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How do I view the IP Camera from the internet? (Non-UPnP)

 

 

Not all routers have UPnP. However, there is still a way to view the camera over the internet.

 

Think of your video signal from the camera as a string. In order for you to access that string from the internet, you have to open "holes" for the string to pass through. These holes are called ports. Once you open these ports, you will be able to "forward" the signal to the next device. This is what is called "port forwarding"

Different routers have different methods for port forwarding. If you have a single modem/router, it will be easier. If you have a modem AND a router, it is more complex.

 

You can find instructions for how to do this on your specific router on the following website: http://www.portforward.com/

Pick your router from the list and you can find the instructions. (The will try to sell you their software on the next page, but at the top of the page there is a link if you would like to skip the advertisement.)

The page following that will have a list of programs that you can forward. Choose YCAM Wireless IP Camera. This camera is very similar to our camera.

Important: Some ISPs block access to port 80 and other commonly used Internet ports. If your ISP does not pass traffic on port 80, you will need to change the camera's default port number from 80 to a different number such as 8150. Our recommendation would be to first set your camera to a static IP address. Instructions are here http://spyonabird.com/faq-ip-address.htm

You will also need to know your router external IP address. You can find it here: http://www.myipaddress.com. Write this number down, you will need it to view your camera from the internet.

 

Once you have opened your port on your router, you can access the IP cam from the internet by typing the external IP address of your router, followed by a colon, and the port number of your camera (e.g., http://202.115.122.96:8150).

 

A few things to remember when doing this. You need to follow the instructions exactly.

The biggest issue is thinking your port is open, when it is not. Once you have gone through all the instructions, go to this online tool to check the port status http://canyouseeme.org.  Your camera needs to be running to use this tool.

 

Issue  #2. Loopback error. If external visitors to your network are able to reach your IP camera, but you can't view it locally using external IP address, you are experiencing a loopback connection error. This is a common problem when using a NAT Router. Basically, the router gets confused by the "outside address" coming from an "internal address" This makes it difficult to check if the camera is accessible from the outside. Maybe a neighbor could help you out by logging onto the camera from his location.

 

Issue #3 It is common for ISP to change your IP address. This is called Dynamic IP. They can provide a Static IP (never changing), but they usually charge extra for this. Your address may not change for months, but when it does, you will not be able to access your camera using the old IP address.

If you do not have a static IP address, we recommend using a free dynamic DNS service such as http://www.no-ip.com/ You will still need to open a port on your router.

 

Issue #4 If you have modem AND a router, you will need to open a port on both devices. You will  need to contact your Internet service provider for this.