PortalCam LCC Scan Connection Troubleshooting | XGRIDS Pro Guide
XGRIDS Pro Guide™ / Module 7: Advanced PortalCam

7.5 Connection Mode Troubleshooting

Most LCC Scan connection failures have a specific cause and a specific fix. Working through the right sequence gets the device connected without wasting time on steps that will not help.

Section 1

Connection Mode Overview

LCC Scan connects to the PortalCam in one of three modes. Understanding which mode you are using and what its requirements are is the starting point for diagnosing connection failures.

Mode
How It Works and When to Use It
Direct Connect
The phone creates a WiFi hotspot and the PortalCam connects to it. The most reliable method. Use this by default for all scanning sessions.
Bridge mode
Both the phone and the PortalCam connect to the same shared WiFi network. Use when Direct Connect is not available, such as when the phone does not support hotspot or the site has a controlled WiFi infrastructure.
Quick Connect
Limited mode for device activation and RTK configuration only. Does not support full scanning functionality. Not for regular scan sessions.
Section 2

Direct Connect Issues

Cannot Find the PortalCam in LCC Scan

If LCC Scan does not find the PortalCam during the connection search, work through these checks in order:

  • Verify the device is powered on. The LED should be solid green for standby. No LED means the device is not on.
  • Confirm hotspot is enabled on the phone. The PortalCam connects to the phone's hotspot. If hotspot is off, the PortalCam cannot connect regardless of Bluetooth or app state.
  • Check that Bluetooth is enabled on the phone. LCC Scan uses Bluetooth for initial device discovery before switching to WiFi.
  • Check that LCC Scan has been granted all required permissions: Bluetooth, location, and local network permissions. Any missing permission will prevent connection.
  • Search for a WiFi network named PCAMAAxxxx. If you can see this network name in the phone's WiFi list but LCC Scan is not finding the device, the connection is a software or permission issue, not a hardware issue.
  • Try changing Device Region in the LCC Scan app settings. In some regions, the PortalCam broadcasts on a different WiFi channel. Changing the Device Region to match your current location resolves this.

Hotspot Configuration Best Practices

The PortalCam parses the phone hotspot name and password. Special characters, emoji, and very long names cause connection failures that look identical to other connection problems but will not respond to any fix other than simplifying the hotspot credentials.

  • Use a short hotspot name with only letters and numbers. No spaces, hyphens, underscores, or symbols.
  • Use a simple password of 8 to 12 alphanumeric characters.
  • If the device was connecting before and is no longer connecting after a phone update, check whether the phone update changed the hotspot name to the new phone model name, which may contain unsupported characters.

Known Unsupported Phone Models

The following phone models have confirmed compatibility issues with LCC Scan and are not supported for Direct Connect operation:

  • Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
  • Samsung Galaxy S25+
  • Samsung Galaxy S24

If you are using one of these devices and experiencing persistent connection failures, switch to a different phone or use Bridge mode if a shared network is available at the site.

Section 3

Bridge Mode Issues

Bridge mode requires both the phone and the PortalCam to be connected to the same WiFi network on the same frequency band. Most connection failures in Bridge mode come from one or both devices being on different subnets or different bands.

  • Both devices must be on the same network and the same band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz). A phone connected to the 5 GHz band and a PortalCam connected to the 2.4 GHz band of the same router will appear to be on the same network but will not be able to communicate with each other.
  • Check the IP address displayed on the PortalCam. If the device shows an IP address in the format X.X.1.X, it is on the wrong subnet. Restart the phone hotspot or reboot the phone entirely, then reconnect.
  • Verify that device isolation is not enabled on the network. Some corporate and public WiFi networks enable client isolation, which prevents devices on the same network from communicating with each other. If device isolation is active, Bridge mode will not work on that network.
Section 4

Connection Drops During Scanning

A connection drop during an active scan means LCC Scan loses communication with the PortalCam while the scan is running. The scan itself does not stop when the connection drops. The PortalCam continues collecting data independently. What you lose is the real-time preview, the ability to add control points, and the ability to stop the scan cleanly from the app.

The scan continues after a connection drop. If LCC Scan disconnects mid-scan, the PortalCam keeps recording. You can re-establish the connection by re-enabling the phone hotspot and reconnecting in LCC Scan. If reconnection is not possible, you can stop the scan by double-pressing the device button on the PortalCam directly.

Causes of Mid-Scan Disconnection

Cause
Fix
Phone hotspot auto-off
Some Android phones automatically disable the hotspot after a period of inactivity. Disable hotspot auto-off in the phone's hotspot settings before scanning. This is the most common cause of mid-scan disconnection.
Phone screen auto-lock disabling hotspot
On some phones, the hotspot is tied to screen wake state. Set the screen timeout to Never or the maximum allowed value during scanning sessions.
Scanner moved out of WiFi range
Keep the phone mounted on or near the PortalCam. The Direct Connect WiFi range is limited. Long-distance separation between phone and device causes signal dropout.
WiFi channel interference in dense signal environments
Dense WiFi environments such as trade show floors or large office buildings may cause interference. Try changing the phone hotspot to 5 GHz if 2.4 GHz is heavily congested at the site.
Section 5

Firmware Update Procedure

Firmware updates are initiated through the LCC Scan app when the device is connected. The update is pushed to the PortalCam over the WiFi connection and installs automatically. The LED alternates red and green during the update. Do not power off the device during an update.

Battery must be above 50% before starting a firmware update. A firmware update that is interrupted by a dead battery can corrupt the device firmware and require a factory repair. Never begin a firmware update if the device is below 50% charge. Charge first, update second.

1

Confirm battery is above 50%

Check battery level in the LCC Scan device status panel or on the device body LED indicator.

2

Connect to the PortalCam in LCC Scan

Use Direct Connect mode. The firmware update requires a stable WiFi connection between the phone and the device.

3

Navigate to device settings and initiate the update

In LCC Scan, open the device information screen. If a firmware update is available, the option to update will appear. Tap to initiate. The app will confirm before beginning.

4

Wait for the LED to return to solid green

The red-green alternating LED indicates the update is in progress. Do not power off, move the device, or interrupt the WiFi connection. When the LED returns to solid green, the update is complete.

When to Escalate to XGRIDS Support

If none of the above steps resolve a persistent connection issue, collect the following information before contacting XGRIDS support:

  • Device serial number, visible in the LCC Scan device status panel or on the device body
  • Exact phone model and operating system version
  • Time at which the connection failure occurred
  • During the failure, double-press the power button to start a 1-minute diagnostic recording on the device. Send the resulting data file to support for analysis.

Module 7 complete. Ready to move to scan planning and best practices?

Go to Module 8: Scan Planning →
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