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expireddubba-low | Staff posted Jun 14, 2024 11:51 PM
expireddubba-low | Staff posted Jun 14, 2024 11:51 PM

Costco Members: Wyze Security Cams: Wyze Cam v3 1080p Camera

+ Free S&H

$20

$36

44% off
Costco Wholesale
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Written by johnny_miller | Staff
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

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Editor's Notes

Written by johnny_miller | Staff
  • Please see the original post for additional details & give the WIKI and additional forum comments a read for helpful discussion.

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Top Comments

supersizedkid
1118 Posts
714 Reputation
I don't know anything about Wyze v4.

I have several of the Wyze V3s and several of the Tapo C120s, and they're all good, but the C120s are better for my use case:

Tapo pros:
Reliable live view
Reliable recording to microsd
Native RTSP support
Easy access to microsd recordings by zooming in on timeline or playing at 4x
AI includes vehicles, pets, and people
Tapo cons:
No rich notifications in mobile app

Wyze v3 pros:
Reliable live view
Reliable recording to microsd
Rich notifications
free cloud backup of 12 second event videos
cons:
5-minute cool-down period between notifications
AI for people only
Tedious to find events that occur during cool-down period without pulling microsd
No native RTSP, but there are workarounds like Tinycam pro


Overall, if you want live view and microsd recording just-in-case then they both work fine. If you're fine with the 5-minute-cool-down-period then Wyze v3 has better notifications. If you need to regularly review events that could happen more frequently than every 5 minutes (i.e. did mailman come 2 mins after a car drove by) then Tapo is the way to go.

Both offer more features if you pay monthly, but I can only speak to the free plans.
linnmays
121 Posts
31 Reputation
PSA: For those only on Cam Plus Lite (discontinued for new users earlier this year), be aware there is an app bug (which is affecting more & more people as time passes), where adding/activating a new cam to your account - such as a v3, will either cause the "Playback" button during Events to be greyed out (if on an older version of the app) or will say there is no MicroSD Card installed (if on the newer/latest version of the app).

Viewing Playback with a MicroSD Card through Live View still works, it's only the Playback (direct view to timestamp on SD card) in the Event Clips that is bugged.

So users now have to either write down or memorize the exact time, then go to Live View, then Playback & scroll to the time to see the full event (before & after the 12 second clip).

This bug first appeared around February 2024, a Wyze Employee claimed in April they found the cause, but so far there is still no fix & honestly doesn't look like they'll fix it since we're on the free grandfathered Cam Plus Lite subscription.

Here are some of the more active threads about this issue:
https://forums.wyze.com/t/playbac...out/292957
https://forums.wyze.com/t/playbac...iew/296184
LL_RRoD
878 Posts
268 Reputation
I loved my Wyze cams over the years, they were cheap simple and just worked.

Pre-ordered V4 off their site, apparently it came with a free subscription that was activated at purchase, I was billed a month later and even after contacting their CS they would not refund me. Note that the cams weren't even opened yet. Y u do dis wyze?

Their move to aggressive sub models is gross.

Thanks for listening to my sadpepe story.

163 Comments

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Jun 15, 2024 02:33 PM
436 Posts
Joined Jun 2018
MegaMaidJun 15, 2024 02:33 PM
436 Posts
The crappy web interface ruins the cam.
Jun 15, 2024 02:59 PM
2,241 Posts
Joined Mar 2012
RUBYSTEVENSJun 15, 2024 02:59 PM
2,241 Posts
Quote from cnmuranjan :
Does these cams have rtsp stream which i can use locally? possibly integrating w home assistant
Fairly simple, I use vlc to view. Format the sd card using the camera, then follow the guide, I didn't bother with ssh.
https://github.com/gtxaspec/wz_mi...stallation
Pro
Jun 15, 2024 03:17 PM
3,974 Posts
Joined Feb 2010
SumDuud
Pro
Jun 15, 2024 03:17 PM
3,974 Posts
For a cheap camera it is what it is. My only recommendation and issue is to make sure you don't have it pointed in a direction the sun will shine on it. Wyze v2 and v3 both have gotten a purple hue burnt into the recordings and viewing in a window I have facing west. The sun goes down and shines in that window (only window I have facing my driveway and see who is coming to the door). I put a Eufy 2k camera in the window to compare image quality and they've both sat there for over a year, wyze v2 and v3 both have the same issue, no issue with the Eufy
1
Pro
Jun 15, 2024 03:32 PM
14,083 Posts
Joined Aug 2004
avalon
Pro
Jun 15, 2024 03:32 PM
14,083 Posts
Quote from supersizedkid :
I don't know anything about Wyze v4.

