How to Monitor a Security System With an IP Address
Home security is an important issue that has prompted homeowners around the world to implement strategies for remote monitoring. The proliferation of the Internet and wireless devices has made it easier than ever before to monitor a security system over the web using an IP address. These addresses are viewed in a web browser in the same way as conventional URLs. Attaching an IP address to your home security system is usually accomplished using a webcam security network, as these video cameras are designed to offer native support for computer operating systems and wireless networks.
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Instructions
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Run the webcam setup software that came with your camera. The program will display the IP address assigned to the camera. Note the address, then close the web cam setup software.
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Identify the IP address for your wireless router. All web cam security systems use wireless routers to route video data between the Wi-Fi webcams and the computer network. Most wireless routers use a standard IP address for configuration from any computer that is attached to them. These IP addresses usually begin with "192.168" and will be listed in the router's manual or sometimes on the bottom of the router itself. This is a different IP address than the one listed in your web cam setup.
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Open a web browser on a local computer attached to the same network. Type the router's IP address into the address bar. Press "Enter" on the keyboard and the configuration page for the router will display.
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Select the settings area for attached peripheral network devices where a web cam is configured. On Linksys routers, for example, this is found on the "Applications and Gaming" tab of the configuration page.
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Type the name of your webcam into the "Application" field.
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Choose any port number over 1024 to assign for the camera. This should be a number only known by you and anyone else who will see the webcam's image over the Internet. Type this port number into the "Start" and "End" fields associated with the camera you entered into the "Application" field.
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Enter the camera's IP address in the IP field. If available, click the "Enable" box to turn on the port. Otherwise, some router configuration programs will automatically enable any device added to this page.
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View the main "Status" page for your router. Note the public IP address assigned for your router. This is determined in part based on your Internet service.
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Open a new Web browser window. Type the public IP address, then a colon, then the port number you assigned to your web cam. No spaces are typed anywhere in the full address. Press "Enter" and you will see the image from the camera. This IP address and port number may be used from anywhere in the world to see the camera's activity.
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References
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