How to connect to a wireless device (a video camera's memory card)from windows 10?

I have a video camera with WiFi. I can switch its WiFi on, and the camera displays its WiFi SSID and password on its own screen.

How do I connect to this using Windows 10? My Windows 10 PC does not have WiFi, but it's connected by ethernet cable to a wireless router, which is where it gets its internet connection from. Why can I not see the camera from the PC? The wireless router is functional, as laptops can get onto the internet through it.

On Sat, 05 Jan 2019 20:31:15 -0000, Commander Kinsey wrote:

I have a video camera with WiFi. I can switch its WiFi on,
and the camera displays its WiFi SSID and password on its own screen.
How do I connect to this using Windows 10? My Windows 10 PC
does not have WiFi, but it's connected by ethernet cable to a
wireless router, which is where it gets its internet connection from.
Why can I not see the camera from the PC?
The wireless router is functional, as laptops can get onto the internet through it.

There are old school ways, and new school ways.
I only know the old school ways.
And, networking is complex, so I'm assuming simple SOHO setups here.
Like 192.168.1.x is your subnet (where yours can be anything).

Two things are critical in the old-school ways.
1. You must know the IP address of the device you wish to connect to
2. You must be on the SAME SUBNET as that IP address is on

Giving examples, let's say the device is at IP address 192.168.1.10
And, let's assume that your router is at IP address 192.168.1.1
And let's assume a typical netmask of 255.255.255.0
(If that's all gobbleygook to you - then someone else will have to help.)

What you do FIRST is ensure your PC is on the SAME SUBNET.
You use "ipconfig" at the DOS command line to figure out your subnet.
C:\ ipconfig
Lots of stuff will be spit out, but one of the lines will be something like
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.5
That will be the IP address of your PC.

Notice that the first three sections are the same: 192.168.1.XXX
That means you're on the same subnet.

If you're NOT on the same subnet, then you usually can't connect.
So get on the same subnet.

That's your FIRST goal.
Be on the same subnet.

Then ping the device.
C:\ ping -t 192.168.1.10

Practice ping by pinging your router
ping -t 192.168.1.1
(Use "Control+C" to stop the pinging.)

In short, if you're not on the same subnet, you're doomed (usually).
So get on the same subnet first.
Then ping the camera.

If those two things don't happen, IMHO, nothing else will.

On Sat, 05 Jan 2019 20:31:15 -0000, Commander Kinsey wrote:

I have a video camera with WiFi. I can switch its WiFi on, and the camera displays its WiFi SSID and password on its own screen.

How do I connect to this using Windows 10? My Windows 10 PC does not have WiFi, but it's connected by ethernet cable to a wireless router, which is where it gets its internet connection from. Why can I not see the camera from the PC? The wireless router is functional, as laptops can get onto the internet through it.

And don't say "read the manual" - the manual is in Chinglish - for example:
"When the poor operation of the product caused by the phenomenon of death, removable battery should be re-installed, then the machine returns to normal."

The only pertinent info I can see in the manual is:
"Before using WiFi function, please install "XDV" APP program on the smart phone"
Surely if a smart phone can access it, so can a Windows 10 PC?

On 1/5/2019 2:43 PM, Commander Kinsey wrote:
On Sat, 05 Jan 2019 20:31:15 -0000, Commander Kinsey
wrote:

I have a video camera with WiFi.* I can switch its WiFi on, and the
camera displays its WiFi SSID and password on its own screen.

How do I connect to this using Windows 10?* My Windows 10 PC does not
have WiFi, but it's connected by ethernet cable to a wireless router,
which is where it gets its internet connection from.* Why can I not
see the camera from the PC?* The wireless router is functional, as
laptops can get onto the internet through it.

And don't say "read the manual" - the manual is in Chinglish - for example:
"When the poor operation of the product caused by the phenomenon of
death, removable battery should be re-installed, then the machine
returns to normal."

The only pertinent info I can see in the manual is:
"Before using WiFi function, please install "XDV" APP program on the
smart phone"
Surely if a smart phone can access it, so can a Windows 10 PC?