I have several of the Wyze V3s and several of the Tapo C120s, and they're all good, but the C120s are better for my use case:

Tapo pros:
Reliable live view
Reliable recording to microsd
Native RTSP support
Easy access to microsd recordings by zooming in on timeline or playing at 4x
AI includes vehicles, pets, and people
Tapo cons:
No rich notifications in mobile app

Wyze v3 pros:
Reliable live view
Reliable recording to microsd
Rich notifications
free cloud backup of 12 second event videos
cons:
5-minute cool-down period between notifications
AI for people only
Tedious to find events that occur during cool-down period without pulling microsd
No native RTSP, but there are workarounds like Tinycam pro


Overall, if you want live view and microsd recording just-in-case then they both work fine. If you're fine with the 5-minute-cool-down-period then Wyze v3 has better notifications. If you need to regularly review events that could happen more frequently than every 5 minutes (i.e. did mailman come 2 mins after a car drove by) then Tapo is the way to go.

Both offer more features if you pay monthly, but I can only speak to the free plans.
requoting great list

another Tapo con is there is no http(s) way to get an immediately live still image (ie. it does not have a built in web server)

my 10+ year old ip cameras have still ability, a lot of people are complaining to Tapo who may someday add the ability

even the cheap chinese XM cameras have stills ability with a webserver
Jun 15, 2024 04:07 PM
610 Posts
Joined Nov 2007
Zer0Zer0Jun 15, 2024 04:07 PM
610 Posts
This company has serious security problems on their cloud services. I'd avoid them.
Jun 15, 2024 04:08 PM
1,805 Posts
Joined Nov 2007
h0va4lifeJun 15, 2024 04:08 PM
1,805 Posts
Quote from supersizedkid :
I don't know anything about Wyze v4.

I have several of the Wyze V3s and several of the Tapo C120s, and they're all good, but the C120s are better for my use case:

Tapo pros:
Reliable live view
Reliable recording to microsd
Native RTSP support
Easy access to microsd recordings by zooming in on timeline or playing at 4x
AI includes vehicles, pets, and people
Tapo cons:
No rich notifications in mobile app

Wyze v3 pros:
Reliable live view
Reliable recording to microsd
Rich notifications
free cloud backup of 12 second event videos
cons:
5-minute cool-down period between notifications
AI for people only
Tedious to find events that occur during cool-down period without pulling microsd
No native RTSP, but there are workarounds like Tinycam pro


Overall, if you want live view and microsd recording just-in-case then they both work fine. If you're fine with the 5-minute-cool-down-period then Wyze v3 has better notifications. If you need to regularly review events that could happen more frequently than every 5 minutes (i.e. did mailman come 2 mins after a car drove by) then Tapo is the way to go.

Both offer more features if you pay monthly, but I can only speak to the free plans.
Ultimately for most home users it's good quality notifications that matter - Tapo beats out Wyze due to FREE AI integration. Yes the notification will only be a text and if you don't have a SD card then most likely you will miss actually seeing the action, but grab a cheap SD card and you are golden. Also Tapo has rtsp as you mentioned.
Jun 15, 2024 04:09 PM
8,005 Posts
Joined Mar 2005
flangomangoJun 15, 2024 04:09 PM
8,005 Posts
Does anyone know the version of the cameras in this bundle?

https://www.costco.com/wyze-whole...80845.html

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Jun 15, 2024 04:30 PM
35 Posts
Joined Feb 2009
wextasyJun 15, 2024 04:30 PM
35 Posts
Quote from flangomango :
Does anyone know the version of the cameras in this bundle?

https://www.costco.com/wyze-whole...80845.html
Shows under specifications…Wyze Cam Pan v3 (x3)
Wyze Cam OG (x1)
Wyze Video Doorbell v2 (x1)
Jun 15, 2024 04:39 PM
4,174 Posts
Joined Feb 2006
ZerosvnJun 15, 2024 04:39 PM
4,174 Posts
Quote from flangomango :
Does anyone know the version of the cameras in this bundle?

https://www.costco.com/wyze-whole...80845.html
I was looking at that bundle too. Unfortunately it includes pan cam v3, which isn't supported by cam plus lite.

