Aliexpress PTZ Sony 5MP time issue

Toan the Moan

Getting the hang of it
Oct 7, 2020
116
82
uk
Bought this Aliexpress Sony Sensor 5mp camera, I have had some sd card issues but that was resolved with an amazon kingsone Sd card not a probable fake. The issue I currently have is that the camera time is 2-3minutes out no matter how many times I resync it. This happens within minutes of resetting it on the Icsee app, I have also done it on the browser but to no avail. It stays around 2-3 minutes out, any help would be appreciated TIA

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Bought this Aliexpress Sony Sensor 5mp camera, I have had some sd card issues but that was resolved with an amazon kingsone Sd card not a probable fake. The issue I currently have is that the camera time is 2-3minutes out no matter how many times I resync it. This happens within minutes of resetting it on the Icsee app, I have also done it on the browser but to no avail. It stays around 2-3 minutes out, any help would be appreciated TIA

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It’s possible this camera doesn’t incorporate a RTC (Real Time Clock) chip inside. What happens to the time if you kill the power and restore it after a minute?

Does the camera have a NTP service? If so have you tried to sync it to another time server to see if there’s a difference?
 
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It’s possible this camera doesn’t incorporate a RTC (Real Time Clock) chip inside. What happens to the time if you kill the power and restore it after a minute?

Does the camera have a NTP service? If so have you tried to sync it to another time server to see if there’s a difference?
These are the web settings I tried to change NTP but it wouldn't Screenshot_20210218-183145_Chrome.jpg
 
These are the web settings I tried to change NTP but it wouldn't View attachment 82887

Let’s start with something simple and kill the power to the camera for 60 seconds. Mark down the time before the power is removed and document what the time is upon power up.

It’s either going to be the same (off by X minutes) as before. Be completely off or spot on.
 
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Let’s start with something simple and kill the power to the camera for 60 seconds. Mark down the time before the power is removed and document what the time is upon power up.

It’s either going to be the same (off by X minutes) as before. Be completely off or spot on.
The bizarre thing is that after a resync of the time, it will change to 2-3 minutes slow when it feels like it and stays at that. I haven't logged when it does this, sometimes its within 10 mins other times you get bored of checking then suddenly 3 minutes has vanished
 
The bizarre thing is that after a resync of the time, it will change to 2-3 minutes slow when it feels like it and stays at that. I haven't logged when it does this, sometimes its within 10 mins other times you get bored of checking then suddenly 3 minutes has vanished

First step is to kill power to the camera as this will offer insight as to how it operates.
 
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Power killed for 1 minute and it still shows 3 minutes 15 seconds slow so no change

Good, so the next step is to confirm a few other things. Uncheck the NTP and select save does the system keep this setting? If yes, great then go back into the NTP and blank it out and enable NTP and select save.

Does it leave a blank box or is it always prepopulated with the NTP.Main? If yes it could be hard coded in the firmware but won't know until you try to blank it out. Also, what happens when you uncheck the NTP and Sync using the computer time?
 
Can you in fact type in a new entry but the system just doesn't save them? Have you checked with the vendor for newer firmware and also inquired to have this issue reviewed?
 
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if you use any of the NTP servers listed the camera has access to the internet, so it can call home. This is a big security problem.
 
if you use any of the NTP servers listed the camera has access to the internet, so it can call home. This is a big security problem.

Agreed, ideally he should be using his own internal firewall NTP Server. But, that's a moot point if this hardware won't let him even change it. :banghead: One would think in 2021 enabling a NTP server would be a no brainer.

But, this is why the product costs less than a $100.00!
 
Can you in fact type in a new entry but the system just doesn't save them? Have you checked with the vendor for newer firmware and also inquired to have this issue reviewed?
I am awaiting a response from the vendor regarding this time issue, they did respond to my previous problem when the camera became a brick after formatting the SD card. Their reply was:- hi dear,please give me the camera UID and password,and let the camera connect with wifi,i will tell tech to login the camera to check it,thanks.

I wasnt keen on supplying that info and a master reboot and reset with a new ad card from amazon resolved the brick issue. I just have this time difference now which is currently 2:48 slow. It was correct whilst the app was connected I've had to reconnect and its lost time now !??
 
I am awaiting a response from the vendor regarding this time issue, they did respond to my previous problem when the camera became a brick after formatting the SD card. Their reply was:- hi dear,please give me the camera UID and password,and let the camera connect with wifi,i will tell tech to login the camera to check it,thanks.

I wasnt keen on supplying that info and a master reboot and reset with a new ad card from amazon resolved the brick issue. I just have this time difference now which is currently 2:48 slow. It was correct whilst the app was connected I've had to reconnect and its lost time now !??

Welps, in the big picture if the vendor is helping you out that is great. It's pretty rare for that to happen given most of the vendors are simply Joe Schmoe reselling X brand in their store. Here's a crazy suggestion just manually set the clock to 3 minutes ahead and see if it holds there.

Curious to see what happens if it reflects the time more accurately . . . :thumbdown:
 
Agreed, ideally he should be using his own internal firewall NTP Server. But, that's a moot point if this hardware won't let him even change it. :banghead: One would think in 2021 enabling a NTP server would be a no brainer.

But, this is why the product costs less than a $100.00!
Its not an important security camera I have a Hikvision and a Dahua night colour covering this entrance, I use this one to speak to visitors at the gate when they can't understand how to work the intercom .it does have a good quality image both day and night and an annoying siren and illumination too lol
 
it is not the security of the camera you should be worried about, it is the security of your whole home network.
 
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Try to use another NTP server and see if it still drifts, like:
1.europe.pool.ntp.org
uk.pool.ntp.org

This will help narrow down the issue. However, as noted by others, you should isolate your cams from getting out to the internet and use a local NTP server instead.
 
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Welps, in the big picture if the vendor is helping you out that is great. It's pretty rare for that to happen given most of the vendors are simply Joe Schmoe reselling X brand in their store. Here's a crazy suggestion just manually set the clock to 3 minutes ahead and see if it holds there.

Curious to see what happens if it reflects the time more accurately . . . :thumbdown:
I can't see anyway of entering the time manually on the web or the app there only appears to be sync options
 
A little more info, I have just resynced the time and noticed that when I log out of the Camhipro app the and log back in I have lost the 3 minutes this only happens after the time is corrected
 
I can't see anyway of entering the time manually on the web or the app there only appears to be sync options

On your computer just for a test adjust the computer time and than sync the camera. I'm just curious to see if the embedded NTP server will auto correct that incorrect computer time.