Have you ever been in need of installing an IP camera in your home or room? This type of equipment is essential, either for safety, to ensure that everything is fine, or in cases where you want to keep both your workers and your clients guarded. They can store the video if desired or sustain live surveillance without storing the files to save space costs.
The great advantage of these cameras is that they can be seen distantly from the place where they are installed, just by making a series of configurations that we will explain step by step later. This process can be complicated or not, because its ease depends on the user experience in the media that will be used to do it.
However, this will be a tutorial that, although it may seem difficult, with patience and following the procedures in detail you can make the necessary settings to be able to remotely observe IP cameras.
Index:
What are IP cameras and how many types are there?
These are devices that function as a security team. Created to be able to watch a video via internet or a local network . They are commonly referred to as “Security Cameras.” To be able to create a network of IP viewers only we must have a Swicth or router and interconnect them, as if it were a set of computers that share the same network.
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There are two types , those that have a ethernet connection, which uses an Rj45 port to connect to other devices and wireless ones with Wi-Fi connection. Fi , which have an antenna integrated within themselves to link through a Wi-Fi network. The latter are not recommended due to different factors.
Among them we can name, that the Wi-Fi signal can be blocked by using a jammer, a device that can block signals. Another negative factor is that Wi-Fi connections can be intercepted and even hacked.
But these cameras can have practical use, for example: Outdoors where a cable connection is not viable or very uncomfortable, and a Wi-Fi router and power supply is needed to create a wireless surveillance network.
Steps to connect and correctly configure a Wi-Fi IP surveillance camera Fi
Always the first time is difficult, so it is necessary to be very patient and follow the instructions to the letter to be able to achieve a connection and configuration of this peripheral correctly. These will work as a security method and as a guard, so it is necessary to perform a proper job for it.
Decide on a correct location
The first and most fundamental thing is to choose a correct camera location, so avoid blind spots when performing surveillance. As well as know the maximum rotation or radius of visual coverage. To know how many may be necessary to install in a sector and save costs without reducing control of the area.
Connect by cable or Wi-Fi
The decision to connect cameras via Wi-Fi or network cable is very important. Since this can influence costs, as well as the same network security. Therefore, depending on the location of the IP cameras, we recommend you vary the technology by which you are going to make the connection.
For example, if you will place it in an important place such as a back door, vault or hall, you must establish a wired connection, because this connection dramatically reduces the danger of unwanted users entering the network that controls them.
In case you are going to put it on the outside of your store, or as it shows your customers that they are recorded, it is preferable to make a connection via Wi-Fi, to reduce the discomfort that cables can generate both visually, in spaces or with respect to the cost of money it can cause.
Identify the IP address of the camera
When you buy one of them, they bring a logically default IP address, you can get it in the manual for example: 192.68.x.xx. But, in case you can’t locate it you should look for it in the product box (as usual).
You can also use an application on your smartphone called “Fing”, you can scan all the devices that are connected to a network and in this way you will be able to find the IP. The tool is available for iOS and Android.
To detect the IP of the camera by computer you can use the following programs:
- IPCamera.exe for Windows
- For Mac: EquipmentSearchTool.pkg
The program will show the address temporarily assigned by the router and when you click on it, you can open the browser to display the configuration screen.
In case it doesn’t happen you just have to put the IP in your browser, you can use any, but preferably use 32-bit Internet explore. Remember that the first time you set up the camera is Wi-Fi or analog, it must be connected directly to the router or, failing that, to the PC using the cable.
Configure IP camera using the browser or computer
Once you have placed the IP address, it will ask you to identify yourself as a user, you must define a password. Commonly the first time you will only have to determine a generic identification, which you can find on the label it brings or in the manual. If this is not the case in the majority the user is «admin» and in code you should not put anything, that is, you must leave the space blank.
Sometimes after logging in, the camera will request that a new username and password be created for security reasons, remember to keep them in a safe place for future occasions.
