End of Adobe Flash and IP Cameras

[wtd51]

Flash still works on Internet Explorer 11. I don't know if that works on Chromebooks, but it works on Windows 10
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/confirmation.aspx?id=41628

 

[Quantum Mechanic]

I have 4 PHYLINK Bullet cameras which I believe are identical to the UCAM 247 model. These were purchased in 2016 when the removal of Flash was a long time in the future and not an obvious consideration when purchasing a CCTV. For these cameras the dedicated Windows 10 app still works OK, whereas using direct access to view the video stream with Firefox is blocked by Adobe. There is a workaround, which is to change the computer clock to any time before January 12th 2021 just prior to running Flash. I find it necessary to use Firefox this way in order to change the motion detection windows. (In case Windows 10 and/or Firefox eliminate Flash completely I can run Windows 7 with a fixed version of Firefox inside VirtualBox).

I usually use the iPhone app to monitor the video feed directly. It is a bit of a concern that the PHYLINK app (PHYCAM) no longer exists on the app store, although I see that UCam247Live is still available and will probably work with my cameras.
It's a great shame that these cameras seem no longer to be manufactured but any replacement should have the capability to store its videos onto a NAS server, Dropbox, etc without the need to pay for a subscription.

 

[diynoob]

I realise this is an old thread but it shows up in web searches so thought I’d update here. I had the same problem as previous posters, using ucam247 cameras that require flash player. I had given up accessing the cameras via PC and used the ucam247 app on iPad, but that has recently disappeared from the App Store.

I tried accessing the camera from PC using a browser and the Live Feed doesn’t show (requires flash) but I could still accessing settings. Also, when clicking on saved files and alerts, it downloads a .mov file so I can view files that way.

I then tried accessing the camera from an iPad using both safari and chrome, and surprisingly everything works, even the Live View. Not sure how the iPad is doing that without flash player but it does work.

 

[bazz2004]

The Ucam247 NC328W-IR-1080P has been outside for seemingly forever. Suddenly, there was no accessing the SD card although the feed was fine. I decided it was high time for an upgrade and spent ages looking at the options. I was interested in Eufy and TP Link Taco cameras but overall felt underwhelmed. There seemed to be a compromise with everything and our needs are fairly basic. I don’t fancy an NVR centred unit either due to bulk.

In the end I decided to tackle the Ucam camera and see if I could sort the issue. It turned out to be a problem with the SD card which had filled up and it wouldn’t overwrite the existing footage. It seems some SD cards are better than others when it comes to storing recorded video. I managed all this hanging out the window and unscrewed the front cover on the camera. I later set it up with the re formatted SD card using the Ucam Wizard. I didn’t need to faff around with an ethernet cable because the camera remained identified on the wifi network.

After success I then went back to the Flash removal issue that sank use of the cameras in Windows. Yes, there’s software to view the camera live streams on a PC but they don’t allow access to the SD card and software that is supposed to emulate Flash doesn’t work for playback. I didn’t think much of the image quality either. A work around that doesn’t appeal is leaving the PC on 247 and recording to the hard drive.

I took stock of what worked and re-explored the camera. The Ucam app is on my ageing iPad Air2 (v15.8.3) and Android phone. The iPad app works well although I can’t set boundaries for the camera capture. I am not a fan of smart phones but again the app works OK. I found it necessary to double tap on the cross with the phone app to exit after viewing a clip.

So, what’s new and why have I posted? We have replaced our old Panasonic TV with a Samsung smart TV. When I set the phone to cast the TV can pick it up and the camera live view and clips then appear. They will fill the screen if I rotate the phone. Image quality is good. The TV program shows on one half and the Ucam view on the other. Click with the TV remote on the Ucam window and it is full screen.

I am impressed with the quality of the camera which has been exposed to the full force of our weather for many years. The front housing and glass were filthy on the outside but cleaned up fine. The material used in manufacture is aluminium which puts to shame the cheap plastic products on the market. It’s a pity no software was written to replace Adobe Flash.

There is life left in these cameras yet though it looks like the option to use a Windows PC is never going to reappear.