I have recently bought a cctv system from Maplins.

One of the features is that I can view and manage the system from any PC connected to my router. The snag is that something needs a static ip address. Now I'm told I need to get the static ip address from my ISP (who is Virgin media).
On contacting Virgin media, they informed me they don't issue static ip addresses to anybody under any circumstances.

Questions:
Is this a show stopper, or is there a way round this issue?
There is also a facility/app to monitor the system away from Home using a smart phone (iphone) - would this also require a static IP address.
If the answers to the above 2 are that I need a static ip address no matter what, and there is no work round, what ISP's will issue a static IP address?

Dave

You might be able to work around it, you just need to know your dynamic IP address. This should remain the same unless you reboot your router or there is a loss of broadband on your line for any reason.

Try this web site http://www.whatismyip.com/ to find out what your current IP address is at any time.

[quote="mgmcc"]

Quote:

It's when accessing your network remotely over the internet that you need to know your WAN IP address as allocated by the ISP. As Dave says, as long as the Modem/Router connection remains active, the IP address shouldn't change. Just make a note of it before leaving base!

I also use Virgin Media 'Cable' (not DSL/ADSL) and my IP address very rarely changes or maybe only changes about twice a year and I quite frequently turn off my Modem and router at night and also when on holiday.

But as said above, providing you know your IP address then it's only a matter of re-inserting the IP address in the app you are using.

The other problem you may come across is that you will have to setup 'Port Forwarding' for the port being used in the router.

As for VM not issuing Static IP address's, I don't believe that at all, although they do not come free of charge and at least one company I know charges an extra £5 per month, and it only takes '10 seconds' to put into operation.

>> I tried to set a fixed ip address for the cctv recorder, but although I have the IP address (192.168.001.100)
That is only relevant to direct a piece of software from your computer to the router to ensure it stays the same.
From a remote computer the system needs to be able to find a specific address such as the one supplied by your ISP and no other.

That IP is a 'internal' address and no good whatsoever for you wanting to view the camera images.
Everybody has one of those address numbers, so if you used that the service would not know who to look for, consider the address as a 'Look-up' address, so the one you will use will have to be unique to yourself.

You need to insert your ISPs IP address into the camera software (possibly even a port number) so that when you connect to the web the service will search the web for that particular address much the same as coming on to this forum we normally type the name of the forum, but you could in fact type the IP address of the forum (if you knew it).

Basically, when you or I search for your camera it finds it by me typing in the address supplied by your ISP (and no other) when it then finds that address your router then allows it to access your computer (which is why Port Forwarding may also be required) to then find the camera software (again which makes it easier with Port Forwarding and also issuing a port number.

Unfortunately all of these camera types of software are all different and therefore I can't be specific on how to setup the software you have, but again, basically all you need to do is to install the software and insert your ISP's IP number into the software.

I currently monitor several stores and all I ever have to do is to put in the IP address from your ISP.

Also check your firewall to make sure you are not being blocked.

I have discovered that I canalter the STATIC IP address IN the cctv software. Also my Netgear Router is 192.168.0.1, so the address I have used is 192.168.0.200 and the router has "seen" this as an unknown device, and shown its MAC code. I have now reserved this address in the router, and all seems OK.

Typing in http://192.168.0.200 shows my Cameras. (There is an issue as it won't allow me toplayback recorded clips, but I've not done port forwarding yet. Port 80 must be open but not port 9000.)

The other issue (away from home) I will address after I get the domestic bit sorted.

Thanks

dave

Hi,
and thanks for the reply.
I have renamed the unknown device
The ports are open
message I get on attempting to play (or save) recordings is as shown.



Still confused over the away from Home issue.

Dave

EDIT:
http://forum.maplin.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=613 shows issues others have had on this very same issue (I tried viewing on my trusty XP/IE8 PC and it worked, so I looked at IE9 being the culprit. I also googled HiDvrOcx)

"With the DVR software running on IE9, so that real time video can be viewed,
Select tools from the menu bar,
then Internet Options.
Then select the security tab
Select Local Intranet
Click off the "Enable protected mode" box.
Then click "Sites"
Click the "Advanced" option.
Then click "Add" site
Assuming the DVR software is running, this will automatically add the DVR IP address to the Local Intranet
sites list.

Restart IE9 and you should be able to play the DVR recorded files on the PC ..." this worked for me. Hope it's OK to do this?

Dave

What size hard-drive is it?
Try altering the recording settings to a low/er quality and see how that works.
That must surely be just a setting problem.

> Still confused over the away from Home issue.

At the moment if I were to try and access your camera from my computer I would get nothing because I don't know what IP address is being used to access your system and your camera, but by typing in your ISP's IP address is like opening the door to your router which then leads to your camera software.

*********************

LOCAL VIEWING:
At present when you want to access the camera from your computer at the moment you are using a internal IP address and port number of (192.168.0.200:9000) which you have inserted into the camera software and router and it works. (no problem)



REMOTE VIEWING:
N.B. - For remote viewing the camera software needs to be installed on any computer you want to use for the remote connection. (ie, yours and mine)

When you want to access the camera from a remote site (such as from my computer), you would simply open the camera software that you had installed earlier on my computer and then put in your ISP's IP address, port number and camera password into the camera software.
Then when the camera program is started it will automatically search the internet for your ISP's IP address which will then connect to your router, once connected and the router camera password is accepted, the camera software on my my computer will display your camera images.



*************
Edit:
Typed this earlier but forgot to press 'Send' and had rush out.

.

I have had some sucess (I think)

I know what the IP address is that the router needs - (I know this might change if I were to reboot the router - I know that I should make a note of it before leaving home if I want to access my CCTV from away)

I have opened (or it was already open) port 9000. (Port 80 was definitly already open)

The Insufficient Disc space issue is only an issue on my Windows 7 PC, On my Old XPPC Ie8 works fine.
(Can I revert back to IE8 on my Windows 7PC?)
AS a workround, I have carried out the instructions in my above post with regards to adding the DVR ip to the local InTRAnet sites list.
(This has worked for me, BUT... Is it safe?)

I have downloaded the iphone app - KView (Kguards iphone app) This required me to input settings (One of which was the ip address from my router - the others included the port (another one - not 9000))
This HAS allowed me to access the Live feed from my cameras, (but as yet not the recorded feed as I can't find out how or if to do that)

So all in all, I seem to be getting there

I did try and access the CCTV from away from home on my Netbook, but the Internet connection was intermittent from my phone tether data.

Thanks for the help

You have been a lot of help already - Thanks again