Logitech Circle 2 Camera Gains Support for HomeKit Secure Video

[FoxMcCloud]

Once we switch over to HomeKit secured storage and remove our cameras from the Circle app, how do we get future firmware updates? Beyond beta firmware?

I believe it will update itself. From what I've gathered, there are other smart devices out there that are HomeKit only (don't have their own app) and they and HomeKit handles the updates. I may be completely wrong.

But logically, if we have completely divorced the camera from the circle app, then it must have a way of updating itself. Previously we needed the app to set such options as night vision and the LED, now that is in the HomeKit interface.

Heres hoping more options will go in there like field of view, mounted location etc.

I guess we don't need to worry about quality...the video flows at max quality to the HomeKit hub device, which the handles everything from there.

 

[CamiMR]

Good to see it has been rolled out fairly quickly!
Am I right in saying that unless you pay for extra iCloud storage, you have no access to HomeKit Secure Video?

 

[teobilly]

Question, Are you using the Logic in 1080p or 720 with Home app ?? in the past there were problems if used in 1080p with Home App, have they solved?
Will the recordings take up space in my 200GB or are they counted separately?

 

[dan9700]

Question, Are you using the Logic in 1080p or 720 with Home app ?? in the past there were problems if used in 1080p with Home App, have they solved?
Will the recordings take up space in my 200GB or are they counted separately?

You can’t change the res now so not sure if it’s 720 or 1080

 

[teobilly]

You can’t change the res now so not sure if it’s 720 or 1080

Before you change to Secure video how was the resolution set? Does it work well now?
About the space in the cloud ?

 

[MLVC]

If I remember correctly it doesn't count towards your iCloud storage. You do need 2TB for multiple cameras though.

 

[dan9700]

I

Before you change to Secure video how was the resolution set? Does it work well now?
About the space in the cloud ?

i set it to 1080 and seems the same now but using 4g out my home it doesn’t connect straight away need to do more testing

 

[idrewuk]

Can anybody tell me if with this camera on HomeKit you can view your footage from any time and make a clip to save to your device? Which is what I can currently do with Nest but want to move away from Google products.

 

[teobilly]

Done, I change to Secure Video, now in my Home app the camera say "no response"

Solve the problem. If you have some problem or you can't stream your camera there the solution that worked for me:

Improving your camera’s connectivity experience with HomeKit Secure Video
After converting your camera to support HomeKit Secure Video, the Circle app will check to see if your your camera’s connectivity may be improved within the Home App and let you know if this is the case.
This involves updating the camera’s Wi-Fi connection with the Home app. To do this follow the steps below.
NOTE: This will only work on cameras that have already been converted to support HomeKit Secure Video. Do not try this on earlier versions of the camera firmware.
Getting ready

• You have an iPhone/iPod touch with iOS 13.2 or later / iPad with iPadOS 13.2 or later — this is connected to your home network and you can watch the live stream of the camera in the Home app.

Steps to optimize the connectivity experience

1. Press and hold the camera reset button and let go when you see the blinking magenta and yellow LED colors (6-9 seconds).
2. Wait for a few minutes after the camera LED is solid green.
3. Open the Home app on your mobile device on iOS 13.2 / iPadOS 13.2 or later.
4. Open the camera live view (which will say that the camera is not responding).
5. Tap the settings icon on the top left — this should bring up the settings menu for the camera.
6. Wait for a few minutes until you see the option to Update Accessory Wi-Fi Settings. Tap this.
7. Your camera should reconnect to the home network and its connectivity should be optimized for HomeKit Secure Video.

 

[rikscha]

Just appeared for me in the UK.



Be interesting to hear how you get on. I imagine you lose the ability to set ‘Motion Zones’ once you enable HomeKit Secure Video? Any updates appreciated.

Also in UK no beta option in my settings

 

[steeevo]

I wonder wether netatmo presence camera will get the homekit update?

also does anyone know what field of view does Homekit set as i like having it wide and dont want to update if its going to narrow the view!

 

[d.steve]

Some other impressions so far....

The firmware update issue...how will we update?

Logitech rep said its automatic. Presumably through the HomeKit hub and/or Home app.

EDIT: details:

Once you have converted the camera to HomeKit Secure Video (8.x firmware), all future firmware updates will be installed automatically. The camera checks once a day and will then apply any update in the middle of the night. You can force a firmware update check by power cycling (rebooting) the camera.

Can't set the sensitivity of the microphone.
- Can't turn it off on a per camera basis either.

For recordings, there's a "Record Audio" option on a per camera basis, and a mute button in live view, but otherwise, yeah.

The night vision, while better overall(I think, may be just my imagination), is way too sensitive. Changes in white on tv was setting it off for our living room camera; not how it was before.

And the motion sensor is way too sensitive now. Actually, that might be why night vision is too sensitive. It's unusable for notifications and automations, now.

 

[nitramluap]

So far I’m impressed. The live stream appears almost immediately in the Home app now, whereas previously it took forever to load (presumably via the Logi App) and the recordings & motion detection are spot on.

 

[BF1M]

Logitech rep said its automatic. Presumably through the HomeKit hub and/or Home app.

EDIT: details:

Once you have converted the camera to HomeKit Secure Video (8.x firmware), all future firmware updates will be installed automatically. The camera checks once a day and will then apply any update in the middle of the night. You can force a firmware update check by power cycling (rebooting) the camera.



For recordings, there's a "Record Audio" option on a per camera basis, and a mute button in live view, but otherwise, yeah.



And the motion sensor is way too sensitive now. Actually, that might be why night vision is too sensitive. It's unusable for notifications and automations, now.

