UpBlink Troubleshooting Guide

Do you have a setup video for UpBlink?

Below is a full setup video for UpBlink with our outdoor enclosures. You can also view other helpful instructional videos in the “Support” section.

Can UpBlink be powered from the GoPro camera battery?

No, UpBlink cannot be powered directly from the GoPro battery and requires an external power supply to be connected to the UpBlink micro USB port.
If using a HERO5 Black and have a 5V 2A external power supply, such as our V44 battery pack, UpBlink should be powered without the GoPro battery inside the camera to enable the safety reset feature that allows for the system to recover from a GoPro camera crash.

What is the most common cause for a GoPro camera crash?

The most common cause of a GoPro camera crash is the use of an SD card that does not meet the U3 speed requirements for reliable use with the GoPro camera. A slow SD card can affect the timing of both UpBlink and GoPro camera resulting in issues such as: corrupted footage, overheating, missed triggers, and camera crashes. You are strongly advised to test your SD card speed to ensure it attains above the 30MB/s reed and write speeds indicated by the U3 symbol, which is required by the GoPro camera. Note that there are counterfeit cards available with false name brands printed on the card that do not attain the speeds indicated by the U3 symbol.

If your SD card has previously been used on another device other than the spesific GoPro model currently in use (smartphone/DSLR/drone/HERO3/etc.), the card's performance can be improved by preforming a "full-format" (not quick-format via the GoPro menu) of the SD card using a computer and SD card reader to fully purge all the information on the SD card about other device(s). Information on the SD card about a different device can affect the performance of the card when used with the GoPro camera. Once the SD card has been fully formatted using a computer you should "quick format" the card using the GoPro camera menu to initialize the "new" SD card for use with the GoPro camera.

I have UpBlink powered from an external battery pack. Why does the shooting schedule only last for one day when I still have power in the external battery pack?

Most USB batteries on the market have an automatic power saving feature which turns off the battery's output if the battery is not constantly supplying power to a device. Since UpBlink draws very low power when not triggering the camera, if the GoPro is powered off for more than a few minutes between triggers, the external battery might automatically shutdown due to inactivity.

Our battery packs are specially designed for use with the UpBlink controller because they have an Always On power output mode. Our V50 battery packs have the "Always On" mode enabled whenever a USB cable is connected to either of the USB output ports.

However, our V44 and V15 battery packs have two modes of operation, the "Always On" mode that is required for UpBlink as well as the standard "Auto Off" mode. With the V44 and V15, Always On mode must be manually enabled to prevent the battery output from automatically turning off since the camera system is drawing very low power between scheduled triggers. Below is a video showing how to confirm your V44 or V15 battery pack is set to the correct Always On mode of operation.

If using our V15 or V44 battery, make sure to activate the Always On feature. It is easiest to determine the battery's operating mode when the battery is disconnected and neither charging or supplying power.
When in Always On mode, if you double tap the power button a few times, the LED should continue to stay lit between presses.
If the LED goes dark between every other double press, you are not in Always On mode.
To switch modes, hold down the power button for six seconds. If the charge indicator flashes 3 times and stays lit for a second or two, you are now in Always On mode. If the charge indicator flashes 3 times and then goes dark, you are now in Automatic Off mode. If you are not in the desired mode. Press the button again for 6 seconds to change modes.

With the V44, camera system should only use the 2000mA USB port labeled "For Tablets" to ensure the battery can supply the power required for the device and maintain the Always On setting. When using the 1000mA port labeled "For Phones", if a device is attempting to draw more power than the regulation of this port, it will result in a safety cut-off of power to the device.

Why have my uploads slowed down or stopped when I have an unlimited data plan?

When using a modem that runs on mobile data for the internet connection, upload speeds may slow or failures might occur due to going over the monthly data limit on your data plan. Even on most "unlimited plans", when over a set data limit, the cell provider may throttle your data usage until the month cycles, causing connection speeds that are too slow for UpBlink to complete a successful upload. This slow internet speed may account for unavailable internet connections and/or packet loss in the file transfer, where the CloudX server will then reject the corrupted file so that UpBlink may reattempt the upload when there is a stronger internet connection.

We recommend that you check with your service provider around data limiting/throttling. If your data is not limited by your service provider, then your modem may not be getting a strong cellular signal, resulting in a slower connection speed. Many USB modems have a port for an external antenna, which should boost the cellular signal of the modem to improve internet connectivity.

What happens if there is a conflict between schedules?

If multiple schedules have been set and there is a conflict between the start times, priority is given to the lower numbered schedule. For example, schedule 1 has priority over schedule 2. If a schedule's action is currently in progress (recording video or uploading footage) when a new trigger is scheduled, the currently active schedule's action takes priority and this new schedule's trigger will be skipped.

Why can I not set an Intervalometer schedule with an interval between triggers less than 60 seconds?

UpBlink is designed to turn the camera off between intervals to conserve power. Due to the time required for the GoPro's bootup and shutdown procedures, the minimum interval for Intervalometer is 60 seconds between triggers.

