Network camera no longer connecting via Ethernet?

Forums › Gadgets, robotics, home automation, electronics (including wearables) › Network camera no longer connecting via Ethernet?

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freitasm

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#3452166 12-Jan-2026 09:55

Ten years is a good time. Where do you live? Was is it on a hot part of the country? Could the heat have finally affected the camera? Does it catch sun light at any time, overheating?

I suspect either the came is done now, or power source is done.

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tripper1000

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#3452255 12-Jan-2026 13:14

Aitchy: It has been working for ten years though, why would this suddenly become an issue?

Common Causes Include:

1) Non-volatile memory is only good for a finite number of write cycles - the EEPROM may have worn out.

2) Thermal cycles (expansion/contraction) can cause solder joints to crack over time causing open-circuit connections.

3) Lead-free solder ages poorly compared to old school leaded solder causing open-circuit connections.

4) Heat and time degrades the capacitors, leading to a loss of power smoothing and filtering, causing interference to internal circuits. DC gets a large AC component superimposed on it, then digital ones become zero's, zero's become ones, and the communication between the chips inside the camera gets scrambled.

5) Internal wiring contacts become oxidised, causing internal signals or power drop-outs.

6) Internal batteries die, leading to loss of setting or internal clocks etc.

7) With age, internal batteries and/or capacitors leak causing corrosion to circuity.

8) Calendar limitations within the programming - it may only track the year by a single digit, now it may not be able to tell 2016 from 2026.

Aitchy

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#3452256 12-Jan-2026 13:28

Yes, it is old now, my question was more in response to the specific network address question I quoted. If it is worn out, are there any equivalent security type cameras that have a dimmable display and can alert on movement exceeding a user-set threshold? Or am I stuck with buying a replacement SAMi at $800 plus for not very good resolution, no ability to zoom or move the camera remotely etc?

Daynger

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#3452389 12-Jan-2026 17:27

Aitchy:

It has been working for ten years though, why would this suddenly become an issue?

Sometimes especially with a power cycle or outage IP adressed units can lose their settings.

Its just another avenue of investigation.

As above i suspect the unit is toast but you might as well check all possibilities to get it to run.

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