A smart phone has wifi your PC does not.
A smart phone needs a specific App installed, do you have a
corresponding app for you PC?

You can easily buy a wifi adapter for your PC. You have to find a
suitable PC app.

On Sat, 05 Jan 2019 21:21:33 -0000, joe wrote:

On 1/5/2019 2:43 PM, Commander Kinsey wrote:
On Sat, 05 Jan 2019 20:31:15 -0000, Commander Kinsey
wrote:

I have a video camera with WiFi. I can switch its WiFi on, and the
camera displays its WiFi SSID and password on its own screen.

How do I connect to this using Windows 10? My Windows 10 PC does not
have WiFi, but it's connected by ethernet cable to a wireless router,
which is where it gets its internet connection from. Why can I not
see the camera from the PC? The wireless router is functional, as
laptops can get onto the internet through it.

And don't say "read the manual" - the manual is in Chinglish - for example:
"When the poor operation of the product caused by the phenomenon of
death, removable battery should be re-installed, then the machine
returns to normal."

The only pertinent info I can see in the manual is:
"Before using WiFi function, please install "XDV" APP program on the
smart phone"
Surely if a smart phone can access it, so can a Windows 10 PC?


A smart phone has wifi your PC does not.
A smart phone needs a specific App installed, do you have a
corresponding app for you PC?

You can easily buy a wifi adapter for your PC. You have to find a
suitable PC app.

Looks like it's not standard networking protocols the camera uses. No IP address etc. I looked up "XDV" and apparently it's an app for android phone, iphone, or bluestacks (a PC/Mac/Unix phone emulator), which may or may not go through my wireless router. Pah, I'll just remove the memory card and plug it into the computer's card reader, I don't need to transfer files that often. Why couldn't the camera just use an IP address?

On Sat, 05 Jan 2019 20:42:59 -0000, arlen holder wrote:

On Sat, 05 Jan 2019 20:31:15 -0000, Commander Kinsey wrote:

I have a video camera with WiFi. I can switch its WiFi on,
and the camera displays its WiFi SSID and password on its own screen.
How do I connect to this using Windows 10? My Windows 10 PC
does not have WiFi, but it's connected by ethernet cable to a
wireless router, which is where it gets its internet connection from.
Why can I not see the camera from the PC?
The wireless router is functional, as laptops can get onto the internet through it.

There are old school ways, and new school ways.
I only know the old school ways.
And, networking is complex, so I'm assuming simple SOHO setups here.
Like 192.168.1.x is your subnet (where yours can be anything).

Two things are critical in the old-school ways.
1. You must know the IP address of the device you wish to connect to
2. You must be on the SAME SUBNET as that IP address is on

Giving examples, let's say the device is at IP address 192.168.1.10
And, let's assume that your router is at IP address 192.168.1.1
And let's assume a typical netmask of 255.255.255.0
(If that's all gobbleygook to you - then someone else will have to help.)

What you do FIRST is ensure your PC is on the SAME SUBNET.
You use "ipconfig" at the DOS command line to figure out your subnet.
C:\ ipconfig
Lots of stuff will be spit out, but one of the lines will be something like
IPv4 Address. . . . . . . . . . . : 192.168.1.5
That will be the IP address of your PC.

Notice that the first three sections are the same: 192.168.1.XXX
That means you're on the same subnet.

If you're NOT on the same subnet, then you usually can't connect.
So get on the same subnet.

That's your FIRST goal.
Be on the same subnet.

Then ping the device.
C:\ ping -t 192.168.1.10

Practice ping by pinging your router
ping -t 192.168.1.1
(Use "Control+C" to stop the pinging.)

In short, if you're not on the same subnet, you're doomed (usually).
So get on the same subnet first.
Then ping the camera.

If those two things don't happen, IMHO, nothing else will.

Thanks for the detailed explanation. I don't think the camera has an IP address, or I could have done the above (I used to be a network admin!) - I seem to have to use this weird "XDV" program. Apparently it's an app for android phone, iphone, or bluestacks (a PC/Mac/Unix phone emulator), which may or may not go through my wireless router. Pah, I'll just remove the memory card and plug it into the computer's card reader, I don't need to transfer files that often. Why couldn't the camera just use an IP address? It does have a USB socket, but the computer doesn't see it. The manual sort of (if I understand Chinglish correctly) indicates you should be able to transfer files by USB.

