Apex and webcam control question

[wade]

So... I managed to get my Apex dashboard to display my new IP camera (FOSCAM  FI8910W).  However, it only shows a blank tile when I am not inside my network - although perhaps that is due to using my android tablet/phone and not a PC... 

 

So my question is: Can you control the pan/tilt or other functions (eg, IR nite lite) function of the foscam cameras via apex or some other mechanism?

 

I actually found a control string that reset the '0' position of the camera which is fine.

 

Because my http is redirected to my Apex, I cannot use my router to direct traffic to the camera directly.  Or maybe I haven't figured it out yet. 

 

 

[wade]

So... for some reason my Apex now always resets to the default dashboard and throws away all my changes.  @#%@#)%*@# thing.  

[DaveS]

You can't control it via the apex. Also, you will need to configure your firewall to view the camera externally or you will only get the white tile. The apex doesn't proxy the camera feed, it's just a widget that does a redirect.

[wade]

So I was just having a dense moment.  I couldn't figure out how to forward multiple ports on my router... then I noticed the "add custom service" button. Well, now I can get to both the cam and apex remotely... joyous.

 

HOWEVER.  I still can't save my dashboard.  Each time I manipulate it, save it. Then close and re-open... it is right back to default.

 

At least now I can remotely control the camera without worrying about a widget for apex that can do everything (though that would be nice).

[wade]

Turns out there is sometimes a problem with power outtages causing the unit to mess up.  I unplugged the Apex for a minute, plugged it back in and its working fine now.

 

The second recommendation was to re flash the web pages using their utility (glad I didn't need to do that, it would be a major pita).

 

 

FAIL.  It has reverted to not saving. Guess I go in and try to flash the web pages with their utility.

Edited December 15, 2013 by wade

[Origami]

 

HOWEVER.  I still can't save my dashboard.  Each time I manipulate it, save it. Then close and re-open... it is right back to default.

 

 

 

Turns out there is sometimes a problem with power outtages causing the unit to mess up.  I unplugged the Apex for a minute, plugged it back in and its working fine now.

 

The second recommendation was to re flash the web pages using their utility (glad I didn't need to do that, it would be a major pita).

 

 

FAIL.  It has reverted to not saving. Guess I go in and try to flash the web pages with their utility.

 

Please post what you find out here, Wade. I was having the same trouble with mine the other week any time that I tried to put the camera feed on the page (it seemed). I've not gone back to find out why. If re-flashing the web pages works, I'll probably have to do the same.

[wade]

I figured it out reading yesterday.  If your camera's feed string has a ? in it - it will crash their webpages (the Apex driven page).  You have to either use the user.pass@ip version or use a URL compression website like tinyurl.

 

Once I changed the string, it works just fine.  Wish they'd tell you that up front some place. I spent hours searching and only just found it by luck.

[Origami]

Are the page changes being saved now? I could get mine to display the video feed  but when I navigated away and back, the default page loaded.

[wade]

Yes. My camera is being displayed no problem, it came right up when I saved the edits to the camera widget. You are describing what I had happen to me as well.  When I tried to use the tinyurl I created, it would show the camera as it loaded for a split second, then go blank. 

 

  

Here is the string I used for my foscam in the apex widget:

 

standard http     user:passwd@URL:port/videostream.cgi       

 

 

 

http://user:passwd@URL:port/videostream.cgi

Edited December 16, 2013 by wade

[Origami]

Thanks. I'll have to try it later tonight.