As we said before, these have an IP address that is automatically assigned by the router, this is called (DHCP function); It should be noted that it can change every time it has been restarted.
For this reason it is necessary to create a fixed location and also a port number. To do this you must do the following:
- Download the program « IP Camera Tool» and install it on your computer either Windows or MAC.
- Now with the right click you will select the IP of the camera and you will choose the option of «Network configuration».
You will enter the following information in the corresponding boxes:
- «Obtain IP from DHCP server»: Uncheck this box.
- In «IP Address»: You will place an address IP of the same type as that of your router, you just have to change the last number on the right (example: if you had noted 192.168.1.1, enter for example 192.168.1.201) .
- If your router is set to 192.168.0.1 it will allow you to place ranges of IP addresses between 192.168.0.2 up to 192.168.0.255.
- If instead it is installed in 192.168.1.1 you must use addresses between 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.255.
- Subnet Mask : Normally it will be 255.255.255.0.
- Gateway : You will enter the IP address of your router.
- DNS Server : Enter 8.8 .8.8.
- Http Port : Enter a port number you are not using; If you don’t know them, place 1201. There are routers and browsers that have restrictions for some, so we recommend using them from 1200.
- User : If you have not changed your username, enter admin.
- Password : If you did not change the password, leave this information empty.
- Enter the configuration of your router, as explained above.
- Create a port for the camera on the router.
- Open the port of this one.
- You can access in the configuration options or from the function CD, there you will find the option of «Network», then «DDNS» and activate the “Enable DDNS” option. You will have two options to use a “DDNS” from factory or external .
- In the factory option, you can use the DDNS server that the IP camera company you have purchased that can provide the service for free or paid.
- In If you use a DDNS external to the company, you must put the data of your DDNS server in the corresponding fields and then save the configuration.
Finally, create a new password and username to strengthen the security of your surveillance network.
How to view an IP camera from the internet?
In cases that you wish to have access to the surveillance network of your IP cameras, you can enter from the internet without the need to enter through the LAN network that allows communication. This in case you are out of the workplace, the city or for other reasons.
Just by placing the IP address of the camera in your browser you can view the video information that you are entering at the moment, as well as make settings if necessary. For this reason this type of equipment has a great advantage over this closed circuit hardware that was previously used.
Configure an IP camera to view videos remotely
There are different ways to configure them and that they allow their owners to view images remotely, regardless of whether or not it is connected from the LAN or WLAN network where they are connected.
The steps you must follow for proper configuration are the following:
This process can be done in two ways.
Automatic: You must activate the “UPnP (Universal Plug & Play)” option on your router. In some cases you must also enter the “Settings” menu of the surveillance camera and activate the option.
Manually: You will add a new port redirection and enter the IP and the port that has been destined for the camera. This port redirection option can have different names: NAT, SUA / NAT, Virtual map, Virtual server, etc . If you have several boxes indicating the input / output or internal / external port, you must indicate in all of them the same port assigned to the surveillance peripheral.
If you have the option of choosing the TCP or UDP protocol, you can place TCP and even All . Service Port and Internal Port, as they must be the same. IP Address here you have to enter the local IP address of the camera for which you are going to create the port.
Now you must proceed to configure the network with a DDNS server:
How to access my IP cameras from the Internet to have better control ?
Once you have configured the path to your IP cameras, either by using your public, dynamic or static IP, (you can ask your service provider to use a Static IP), or by a DDNS server, you will only have to place it to enter if you use an IP, for example: 84.56.123.67:91, where 91 is the port of entry and the digits before this are the IP of these.
If you still use DNS server, you will have to put the link port, you can know this by locating in the settings screen of your camera in the option of «Status»> «Divice Status »>« DDNS Status ».
You only have to enter in your browser the IP or DDNS server of the device you wish to enter, enter your username and password and in this way you can access it. This will be the way you can remotely access each of your cameras, so write down and save your user ID and the entry route to each of them.