Yes, I noticed the sensitivity issue for the motion detector as well. Our porch camera had an automation set up to turn on the porch light(then off after a minute) but I had to delete it. It was basically flipping on and off all night.

 

[dog.cow]

Impressed so far, as others have said it connects instantly (on Wi-Fi) and I like the timeline feature.

The best bit is this is the beginning, it’s only going to improve.

 

[HDFan]

On sale now Amazon.us at lowest price ever $109:

Logitech Circle 2 Indoor/Outdoor Weatherproof Wireless Home Security Camera (Person Detection, 24-Hr Free Time-Lapse), Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

Meet Circle 2, the only indoor and outdoor, weatherproof, wired or 100% wire-free 1080p full HD home security camera with night vision and up to 180° wide-angle field-of-view that you can set up in minutes, and goes just about anywhere. You can count on your footage being secure. Every Circle 2 s...

www.amazon.com

Reviews are not good, 2.5 stars.

 

[BF1M]

The wireless ones don’t work with HomeKit. Unless that has changed?

 

[munpip214]

On sale now Amazon.us at lowest price ever $109:

Logitech Circle 2 Indoor/Outdoor Weatherproof Wireless Home Security Camera (Person Detection, 24-Hr Free Time-Lapse), Works with Alexa and Google Assistant

Meet Circle 2, the only indoor and outdoor, weatherproof, wired or 100% wire-free 1080p full HD home security camera with night vision and up to 180° wide-angle field-of-view that you can set up in minutes, and goes just about anywhere. You can count on your footage being secure. Every Circle 2 s...

www.amazon.com

Reviews are not good, 2.5 stars.

Nope. That’s the wireless one that isn’t HomeKit compatible. Need the wired version:
Logitech Circle 2 Indoor/Outdoor Wired Home Security Camera Works with Alexa, HomeKit and Google, with Easy Setup, 1080p HD, 180° Wide-Angle, Night Vision, 2-Way Talk, Alerts, Free 24-Hours Storage https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0711V3LSQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DL6ZDb9J3NHVC

 

[HDFan]

Stand corrected, wired version required.

 

[gordoabc]

Done, I change to Secure Video, now in my Home app the camera say "no response"

Solve the problem. If you have some problem or you can't stream your camera there the solution that worked for me:

Improving your camera’s connectivity experience with HomeKit Secure Video
After converting your camera to support HomeKit Secure Video, the Circle app will check to see if your your camera’s connectivity may be improved within the Home App and let you know if this is the case.
This involves updating the camera’s Wi-Fi connection with the Home app. To do this follow the steps below.
NOTE: This will only work on cameras that have already been converted to support HomeKit Secure Video. Do not try this on earlier versions of the camera firmware.
Getting ready

• You have an iPhone/iPod touch with iOS 13.2 or later / iPad with iPadOS 13.2 or later — this is connected to your home network and you can watch the live stream of the camera in the Home app.

Steps to optimize the connectivity experience

1. Press and hold the camera reset button and let go when you see the blinking magenta and yellow LED colors (6-9 seconds).
2. Wait for a few minutes after the camera LED is solid green.
3. Open the Home app on your mobile device on iOS 13.2 / iPadOS 13.2 or later.
4. Open the camera live view (which will say that the camera is not responding).
5. Tap the settings icon on the top left — this should bring up the settings menu for the camera.
6. Wait for a few minutes until you see the option to Update Accessory Wi-Fi Settings. Tap this.
7. Your camera should reconnect to the home network and its connectivity should be optimized for HomeKit Secure Video.

I tried this and now appear to be bricked. I get to the Update Accessory Wi-Fi Settings in step 6 but it doesn't respond.

 

[steeevo]

Looks like you need to contact logitech to restore it to factory settings and start from scratch

 

[dan9700]

I have 200gb plan and still can’t see record just view
[automerge]1574092448[/automerge]

So far I’m impressed. The live stream appears almost immediately in the Home app now, whereas previously it took forever to load (presumably via the Logi App) and the recordings & motion detection are spot on.

Can you help me I just got one and converted it and only have 1 camera and changed my iCloud to 200gb so can record now it allows me to select record but I see no timeline or any recordings

 

[d.steve]

I have 200gb plan and still can’t see record just view
[automerge]1574092448[/automerge]

Can you help me I just got one and converted it and only have 1 camera and changed my iCloud to 200gb so can record now it allows me to select record but I see no timeline or any recordings

Make sure you went into the settings for the camera in the Home app and set the Steaming & Recording options to "Steam & Allow Recording" and "Recording Options" as desired. If that's set, turn it off and turn it back on to see if that resets it.

Make sure it sees something to record, as the recording view doesn't show up until it records something.

If that doesn't help, try, in order (easiest, safest first):
- Turn off camera and back on
- Reboot the home hub if that doesn't help
- Remove and read the camera into HomeKit

These are things I've seen other people say have helped.

 

[dan9700]

Make sure you went into the settings for the camera in the Home app and set the Steaming & Recording options to "Steam & Allow Recording" and "Recording Options" as desired. If that's set, turn it off and turn it back on to see if that resets it.

Make sure it sees something to record, as the recording view doesn't show up until it records something.

If that doesn't help, try, in order (easiest, safest first):
- Turn off camera and back on
- Reboot the home hub if that doesn't help
- Remove and read the camera into HomeKit

These are things I've seen other people say have helped.

I have tried to unpair it restart it etc and my 2 HomePods are the home hubs but still nothing it says it’s on recording and stream and I set it for all motion and all notifications but nothing it jus shows me live view, it’s so worrying now, I have seen some others are having issue

 

[btrach144]

Someone on Reddit was claiming that the Circle 2 has been discontinued. B&H Photo confirmed with the person over chat and their website lists the products as discontinued.