Recommend 4g router with port opening

[torqueofthedevil]

I am trying to access an IP camera over the internet.

Ideally I want to assign the camera a fixed IP address on that LAN, connect it to a 4g router (any recommendations on the 4g sim deal welcome too).

At a remote office I then use use dynamic dns system such as dyn dns or no-ip for the site WAN so that I can remain connected despite the ip address changing.

I believe I need to be able to open a port on the 4g router (not sure if this is same as “port” forwarding??) so need a router that allows this function. Please could I have some recommendations ideally well under £100.

Presumably if this works I don’t need a pc at the “site” / camera side? Other than for the initial set-up of the camera and router?

Thanks.

[dmsims]

TP-Link e.g. MR200

Sim deal depends on what carriers you get at the location

No, no need for a PC but what about recordings?

[BigTZ4M]

Mainstream 4G connections usually don't give you what would appear to be a unique IP address and so won't work with dynamic DNS services and aren't suitable to 'host' servers or services via. You'll need to find a service that doesn't use Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT). You'll need a fixed IP SIM provider.

[torqueofthedevil]

BigTZ4M said:

Mainstream 4G connections usually don't give you what would appear to be a unique IP address and so won't work with dynamic DNS services and aren't suitable to 'host' servers or services via. You'll need to find a service that doesn't use Carrier Grade NAT (CGNAT). You'll need a fixed IP SIM provider.

Forgive my ignorance but isn’t the point of the dyn dns to get around the issue of not having a fixed IP? But rather one which changes regularly?

Thanks

[torqueofthedevil]

dmsims said:

TP-Link e.g. MR200

Sim deal depends on what carriers you get at the location

No, no need for a PC but what about recordings?

The ip camera will be used to take intermitant photos rather than video so will just upload those images over the internet to the office based computer

Thanks

[BigTZ4M]

torqueofthedevil said:

Forgive my ignorance but isn’t the point of the dyn dns to get around the issue of not having a fixed IP? But rather one which changes regularly?

Thanks

You're right that is what dynamic DNS is for, but if your dynamic ever changing address is shared by 200 mobile phones at any given time then it won't know to go to you. Essentially the IP address the internet knows you by on 4G (including your DDNS provider) is one your mobile provider gives for a few hundred devices. When packets come in, the provider adds another layer of NAT to determine where the data should go.

This explains it better than me: http://www.4gsupport.co.uk/ddns-over-4g/

This will give you an idea of the premium to be paid for Fixed IP SIM cards:

http://www.3grouterstore.co.uk/3G/4G-Fixed-IP-SIM-...

Edited by BigTZ4M on Thursday 18th January 14:40

[sgrimshaw]

Have you already bought the camera?

[torqueofthedevil]

Already have the camera but will be doing other ones so buying other cameras - what are you thinking?

So 4g cards aren’t going to work (unless fixed ip) but a regular internet connection should work (with dyn dns)

[sgrimshaw]

torqueofthedevil said:

Already have the camera but will be doing other ones so buying other cameras - what are you thinking?

So 4g cards aren’t going to work (unless fixed ip) but a regular internet connection should work (with dyn dns)

I have a couple of these:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XPJHW34/ref...

I can connect to them from outside my network (from phone) using their app WITHOUT having a static ip.

I also have a 4g router:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-LTE-Advanced-Unlo...

I will try connecting a camera to the 4g router and see if I can still see the camera from my phone.

[dmsims]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

Would also obviate the need for a staic IP

[torqueofthedevil]

dmsims said:

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

Would also obviate the need for a staic IP

Thanks. Could you please explain briefly how this would work, I.e the hardware require in each location?

I’m considering just having a pc on site and uploading photos to a hosting site (by FTP) now as all the issues outlined about seemed to make accessing the camera remotely too difficult. If VPN could be used I suppose that would help but would still require a pc on site which I was trying to avoid due to cost of a pc sitting on each site, and also if there’s a power cut, having to go to site and restart all the software etc

Thanks

[plasticpig]

torqueofthedevil said:

Thanks. Could you please explain briefly how this would work, I.e the hardware require in each location?

I’m considering just having a pc on site and uploading photos to a hosting site (by FTP) now as all the issues outlined about seemed to make accessing the camera remotely too difficult. If VPN could be used I suppose that would help but would still require a pc on site which I was trying to avoid due to cost of a pc sitting on each site, and also if there’s a power cut, having to go to site and restart all the software etc

Thanks

You don't need a PC sitting on site. You can use a Raspberry PI as a mini CCTV server. Take a look at Xeoma as that can probably do what you want.

[dmsims]

You just need the router to support a VPN and a public IP address at the other site

[torqueofthedevil]

Ok I need to get something sorted in the next two weeks.

Current thinking is get a cheap mobile sim in a dongle. Leave PC on site, running the camera and connected to the internet with the dongle. Of running Team viewer. I then connect remotely from home to check that the camera is still taking photos.

Presumably once I have the log-in details to the remote (site) computer I can log in as many times as I like? Would this still work if dongle connection disconnects and then reconnects etc?

How would a router that allows VPN change things? Would this even be needed for team viewer?

Needs to be simple enough!

Thanks

[phucks1976]

You can use a gem420 router. If you use a three mobile sim and set it to 3G only (not 4g) then you get a public up address and can use dyndns.

This is a little known work around and 3G is fine for cctv viewing.

[torqueofthedevil]

Playing about with team viewer last night. Seems the way forward. Leave the PC on site, connected to internet with a dongle (4g) and I have set home computer up to access site via teamviewer without anyone accepting at far end, and no random password.

I think that the way team viewer works is that, even if IP address changes I will still be able to access that computer provided it is connected to the internet.

This way I can access the computer and make any changes / check everything is still working