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Xiaomi Xiaoyi Small Ants 720P Smart Camera for USD $26 Shipped, Banggood.com

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Xiaomi’s phones have taken the world by storm, and now they are doing the same with home security.
Xiaomi makes home security easy with their Xiaoyi Ants camera, simply place it somewhere you want to monitor, connect the power cord and download the Xiaoyi app to your phone. Simple and fast!
Xiaomi goes even further with this cam and also packs motion detection and 2 way voice communication features, so you can use as both a security camera and as a communication device.
Keeping an eye on your loved ones or monitoring your house has never been more easier and affordable.

Today were offering an Oz exclusive price of $26USD, grab one now!

PS:Xiaomi Yi is the first camera on our security camera page.

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  • Just checked the comments, here are my following concerns:

    1. What is the actual image quality? Saying 720p means nothing if it's just upscaled gibberish.
    2. Is there really no way to access it from a regular computer? If you have to use the associated app, what happens if it turns out to be hijacked etc?
    3. It connects via wifi - but how do you set it up to connect via wifi if you have a password etc.?
    4. Are you able to set up security on the camera? It says it is accessible remotely - but how? Does it force a port open on the router?

    There are probably more concerns… for those looking at an IP camera, I would look elsewhere as there is no pan function on this. I have a couple from an el cheapo brand that I have set up which work just fine (cost me about $40 each), and there is no need to use an app.

    EDIT: The poor AUD exchange puts it at $55 from an Australian seller. Yes it's twice the price but goodness, it really is twice the functionality. :|

  • +5

    i bought this camera from previous deal
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/185995

    Its a waste of money and now a useless paper weight. i strongly recommend not to buy this camera.
    Cons:
    -No night vision
    -No Lan port
    -No Pc Windows/Mac software available for this cam. So you cannot monitor any live streaming on pc/laptop
    -Only works on android phone
    -No English app available. Only chinese apk is available to control the cam from your android phone which is useless.
    -Initial setup was hard bcse all the instructions in the manual was in Chinese language.

    • Hi Maddy
      This camera is designed for ease of use, although it does not have night vision or a LAN connection, it is intended as a wireless camera and was not advertised as such.
      You can, with software watch video on your computer. There is both an iOS and Android app available and both have English versions and are available on the Play and Apple Store.
      Thanks for your post and for highlighting your Cons on the product, we just felt necessary to point out a few parts that were not correct.

      • +1

        i pointed out LAN connection because Op stated in the previous deal:

        Please note this comes with Local MicroSD Slot for recording as well as WiFi and Wired Ethernet capable.

        But this does not have wired Ethernet capabilities. Also i was talking about the monitoring software for pc/mac not the software to watch recorded videos from sd card. I know there are heaps of video players available to play recorded video files. But there is no live monitoring software available for pc/mac.

        Yes this ip camera is only accessible from Android/iOS device( didn't know about iOS bcse i dont own an iphone). not made for pc.

        i downloaded the playstore English app but that then upgraded to a new version which is again a app full of chinese language.

        • It has a local micro sd slot and yes it can be viewed through your computer, as there is no LAN connection is does not have the option to be directly connected to your PC for live video, the intention is you use your phone for the live video.
          As far as we are aware the latest Xiaomi version is in English, available on the play store

        • @banggood: " as there is no LAN connection is does not have the option to be directly connected to your PC for live video"

          The live video can been seen on pc/mac via wifi as well if there is any software available for it which is not.

          i am using a Wancam ip camea which is connected through wifi and accessible from pc, phone, mac or any device which has web interface. Wancam ip camera also comes with mobile app+PC view software.

      • Hi - can you please provide details on the iOS app? I cannot find it.

        And how does the camera connect to the wifi without an interface?

        • +1

          It does, through their app. I have no idea if it connects using bluetooth or something else, but the app simply found my cameras and connected them to the AP, with SSID and passcode of WPA2.

        • @mily:
          Thanks Mily. I'm trying to find the Apple iOS app. what's the name of the app?

        • @JahjaMan: I used the app Mady123 posted below, it's for android, but there should be another app under ios. http://m.app.mi.com/detail/75646

        • @mily:
          Thanks. I found the app for iOS.
          Search for: 小蚁智能摄像机

          Like you, im perplexed as to how it even connects to the phone/wifi. Like wtf. It's black magic. Lolllll

          By the way, how do you set it to record and loop on microSD card?

