Wondering if you can control your GoPro remotely by wifi underwater? An explanation of what's possible and what isn't to remotely control GoPros underwater.
HERO5 Black / Underwater shot of a small iceberg near Svalbard, Norway
No, you can’t control a GoPro by wifi underwater. That’s true even if it’s only the camera underwater and you (and the wifi remote or device) are above water.
Wifi waves don’t work at all well underwater. It might be possible one day to set up wifi networks underwater, but for now it’s not an option.
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GoPro PLUS includes unlimited cloud storage of your GoPro photos and footage, discounted rates for replacing damaged cameras, and up to 50% off GoPro mounts and accessories.
The up-front cost is $249.99 for the HERO8 Black and $349.99 for the MAX. You start with a 30-day free trial of GoPro PLUS, and will then be charged $49.99 per year after that. They're also throwing in a free SD card and 2-day shipping.
You can find the deal at GoPro.com.
The problem is that the signal drops off very quickly in even a small amount of water. By the time you get a few inches, let alone a few feet, underwater, the signal is so weak as to be unusable.
So for all practical purposes, you can’t control your GoPro underwater with a wifi signal. That means you can’t use the Capture smartphone app, nor can you use the GoPro Smart Remote, the GoPro Remo Voice-Activate Remote (even though the Remo is waterproof), or the devices that turn an LCD Backpac into a wireless view and controller.
WiFi itself won’t work underwater, but what you can do is transmit the signal for the underwater portion through a cable. That allows you to livestream from your GoPro underwater.
If you like DIY projects, it is possible to build your own. Or Cam-Do now offers off-the-shelf extension cables for the HERO4, HERO3+, and HERO3 with lengths ranging from 20 feet to 300 feet.
If you want to try building one yourself, here’s a how-to guide.
This post was last modified on September 4, 2019 10:48 am