but the second they release a device that doesn’t work perfectly (for some), those vocal few get loud. 20 different posts all saying the same thing, WCO doesn’t work, is garbage, etc.
Blink, Reolink, Ring, Netgear forums are filled with unanswered posts of people complaining or making suggestions, etc. Many of them don’t listen to feature requests or provide product roadmaps to get excited about. Their users aren’t as passionate or helpful as the ones here. Support responses are extremely scripted to the point of frustration. You can almost with 98% accuracy predict the response from support being “have you tried so and so”, “ok let’s run some logs”, “ok nothing looks wrong but if you need to, go ahead and we’ll RMA” etc.
I’m only speaking out on here because I’m worried that if this is the general tone we’re going to take when providing feedback or discussing product issues, that Wyze is going to go down this road as well. Please don’t facilitate this happening.
There are much, much more diplomatic ways to discuss device/equipment issues, ask for help or even vent, if that’s what needs to be done, just do it a little nicer? And let’s do it here.
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Personally, Ours works as described. I needed one to move around outside with no wires and that could actually connect to our wireless access, unlike everything else I have that would not (outside). I do not care for the green box detection zone, I wish we had a choice to make our own decision knowing the battery will not last as long. But its been great for us and it does not pick up bugs and such which is amazing. Sorry you are not having the same experience that we are.
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Unfortunately I have to agree. My main complaint is the range from the camera to the base station. If the base station is in the middle of your house connected to your router, the camera will not reach outside. I would put a v2 outside before buying another outdoor camera. This DIY outdoor camera setup has worked great for me
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Will Allen
Awesome perspective, totally agree.
I actually bought the Early Access WCO and it works fine, for the most part. My base is really far away and my connection is 3 out of 3 bars, so connection is great.
I wish it caught the action and switched on the camera sooner. The visual detection zone thing in software is weird but workable.
One bad part is how late it sends alerts - I don’t get alerted there’s a person (me) on my front lawn until like a minute after I’m inside my house, which is way too late to catch anyone lurking around and scare off (unless they’re just hanging out). It’s actually comical how I can be seated and having a conversation with my wife and the alert comes on over my Echo speakers.
The other bad part is that the PIR is supposed to prevent leaves and non-living things from triggering the camera, but if I have the sensitivity up above 50 it goes off for my flag and any movement of leaves in the nearby bush, so I don’t know how PIR can possibly set those off. And it goes off like every two minutes. So annoying.
But as you said, it’s early access, we’re in COVD slower times, and it’s a cheap camera. I have very low expectations.
I also want to point out again that nowhere in the literature does WYZE claim this is a security camera, although their examples and language lean that way.
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Yes! I can’t even set it up now if I wanted to, because my router is upstairs, and the WYZE Cam Outdoor does not work that far away from my router/Wyze Base. How are people setting up cameras on trees outside? I can’t even get a Wyze signal downstairs.
Well. FYI. Your wifi won’t travel much more than 50ft or just a few feet outdoors with radioactive interference from the sun. But what you can do is install a wifi extender in portions of your home you want to push it. I was planning this with where I planned on putting my Outdoor cams.
Listen, it’s just that your limited by the construction of your home. The materials in the wall and other aspects of electrical interference. Even a toaster and microwave can be detrimental to wireless signal and strength.
If you have Comcast. They have pods, but theres very affordable units online from TP Link and such.
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That alert issue, seems to be a issue that you would have with any system over a internet connection. Because like emails, even if i’m very close to you, it will still traverse the world before coming to your device. That short delay is usually what causes this. Maybe a bluetooth notification instead of an application notification could solve this. But I’m no expert.
I have to agree with ROBOCAM’s post. I had reasonable expectations for this camera, and so far It’s done nothing to enhance my setup. I also feel like the money was wasted. I have not gotten any suitable results with it. My game camera is more effective and I can’t watch it live either. How about a “buyback” program…
Trying to remain hopeful…
I can accept some delay due to internet routing, except my V2 alerts are near instantaneous, as are my Ring video doorbell and path lights warnings, so I don’t think it’s that. I think the WCO is slow to issue the alert. And yes, Ring video doorbell does interpolate between object and person, so it’s not that either.
By the way, if you haven’t seen my other responses, I share your outlook on expectations here. Playing with a cheap camera and trying to see what it can do is all fun for me. This is v1 early stuff and it’s going to be imperfect, at least at first.
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- This is not how a business works who are running at a loss on these items. I’m sorry you have never worked in the world to understand the costs and dynamics of a product development cycle.
BTW I’ve worked for other companies in the field. So I speak from industry experience. Not with Wyze in any way tho.
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I love it for the purpose as I wanted it for. If I needed a trully wireless cam like you are saying. Then I would just hook up a batter pack to an existing V2 cam or Pan Cam. That’s super easy and already done.
This is also a product that is literally just launched. As a guy that has seen the shit shows behind the scenese. Could you all just calm your tits. Damn, if this is how you treat the product as a trailblazer user. THEN YOU SHOULDN"T BE A TRAILBLAZER USER. Same for Tesla drivers. You pay for these headaches. -
That’s a literal technological limit on the hardware itself and that is known industry wide. You want cheap or you want most up to date? You can’t have both.
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1.30$ service compared to 60$ a month. Is in no way a comparison as to why I avoided a company I worked for when it came to the same equipment that Wyze developed and I integrate into my home.
Along with other things. You’re just nit picking on a piece of developing equipment. Don’t buy new products if this is your perception. Not to be mean or nasty. Just being up front from someone that has decades in the field.
My unit, works fine. On the roof of our 2 story house for sunsets. I have 128gb card in it. That’s what the point of this cam was for me. Something to go on the roof to catch the sunsets so I can stream it to the tv. Which I can. Then there’s issuses with users networks. BTW Your home and your ISP’s bullshit isn’t a devices fault. Your walls might be old with unshielded copper telephone lines or some other interfering issue. It’s not always the hardware. You have to also consider boosting your wifi with repeaters. Just because you want something to do something. Doesn’t mean the underlying infrastructure is working properly and that you may not be aware of. So, for me, I picked up a range expander and BOOP still full bars as before. But I just wanted to be sure because we have 30+ devices on our wifi.
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Um. You realize Wifi won’t go that far outdoors? Right? You need a signal expander as you have to much interference outside of the house from radiation.
I can attest that this is most likely the case. And that they weren’t worked out for live use yet. Likely back end issues like the cloud usage and cleaning up the costs on storage and such. Lot’s of aspects go into this stuff for development.