A stab in the dark here:
I bought a hiicam speed 20 action camera (I'm guessing it's a gopro type knockoff). The directions are scant and I'm having trouble figuring out the camera. I've googled online sites and all I come up with are videos of what comes with the purchase as well as online manuals which I have. The basic functions are easy enough (on/off, pics/videos, basic settings, etc.). But I can't figure out the wifi function nor how to download data from the camera to the phone/computer, remote operation and such. I've downloaded the app and I believe that's suppose to be a part of the operation, but I'm not getting anywhere. Frustrated!
Anyone with this camera or similar, or can anyone direct me to some help? I was hoping to use it on the boat, so it is sailing related. LOL
I'm not familiar with that camera. I would think it uses a SD or micro-SD card for storage. I would just use the card to download to my PC and the PC to upload to my phone. I wouldn't want my phone storage used up by a lot of video and photo footage. I would just download the best shots.
Dale, I don't have that particular camera, but I'll give it a shot.
Lines from me will have 5 asterisks above and below my text, so you can tell my instructions, from the manual's instructions.
Here are some issues in no particular order:
1) Specs.
Hiicam Speed 20_3.jpg
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Check the line four up from the bottom: WiFi. Note that it is 2.4G.
This refers to one of the two popular WiFi frequency ranges, 2.4GHz versus 5 GHz.
If your home ISP router (from your ISP, or Internet Service Provider) is 5GHz only, they ain't NEVER gonna talk to each other.
It's like trying to listen to an FM station, on an old AM radio; not gonna happen.
If your ISP can do both (most do) all you have to do is to select that mode (2.4Ghz.) so your phone can talk to the camera.
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From the Hiicam Speed 20 manual on Pg. 5:
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Turning on WiFi
When the camera is turned on, the following 3 methods are all suitable for
enabling WiFi:
(1) Swipe Down to enter shortcut mode the mode menu, and tap the WiFi icon
to turn on WiFi.
(2) Long press the Down button to enter the WiFi interface.
(3) Swipe UP on the screen to enter the mode menu and tap the WiFi icon to
turn on WiFi.
Turning off WiFi
In WiFi mode, tap the icon on the WiFi screen to turn off .
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IMHO, Method 2 is preferable, a long press.
This means that you touch the screen and hold your finger down until you see something happen on the camera screen, like the WiFi interface screen.
Wayyyy over on Pg.10, they mention connecting to the Hiicam app.
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Connecting to the Hiicam App
To connect your camera to the Hiicam app, please Download this app from the
App Store or Google Play to your smartphone first. When your camera is
connected to the Hiicam app, you can control it to capture, or change its
settings using your phone. You can also live preview, playback, Download,
edit, and share videos via this app. Please follow the instructions below to
connect your camera to the Hiicam app.
Scan Me
Hiicam Speed 20_1.jpg
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Turn your phone camera on and scan the QR (Quick Response) code, which should take you to the app store for your brand of phone.
Once you get there, install the Hiicam app for the Speed 20.
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Pg. 10 repeats the WiFi connection instructions from Pg. 5, so we'll ignore step 1. below and skip ahead to the 2nd half of Pg. 10:
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1. Turning on WiFi
When the camera is turned on, the following 3 methods are all suitable for
enabling WiFi:
(1) Swipe Down to enter shortcut mode the mode menu, and tap the WiFi icon
to turn on WiFi.
(2) Long press the Down button to enter the WiFi interface.
(3) Swipe UP on the screen to enter the mode menu and tap the WiFi icon to
turn on WiFi.
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(2nd half Pg. 10)
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2. Enter your phone's WiFi settings page, find the WiFi SSID in the list and tap
on it, then enter the password: 12345678 for connection.
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Here it gets a little wonky, as they assume you are an average IT network Geek.
Your phone's Service Set IDentifier (SSID) is simply the name of the WiFi network you use.
Here's an example from my own phone:
Hiicam Speed 20_4 1024X768.jpg
The WiFi networks from my ISP have both 5GHz and 2.5GHz available to me; I usually use 5GHz, since it's faster.
I call my SSID Celtic_5, which is in the 5GHz band.
I also have a Celtic_2_5 SSID, which is in the 2.5GHz band.
So in my case, in order to talk to a Hiiicam Speed 20, I would need to swap over from Celtic_5 to Celtic_2_5, in order to even see the thing.
Actually more accurately, for the Hiicam Speed 20, to see ME.
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Warm tip: Once the camera WiFi is connected, it will give you a No Internet
Connection or Weak Security notice since your phone's 4G signal is blocked.
You can ignore it and continue the app connection; the screenshots provided
are for your reference only.
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Ya gotta love an interface that TELLS you, you're not going to see a connection or a Weak Security notice. ::)
Yeah, that gives me the warm fuzzies, about using that thing and allowing it onto my network! >:(
Anyway, continuing on:
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3. Open the Hiicam app, tap Enter Preview→Set Wi-Fi connection, then
select Speed20_xxxxxxx from the list and enter the password 12345678 to
establish a connection.
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This means that you get into WiFi connections as described above (long press, etc.) and look for an SSID that matches one on your phone.
Once you do that, you should find a Speed 20_ xxxxxx somewhere on a menu, then select that.
This is so the camera and your phone can begin negotiations to communicate with each other.
Once your phone recognizes the Hiicam interloper, it will request a password which is: 12345678.
Key that number in on your phone and then the app should be able to operate your camera.
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4. Return to the app and tap on Enter Preview. Your camera will be
seamlessly connected to the Hiicam app within seconds.
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This is the app that is now on your phone and that was waiting for the communications to be accomplished, as described above
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Hope this helps,
Charles Brennan