Future-proofing WiFi Cameras

Dr Leonidas

I'm using two E1 Pro cameras, which are admittedly great, but I'm a bit worried about them being future-proof.
Why? Because while they are ONVIF-compliant (take that, Xiaomi!) apparently they are still utterly dependent on Reolink having up-and-running servers for configuration.
Point in case, try to set up a WiFi camera without having your phone or tablet connected to the Internet. It will fail. That's because the UID is first sent to Reolink's servers and only then the app will generate a QR code containing your WiFi parameters.
Cameras can not be set up offline: no integrated webUI, no ethernet port, nothing. If for some reason your camera is reset and the UID server dies, well congrats! Your $60 camera is now a paperweight.
So my suggestion is: as far as wifi-only cameras are concerned, couldn't you just implement a way to set up the camera completely offline? E1's upper tier is ONVIF, just give us a way to configure WiFi so we can have the desktop app take it from there (or add a configurator to the desktop app)! Otherwise, the cameras will be able to be reset from scratch just for as long as Reolink servers are up - or for as long as Reolink exists, whichever comes first.

Just integrate QR code generation into the app and bam, done. That or recycle the C1's webUI, if the E1's onboard storage allows. After some research, I noticed the Argus line can be configured via the Reolink Desktop App (which can apparently in turn generate a configuration QR code!), can't the same happen for E1?

Cynthia

The camera E1 Pro support both UID mode login and the IP address login (via Reolink Client/App)
For the initial setting up, the camera need to scan a QR code to connect to a WIFI.
But actually the camera can be configured without connecting to Reolink server.
Here is the way to do that:
1. When you set up the camera, the App will generate a QR code for the camera to scan, but actually, you can generate that QR code via other tools instead of the Reolink App, for example (https://www.qr-code-generator.com/)
The QR code contains the WIFI info. So the camera can connect to wifi after it scans the QR code. You just need to use this format "<QR><S>WIFISSID</S><P>WIFIPassword</P></QR>" to generate a QR code, then the camera can scan that QR code and connect to the wifi.
2. When you use the UID mode to connect to the camera (by scanning the camera QR code), then the camera and Reolink App need to connect to Reolink server to build connection. But, if you have a public IP address, you can forward Media Port 9000 on your router, then remotely connect to the camera via the public IP address (via Reolink Client/App).

Cynthia

Hi Dr Leonidas, your satisfaction and trust means a lot to us! It is our honor to win your trust. Have a nice day!

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