Following the feedback on the updated firmware released a month ago, I took the liberty to send a recap of the remarks and suggestions to Foscam.
As before, they replied almost instantly and once again with some great stuff!
First of all, a newer firmware already!
(superseded by fw 11.14.1.46)
The obvious changes are:
- a colourful login page
- the ability to scan for available wireless networks:
- an option to turn off the activity led (Network Lamp)
...and a log of the visits!
While this nice update is definitely an added value to the camera, there seems to be a small problem: to me none of the settings can be validated from the server push mode page.
For instance, if I clear the tick box for the camera lamp, after the reboot, I'll find the option selected again (and the camera led still on). This is open to your feedbacks. Once confirmed it is not just me, I'll report this to Foscam.
The ActiveX interface still works fine for storing the settings, but if you have no IE to setup your camera, you may want to skip this firmware release until a fixed one comes out.
One more thing: there is no improvement for the uPnP option, that never worked for me.
Technical Documentation:
There is now an official Foscam CGI SDK documentation available.
I've put all this on a dedicated firmware page also.
Third Party utilities: Some compatible monitoring applications are detailed in this previous post.
Evolution:
- HTTPS implementation is planned for a future update, possibly this year.
- FI8908W cameras (black or white) produced since June 2009 have an additional audio connector.
- The units in production from this month include an improved lens filter (more accurate colour rendering).
Is your camera from Foscam ?
If you plan to use the firmwares on this site, you need to ensure that your camera is from Foscam.
If your camera looks like a twin of the Foscam camera discussed here, it may still be from another manufacturer and a Foscam firmware may brick it.
If your camera is not a Foscam, it's not the end of the world as it may be of a comparable quality with as many features but you should then obtain the firmwares from the appropriate manufacturer.
Here are a few details that can help identifying your camera origin, and it's not fool proof unfortunately:
Packaging: From official source, Foscam packaging of fi8908w is always red and
white as shown, and exhibit a picture of the older fi8901w on the reverse side.But... This is the least reliable way to identify a compatible Foscam camera:
there's been reports of cameras with the same box that were not from Foscam, as well as cameras in different box (like the white one below) that could be successfully flashed with Foscam firmware!!
The User Interface
: With that said and since not all the shops display the box, another clue is the look of the web interface. The login page of the newer firmware above is a bit more colourful but the rest remains mostly as described here.But... not all the resellers will show a sample picture in their description.
The stickers on the base: Obviously, if you were expecting to buy a Foscam in particular, you can only check this point once you actually bought the camera but it's an ultimate check point that may save your camera from a catastrophic firmware update.
In the example below, the labels on the base of the camera will show subtle differences:
On the Foscam:
- There are 2 round stickers, one with QC/OK and the other one, show the manufacturing date and a warning "warranty void if damaged".
- There are 2 rectangular stickers: one with
MAC ID: xxxxxxxxxxxx
User name(default):admin
Password(default): (blank)"
and the other with the FCC standard compliance and "Made in China"
There is no other sticker, and no Model or S/N.
Below is an example of a non-Foscam base (click on it for a close-up):
If you buy on DealExtreme, check their forum for recent posts about ip cameras and don't rely too much on the product page itself as product descriptions on this site is traditionally inaccurate.
Finally you can also consider contacting Foscam with a maximum of visual details to positively identify your camera origin before flashing it with anything from this site.
Below is the warning published on Foscam's web site:
