TAPO C520WS Ethernet connection not possible
Hello, I've been trying in vain to connect the camera via LAN for days.
The camera was connected via WIFI before, but I want a more stable connection so I pulled a ethernet cable.
1. Press reset the camera for 10 seconds (audio signal follows)
2. Restart camera
3. Turn off the camera
4. Pull out the power plug
5. Connect LAN
6. Connect the power plug
The camera ALWAYS flashes orange and green. It is no longer in the app either. What else can I do???? It should show a steady orange light for ETH.
And yes, the LAN cable works. Tested with a ETH test device (green LEDs flash on the transmitter and receiver) and also connected a laptop (gets IP via DHCP).
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I think I narrowed the issue down.
As mentioned the cable works fine, I connected the Laptop and I get an IP from the router and I am connected to the internet.
I have about 10 Mbit/s up and downstream tested with Google and Ookla Speedtest. Also the camera work via a 2 meter LAN cable on the same port, but not on the 15 meter one.
So my assumption is at the moment that the signal is not strong enough for the IP camera to be recognized. However, this camera should only need 4mbps
Formula for bandwidth:
Bandwidth (Mbps)=Resolution (MP)×Compression Rate×Frame Rate\text{Bandwidth (Mbps)} = \text{Resolution (MP)} \times \text{Compression Rate} \times \text{Frame Rate}Bandwidth (Mbps)=Resolution (MP)×Compression Rate×Frame Rate
Using the average compression rate for H.264:
- For a low-motion environment, the compression rate might be closer to 0.1 Mbps per megapixel.
- For high-motion or complex scenes, it could go up to 0.3 Mbps per megapixel.
Calculation:
-
Low motion (0.1 Mbps per megapixel):
3.7 MP×0.1 Mbps×30 FPS=1.11 Mbps3.7 \, \text{MP} \times 0.1 \, \text{Mbps} \times 30 \, \text{FPS} = 1.11 \, \text{Mbps}3.7MP×0.1Mbps×30FPS=1.11Mbps -
High motion (0.3 Mbps per megapixel):
3.7 MP×0.3 Mbps×30 FPS=3.33 Mbps3.7 \, \text{MP} \times 0.3 \, \text{Mbps} \times 30 \, \text{FPS} = 3.33 \, \text{Mbps}3.7MP×0.3Mbps×30FPS=3.33Mbps
Conclusion:
- For low motion, the camera will need about 1.1 Mbps.
- For high motion, the camera will need about 3.3 Mbps.
Sadly no limitation in bandwidth nor ethernet cable lenght is specified. This makes the camera useless to me and I will claim a warranty refund.
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Try to factory reset the camera. How to reset my Tapo camera
Check whether the router recognizes the camera when it is plugged in, whether the camera appears in the router client list. If not, camera's ethernet cable could be defective. You may contact the retailer or the local TP-Link support to proceed with the warranty.
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I think I narrowed the issue down.
As mentioned the cable works fine, I connected the Laptop and I get an IP from the router and I am connected to the internet.
I have about 10 Mbit/s up and downstream tested with Google and Ookla Speedtest. Also the camera work via a 2 meter LAN cable on the same port, but not on the 15 meter one.
So my assumption is at the moment that the signal is not strong enough for the IP camera to be recognized. However, this camera should only need 4mbps
Formula for bandwidth:
Bandwidth (Mbps)=Resolution (MP)×Compression Rate×Frame Rate\text{Bandwidth (Mbps)} = \text{Resolution (MP)} \times \text{Compression Rate} \times \text{Frame Rate}Bandwidth (Mbps)=Resolution (MP)×Compression Rate×Frame Rate
Using the average compression rate for H.264:
- For a low-motion environment, the compression rate might be closer to 0.1 Mbps per megapixel.
- For high-motion or complex scenes, it could go up to 0.3 Mbps per megapixel.
