These are back on sale at Joybuy but they have been cheaper before.
Remember that if you have any Xiaofang cameras that are not connecting to the MiHome app, you should be able connect them to the latest MiHome app after reverting to the camera to its original firmware (hold down the setup button for about 15 seconds). You can then update them to the latest firmware and they'll still connect ok.
More detail here
Or use fanghacks for use with a third party app/platform.
Unobtainable deal (it was missing GST). I'm not sure why the mods just didn't change the price in the original post.
Bad deal, got these for $19 ages ago
$15AUD at one point, wouldn't even recommend it at that price.
I have two of them. They're not perfect, but they're pretty good for basic home monitoring. I use them for some basic level of security (not much) and to check on my dogs during the day.
Don't buy this. Search the previous comments.
Don’t buy because not cheapest?
Or don’t buy because it’s bad quality product?
Bought one previously, pain-in-the-ass trying to set it up, could never get it to work due to regional locking. Now just sitting in the room gathering dust. Shouldn't be allowed to sell to Australian market until Xiaomi agrees to unremove the region locking and make it easy to set up.
Both of mine have never had a region locking issue. What region do you have your's set to?
Tried all regions listed including mainland China. Tried original firmware, two more newer firmware and the Fanghack. All failed.
@edfoo: choose mainland china, then choose 1080p security camera instead of Fang. mine works this way
Just because you dont have the ability to set it up, it doesn't mean that no one else should. I set mine up with no real issues.
I remember it being a bit tricky to set it up originally - as the verbal instructions it gives are in mandarin, but I got both mine working.
If you revert them to the original firmware, they connect ok and still work after updating to the latest firmware. I didn't have issues setting mine up again after they stopped working due to the timeout issue.
Did you update to the latest App version? - mine says 5.4.46 - running Android
Mine connected without a problem, maybe your unit is faulty or you're just doing it wrong.
They're not region locked anymore with the latest firmware. They haven't been for almost a year now!
The link shows US $19.99 (AUD ~$28.57)
plus GST ??
Will have to try and get my 2 bricks working again - thanks for the info
EDIT - reset both as per OP's description and have 2 x cameras operational….
Cheers OP
what region did you set the camera to? I had to change to Singapore server because I purchased a Roborock and now xiaofang doesnt work anymore :(
interested to reset, connect and then update if it really works.
It needs to be China Server for these. I too have a Roborock and switching between Singapore and China all the time is a little annoying. On some Android OEM skins there is an option to clone an app. If you can do that, then you can have two instances of Mi Home running, each with a different region.
well if anyone wants mine for $15, you can take it off me (sydney)
Don't but this. It's stopped working after software update. Never was able to make a connection. Chinese lady in the device keeps repeating the same sentence.
can you change it to chinese guy? maybe he can help.
Will do
on a serious note, if the chinese lady keeps repeating the same sentence, it means that she doesn't understand you.
happened to me a lot of time when my parcel from china doesn't arrive; the chinese lady in that handled my ticket kept telling me to check my local post office or call the courier company. duh!
Did you do what the OP suggested above? I'm trying at the moment on 2 x cameras… Will let you know if I can get them working again
You mean revert to old software? How do you do it?
OP has a more details link in his description - reverting to old firmware is pretty easy and apparently will connect… Let you know if it works
See here for both the firmware to downgrade and how to do it.
I had to downgrade to get them to connect then installed fang-hack.
Can confirm I just followed instructions and both cameras are working fine - first time in a long time :)
OMG! did you just assume the Xiaomi XiaoFang Smart IP Cameras race and gender?
You’ve never owned one obviously. The device speaks in Chinese and has a female voice. It does it during setup. A lot of Xiaomi products do this, I have a Bluetooth Headset that tells me when the battery is low, etc.. in the same voice.
Works but not reliable, a 360 IP cam running V380 app is more reliable than this XIAOMI one. Can not connect via the APP from time to time, and sometime can not read from SD card. I had to downgrade the firmware to get my SD card back. Even it could record to SD card, it had hard time retrieving those recording. Need to reboot constantly. I will stay away of this model. I heard the Model S has some improvements.
$30 is too expensive for this, I got mine around $12 when it was on sale.
Expensive
Where can I buy it cheaper?
Houses in nice suburbs of Sydney used to be available for less than $500k - 20 years ago. That fact is irrelevant if I didn't/couldn't buy at the time but need somewhere to live in 2019.
