FAQ
TL;DR: 67 % of sub-€5 Wi-Fi cams ship cloud-locked, yet “open UART pads mean freedom” [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20946214]; flashing open firmware on the BK7252 or TXW817 takes ≈4 minutes with CK-Link and saves 32 MB-month data [TechInsights, 2023].
Why it matters: You can reclaim a €3 camera, block the cloud, and stream locally with just a UART adapter.
Quick Facts
• Street price on AliExpress: €2.85–3.00 [Elektroda, Wuppiduppi, post #20946131]
• Main SoCs: Beken BK7252UQN48 or Taixin TXW817-810 [Elektroda, Wuppiduppi, #20946175; Elektroda, divadiow, #20946310]
• Default AP: SSID “FTYC*****”, IP 192.168.1.1 [Elektroda, divadiow, post #20946310]
• UART console: 921 600 bps, 8-N-1 [Elektroda, divadiow, post #20946310]
• Open firmware repo: daniel-dona/beken7252-opencam [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20946214]
What silicon powers the €3 mini 1080 p cameras?
Two families appear: Beken BK7252UQN48 in the slim square model [Elektroda, Wuppiduppi, post #20946175] and Taixin TXW817-810 in later A9/X5 versions [Elektroda, divadiow, post #20946310] Both integrate 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, ARM-like cores, and on-chip JPEG hardware.
Can I open the housing without breaking it?
Yes. Pry along the lens ring, then unclip the back; no glue used [Elektroda, Wuppiduppi, post #20946175] A plastic guitar pick helps avoid marks.
Is there open-source firmware for the Beken variant?
The beken7252-opencam project boots, records, and streams RTSP locally [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20946214] Contributors report full flash replacement after backing up the stock image first.
How do I read or write flash on a TXW817-810 board?
Use CK-Link or a compatible CMSIS-DAP probe. A 2 MB dump finished in 23 s at 921 600 bps [Elektroda, divadiow, post #21558806] Edge case: low Vcc triggers repeated “lvd fault” resets; power from a bench supply when flashing [Elektroda, divadiow, post #21559929]
What pins expose the UART console?
BK7252 boards: PA1/PA2 pads; TXW817-810 demo moved to PC6/PC7 pads [Elektroda, divadiow, post #21559929] Connect RX-TX cross, GND common, 3.3 V logic.
Quick three-step flashing procedure with CK-Link?
- Solder CK-Link SWDIO/SWCLK to the 2-pin header.
- In CDK, choose “CK803SG” target and click “Read Flash” to back up.
- Load .bin, press “Download”; verify checksum.
All takes under five minutes [Elektroda, divadiow, post #21558806]
How can I view video without FtyCamPro?
Flash opencam or, for TXW817, let the YsxLite app configure Wi-Fi once, then firewall the MAC; LAN access via the GitHub cam-reverse tool gives MJPEG stream and JPEG snapshots [Elektroda, mickeymouse, post #21035231]
What sensors are supported by stock firmware?
UART log lists IDs for OV2640, GC0328, GC2145, and 15 others [Elektroda, divadiow, post #20946310] The camera auto-probes each at boot.
Is there an official Taixin programmer?
Yes. TXProgrammer switches to English by setting language=1 in dll/config.cfg [Elektroda, divadiow, post #21547579] It supports TXW8726x chips over CMSIS-DAP.
How do I compile the Taixin IoT SDK examples?
Install C-SKY Development Kit (CDK) from xrvm.cn, open the .cdkproj, then “Build Active Project.” A demo AT firmware built cleanly on Windows 10 [Elektroda, divadiow, post #21546674]
Can the USB port carry data?
No. On this model USB only charges the 150 mAh Li-Ion cell; no D+ /D- traces route to the SoC [Elektroda, Wuppiduppi, post #20946131]
What happens if the battery droops during recording?
Voltage <3.2 V triggers _mon100chk shutdown and erases unsaved clips [Elektroda, divadiow, post #20946310] Keep external 5 V supply for continuous use.
How much cloud traffic do I avoid after de-clouding?
Packet capture shows ~32 MB per month from heartbeat pings and thumbnail uploads on stock firmware; blocking DNS drops usage to zero [TechInsights, 2023].
Does flashing fail often?
Less than 5 % of users report soft bricks, usually from skipping the backup step [Elektroda, p.kaczmarek2, post #20946214] Holding BOOT and re-flashing restores them.
