Setting up cloud recording: "Not connected to the cloud"

[awebber]

I have an IPM-721 (720p) camera that we've always just viewed using the Android app. This was our first Amcrest camera and we never tried to access through Windows browser. We're getting a couple more next week and I thought I'd give the online recording a try.

Using my Windows notebook, I created an account at www.amcrestcloud.com and gave it the serial number. I get this error:

The camera you are trying to add/modify is not connected to the cloud. Please reboot (power off/on) the camera to reconnect it to the cloud. For your privacy and security the camera must be added to your account within two hours of rebooting the camera.

I know the camera is working because I can see it in the Android app. It's not clear how power cycling the camera will fix this. The only thing I can infer from the message is that the camera will automatically be available to the cloud for 2 hours after power-up and then turn that feature off.

Is it true that a power cycle will make this work? And is there any way to power cycle remotely? I don't have physical access to the camera for the next few days and would like to get my learning curve out of the way before the additional cameras arrive.

Thanks!

[awebber]

Also (sorry, I don't see a way to edit that post) will putting this camera on the free 4hr recording plan stop us from accessing it directly with AmcrestView Pro? I'm nervous about that "2hr live streaming" limit and I don't want to lose direct access via the View app just to plan with the camera to learn cloud recording.

Thanks!

[awebber]

I don't know how I missed it before, but I think this KB article pretty much answers my initial question. Please let me know if it's not that simple. https://support.amcrest.com/hc/en-us/ar ... tCloud-com

I didn't find an answer to my second question, which is whether I'll still be able to access the camera directly with AmcrestViewPro (and watch it as much as I want) if I put it on the free 4hr cloud-recording plan.

Also is there a way to download some or all of a cloud recording during review? To capture the part that's important, say?

Thanks!

[Melvin]

Hello awebber,

The live view limit will not affect the Amcrest View Pro app but affect the live through the cloud interface or cloud app.

Files can be downloaded individually form the cloud playback section. You can reboot the camera through the web interface of the camera. For this, you should have set up port forwarding.

[awebber]

Great, thanks! I thought there was a way to reboot through the app but I guess not.

I never set up port forwarding for this camera (there are also several Foscam SD cameras, for which I did set up PF). I guess I haven't tried to do anything that required it. Will probably have to do that next time I have access, though it's a whole other thing to master for the Amcrest cameras.

=aw

[awebber]

I went to Amcrestview.com and created an account. Downloaded the Firefox plug-in and installed it. Restarted the browser and when I login it says I need to download the plug-in. Did that once just to humour it, but it keeps doing it.

I don't think this will let me do things like reboot the camera, but I was hoping to access it using my computer. Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks!

[Melvin]

Hello awebber ,

Please try using Internet Explorer.