https://www.screwfix.com/p/luceco-castra-smart-outdoor-led-floodlight-
with-pir-sensor-black-20w-2000lm/347kj

I cannot seem to get it to pair. Either by "Smart" mode or AP mode.I have
disabled the 5GHz function on my router and tested the 2.4G signal
strength at the floodlight itself -57dBm (strongest signal in the list).

When trying Smart pairing, the LED inside the PIR flashes and then stops
(as if something has happened) but the app just spins and fails.

Trying the AP setup route, I get to see the device AP and connect to it.
But then still no dice.

Are there any hidden gotchas I'm missing ? My thermostat, plug and robovac
are all happy on the Wifi, so it's looking more like the floodlight.

Big tip for anyone thinking of getting one of these is to set it up
*before* you mount it 8ft off the ground :)

On 03/08/2022 11:40, Jethro_uk wrote:
> I cannot seem to get it to pair. Either by "Smart" mode or AP mode.I have
> disabled the 5GHz ....

I'm having similar with a wildlife camera, very frustrating.

On Wed, 03 Aug 2022 11:43:32 +0100, R D S wrote:

> On 03/08/2022 11:40, Jethro_uk wrote:
>> I cannot seem to get it to pair. Either by "Smart" mode or AP mode.I
>> have disabled the 5GHz ....
>
>
> I'm having similar with a wildlife camera, very frustrating.

My guess is they used the cheapest chipset (hence the 2.4G restriction)
and that is probably being incredibly literal in it's enforcing of
standards. There are also some subtle notes in the AP setup method -
needing to disable mobile data for one.

The thing is without the app I can't set sensitivity or time-on settings.

At least I have a few tools - I can try an old 2Wire router if needs be
to eliminate that.

Just think, a few years ago people were hysterical about North Korea
hacking all our "smart" gear. Be a miracle if I can get it working. And I
have it here next to me !

On 8/3/2022 6:55 AM, Jethro_uk wrote:
> On Wed, 03 Aug 2022 11:43:32 +0100, R D S wrote:
>
>> On 03/08/2022 11:40, Jethro_uk wrote:
>>> I cannot seem to get it to pair. Either by "Smart" mode or AP mode.I
>>> have disabled the 5GHz ....
>>
>>
>> I'm having similar with a wildlife camera, very frustrating.
>
> My guess is they used the cheapest chipset (hence the 2.4G restriction)
> and that is probably being incredibly literal in it's enforcing of
> standards. There are also some subtle notes in the AP setup method -
> needing to disable mobile data for one.
>
> The thing is without the app I can't set sensitivity or time-on settings.
>
> At least I have a few tools - I can try an old 2Wire router if needs be
> to eliminate that.
>
> Just think, a few years ago people were hysterical about North Korea
> hacking all our "smart" gear. Be a miracle if I can get it working. And I
> have it here next to me !
>

Connects via "fastcon 2 protocol" over Wifi. Notice you must have
facial growth "similar to a young sheep" to participate.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/0c77db_f4e5309e43374e1d8390b42c39e877cc~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_740,h_419,al_c,q_90/0c77db_f4e5309e43374e1d8390b42c39e877cc~mv2.webp

It claims to use a mesh network, outside of the router itself.

https://www.broadlink.ae/post/what-is-broadlink-fastcon-technology

This might be the squarish box in the picture. Sold separately.
The squarish box converts between Wifi and "Fastcon". And it's mesh
connected from the squarish box, anywhere to the right. And of course,
it does not say "Fastcon" or "Fastcon 2", I guess for a few more
dubloons a coverall-clad individual will come to your door and fix it.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/BroadlinkOnline/FastCon/page/F55F072B-DEA9-4368-BDA0-FCBCC5B5EEE7

I bet money can make it work. Money is the molybdenum grease of society.

I sure hope someone has written a review for this product, as the
odds of these clowns explaining anything is just about zero.

Paul

Don't worry, if you live in London all the cameras will be available with
no permissions to the Met, Maybe the floodlights should be as well! Its a
strange world indeed. All the tech and its still buggered.
Brian

--

--:
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...
briang1@blueyonder.co.uk
Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Jethro_uk" <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> wrote in message
news:tcdk7j$1b3kn$12@dont-email.me...
> On Wed, 03 Aug 2022 11:43:32 +0100, R D S wrote:
>
>> On 03/08/2022 11:40, Jethro_uk wrote:
>>> I cannot seem to get it to pair. Either by "Smart" mode or AP mode.I
>>> have disabled the 5GHz ....
>>
>>
>> I'm having similar with a wildlife camera, very frustrating.
>
> My guess is they used the cheapest chipset (hence the 2.4G restriction)
> and that is probably being incredibly literal in it's enforcing of
> standards. There are also some subtle notes in the AP setup method -
> needing to disable mobile data for one.
>
> The thing is without the app I can't set sensitivity or time-on settings.
>
> At least I have a few tools - I can try an old 2Wire router if needs be
> to eliminate that.
>
> Just think, a few years ago people were hysterical about North Korea
> hacking all our "smart" gear. Be a miracle if I can get it working. And I
> have it here next to me !

On Wed, 03 Aug 2022 08:03:25 -0400, Paul wrote:

> I sure hope someone has written a review for this product, as the odds
> of these clowns explaining anything is just about zero.

Well the final resort is consumer law and the onus on the retailer to
show it works or refund.

The thing is without the app, it's useless even as a regular PIR
floodlight as you can't adjust sensitivity, ambient threshold and length
of light-on. So they can't even knock £25 off.

On Wed, 03 Aug 2022 10:40:38 +0000, Jethro_uk wrote:

> https://www.screwfix.com/p/luceco-castra-smart-outdoor-led-floodlight-
> with-pir-sensor-black-20w-2000lm/347kj
>
> I cannot seem to get it to pair. Either by "Smart" mode or AP mode.I
> have disabled the 5GHz function on my router and tested the 2.4G signal
> strength at the floodlight itself -57dBm (strongest signal in the list).
>
> When trying Smart pairing, the LED inside the PIR flashes and then stops
> (as if something has happened) but the app just spins and fails.
>
> Trying the AP setup route, I get to see the device AP and connect to it.
> But then still no dice.
>
> Are there any hidden gotchas I'm missing ? My thermostat, plug and
> robovac are all happy on the Wifi, so it's looking more like the
> floodlight.
>
> Big tip for anyone thinking of getting one of these is to set it up
> *before* you mount it 8ft off the ground :)

So digging out an old BT 2Wire router (who hasn't got one or ten from
previous jobs ?) which is only 2.4G - proper 2.4G - and putting it next
to my phone and the floodlight still doesn't work.

Clearly something is "catching" as the floodlights LED goes off when the
phone starts it's pairing process. Every time.

I'd be interested to know if anyone ever got one of these working. This
would be the first time I contact a distributor with a problem only to
discover that I'm the only person actually using that feature.

Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> wrote:
> https://www.screwfix.com/p/luceco-castra-smart-outdoor-led-floodlight-
> with-pir-sensor-black-20w-2000lm/347kj
>
> I cannot seem to get it to pair. Either by "Smart" mode or AP mode.I have
> disabled the 5GHz function on my router and tested the 2.4G signal
> strength at the floodlight itself -57dBm (strongest signal in the list).
>
> When trying Smart pairing, the LED inside the PIR flashes and then stops
> (as if something has happened) but the app just spins and fails.
>
> Trying the AP setup route, I get to see the device AP and connect to it.
> But then still no dice.
>
> Are there any hidden gotchas I'm missing ? My thermostat, plug and robovac
> are all happy on the Wifi, so it's looking more like the floodlight.
>
> Big tip for anyone thinking of getting one of these is to set it up
> *before* you mount it 8ft off the ground :)
>

Is there a ‘reset’ function?

I’ve had the odd ‘difficult’ Smart device, which wouldn’t connect even in
AP mode ( usually after some other problem). But, after a reset ( typically
a very long press of the single button at power on) they would connect just
fine.

Brian <noinv@lid.org> wrote:
> Is there a ‘reset’ function?
>
> I’ve had the odd ‘difficult’ Smart device, which wouldn’t connect even in
> AP mode ( usually after some other problem). But, after a reset ( typically
> a very long press of the single button at power on) they would connect just
> fine.

That's true - possible somebody bought the thing, paired it with their
phone, and then returned it. Result is the item is now paired with a phone
it can no longer see and doesn't respond.

I had that yesterday with a 'new' widget from ebay, which told me the widget
wasn't in fact new. (but was otherwise fine)

Theo

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
> Brian <noinv@lid.org> wrote:
>> Is there a ‘reset’ function?
>>
>> I’ve had the odd ‘difficult’ Smart device, which wouldn’t connect even in
>> AP mode ( usually after some other problem). But, after a reset ( typically
>> a very long press of the single button at power on) they would connect just
>> fine.
>
> That's true - possible somebody bought the thing, paired it with their
> phone, and then returned it. Result is the item is now paired with a phone
> it can no longer see and doesn't respond.

Or possibly, it hasn’t completed the pairing / registration process and is
in ‘limbo’.

I don’t pretend to fully understand the details of the pairing /
registration process but it has always seemed vulnerable due to the time
taken to communicate with the Tuya (or other system) server. There must be
countless registrations going on, plus all the responses to commands etc.
at any given time. If your registration process times out, is there a
recovery process, or does the your device assume all is well once it
connects to your Wi-Fi but then can’t communicate with the server as it
isn’t actually registered. It is the kind of typical fault you see in a
registration system- especially if corners are cut in the coding.

On Thu, 04 Aug 2022 17:07:37 +0100, Theo wrote:

> Brian <noinv@lid.org> wrote:
>> Is there a ‘reset’ function?
>>
>> I’ve had the odd ‘difficult’ Smart device, which wouldn’t connect even
>> in AP mode ( usually after some other problem). But, after a reset (
>> typically a very long press of the single button at power on) they
>> would connect just fine.
>
> That's true - possible somebody bought the thing, paired it with their
> phone, and then returned it. Result is the item is now paired with a
> phone it can no longer see and doesn't respond.
>
> I had that yesterday with a 'new' widget from ebay, which told me the
> widget wasn't in fact new. (but was otherwise fine)
>
> Theo

No reset button. You have to use a series of off/on (from "on") to
trigger the pairing. Which a red LED indicates from inside the PIR cover.
And I can get it into setup mode (and "AP connect" mode) this way.

Seeing the comment below makes me wonder if it insists on internet access
to pair (without it being explicitly mentioned) ???? As the 2Wire router
I put in place isn't connected to the internet.

Hmmm.

Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> wrote:
> No reset button. You have to use a series of off/on (from "on") to
> trigger the pairing. Which a red LED indicates from inside the PIR cover.
> And I can get it into setup mode (and "AP connect" mode) this way.
>
> Seeing the comment below makes me wonder if it insists on internet access
> to pair (without it being explicitly mentioned) ???? As the 2Wire router
> I put in place isn't connected to the internet.

That was the case for my widget yesterday. I connected it to my 'local'
WLAN, to which I attach widgets that I don't want to talk to the internet.
It found it, but wouldn't complete pairing. So I did the reset process and
connected it to my 'internet-but-nothing-else' WLAN, and it paired
successfully.

I'd expect your light needs internet to function, if the phone app is
supposed to work if it's not on the same WLAN as the light.
(a very common situation with IoT stuff)

Theo

On 04/08/2022 18:50, Jethro_uk wrote:
> On Thu, 04 Aug 2022 17:07:37 +0100, Theo wrote:
>
>> Brian <noinv@lid.org> wrote:
>>> Is there a ‘reset’ function?
>>>
>>> I’ve had the odd ‘difficult’ Smart device, which wouldn’t connect even
>>> in AP mode ( usually after some other problem). But, after a reset (
>>> typically a very long press of the single button at power on) they
>>> would connect just fine.
>>
>> That's true - possible somebody bought the thing, paired it with their
>> phone, and then returned it. Result is the item is now paired with a
>> phone it can no longer see and doesn't respond.
>>
>> I had that yesterday with a 'new' widget from ebay, which told me the
>> widget wasn't in fact new. (but was otherwise fine)
>>
>> Theo
>
> No reset button. You have to use a series of off/on (from "on") to
> trigger the pairing. Which a red LED indicates from inside the PIR cover.
> And I can get it into setup mode (and "AP connect" mode) this way.
>
> Seeing the comment below makes me wonder if it insists on internet access
> to pair (without it being explicitly mentioned) ???? As the 2Wire router
> I put in place isn't connected to the internet.
>

gosh, that'd be a surprise given Screwfix have up front and clearly on
the on the page to which you linked:

"Hub Not Required, Internet Connection Required"

'cos everyone knows real techies never RTF ad :)

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

On Thu, 4 Aug 2022 19:15:14 +0100
Robin <rbw@outlook.com> wrote:

> gosh, that'd be a surprise given Screwfix have up front and clearly
> on the on the page to which you linked:
>
> "Hub Not Required, Internet Connection Required"
>
> 'cos everyone knows real techies never RTF ad :)
>
You beat me to it.

All fixed. The trick was (as some posters noted) that the 2.4G network I
had dedicated to this beast *needed* the internet. (You can't just hang a
router off my network to the outside world).

Floodlight connected and available to adjust mode, sensitivity,
background light, duration *and* output.

I wonder what it "needed" from t'internet. In days gone by I'd have
wiresharked it.

I wonder if we get too uppity with China, all our "smart" stops working ?

Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> wrote:
> All fixed. The trick was (as some posters noted) that the 2.4G network I
> had dedicated to this beast *needed* the internet. (You can't just hang a
> router off my network to the outside world).
>
> Floodlight connected and available to adjust mode, sensitivity,
> background light, duration *and* output.
>
> I wonder what it "needed" from t'internet. In days gone by I'd have
> wiresharked it.

The light talks to a cloud server somewhere, the app talks to the same cloud
server, messages are passed back and forth. Since the phone may not be on
the same wifi as the light, everything goes via the cloud server. And of
course you probably need to 'register' (hand over personal data) to operate
your light switch.

(some of the Tuya stuff does have a local connection for on/off events, but
everything is established via the cloud. There's no webserver/etc on
the device. This one is Broadlink so I'm not sure what it does)

> I wonder if we get too uppity with China, all our "smart" stops working ?

Or starts doing 'other things'.

Theo

On Sat, 6 Aug 2022 15:50:18 -0000 (UTC)
Jethro_uk <jethro_uk@hotmailbin.com> wrote:

> I wonder what it "needed" from t'internet. In days gone by I'd have
> wiresharked it.
>
The server for our smart cat flap was down for a day a few weeks back,
it continued to work properly but I couldn't change the settings, which
is a substantial part of the usefulness of a smart device. I needed to
stop one cat from going outside, so I put a bin in front of the too
fucking smart for its own good cat flap.

> I wonder if we get too uppity with China, all our "smart" stops
> working ?

It does anyway, without any political encouragement.

On 8/6/2022 11:50 AM, Jethro_uk wrote:
> All fixed. The trick was (as some posters noted) that the 2.4G network I
> had dedicated to this beast *needed* the internet. (You can't just hang a
> router off my network to the outside world).
>
> Floodlight connected and available to adjust mode, sensitivity,
> background light, duration *and* output.
>
> I wonder what it "needed" from t'internet. In days gone by I'd have
> wiresharked it.
>
> I wonder if we get too uppity with China, all our "smart" stops working ?
>

Even if you'd Wiresharked it, you might get details in the form
of an IP address, but it probably uses TLS for comms. It would be
unlikely for modern kit to talk in plaintext.

Paul

I have the same problem the light isn't seen by the app, so how exactly did you get around this.

--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/so-this-smart-floodlight-3221893-.htm

On Thu, 29 Sep 2022 19:15:04 +0000, Dai wrote:

> I have the same problem the light isn't seen by the app, so how exactly
> did you get around this.

You need a real 2.4 GHz WiFi hub - that can access the internet. That's
what I setup (have a few 2Wire BT routers knocking about) .