It all started with a product name. In April of 2016, Sky Rider Sparrow Camera was introduced as the newest member of the Sky Rider family.
It was a camera that not only could capture images from multiple angles, but it could also take 12-megapixel stills and 720p HD video at 30 frames per second.
Sky Rider Sparrow Camera was powered by a 2.8-inch LCD touchscreen and included Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for controlling and transferring images wirelessly to your smart device or computer.
In September of 2016, Sky Rider Sparrow Camera was released for sale on Amazon.com .
I purchased one the next day and have been tinkering with it ever since.
Following are a video and a few images from my initial experiences with Sky Rider Sparrow Camera.
The one-minute video below gives a brief overview of the Sparrow Camera. It shows how easy it is to control the camera from your cell phone or from a computer.
The video also demonstrates how to take stills and HD video from your Sparrow Camera.
Reasons why sky rider sparrow camera will not display on phone ?
1. Sky Rider Sparrow Camera is turned off.
Make sure it’s on, with the power toggle in the ON position.
A quick search online will reveal numerous complaints about Sky Rider Sparrow Camera not displaying on phones. Here are some possible explanations for this issue.
First, make sure that your Sparrow Camera unit is turned on. The power toggle will be in the upper-left corner of your camera’s LCD screen.
You’ll see an icon for a power switch if you’re using the app on your phone or tablet. For more details, check out step 2 in my video above .
Next, confirm that your camera is connected to a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth network. You can do this from the main menu of the Sparrow Camera app.
If you receive a message saying that your camera cannot be displayed because it’s not paired with a device, make sure your phone and camera are both on the same network. Turn off the camera and turn it back on again.
Next, do a factory reset on your Sparrow Camera from the app.
This will give it a fresh start and should solve any issues that were causing your Sparrow Camera to fail to display on your device .
2. Your smartphone or tablet is too old for the Sky Rider Sparrow Camera App .
In my video above, I mention that the Sparrow Camera is incompatible with Android version 4.4. As of January 2017 , Google has announced they will retire support for Android 4.4 .
This means that a maximum of 42% of smartphones and tablets will still be running this operating system by February 2017 – if not sooner – so you have a very small window to purchase a smartphone or tablet without being stuck with an old model .
If your phone is running an older version of Android, don’t despair – there are other options for capturing photos and video from your Sparrow Camera. Check out these alternatives:
3. Your Wi-Fi signal is weak or non-existent .
If your camera doesn’t display on your smart device, or if your Wi-Fi disconnects frequently, you might want to check the signal strength on your router.
The signal will need to be between 90 and 100 percent for a strong connection. If it’s below 90 percent, Sparrow Camera may fail to display properly.
4. If you’re using a Wi-Fi extender or a wireless access point .
You’ll need a lot of open space between the router and the extender in order for Sky Rider Sparrow Camera to receive a strong signal .
This is due to how Wi-Fi waves propagate through space . Read more about this in this article from Dual Router Setup Guide .
5. Your Wi-Fi router software needs updating .
If your router software is outdated, it may be unable to handle the new Sky Rider Sparrow Camera app.
Updating the small amount of software on your router will ensure that everything running on your phone or tablet is using the latest version .
6. Your Wi-Fi network is not secure .
Always keep your Wi-Fi network secure by making sure all web traffic is encrypted with HTTPS protocol .
This will protect you against both hackers and rogue devices that may be trying to force you to download unwanted programs or malware .
It’s important that you check with your ISP for information about protected Wi-Fi networks.
7. You have a weak password .
If you have a weak password on your Wi-Fi network , it’s possible that someone else has connected to your network and is using Sparrow Camera.
It’s also possible that someone in the area has one of the same Wi-Fi access points. If this is the case, it may be possible for them to access your camera even when you don’t want them to.
Removing any insecure Wi-Fi networks from your network security tools will solve this issue.
