This is a $100.00 5MP 20X Optical Zoom PTZ camera with great image and loads of potential..., if it didn't require a constant p2p connection to maintain its ONVIF functionality which out of the box is required for any PTZ features to work beyond the Annke Smart app, which is just an already bad Tuya Smart knock-off, but worse.

I can understand the whole cloud registration aspect for basic product authentication, but ANNKE went an extra step here by requiring actual server connectivity for any third party access to ONVIF compatibility and PTZ functionality. Unfortunately you don't know this until you figure it out the hard way after hours of troubleshooting everything else first..., or reading this.

Some folks over on IPCT tore their hair out with scripts and workarounds out of sheer frustration with ANNKE tech support. They did make a ceratin degree of progress but never nailed down what I personally believe is the core problem with the firmware, which appears to be a permissions/auth layer for ONVIF that is typically established in the camera webUI by establishing an 'ONVIF User' or simply an ONVIF/RTSP AUTH check box as in many Hik and Dahua camera firmware implementations. Evidently ANNKE thought it would be clever to require just a little more than just 'phoning home' ocassionally for ONVIF to keep working.

So anyway, here's the link to the IPCT effort(s) for anyone interested in providing additional enlightenment toward how one may go about getting into the firmware to affect a workaround toggle or who may have API access somehow via an ANNKE connection. This camera is too good to be sitting on such a horrible platform.

https://ipcamtalk.com/threads/annke-wz500-info.71482/

I would also be greatful for advice on the best way to import the hand built .reg entry that the one fellow over there put together as his own workaround. It may be the ticket and I just don't know it yet.

TIA for any tips, tricks, or magic.