Camera Not Connecting
Troubleshooting steps when your BuildCam camera won't come online or stops sending images.
Camera Not Connecting
This guide covers the most common reasons a BuildCam SiteReady camera won't connect or stops sending images, and how to fix each one.
Quick diagnosis — check the LED
Walk to the camera and check the status LED on the front panel:
| LED state | What it means |
|---|---|
| Solid green | Connected — check BuildCam, the issue may be on the platform side |
| Solid red | No network connection |
| Flashing red | Hardware fault — see Hardware fault below |
| No light | Camera is off or battery is flat |
| Amber | Booting up — wait 2 minutes |
Issue 1 — No network (solid red LED)
The camera can't reach the mobile network. This is the most common connection issue.
Check mobile coverage
The SiteReady camera uses 4G/LTE. If your site is in a low-coverage area, the camera may connect intermittently or not at all.
- Check the coverage map for your network provider at your site address
- If coverage is marginal, consider adding an external antenna (sold separately)
- Construction materials — particularly steel framing and reinforced concrete — can significantly reduce indoor signal strength
Check the SIM card
- Power off the camera by holding the power button for 5 seconds
- Open the SIM tray on the side of the unit using the supplied tool
- Remove the SIM card and check it is seated correctly in the tray
- Reinsert and power the camera back on
If the camera still shows solid red after 3 minutes, contact PhotoSentinel support — the SIM may need to be replaced.
Check for network outages
Mobile network outages occasionally affect service in a region. Check your carrier's service status page. If there is an outage, the camera will reconnect automatically when service is restored.
Issue 2 — Camera was online, now offline
If the camera has been working and suddenly stops, these are the most likely causes:
Power failure — battery flat
The SiteReady camera runs on solar + battery. The battery can go flat if:
- The solar panel is obstructed (dust, bird droppings, scaffolding, shade)
- The camera has been in shadow for several days (e.g. winter, east-facing in afternoon shade)
- The capture interval is very high (more than one image every 15 minutes significantly increases power draw)
Fix: Visit the site, clean the solar panel, and press the power button to restart. If the battery is fully discharged, the camera needs 2–4 hours of direct sunlight before it can reconnect.
Check the camera's battery level in BuildCam: open the camera view and look for the battery indicator in the camera details panel.
Camera restarted after firmware update
BuildCam cameras receive automatic firmware updates during low-activity periods (typically overnight). After an update, the camera restarts and reconnects within 5 minutes. If it hasn't reconnected after 15 minutes, proceed to the steps below.
Physical damage or tampering
Construction sites are active environments. Check the camera physically for:
- Damage to the unit or mount from site activity
- The power button accidentally pressed (unit powered off)
- The solar panel misaligned or covered
Issue 3 — Camera online but no new images
The camera shows as Online in BuildCam but hasn't captured any images in several hours.
- Check the capture schedule — open Camera Settings and verify the schedule is set as expected. A misconfigured schedule (e.g. sunrise-to-sunset in winter) may produce fewer images than expected.
- Check storage — if storage is full, the camera can't save new images. Go to Camera Settings > Storage and clear old images or expand your storage plan.
- Force a capture — in the BuildCam camera view, click Capture Now. If a new image arrives within 5 minutes, the camera is working and the issue was the schedule.
Hardware fault
A flashing red LED indicates the camera has detected a hardware fault and cannot operate. Common causes:
- Water ingress (the unit is rated IP66 but damage to seals can allow moisture in)
- Physical impact damage
- Internal component failure
Do not attempt to open the unit. Contact PhotoSentinel support with the camera serial number and a description of the fault. Hardware faults are covered under warranty within the first 12 months.
Still stuck?
If you've worked through these steps and the camera still isn't connecting, contact PhotoSentinel support. Have the following ready:
- Camera serial number (on the label on the back of the unit)
- The LED state you're seeing
- When the camera last successfully connected (visible in BuildCam)
- A photo of the camera and its location on site