"Includes 3x Cam Pan v3, 1x Cam OG and 1x Video Doorbell"

Wonder if the cam OG & the doorbell do support it.

Got me two of the v3's cams. I have a v2 from a while back. I use a blink too but find the app & camera too slow. They do have battery models that work really well for many situations (like quickly drop them in various places when you go on vacation then remove when back).
Last edited by Zerosvn June 15, 2024 at 09:58 AM.
1
Jun 15, 2024 05:06 PM
195 Posts
Joined Jun 2015
beenwatchin4awhileJun 15, 2024 05:06 PM
195 Posts
Quote from SumDuud :
For a cheap camera it is what it is. My only recommendation and issue is to make sure you don't have it pointed in a direction the sun will shine on it. Wyze v2 and v3 both have gotten a purple hue burnt into the recordings and viewing in a window I have facing west. The sun goes down and shines in that window (only window I have facing my driveway and see who is coming to the door). I put a Eufy 2k camera in the window to compare image quality and they've both sat there for over a year, wyze v2 and v3 both have the same issue, no issue with the Eufy
Recently swapped out v3s w custom firmware to eufy cams. Native rtsp and local recording options. Not looking back.
Jun 15, 2024 05:09 PM
121 Posts
Joined Sep 2016
linnmaysJun 15, 2024 05:09 PM
121 Posts

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank linnmays

PSA: For those only on Cam Plus Lite (discontinued for new users earlier this year), be aware there is an app bug (which is affecting more & more people as time passes), where adding/activating a new cam to your account - such as a v3, will either cause the "Playback" button during Events to be greyed out (if on an older version of the app) or will say there is no MicroSD Card installed (if on the newer/latest version of the app).

Viewing Playback with a MicroSD Card through Live View still works, it's only the Playback (direct view to timestamp on SD card) in the Event Clips that is bugged.

So users now have to either write down or memorize the exact time, then go to Live View, then Playback & scroll to the time to see the full event (before & after the 12 second clip).

This bug first appeared around February 2024, a Wyze Employee claimed in April they found the cause, but so far there is still no fix & honestly doesn't look like they'll fix it since we're on the free grandfathered Cam Plus Lite subscription.

Here are some of the more active threads about this issue:
https://forums.wyze.com/t/playbac...out/292957
https://forums.wyze.com/t/playbac...iew/296184

5
Jun 15, 2024 05:16 PM
12,855 Posts
Joined Nov 2006
poohbieJun 15, 2024 05:16 PM
12,855 Posts
Quote from ryancguy :
Wyze is fine unless you have a problem. They bricked one of my cams with a software update and refused to fully replace it. I also bought a year of cam plus but never activated it. Apparently they started the clock for it the day I ordered it even though I wasn't using it. A year later they charged me for another year. I called them immediately to cancel but unlike other companies their policy is no refunds, period.
Early on in their life, their response to any issue was sending a new replacement camera. Now, their support sucks.
Jun 15, 2024 05:21 PM
734 Posts
Joined Aug 2011
wake09Jun 15, 2024 05:21 PM
734 Posts
Quote from lester78 :
No idea. I'm new to wyze cam and have the v3 cam. There's no way for me to register to cam plus lite. Not sure why no one is mentioning that cam plus lite is not available to new users anymore. If I knew it before, I would have gone with the v4 instead.
You can't add it on your phone. Must log into your account in their website to see it.
Jun 15, 2024 05:28 PM
6,241 Posts
Joined Mar 2008
redpoint5Jun 15, 2024 05:28 PM
6,241 Posts
Camera deals always drive me crazy because all the unimportant specs are mentioned, and none of the important ones. What is the connection method? What is the field of view (FOV)? How big is the image sensor? What protocols does it support?...
2
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1

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Jun 15, 2024 05:34 PM
3,539 Posts
Joined Dec 2008
clinteastwoodJun 15, 2024 05:34 PM
3,539 Posts
Quote from redpoint5 :
Camera deals always drive me crazy because all the unimportant specs are mentioned, and none of the important ones. What is the connection method? What is the field of view (FOV)? How big is the image sensor? What protocols does it support?...
Have you tried looking any of this up on Wyze website?

Good lord.
1

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