What is a "Camera On" schedule and can I use it to keep the GoPro camera on between scheduled triggers?

The GoPro cannot remain on between scheduled triggers and UpBlink will turn off the GoPro after a camera trigger. Scheduling a "Camera On" action turns the camera on at the scheduled time with no further action, such as switching camera modes or triggering the shutter to capture footage. This can be used for scheduling a USB download window, or for using the camera's HDMI video output signal rather than recording to the camera's SD card.

UpBlink is turning the GoPro on at the scheduled time, but why is the shutter not being triggered?

Make sure your GoPro camera has been updated to the most recent firmware available on GoPro's website.
Also the UpBlink has been updated to the most recent firmware available on Cam-Do's website.

USB-C Cable
The GoPro must be connected to UpBlink using the custom fully-populated USB-C cable induced with UpBlink. Typically standard USB-C cables/adapters are not fully populated and the use of any other USB-C cable or adapter will prevent UpBlink from communicating with the GoPro.

GoPro Crash
If the GoPro camera has crashed, it will not respond from the physical camera buttons or UpBlink. The battery needs to be pulled from the GoPro to hard reset the camera. The most common cause of GoPro camera crashes are due to the use of an SD card that does not have theU3 speed rating required by the GoPro camera.
If using a HERO5 Black and have a 5V 2A external power supply, such as our V44 battery pack, UpBlink should be powered without the GoPro battery inside the camera.This allows for the system to recover from a camera crash by pulling power from the GoPro if UpBlink determines the camera has become unresponsive. However, a single trigger will be missed when the camera crashes. The HERO5 Session battery cannot be removed to utilize this safety reset feature.

Setup Menu
The GoPro will not respond to commands from UpBlink when the display of the camera is prompting you to enter the initial setup (language selection, terms of service, date, etc.) information. The GoPro must be initialized before connecting UpBlink. If your GoPro is loosing the initial setup information mid-schedule, update UpBlink to the latest firmware.

How do I get the latest UpBlink firmware update?

UpBlink firmware will be released periodically with new features and/or bug fixes. Head over to this page for instructions.

How do I turn on UpBlink's WiFi programming signal?

While UpBlink is powered, UpBlink's WiFi signal can be turned on via the push button on the top of the controller or from a distance using a wired remote (purchased separately). The wired remote can be plugged into Port1 on the side of UpBlink (on the opposite side from the USB ports).

If the LED flashes red when the button is pressed, UpBlink is currently triggering the GoPro and you should wait for the camera trigger to complete before retrying. If the LED flashes green when the button is pressed, holding the button for three seconds will activate the WiFi signal. UpBlink flashes the LED green once a second while booting up the WiFi Access Point and then green once every 5 seconds to indicate the WiFi Access Point is actively broadcasting and can be connected to using your smartphone/computer.

Once UpBlink has been programmed, the WiFi Access Point must be turned off to resume capture mode. This is done either through the programming UI's "restart in capture mode" button at the top of the UI, or by holding the button down for 3 seconds. The LED will illuminate yellow when the button is pressed, indicating that UpBlink busy broadcasting the WiFi Access Point and continuing to hold the button for three seconds will end this active process. While shutting down the WiFi Access Point signal the LED will flash yellow once a second until the WiFi signal has turned off. When the LED has finsished flashing, UpBlink is now in capture mode and will trigger the camera at the programmed schedule times.

Why does UpBlink's WiFi not activate when I use the button/remote?

UpBlink requires an external power source and cannot be powered from the GoPro battery. The LED of UpBlink will flash green twice when it first receives power. If UpBlink's LED flashes red when the button is pressed, this is an indication that UpBlink is currently triggering the GoPro and you should wait a few seconds before retrying. If UpBlink's LED flashes yellow when the button is pressed, UpBlink is currently using the WiFi signal for the upload schedule or the WiFi Access Point is already broadcasting and holding the button will end the active WiFi process.

When connected to UpBlink's WiFi, why does my device indicate that there is "No Internet Connection"?

UpBlink broadcasts a WiFi Access Point signal for programming that does not provide an external internet connection. This notification is indicating the WiFi network you are connected to does not have external internet access and you will not be able to access websites or use other internet features when connected to UpBlink's WiFi signal. Your webbrowser can only access the UpBlink's User Interface page when connected to UpBlink's WiFi signal. When connected to UpBlink's WiFi signal, you can use any webbrowser, such as chrome or safari, to access the UpBlink's Programming User Interface by navigating to the page http://10.0.0.5:5000

When I try to access the UpBlink UI page, why does my browser indicate "this site can't be reached"?

Ensure that your device is connected to UpBlink's WiFi network. The UpBlink User Interface can only be accessed when connected to UpBlink's WiFi Access Point signal. If your device has a pop-up message indicating "internet is not available" you may need to accept/dismiss this notification before you are able to access UpBlink User Interface webpage.

Why does my device not stay connected to UpBlink's WiFi signal?

