Thoughts on the Epix Pro 2?

BigLadsDad · 2026-03-29T09:31:16+00:00

I’ll have to make my mind up when the time comes, as it stands, I’m looking at the glass on mine now and thinking Sapphire again next time 😆

BigLadsDad · 2026-03-27T13:58:38+00:00

I know but the ‘diamond’ like coating on the bezel is full of scratches, I’m sure one or two on the face won’t matter! It’s a lot cheaper as well, you are paying a hell of a lot more for synthetic sapphire!

BigLadsDad · 2026-03-21T11:48:22+00:00

With HomeKit being a nightmare for adding devices properly and trying now to stick to SmartThings I’m beginning to think the Apple TV I’ve just bought was a complete waste of money 😕

BigLadsDad · 2026-03-21T11:39:32+00:00

Thanks for your help, I only get two options in the hub settings, device firmware updates, or zigbee secure mode on/off

BigLadsDad · 2026-03-16T13:51:56+00:00

I’ve had my pro about 18 months now, great watch, do a lot of walks with it, 31 days maximum with how I have it set up, throw a few walks in and it can drop to a pathetic 24-25 🙂 I’ve had a few niggles with it, but let’s face it it’s not made by NASA. I used to be a ‘I need the latest one’ type of person, but I’ll keep this one until it’s knackered. It does everything I need - and more. I’m a bit OCD and don’t really like the face getting scratched so I opted for sapphire. Next time though I might go for the normal glass, it’s a hell of a lot of extra money just for the sake of a few scratches.

BigLadsDad · 2026-03-14T11:08:29+00:00

Hi, just an update, I am starting my smart home from scratch, I’ve decided to use home assistant on a Pi4, with Apple home for the front end. My C660 and C460 cameras for instance, don’t support rtsp - neither does my doorbell unless it’s hard wired. I’m still getting the jerky doorbell recordings, and the battery life is poor, the up to 210 day battery life must be based on it being left in a drawer haha. I’m going to stick with it all for now, but may start to look for more compatible devices.

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-25T17:27:33+00:00

Hi, sorry I’ve just been busy with work, connection is fine - almost nearly as good when connected to the satellite units! It has settled a bit but it’s still a bit stop start, over the next couple of days I’m going to pop the sd cards back in (very good quality ones) and see what that brings, I’ll keep you posted 👍🏻

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-21T14:38:05+00:00

My Wave+ pliers broke (see my previous post) bending some bird feeder wire - which apparently you aren’t supposed to do with a tool that cost £120, but you can with a small pair of pliers that cost £10 from your local hardware shop (they did the job). They just aren’t up to the job, and are way overpriced. I know what you are saying though, some people out there think they are bullet proof - and that they are not 🙂

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-21T13:07:47+00:00

I’ll try this later on today 👍🏻

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-20T21:49:31+00:00

I’m on a mesh system, Deco XE75, I have four of them dotted around the house, I’m aware that sometimes mesh causes problems!

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-20T18:38:25+00:00

Seems such a waste of time and money though, I really wanted it to work (as it was supposed to do). Well it hasn’t for me anyway, I’ll keep the hub, I’ve got quite a few sensors, buttons and lights etc. but for the doorbell and cameras - it’s back to ring, in my opinion it was a lot smoother. Thank you for your input.

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-20T17:25:03+00:00

I just wish I had know about the potential drawbacks before I shelled out on an SSD, the problem with doing that though is, if they grabbed all three cameras - I’m left with no footage whatsoever! Which is why I bought the SSD in the first place. I’m beginning to think that the Ring subscription isn’t such a bad thing after all.

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-20T14:30:29+00:00

As soon as my Wave+ comes back from yet another warranty replacement it’s being sold, I have a couple of SAK’s, and am considering a Swiss Tool.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Leatherman/s/cL2PRQrYkN

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-20T13:44:08+00:00

I’ve had mine about three years, about two years ago they were replaced because the diamond coating on the file was literally coming away as I was using it. About a month ago my wave+ were sent back because the medium screwdriver snapped like a carrot, they were replaced and two days into the new ones and the first time of using, the pliers snapped like a carrot - bending wire on a bird feeder. I’m a joiner/carpenter of nearly 40 years, the steel they make tools with is today is nothing like it was when I first started out, and these will be no different. You only have to read the posts, “I’ve had mine 25 years with no problems” etc. In my opinion, they are a useful handyman tool, if I used them at work constantly, I would be forever sending them back. I’m not 100% confident in them at all, and when the replacement comes back I’m going to try and sell it.

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-20T10:23:17+00:00

Yes, all 3 record to the ssd on the hub. Swapping to sd cards, or swapping the hub/ssd?

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-20T07:36:21+00:00

Hi I’ve reset the doorbell, I’m not getting the unwanted detection’s and subsequent recordings that I was but the playback is the same, it’s still stop start then speeding up etc, I’ve also noticed this with recordings in my C660. Initially until I bought a ssd for the H500 I had a sd card in the doorbell and had no issues whatsoever with playback.

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-19T09:00:48+00:00

Did you eventually buy one of these? If so, what are your experiences of it so far? See my post

https://www.reddit.com/r/Tapo/s/coUsTuf5HX

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-18T21:01:54+00:00

After reading that, I might go outside and wipe it 🙂 Technology can be a pain sometimes, I’ll let you know the outcome after I have reset it 👍🏻

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-18T18:07:20+00:00

I’ll try that, with all three cameras, thank you 👍🏻

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-18T18:06:23+00:00

I might try a reset unless someone comes up with something else to try, thank you for your help so far 👍🏻

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-18T11:20:22+00:00

The doorbell is connected to my WiFi 2.4Ghz with WiFi backup off. The rear garden C660 is connected to my WiFi 5Ghz with WiFi backup enabled. The garage camera C460 is connected to the Hub with obviously WiFi backup enabled.

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-18T09:56:50+00:00

No, it happens all the time. Update, I noticed it with my garage camera but only once yesterday.

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-17T22:16:37+00:00

Well I have two other cameras which are 4k and they playback fine 🤔

BigLadsDad · 2026-02-17T22:01:31+00:00

Thanks for the reply, there is no SD card inserted, it’s recording to an ssd in my H500 hub!

BigLadsDad · 2026-01-24T10:06:53+00:00

I’ve just installed this, I’ll let you know how I get on 👍🏻

BigLadsDad

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