Accessing an IP Camera via The Internet

[rtbcomp]

I think the interesting bit will be when I try to enter my username into the camera. I have to use an email address to log in to my domain supplier, but the camera won't accept a username in email address format. I hoping a different username will need to be set up somewhere else.

The example the camera manual shows is:
username = name
domain = name.domain.com

where name is a "subdomain" and is the same as the username. I'm not sure if their example shows someone using the same name for username and "subdomain" name or the username is ipso facto the "subdomain" name, or vice versa.

I'll have a go tomorrow.

 

[rtbcomp]

Well it was interesting, the router needs username & password to update any IP address changes with the domain supplier, so I've emailed support to ask how to set this up and I might have to wait 48 hours for a reply.

I set the DNS up and the confirmation page shows the camera logo on a preview screen, but when I click the link provided I get a 404 error.

So try something different, found these fellas https://www.noip.com and was up and running in 10 mins!

It looks to me like you don't get a genuine domain name, instead you go through their server on the back of one of their domains. You download a DUC which updates their database with IP number changes, this doesn't rely on the router to do it, so no router settings. On the other side of the coin a change in IP no. doesn't have to permeate through the system, it's instant as soon as the DUC finds it, but then the PC has to be running, if the IP no changes when I'm away and the PC is off I'll lose connection. You'd have to be careful if you installed it on a laptop and connected with another router, again the IP no. would be updated and the camera couldn't be accessed.

The basic service is free and you have to renew every 30 days, but that will do me for now.

 

[rtbcomp]

This is like using a hosepipe in a headwind whilst wading through treacle.

Set up the DNS my router for No-Ip, asked their support for the details to enter and they gave my the wrong information, tried to update the support ticket but that didn't work, so had to send feedback to support about support not working properly!

...

I set the DNS up and the confirmation page shows the camera logo on a preview screen, but when I click the link provided I get a 404 error.

...

This is working now.

It occurred to me that having to enter DNS host details in the camera that the camera itself might update the IP address when it changes and I don't have to use DUC. So I asked No-Ip support who said I didn't need DUC and Reolink support who said I did.

 

[rikrobson]

the camera is not aware of what address you use to get to it, it just knows its ip address and receives messages on that. The dns is just an easier way for us humans to understand ip addresses ,in this instance.
so you type rtpcomp.no-ip.com and you should get the ip address of your router returned. once the port forwarding is enabled then toy will be directed to the camera's web interface. you should then just use the local (to the camera) username and password to login. in theory it should be the same connecting in externally as connecting in locally on you internal network.

 

[MoreWellie]

You download a DUC which updates their database with IP number changes, this doesn't rely on the router to do it

Some routers have settings capability for no-ip.com in their dynamic dns setting area and it is much better to get the router to do it so you don't have to leave your PC on

 

[ajlelectronics]

Why so complex? All you ned is a Network Video Recorder with as many inputs as you need. Wire all cameras back to it with CAT6 and let the NVR handle all the routing. You will only (maybe not even) have to open a port in the firewall, but many of them use cloud linking anyway with Universal Plug'n Play.

 

[rtbcomp]

the camera is not aware of what address you use to get to it, it just knows its ip address and receives messages on that. The dns is just an easier way for us humans to understand ip addresses ,in this instance.
so you type rtpcomp.no-ip.com and you should get the ip address of your router returned. once the port forwarding is enabled then toy will be directed to the camera's web interface. you should then just use the local (to the camera) username and password to login. in theory it should be the same connecting in externally as connecting in locally on you internal network.

^^ I realise that, but I need to know its IP address if I want to access it remotely, the most convenient way is using DNS, but if the IP address of the camera changes (power outage, BT upgrades firmware &c) the DNS system needs to know so it can relate the new IP address to the existing domain. There are three ways (that I know of) the DNS server can be updated, 1) by the router, 2) by the camera and 3) by the DUC running on the PC.

Some routers have settings capability for no-ip.com in their dynamic dns setting area and it is much better to get the router to do it so you don't have to leave your PC on

That's what I've done, in spite of duff instructions from No-Ip! I need to test it by forcing a change of IP address by disconnecting the router from the BT plug, but at the moment I'm trying to convince Reolink that there are bugs in their monitoring software

Why so complex? All you ned is a Network Video Recorder with as many inputs as you need. Wire all cameras back to it with CAT6 and let the NVR handle all the routing. You will only (maybe not even) have to open a port in the firewall, but many of them use cloud linking anyway with Universal Plug'n Play.

Spendy, not worth it in this situation. Certainly for high-risk premises with multiple cameras it would be the way to go. It's only complex setting it up, once it's running it's fine.

 

[ajlelectronics]

Spendy, not worth it in this situation. Certainly for high-risk premises with multiple cameras it would be the way to go. It's only complex setting it up, once it's running it's fine.

Have you seen the price for a Technomate 8 channel NVR, or would you like me to quote?

 

[rtbcomp]

^^ Yes, and no thanks.