Other than that, it's a damn good camera. £10 for a 4K (!) video camera only a few inches across, complete with waterproof housing, and about 10 attachments to fix it to bicycle handlebars, cycle helmet, etc, etc.

I've tested it, and it does actually record a fairly decent 4K video (or 16MP still) in all lighting at 30fps (no zoom though). It'll do 90fps if you lower it to 720p. It'll record for 1 hour 20 minutes on internal battery, or 9 hours onto a 64GB memory card if you connect it to a USB powerbank (can't easily waterproof that though). I got an iphone sized Li-Ion powerbank for £20 that claims 12V 20Ah at up to 400 amps! It's for starting a car, and it does actually do that. Not tested the amp hour rating though. It's got a USB socket on it, so you can charge a phone/camera/etc with it.

In article , Commander Kinsey
wrote:

The only pertinent info I can see in the manual is:
"Before using WiFi function, please install "XDV" APP program on the
smart phone"
Surely if a smart phone can access it, so can a Windows 10 PC?

A smart phone has wifi your PC does not.
A smart phone needs a specific App installed, do you have a
corresponding app for you PC?

You can easily buy a wifi adapter for your PC. You have to find a
suitable PC app.

Looks like it's not standard networking protocols the camera uses. No IP
address etc.

it uses standard networking protocols and has an ip address. otherwise,
it wouldn't work over wifi.

I looked up "XDV" and apparently it's an app for android phone,
iphone, or bluestacks (a PC/Mac/Unix phone emulator), which may or may not go
through my wireless router.

it doesn't.

Pah, I'll just remove the memory card and plug
it into the computer's card reader, I don't need to transfer files that often.
Why couldn't the camera just use an IP address?

it does, but it's on its own wifi network, thus the separate ssid.

a quick check suggests it can't be configured to join your wifi network
or any other wifi network. it is only an ad hoc access point.

On Sat, 05 Jan 2019 22:05:12 -0000, nospam wrote:

In article , Commander Kinsey
wrote:

The only pertinent info I can see in the manual is:
"Before using WiFi function, please install "XDV" APP program on the
smart phone"
Surely if a smart phone can access it, so can a Windows 10 PC?

A smart phone has wifi your PC does not.
A smart phone needs a specific App installed, do you have a
corresponding app for you PC?

You can easily buy a wifi adapter for your PC. You have to find a
suitable PC app.

Looks like it's not standard networking protocols the camera uses. No IP
address etc.

it uses standard networking protocols and has an ip address. otherwise,
it wouldn't work over wifi.

I looked up "XDV" and apparently it's an app for android phone,
iphone, or bluestacks (a PC/Mac/Unix phone emulator), which may or may not go
through my wireless router.

it doesn't.

Why not?

Pah, I'll just remove the memory card and plug
it into the computer's card reader, I don't need to transfer files that often.
Why couldn't the camera just use an IP address?

it does, but it's on its own wifi network, thus the separate ssid.

So why can't my computer access it as though it was a wireless router?

And can I have say three laptops with no router and they communicate with each other over wireless? Could one produce an SSID and the other two connect to it?

a quick check suggests it can't be configured to join your wifi network
or any other wifi network. it is only an ad hoc access point.

I don't understand. If it's using an IP address, why can't I find out that address and connect to it like any other device or computer? My assumption was it worked like that clamp thing I put next to my electricity meter, which uses the WiFi frequencies, but only communicates with it's own box, not a computer. I assumed it and the camera don't use TCP/IP, but just the same frequency range.

Kinsey wrote:

I have a video camera with WiFi. I can switch its WiFi on, and the
camera displays its WiFi SSID and password on its own screen.

So did you enter the password in the camera for the SSID of your wifi
router (or to whatever wifi AP [access point] to which you want to
connect the camera)?