Calculation:
-
Low motion (0.1 Mbps per megapixel):
3.7 MP×0.1 Mbps×30 FPS=1.11 Mbps3.7 \, \text{MP} \times 0.1 \, \text{Mbps} \times 30 \, \text{FPS} = 1.11 \, \text{Mbps}3.7MP×0.1Mbps×30FPS=1.11Mbps -
High motion (0.3 Mbps per megapixel):
3.7 MP×0.3 Mbps×30 FPS=3.33 Mbps3.7 \, \text{MP} \times 0.3 \, \text{Mbps} \times 30 \, \text{FPS} = 3.33 \, \text{Mbps}3.7MP×0.3Mbps×30FPS=3.33Mbps
Conclusion:
- For low motion, the camera will need about 1.1 Mbps.
- For high motion, the camera will need about 3.3 Mbps.
Sadly no limitation in bandwidth nor ethernet cable lenght is specified. This makes the camera useless to me and I will claim a warranty refund.
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Can you clarify whether the router's client list is unable to detect the camera when using different lengths of Ethernet cables?
Or is the router able to recognize the camera, but the camera's LED indicator light doesn't change, and the app configuration also doesn't succeed?
What's the type of ethernet cable you tested, especially the 15 meter one? Cat5, Cat6?
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Can you clarify whether the router's client list is unable to detect the camera when using different lengths of Ethernet cables?
Yes
Or is the router able to recognize the camera, but the camera's LED indicator light doesn't change, and the app configuration also doesn't succeed?
No - router does not find camera - lights blink orange
What's the type of ethernet cable you tested, especially the 15 meter one? Cat5, Cat6?
Cat 6
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B00ZRVGN1C
Bought a Reolink camera by now, this works as expected. Now I am using tapo for indoor and outdoor reolink
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Thank you for sharing the info. We'll report your case to the relevant team and let them test it.
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By the way, what's the model of your router? What type of LAN port does it have? 100M or 1000M port?
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@Wayne-TP I bought the camera last week it is a V1 as well
- I use Cat5 ethernet cable and patched it myself and used a cable tester.
- Camera works with wifi but signal is -50 so I wanted to use cable.
- When cable is connected to switch the camera doesnt get dhcp and disconnects even from wifi.
- I tried to use crossover connection to the cable but the effect was the same.
- I hate to reset the camera so isnt a way to fix this in the app probably the firmware doesnt allow the LAN to work if you used wifi first.
- Please advise ASAP
- Also I havent tested short cable as the camera already mounted I think my cable is about 3-4 meters,I never heard before a cable length issue unless it is over 20m-50m then you would need a switch.
- Maybe the issue is there is a voltage drop after some meters and you might need 12v
Thanks
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TapoGreece wrote
@Wayne-TP I bought the camera last week it is a V1 as well
- I use Cat5 ethernet cable and patched it myself and used a cable tester.
- Camera works with wifi but signal is -50 so I wanted to use cable.
- When cable is connected to switch the camera doesnt get dhcp and disconnects even from wifi.
- I tried to use crossover connection to the cable but the effect was the same.
- I hate to reset the camera so isnt a way to fix this in the app probably the firmware doesnt allow the LAN to work if you used wifi first.
- Please advise ASAP
- Also I havent tested short cable as the camera already mounted I think my cable is about 3-4 meters,I never heard before a cable length issue unless it is over 20m-50m then you would need a switch.
- Maybe the issue is there is a voltage drop after some meters and you might need 12v
Thanks
Did you purchase the ethernet cable online? Can you share a link here?
As this is a physical connection issue, there aren't other available methods except switching cables. It looks like this ethernet cable you used is fixed? Have you tried other cables?
Just in case, is the camera connecting to a power adapter? This isn't a POE connection attempt?
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@MoHi1234 I have the same issue...failure to connect using approximately 50' of Cat6a cable. Cable tested positive for correctly terminated wiring.
I have been unable to contact Tp-Link/Tapo to arrange a warranty return by emailing them at "support.shopus@tp-link.com". Can anyone help me with alternative contact information...does anyone have a phone number for the Warranty Service Team?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You!
oldchenm50
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