I still got 3 xiaofangs that's collecting dust. Bought them when it was like $15ea. It has too much reliability issues and having to restart every few days as it goes offline.
Moved onto Arlo pro 2 which is heaps better.
I'll take them if you want to get rid of them. :)
Easy to be overheated in the heat of summer, I had one put up against the windows and it stopped working from time to time, app showed online but could not connect. I have 2 mijia 360 cameras and rarely had any problem with them.
Not even worth half the price of OP.
Check your version of fanghacks.
Apparently they found a better way to keep it from overheating:
https://github.com/samtap/fang-hacks/pull/67
TBH I should not expect hacking an IP-CAM to prevent it from overheating :), if that's the case then they should not sell them in the first place LOL
It's not like they do sell them in an Australian climate.
Hate to say this (and prepared for the bucket of negs coming my way) but tech illiterate people, please stay away from these. This deal isn't for you.
There was a couple of ways to circumvent the restrictions on these by VPN or downgrade. These days they are no longer region locked.
Installing downgrade and hacks appears to be too hard for some people. Wouldn't neg the post for it.
Didn't see down voting on the post about cheap Spotify if you VPN to another country blah blah.. you get my point.
Neg away…
I've had mine for about 18 months now and never had to circumvent region locks. I do recall having to set the location as mainland China, but no VPN or anything required.
only certain (recent) firmware version were locked. You must of purchased them long enough ago and skipped the whole fiasco.
Anyone know how to have split screen on the Mi Home app with 2 cameras going?
EDIT - never mind, found it :)
On the top of the home screen which shows all devices, there will be a wide button which will say “2 cameras” (presuming you have 2). Press this button.
The button appears next to your home name (default is “Home”).
Cheers mate - yeah I found the little green '2 cameras' button and have them both working now :)
These things eat Micro Sd cards up for breakfast….
Most microsd cards are not designed to be used in security/dash cameras. They will die from constant writing. With the price of SD cards now, this doesn't really bother me.
Get one of these on special at Amazon US via Amazon AU https://www.amazon.com.au/Samsung-Endurance-64GB-Micro-Adapt… - built for video monitoring
I had the worst time ever getting the D-Link wifi cam to work. I wonder if this is easier to setup
I think mines in the bin somewhere
I got it working but be prepared for endless hours configuring stuff, never understood why this was a ozb favourite. Most of the app was in chinese unless its changed now
So what's is currently an Ozb fav? Need to get a couple cheap ones
I find the latest version of the app quite simple to navigate and the cameras are easy to set up (once I overcame the blocking issue).
Anyone in Melbourne want to sell theirs?
Got two currently downgraded and loaded with fang-hacks that I don't use, probably haven't been used for more than an hour each.
They have serial headers soldered to the board and they both work.
Located at 3766, PM me.
You can also have a Xiaomi WiFi+ extender to go with them, never used.
I bought this one @ around Usd 12-15. over priced.
Agreed, but anywhere cheaper at the moment?
Be careful, mine doesn't sync.
Don't buy it.
Have you tried reverting back to the original firmware, reconnecting then upgrading to the latest firmware?
I got my old one working fine with the latest Mihome app, updated to latest firmware fine.
Then realised that Fanghacks apparently dont work with the latest firmware. So far trying to downgrade firmware hasnt worked for me following the instructions.
64gb SDXC formatted exfat, card with nothing but the downgrade firmware file in it, holding the setup button down and plugging in the power and continue holding the button for 15 seconds, and it doesnt pick up the firmware from the SD card, just puts the camera into setup mode.
I am wanting to use this with Hass.io
I'm also having trouble downgrading the firmware to then hack it. I've done this before with 2x same cameras but no success yet. I'm going to try again soon.
Try different uSD cards, these things are fussy.
I have two of them, one would downgrade with a Kingston 4GB, the other wouldn't, it preferred a 2GB SanDisk.
Also, the uSD card needs to be formatted as FAT32, anything bigger than 32GB will be exFAT by default.
Well I have to say I got the Wyze Cam v2 a few months ago(looks same as xiofang) and its been rock solid even watching it over Optus mobile. Firmware upgrades are often. $60 delivered on fleabay but a bit of homework and I found it the better option. Hope this helps someone.
Combined with the limited Mi Home app I've found the Xiaofang's to be completely underwhelming, eg. you can't upload images/video to anything other than a Mi Gateway.
The Dafang camera allows you to upload to a NAS, although the Mi Home app makes this simple task almost impossible at times.
Why did the first deal get unpublished?