How do I connect to this using Windows 10? My Windows 10 PC does not
have WiFi, but it's connected by ethernet cable to a wireless router,
which is where it gets its internet connection from. Why can I not
see the camera from the PC? The wireless router is functional, as
laptops can get onto the internet through it.

Use on of your PCs, like the laptops that can already connect via wifi
or a desktop using wired Ethernet, to connect to the internal web server
in the wifi router and look at the password specified there to allow
devices to connect to it. Specify that wifi router's password in the
wifi camera.

You had to do the same when you connected your wifi laptops to the wifi
router.

In article , Commander Kinsey
wrote:

Looks like it's not standard networking protocols the camera uses. No IP
address etc.

it uses standard networking protocols and has an ip address. otherwise,
it wouldn't work over wifi.

I looked up "XDV" and apparently it's an app for android phone,
iphone, or bluestacks (a PC/Mac/Unix phone emulator), which may or may not
go through my wireless router.

it doesn't.

Why not?

because it creates its own separate ad hoc wifi network.

that makes it a lot easier to set up and use, but it also makes it more
limited in functionality.

there are other cameras that work the way you would prefer.

Pah, I'll just remove the memory card and plug
it into the computer's card reader, I don't need to transfer files that
often.
Why couldn't the camera just use an IP address?

it does, but it's on its own wifi network, thus the separate ssid.

So why can't my computer access it as though it was a wireless router?

the main reason is you said your computer lacks wifi.

another computer with wifi could join the camera's ssid, but then
there's the problem with needing a mobile app to control it and view
what it sees.

although i didn't look too hard, it does appear that there are
compatible apps in addition to the standard app, but it doesn't look
like it outputs an mpeg stream, which would let you use a browser, vlc,
or similar app.

And can I have say three laptops with no router and they communicate with
each other over wireless? Could one produce an SSID and the other two
connect to it?

yes to both, but that's not the situation you describe.

a quick check suggests it can't be configured to join your wifi network
or any other wifi network. it is only an ad hoc access point.

I don't understand. If it's using an IP address, why can't I find out that
address and connect to it like any other device or computer?

because its ip address is on a separate wifi network, with the camera
as the access point.

you now have two wifi networks to choose, your usual one *or* the
camera's (plus any others nearby).

it's as separate as your neighbor's wifi network, but with a stronger
signal since it's a few feet away rather than next door or across the
street or whatever.

put simply, the camera is a host, not a peripheral.

My assumption
was it worked like that clamp thing I put next to my electricity meter, which
uses the WiFi frequencies, but only communicates with it's own box,
not a computer. I assumed it and the camera don't use TCP/IP,
but just the same frequency range.

i don't know what that clamp thing does (likely proprietary), but the
camera uses tcp/ip over wifi.

On 1/5/2019 5:18 PM, Commander Kinsey wrote:
on't understand.Â* If it's using an IP address, why can't I find out th
I don't have a smartphone or wireless camera, but surely there is an IP
address and a subnet mask.

On some modern routers there is a button that when pressed will connect
any device to the network. I am not sure how it works but I know it is
there on my Motorola router.

An alternative is to access the device list in the modem/router, and
find the if the camera is not connected to the router or if it iis
connected to the router what URL has been assigned to the camera.

Once you have it you can use it in the computer to access the camera.

--
2018: The year we learn to play the great game of Euchre

On Sat, 05 Jan 2019 23:03:18 -0000, nospam wrote:

In article , Commander Kinsey
wrote:

Looks like it's not standard networking protocols the camera uses. No IP
address etc.

it uses standard networking protocols and has an ip address. otherwise,
it wouldn't work over wifi.

I looked up "XDV" and apparently it's an app for android phone,
iphone, or bluestacks (a PC/Mac/Unix phone emulator), which may or may not
go through my wireless router.

it doesn't.

Why not?

because it creates its own separate ad hoc wifi network.

that makes it a lot easier to set up and use, but it also makes it more
limited in functionality.

there are other cameras that work the way you would prefer.

So my router is incapable of connected to another network and will only be in charge if its own one?

