Control 4 issues, help please

[Topspin14m]

Yes i can still see them, no left, right, up or down control, but it does allow me to zoom?

You might see if one of the dealers on here can help you with some remote programming. There are some pretty experienced folks here who may be able to help.

My guess would have been that the camera is switching IP addresses, but the fact that you can connect to it kind of nixes that thought. If the camera itself is auto updating its firmware that could be an issue.


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[Dave D]

Hi topspin14m, we checked the ips and they have stayed at the same number. I did check with the camera guy who said all updates are off, at the start we thought it was an older version, so he updated all cameras, but I will check it again to make sure it was turned back off.

I had reached out to a couple of installers, two of them didn't want to know about it, the good - the cream has been done and spent, so they are picking up someone else's problem, you don't really blame them. I have managed to get one guy who said he will look later this month. 

I still have my L plates on with this site, not sure who is what, and to be honest I tried my best but most people go after you rather then helping, its the wacky world we now live in.

Thanks anyway champ, appreciate your advice.

[Bob999]

Hi Dave, welcome to the forums, it sounds like you are having a bit of a nightmare.

When selling Smarthome systems most salespeople neglect to talk very much about ongoing maintenance and service costs. lots of different systems being integrated, with no control over each manufacturers firmware/software update cycle the integrator (and customer) often gets stuck in the middle of a nightmare if the relationship isn’t managed properly from the beginning.

Some of the reliability issues can be mitigated by using fewer disparate systems (Ie Luma cctv, araknis switches, c4 lighting) but even if you go down this route I’d suggest a quarterly or at least 6 monthly service visit for updates and system tweaks.

 

Trying to integrate Dahua cameras and Cbus lighting within control4, whilst perfectly possible, is always going to throw up weird problems, I imagine if you get a good c4 guy on a reasonable monthly retainer you can keep rolling the rolling pin over it and you’ll get a pretty robust system eventually. If possible to replace the Dahua and Cbus with Luma and C4 lighting it will be considerably more stable.

Ruckus Wi-Fi is good, what Router and switches do you use and are the 30 cameras on same lan as everything else. Do you know total number of devices on the network and how they are addressed. (Ie do you have network map and IP table? The network is critical but I don’t think it is the problem in your case.

 

I’m not sure about Australia, but in the UK you should expect to be paying £1k-£5k+/year for a support contract depending on size of system and choice of dealer/level of service.

 

I wish I could be more helpful and sorry if this reads the wrong way but I speak from quite a lot of painful experience.

[msgreenf]

8 hours ago, Dave D said:

I think they changed one to a Chowmein, does that sound right? But I had a different C4 guy look at it who said my Control4 guy had auto updates clicked and this stops the control of the ptz, he fixed it but sadly it went again. I tried to reach out to this guy but he is away until; the end of the month.

I had my IT networked checked, as my control4 guy said it could be the router or the poe switches, but it was all good. But then the guy said it was this update box being clicked, i had them here together. We thought it was fixed but it went again.

I have 30 cameras on the property, 11 are ptz controlled, too expensive to change them over. I have spent a fortune trying to find the issue, but "they" seem to think its a control4 issue, it maybe updates and changes settings, does this sound possible?

No. Auto update doesn't break ptz. That a rubbish answer. 

[Dave D]

Hi Bob, thanks for your reply, there are a lot of things on the system, around 200 ips are being used,

Yes mate I am learning the hard way, the guys here are not overly helpful, its a busy market and a lot do it as a side gig, my guy is actually an electrician, he is quite smart but not very helpful.

Its just not knowing and trying to understand why it happens, we have gone 3 weeks now with a lot of the gear not working, you just get to the point and start asking yourself is the whole automation worth the headaches. My son keeps telling me to just use the amazon remotes, and find something else to control the cameras with, he maybe right, but its hard teaching an old dog new tricks.

Appreciate your advice.

[RAV]

Pretty clear where the issue is.

[therockhr]

4 hours ago, Dave D said:

Hi Bob, thanks for your reply, there are a lot of things on the system, around 200 ips are being used,

Yes mate I am learning the hard way, the guys here are not overly helpful, its a busy market and a lot do it as a side gig, my guy is actually an electrician, he is quite smart but not very helpful.

Its just not knowing and trying to understand why it happens, we have gone 3 weeks now with a lot of the gear not working, you just get to the point and start asking yourself is the whole automation worth the headaches. My son keeps telling me to just use the amazon remotes, and find something else to control the cameras with, he maybe right, but its hard teaching an old dog new tricks.

Appreciate your advice.

sounds like you have your answer. just take it out. it seems your biggest issue is PTZ control of your cameras and control of your FireTV. you dont need Control4 to do that.

[Time2Jet]

Hi Bob, thanks for your reply, there are a lot of things on the system, around 200 ips are being used,
Yes mate I am learning the hard way, the guys here are not overly helpful, its a busy market and a lot do it as a side gig, my guy is actually an electrician, he is quite smart but not very helpful.
Its just not knowing and trying to understand why it happens, we have gone 3 weeks now with a lot of the gear not working, you just get to the point and start asking yourself is the whole automation worth the headaches. My son keeps telling me to just use the amazon remotes, and find something else to control the cameras with, he maybe right, but its hard teaching an old dog new tricks.
Appreciate your advice.

“The guys on here are not overly helpful”.

That’s rubbish. Every single response, even the ones you didn’t like were meant to try to help you. Control4 is a trained professional dealer centric system that can only truly be maintained by an authorized dealer. A good dealer relationship is what you need and that costs money. 99% of the authorized dealers are fair and understanding.

Each issue you mentioned got some feedback. I think were you felt assailed was when a member suggested you focus on solution vs problem, as you clearly laid out all of the problems in your original post.

Get a dealer out to assess. Sounds like your existing guy is an electrician and that’s great, but won’t get you far in terms of addressing all of these gremlins.

Go to the list of dealers in your control4.com portal and note who’s nearby and call them and explain you have cbus lighting and third party camera drivers. They’ll either know how to get you fixed up or they’ll be honest if they don’t. Once you find an authorized dealer you’ll have a relationship whereby 80% of any issues that pop up can be fixed remotely.

Best of luck. Welcome to the forum (you definitely are welcome here, this is a great place and there are great people here… even ones that tell you things you don’t want to hear). Call a dealer and explain the system and the issues. They’ll whip you into shape and be there moving forward. Electricians are highly skilled tradesman, but Control4 is a highly specialized automation platform that requires an authorized dealer skilled in the overall system.


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[Dave D]

Time2jet, You need to read what i wrote, what I said is related to the people I am dealing with in "Sydney" Not on this page, its very clear.

Calm down a bit mate and it will make sense, Thanks anyway.

[technified]

Where in Aus are you located Dave?

[Dave D]

technified, Northwestern Sydney,

 

[Time2Jet]

Time2jet, You need to read what i wrote, what I said is related to the people I am dealing with in "Sydney" Not on this page, its very clear.
Calm down a bit mate and it will make sense, Thanks anyway.

lol, I definitely did read that wrong. Regardless, welcome and sorry you are having these struggles. You’ll likely need dwskwe intervention. There are a lot of people here from Aus, maybe even a dealer in your area. If not someone might could at least recommend.


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