        • @JahjaMan:
          Actually. I think it makes the phone connect directly to the camera via wifi. Then passes on the credentials and the camera switches to the proper network.

  • For anyone who hasnt tried it, any old disused android phone or tablet with wifi & cam, can be used as a basic ip camera .
    I've gone back to webcams with cables on an unpowered usb hub going across my roof attic. Runs on vb6 program which snaps pics and auto sends to ftp/webpage. You can't tailor make others software to suit individual needs, and powering remote ip cams is an added problem.

  • +2

    I also bought the camera from the previous deal. I am Chinese, I can read Chinese.

    This camera is still useless to me. I could only get it to work with the home wifi network. It doesn't work for me out of home. It tinkered and tried to read the forums, port scan shows it opens up RTSP on port 554, but still couldn't get it to fix a static ip so that I can open up the port properly on my modem.

    It is supposed to support two-way audio. I only managed to get one-way audio.

    It looks good. It promises a lot. It doesn't deliver.

    Its a waste of money.

    My good old Foscam and Wancam IP cameras are still a better bet.

    • Bought two from Taobao a while ago and my family will bring them in this week, will see if it's as bad as you said. Finger cross.

      • If it is an original it should have all the features described so yes be sure to tell us how they are. Taobao is risky and hope you have made the right decision J hahahaha

        • Bought directly from Xiaomi's flagship store on Tmall, so they are surely genuine. Will see how they perform. Cheers.

    • If you want to fix a STATIC IP … its best to set an IP reservation in your router's DHCP settings.
      And remember that your reserved IP absolutely must be OUTSIDE the DHCP range.

    • do you use xiaomi mobile to setup the camera? how is quality of video?

  • Damn! I just bought 2 from Banggood for $US28.88 each 2 days ago and I thought that it was cheap enough.

    I got 2 from a previous Ozbargain deal and the quality is as good as those D-link ones in $80 - $100 range.

    What I am not happy and hope that things could be better is the simplicity and primitive state of Xiaomi camera apk(s).

  • I bought one from a previous deal too.
    I thought the camera has good image quality, and I can access it when im away from home too.
    Apparently the camera can work with iSpy (Open Source Camera Security Software for Windows).

    What really annoys me is that:
    - The APK is only in chinese, however theres enough english in it to get by.
    - It only work on 2.4ghz WiFi, not 5ghz.
    - I cant find any way to set up that motion-activated recording?

    • Can you please share that how did you manage to access the live footage in iSpy?

      • I've never tried it myself, but I did stumble across this…
        http://www.ispyconnect.com/man.aspx?n=Xiaoyi
        And Please let us know if it works !

        • it worked. Also live Footage can be seen via VLC player which is more convenient.

          Just replace with your camera ip in this link and use VLC network stream option.

          rtsp://your cam ip:554/ch0_0.h264

  • -1

    Many Chinese companies are good at promising. Even politics are better than
    them.

  • For those who have bought this camera can download this Semi English app from this website

    http://m.app.mi.com/detail/75646

    Once you download the app, install on your android device. Open the installed app and then app upgrade will be prompted. Upgrade the app to latest version for the best result.

    Someone has done a detailed review of this cam here http://en.miui.com/thread-99096-1-1.html

  • Does anyone know how to set up motion-activated recording ?
    This is apparently advertised, but I can't find the setting anywhere in the app ?

    • Turns out that the motion-activated recording is automatic, as long as youre NOT viewing the LIVE feed.
      Ie you are out of the App !!

      Ive also noticed that that the Clock used for the timestamping is WRONG.
      It seems to be two hours behind Sydney time. So I guess its locked on Beijing time.

      And there does Not seem to be any way to change this clock ???

      • Not at the moment, it is locked to timezone 8 and currently 2 hours behind (3 when DTS is active). Future firmware might change this but I don't think they care much, as a new version of Xiaoyi camera is on the way (with IR), and the majority of customers are in China.

  • Got my two Xiaoyi cameras installed and I am pretty happy with its functionality. Although the image is still a bit blur, and live video showing some lag, I would say overall it's much better than most 640x480 resolution cameras.

    The viewing angle is good enough to cover most of the lounge room, and I like the capability of dual way audio, as I can now yell to the kids when they are playing naughty ^_^. Also my wife always put her mobile on mute, now I just "broadcast" to her so she could pick up the call from me.

    • If it's a bit blurred… Are u to have removed the piece of plastic in front of the lens ?

      • I did remove it. The blur is more likely caused by compression and transmission.

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