 

[rtbcomp]

could you use teamviewer or similar to get to a PC / laptop at home (you can do this from your phone too) and then you have a secure way to connect to your home network. you can get out to the cameras from there?

That would mean leaving the PC switched on, but it would be a good idea with Pan-Tilt-Zoom if they can't be controlled remotely. I used to use Team Viewer quite a lot, it feels strange accessing a PC from a tablet.

 

[Stueeee]

Rtbcomp, Do you have the cameras on a DMZ with your Home PC etc. behind another firewall as suggested by Brewdexta? Hackers only need to find one insecure device on a subnet to be able to escalate privileges and attack other devices like your PC.

 

[rtbcomp]

The firewall in the router is set to reject unsolicited requests if that means anything.

This is what the router has to say about its DMZ


DMZ
Only one device, with either a static or a DHCP address, can be placed into the DMZ. The Hub will give it a private IP address and forward all appropriate traffic to this device.

Important: Placing a host in DMZ has significant implications for its security. Although it will be still located behind the Hub’s firewall ALL unsolicited traffic not rejected by the firewall will be sent to this host by the Hub’s Network Address Translator, increasing it’s vulnerability to attack.

 

[rtbcomp]

Email to 1and1

I've set up a domain cameras.xxxxxxx.co.uk and I need to set up my BT Home Hub 5.
>
> The instructions on the hub webpage say I have to enter a username and password which will supplied by my service provider.
>
> Could you please tell me how to set up/obtain these details.

Reply

We would like to inform you that the subdomain "cameras.xxxxxxx.co.uk" is assigned to a different IP address, which means that is it hosted with another provider. We advise you to contact them about your concern regarding the username & password.

I hope that answers your query. However, if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to arrange for myself or one of my colleagues to call you back using our free Callback Service:

Give me strength - It's set up with 1and 1 by me. The confusion may have arisen because my IP address changed, it's not static, that's why I need to set up DNS.

 

[MoreWellie]

it all depends on what username and password you are talking about here. I am guessing you need the router admin username and password which would probably be on a sticker on the router

 

[rtbcomp]

No, on the DNS setup page you have to choose the DNS service and they give you (or you define) a username & password which the router uses when it updates the IP address. these are entered in the fields below:

 

[skotl]

No, on the DNS setup page you have to choose the DNS service and they give you (or you define) a username & password which the router uses when it updates the IP address. these are entered in the fields below:

View attachment 134708

Must admit that when I was replying I was just thinking static IP. Having dynamic IP does add some extra complexity, as you've discovered

But you're going about it the right way - use a service like NoIP or DynDns to ensure that there is a fixed host name against your IP. There are ways to do it inside the network but doing it at the router is more straightforward, and it looks like you're pretty much there.

Going back to your very first query, if NoIp or DynDns or whateveronly offer DNS names under their domain (such as rtbcomp.dyndns.org) and you want a more personalised address then you go back to your DNS provider and add a "CNAME" record, which is like an alias: You could create "cameras.rtbcomp.co.uk" which is a CNAME pointing at "rtbcomp.dyndns.org"

 

[rtbcomp]

So CNAME points to domain which points to IP address which via the port number points to the device?

When I first saw the names No-Ip and DynDNS &c I thought they were protocols which domain suppliers could adopt, Google soon sorted that one out! 1and1 help seems totally useless so I think I'll cancel my 30 day trial and subscribe to No-Ip, their basic service is free but you need to renew every 30 days, which is fine whilst I'm still pratting about.

All this has brought The Internet of Things into perspective.

This is the camera settings page for the DNS server, similar to the router one above, which I suspect is there to allow the camera to update the IP address if it changes:



I'll do some experiments to find out, maybe tomorrow.

 

[MoreWellie]

Ok, so the username and password in this case is your no-ip account username and password

I understand now why 1and1 couldn't help

Edit: and you only want dynamic DNS settings in the router

 

[brewdexta]

Why not ask your ISP for IPv6 addresses? Problem sorted, as there are trillions of possible addresses then you tend to get a bunch so no need for port address translation, DNS still works, which is a good job considering the address length

Zen supplies fixed IPv6 address space for free.

EDIT if your cameras support IPv6, which they should then no NAT either. The router and camera should support dual stack so you can talk v6 for t'internet and v4 or v6 internally. Most phones now support v6.

 

[ukracer]

So CNAME points to domain which points to IP address which via the port number points to the device?

When I first saw the names No-Ip and DynDNS &c I thought they were protocols which domain suppliers could adopt, Google soon sorted that one out! 1and1 help seems totally useless so I think I'll cancel my 30 day trial and subscribe to No-Ip, their basic service is free but you need to renew every 30 days, which is fine whilst I'm still pratting about.

All this has brought The Internet of Things into perspective.

This is the camera settings page for the DNS server, similar to the router one above, which I suspect is there to allow the camera to update the IP address if it changes:

View attachment 134720

I'll do some experiments to find out, maybe tomorrow.

Get some pennies out and try NORD. Its quick and cheap....only problem is you need to pay for the 3 years to get best rate....