Pah, I'll just remove the memory card and plug
it into the computer's card reader, I don't need to transfer files that
often.
Why couldn't the camera just use an IP address?

it does, but it's on its own wifi network, thus the separate ssid.

So why can't my computer access it as though it was a wireless router?

the main reason is you said your computer lacks wifi.

another computer with wifi could join the camera's ssid, but then
there's the problem with needing a mobile app to control it and view
what it sees.

I guess they've done that to allow you to view the camera output directly, all I wanted was to access the memory card.

although i didn't look too hard, it does appear that there are
compatible apps in addition to the standard app, but it doesn't look
like it outputs an mpeg stream, which would let you use a browser, vlc,
or similar app.

And can I have say three laptops with no router and they communicate with
each other over wireless? Could one produce an SSID and the other two
connect to it?

yes to both, but that's not the situation you describe.

a quick check suggests it can't be configured to join your wifi network
or any other wifi network. it is only an ad hoc access point.

I don't understand. If it's using an IP address, why can't I find out that
address and connect to it like any other device or computer?

because its ip address is on a separate wifi network, with the camera
as the access point.

you now have two wifi networks to choose, your usual one *or* the
camera's (plus any others nearby).

it's as separate as your neighbor's wifi network, but with a stronger
signal since it's a few feet away rather than next door or across the
street or whatever.

put simply, the camera is a host, not a peripheral.

My assumption
was it worked like that clamp thing I put next to my electricity meter, which
uses the WiFi frequencies, but only communicates with it's own box,
not a computer. I assumed it and the camera don't use TCP/IP,
but just the same frequency range.

i don't know what that clamp thing does (likely proprietary), but the
camera uses tcp/ip over wifi.

Are you sure? Since you don't know the model of the camera.

On Sat, 05 Jan 2019 23:10:34 -0000, Keith Nuttle wrote:

On 1/5/2019 5:18 PM, Commander Kinsey wrote:
on't understand. If it's using an IP address, why can't I find out th
I don't have a smartphone or wireless camera, but surely there is an IP
address and a subnet mask.

On some modern routers there is a button that when pressed will connect
any device to the network. I am not sure how it works but I know it is
there on my Motorola router.

An alternative is to access the device list in the modem/router, and
find the if the camera is not connected to the router or if it iis
connected to the router what URL has been assigned to the camera.

Once you have it you can use it in the computer to access the camera.

I tried that, the router doesn't show the camera. It does show any laptops that connect to it. But only once I've told the laptop to access the router, the router won't see any laptops which are just sat there. The camera doesn't have any functions to allow me to tell it to access anything, it's behaving as a server only.

On 05/01/2019 20:31, Commander Kinsey wrote:
I have a video camera with WiFi. I can switch its WiFi on, and the
camera displays its WiFi SSID and password on its own screen.

Did it not come with a cable to connect it via your laptop's USB port?
Most cameras I have bought have a cable. I have never bought a camera
with wifi facility but I am not a keen photographer so this is not in
point here.


You are a new boy on the block here so this suggests to me that you are
a nym-shifter expecting to generate useless posts by posting this crap here.

Path: aioe.org!feeder.usenetexpress.com!feeder-in1.iad1.usenetexpress.com!news.alt.net
From: "Commander Kinsey"
Newsgroups: alt.comp.os.windows-10
Subject: How to connect to a wireless device (a video camera's memory card)
from windows 10?
Date: Sat, 05 Jan 2019 20:31:15 -0000
Organization: X
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Message-ID:
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Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
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Actually you must be the same pedo we have filtered out but since you
have changed your nym your post managed to come to my inbox!!! I have
now updated by filter list!!.





--
With over 950 million devices now running Windows 10, customer
satisfaction is higher than any previous version of windows.

On 05/01/2019 21:50, Commander Kinsey wrote:


It does have a USB socket, but the
computer doesn't see it.
The manual sort of (if I understand Chinglish
correctly) indicates you should be able to transfer files by USB.
Try, connecting the USB cable, then look at the camera's screen. Does it
not show two options, the likes of; 'Connect to computer' or 'Use as
Webcam'?