Some phones and computers have a WiFi setting that will automatically connect to a known WiFi network with the strongest internet signal rather than staying connected to UpBlink. Since connecting to UpBlink's WiFi network does not provide external internet access, some devices will not stay connected. You might need to temporarily deactivate this automatic WiFi setting or remove other known networks in the area for the period required to program UpBlink.

When I have previously connected to UpBlink's WiFi on my device, why is it now indicating an incorrect WiFi password?

If UpBlink WiFi is password protected, the default password is: 1234567890 and cannot be changed. If you have previously connected to UpBlink's WiFi but the connection is not working, you should remove UpBlink from your known WiFi networks before reconnecting to UpBlink's WiFi signal.

I have an iPhone/iPad and am having trouble connecting to UpBlink WiFi. It used to work fine?

Make sure to try the step above, which is to forget the UpBlink WiFi network and try again. If that is not working you can try the following:

Disable Location services for Wi-Fi Networking
Turning this feature off will not disable Wi-Fi completely. Only those location services that are being used for wireless networking will be disabled.

• Go to your iPhone Settings.
• Tap Privacy.
• Tap on Location Services.
• Select System Services.
• Toggle the switch next to Wi-Fi Networking to turn the feature OFF.
• Try to connect to your Wi-Fi network with Wi-Fi network services turned off.

Reset Network Settings
Resetting the network settings often helps in resolving network-related issues occurring on any device. The process will erase current network settings and restore them to defaults. Network caches, DHCP settings, and other network-related information are also flushed in the process.
NOTE: This will delete all your WiFi passwords and all networks your phone has ever connected to.

• Navigate to Settings.
• Tap General.
• Select Reset.
• Tap on Reset Network Settings.
• If prompted, tap OK or any other given options to proceed and confirm the network reset process. Wait for the network settings to reset completely.

Why am I not receiving any notifications from CloudX?

UpBlink requires a WiFi signal with internet access that is broadcasting a 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi signal for sending out the status email. Each new UpBlink includes a 2week free trial of the CloudX service before a purchased subscription is required to continue. If you have purchased a CloudX subscription, the email account that will be contacted by UpBlink must be the email account that was used to purchase the subscription for UpBlink to locate the available subscription. The email account(s) that will be notified by CloudX can be managed through your CloudX account.

Check the UpBlink Event Log from the page http://10.0.0.5:5000/log.html when connected to UpBlink's WiFi network to determine if you have any connection problems. A more detailed "info.log" file can be downloaded from a link found at the bottom of this Logs Page. If your log indicates successful transfers, check your spam/junk email folder for messages from cloudx@cam-do.com.

Why are missed camera triggers not being recorded into the event log?

Confirm that the schedules are enabled, saved, and within the active date period. To trigger schedules, UpBlink needs to be set to resume "Capture Mode", because UpBlink will not trigger the schedules while in "Programming Mode".

UpBlink will not be able to trigger the camera or record a log entry if the controller has become unpowered. Whenever power is restored to UpBlink the log entry "booting up" is recorded, indicating power had been lost sometime between this "booting up" message and the previous log entry. The exact time of power loss cannot be recorded, since UpBlink needs to be powered to record a log entry.

Why is my continuous video footage being split into multiple files?

The splitting of the files into sections is called "chaptering", and the final video clip can be joined back into a single file by using GoPro Studio, Adobe, or another video editing software. The length of each file is determined by the recording mode used but has a maximum file size of 4GB per file. This is because the GoPro camera saves files to the SD card in the FAT32 format which has a maximum file size of 4GB. The GoPro requires that the SD card has a FAT32 format for 32GB and smaller cards, or exFAT for 64GB or larger cards, however, the file will still be saved in the FAT32 format that has a maximum file size limited to 4GB. A benefit of chaptering a recording into multiple files is that it reduces the chance of losing the entire footage if the power is suddenly lost, the camera crashes, or another issue causes the last recorded file to become corrupted to the point where it cannot be repaired by the camera.

What can I connect to the circular jacks on my UpBlink?

UpBlink's USB port is used for firmware updates using a USB flashdrive. The USB port is also powered during an Upload Schedule, allowing the USB port to be used to power a MiFi stick modem or a WiFi booster/extender. UpBlink's Port1 is used to activate the UpBlink's WiFi signal and is typically used with a wired remote.
UpBlink's Port2 is used for Motion Detection operation that will become available in a future firmware update.

Please connect only CamDo approved accessories to these jacks. Do not connect any live voltage source, such as your solar panel or battery, to these jacks. Doing so may damage your equipment.

I have a GoPro Hero 8 camera, how can I get UpBlink to trigger it?

I didn't find the answer in the Troubleshooting Guide, what is the next step?

Please contact CamDo support and provide information about your setup and problem including:

• GoPro camera type and firmware version
• UpBlink firmware version
• Type of SD card being used
• Type of power supply being used
• A copy of the log.txt file, downloaded from the button at the bottom of the UpBlink's logs page: http://10.0.0.5:5000/log.html.