Remote Access for Security Camera Systems – Common Issues 2

Security camera systems and remote access go hand in hand.  Most businesses these days insist on having the ability to view their video surveillance footage while away from the office.  This is not as hard to achieve as it once was, and it is now just a part of the package most dealers sell with their installations.

There are some common issues which need to be reviewed before choosing to set up remote access for a system:

Static IP Over Dynamic IP

• Static IP addresses for the DVR or IP cameras will be much more dependable than dynamic IP addresses.  Static IP addresses cost a good bit more and are sometimes prohibitive for homeowners.  Check with the internet provider for options.

Use DNS Forwarding

• If dynamic IP is one’s only affordable choice, his installer will be able to set up a DNS forwarding program.  DNS forwarding regularly assesses the IP address status of the DVR or NVR, and it sends a small message to a remote DNS forwarding service, effectively registering the new IP address.  So, when a user tries to log in to his security camera system remotely, the DNS forwarding service sends the request to the correct IP address.  It is not 100% reliable, but it satisfies most casual users of CCTV.

3^rd Party Software for Smart Phone

• If a person intends to view his video surveillance system from a smart phone or tablet, he should locate third party software which will make this possible.  Most smart phone platforms have this capability, though bandwidth can become a problem when the footage seems to be running too slowly.

While IP cameras are the new buzz in the security camera market, it is not necessary to spend the money on IP cameras to view the footage remotely.  While IP cameras give the user more versatility and some extra video analytics capabilities, analog camera systems are easily viewed remotely as well.  This is done by logging into the DVR or NVR from any browser and viewing the camera footage.  There is really little difference for the casual user.  The differences are in costs and software setup for which analog is an easier pill to swallow.

For step by step instructions to view your DVR remotely, here’s a guide we’ve created that includes IP setup and DNS forwarding.