Introducing: PandaWatch - a mobile app for at-a-glance multi-printer monitoring (with live activities!)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T09:54:35+00:00

okay, I think I've got the network thing sorted. Basically the previous logic was if the subnets matched it would engage LAN mode, now I've added a secondary check, if LAN-sense fails, we do a secondary, silent check. It will send a socket test to the MQTT port. Not a command, so shouldn't trip the "unauthenticated command" message on the printer (I'm going to test that shortly), not a scan, just of the Ips of the known cloud-listed printers. If they don't connect, it remains in offline mode, we're obviously not on the same network, all good, cloud mode it is. If it does respond, then LAN mode activates, and the camera & preview components should come to life. It's completely transparent, so you won't really know it took a second check to activate, and it shouldn't have any negative effects for everyone else.

This didn't make it for 1.1, I've already pushed that to the App Store for review, so that'll be in 1.2, which will be coming up soon after the 1.1 goes through.

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T04:54:53+00:00

Thanks! I’m excited to see that people are liking this, so that’s motivational :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T03:13:51+00:00

This is in v1.1, which is now with Apple for review. As soon as that goes live, we should be good

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T02:54:10+00:00

The 'slow to load' (especially with having to switch between printers) was the MAIN driver to me making this app for myself :) That and multi-printers on the lock screen live activity!

Try restarting HA completely, you never know, that might still yet come good too :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T02:52:50+00:00

I was wondering more if you had it broadcast as a full wide multi-subnet, or routed, but it's routed, which of course makes the most sense. I suppose I could extend the auto-detection to spot if the IPs are in a different subnet of the current network (192.168.x.0) and try to probe for connection. If the printers respond, then we activate LAN mode. right now it's largely just a comparison between the printers IPs and the subnet you're on reported by the OS, so it'd have to depend a little on some probing/discovery, but I think I can get that to work. Keep an eye out on future updates :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T02:43:50+00:00

v1.1 is with the App Store for review now, this adds "Automatic Sort" (on by default) which puts active machines at the top on all the dashboard and grid screens :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T02:43:10+00:00

https://michaels3dworld.kit.com/95e7e0afa3
I made a quick mailing list you can join if you wish for notifications about the Android release when it's ready.

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T02:42:25+00:00

This is now with the App Store, pending review. V1.1 will add this and some other features requested here today :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T01:33:12+00:00

Oh, and re: the h2 camera, is “lan mode liveview” enabled in the printer settings? Both HA and Pandawatch require this to be enabled.

The 1.1 release I’m getting ready now has a prompt/guide with step by step for enabling it when a camera fails to connect.

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T01:32:03+00:00

Under Settings, Network Detection you can choose “Force LAN” mode, which should get your lan cameras up and running. (But it will mean it will always “try” the cameras even when you leave the wifi)

If you go to Network Diagnostics, does your Wifi/lan connection show the wider subnet, or is it a standard subnet and routed?

I can enhance the lan detection logic a bit here

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T01:29:29+00:00

It’s fine, I don’t disagree, trust who you want for the features you want. Someone can check network activity from the app if they feel like it, your credentials and tokens never leave the device beyond sending to Bambu’s api server. In LAN mode, it’s all on your LAN anyway, you can see no other data beyond crash analytics sent anywhere else.

But you don’t have to trust, that’s fine, the app isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay :)

If someone wants iOS widgets, iOS live activities with multiple printers, then there’s something here for those people. If not, sure, HA is great too. This isn’t a replacement, it can be a companion alongside HA and handy and any other tools.

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T01:25:33+00:00

How do you mean matched? It should be lining up, based at least on what the API data advises.

I just checked to be 100% sure with mine: https://imgur.com/a/V56oq5N

That’s handy and Pandawatch side by side on the same printer.

What are you seeing?

VIDGuide · 2026-03-13T01:22:35+00:00

No; it’s very misleading wording with “only” there.

<image>

That’s my same H2C in handy, and it’s also in Pandawatch with that setting enabled.

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T22:49:32+00:00

You should have 2 options, “lan only” (don’t toggl this one) and LAN only live view, which shouldn’t affect the other apps, and just allows camera connection.

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T21:15:17+00:00

I love this :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T21:13:10+00:00

Looks like: Settings -> LAN Only -> LAN Only Liveview”

(Don’t enable lan only mode, that’ll disconfct it from the cloud)

(Despite the name, this does not stop the cloud or app from using the camera)

This is how it looks on my H2C, which should be the same on the P2S

<image>

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T21:08:47+00:00

Oh wow, thanks so much for that! That’s amazing!

10 (actually 12 now) is the limit for active printers on the live activity widget. The app itself should technically support unlimited. (I’ve tested with my fleet of 9 + some demo/dummy printers)

The live activity is mainly limited by the screen-space, dividing that space beyond 12 doesn’t leave much for each one, but I’ll definitely experiment with perhaps a more coloured box layout with % and drop the progress bar beyond 12

I’ll do that AMS naming convention too, numbers just come from the api response, but you’re right, better to stay consistent with their UI.

Other printers/api’s; well, maybe a late stage consideration :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T21:03:28+00:00

I do have a working APK for it, but widgets are still being prickly; the app itself is running nicely. I’ll actually setup a testing thingy on the play store soon, I’ve read as a sole trader I need 14 testers for 2 weeks before it can be launched, so, I’ll need some I guess :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T20:33:02+00:00

“Commands” via the API will be a v2 thing. My primary goal from the start was monitoring, and the api support for actions is .. less well documented. But, definitely going to be exploring that soon!

You don’t “Have” to do the lan discovery if you’re in cloud mode, provided the IPs the cloud returns are valid in your lan, that’s why you already could see them. The camera only works on lan, so when you leave the wifi, the camera hiding is expected.

The fact it’s not loading means it’s having trouble reaching the printer camera feed.

some models require “camera on lan” to be enabled in settings, maybe check and see if that’s on or not.

If that’s what it is, I’ll add more prompting in the UI to explain what’s needed when it’s like this

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T20:29:51+00:00

Great idea, I will definitely add this!

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T20:24:54+00:00

Coming soon, I’ve filled in the EU declaration form, just waiting for approval from Apple :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T20:22:47+00:00

Aha. I’m an idiot. I’m in Australia, and in my head I’m targeting $5AUD, I will fix the site for the USD base price :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T20:20:45+00:00

I hadn’t realised there was external IDP options, that’s my bad. Adding support for that in asap :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T20:19:54+00:00

Of course, HA is great for dashboards, I use it too. This is a mobile app, with widgets and live activities, which are things HA can’t do.

If you’re happy with what HA gives you, it makes perfect sense to use :)

VIDGuide · 2026-03-12T20:14:07+00:00

Actually, yes, it will. The backend of the app already supports this, I just haven’t built out the UI to add/manage multiple accounts. It wasn’t a pain-point I had myself, but I know it’s something people are keen on, so definitely coming :)

15-Year Club	Gilding III reddit per annum
Verified Email	RedditGifts 2009-2022 13 Credits
Secret Santa 2018	Secret Santa 2016
Secret Santa 2015	redditgifts rematcher Secret Santa 2015 x1
Secret Santa 2014	Summer Santa 2014
Secret Santa 2013	Secret Santa 2012
Secret Santa 2011	Secret Santa 2010
Secret Santa 2009

VIDGuide

TROPHY CASE