If you are not tech savvy and you are looking for an easy to setup surveillance system for your home or business, then look no further. CCTV Camera World's DVR systems and IP camera systems are easy to setup for remote viewing so you can watch your cameras from anywhere in the world. Once you have your cameras connected to your DVR or NVR, and you can watch your cameras using a monitor connected to the recorder, then follow this guide on how to remotely view your system without any recurring fees.

Before you get started

Before you follow the guide below make sure you have the following:

  • You have a monitor connected to the security video recorder using the VGA or HDMI port
  • You can view cameras on the grid displayed on the monitor
  • You have a broadband internet connection at the location of the recorder
P2P or Port Forwarding? When you use P2P networking such as scanning a QR code in to your mobile app to connect to your DVR, you are relying on a cloud server that's being shared by several customers. While P2P makes things simpler there are potential privacy and security risks. Purchasing a networking support session for remote support allows our knowledgable technicians to set up port forwarding for you. Port forwarding provides a secure direct connection from your phone to your DVR and is highly recommended.

Step 1) Connect your Recorder to your Router

  1. The video above demonstrates the difference between a network switch and a router. The video shows an example of a 8-port network switch. A network switch will have only LAN ports and no port specifically designated for the internet.  Your router has one port that is labeled internet or WAN and  4 numbered ports labeled LAN. Only use your router when connecting the recorder to the internet.
  2. Make sure your recorder is connected to one of the numbered LAN ports on your router. This connects your recorder to your local area network (LAN). Check to see that the lights on the back of your recorder are blinking. If those lights are not blinking then either your network cable is not plugged in correctly or your network cable is bad.
  3. If properly connected, you will be able to view your cameras over the internet following the steps below. We strongly suggest you avoid using switches entirely but, if you must, use only one switch. The video above shows how to incorporate a network switch with your router and recorder.

Step 2) Enable DHCP on your Recorder

  1. The video above demonstrates the steps to setup a dynamic IP address for your recorder.  First, login to your recorder using the graphical password or using your username and password. All of our recorders have a default username and password stated on a label on the top of the recorder.
  2. After entering in the password, left click and go to main menu. Go to Settings and click on Network. To change the IP address go to the TCP/IP tab. Locate your recorder's IP address in the box. The default IP address will be 192.168.1.108 and will be a Static IP address.We want to set the DVR to DHCP which gets a dynamic IP address from your router. A Static IP address stays the same while a Dynamic IP address  changes. Go to Edit which has a pencil icon, and then click on DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol). Now, hit okay. Then, hit apply and okay.
  3. Now, go back into Network located under Settings. If done correctly, you will have a new IP address on the LAN for your recorder.
  4. If the IP address states 0.0.0.0 after setting the DHCP then you have incorrectly plugged in the network cable that goes into your recorder or have a bad network cable that will need to be replaced. Check that your network cable is plugged into the port labeled LAN and that there are blinking lights around the network connector . If the lights are not blinking, make sure the network cable is properly plugged into your router. If that is not the issue use a different network cable.

Step 3) Install the mobile App on your Smartphone

For iPhone and Android devices the app is the same. It is called DMSS on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

DMSS icon with text

Step 4) Connect your recorder to your Smartphone

The last step is to enable P2P networking services on your recorder and scan its QR code in to the App on your Smartphone. It is an easy process as shown in the video below.

Step 5) Connect your recorder to the PC or Mac Viewing Software

Or if you would like to view your system using your PC or MAC you can install and use the SmartPSS program. You can add the device to the program using the Serial Number. The video below shows how to add your system using the SN to the SmartPSS Software. Click here for the Full Guide and Download for SmartPSS Monitoring Software.

Don Stephens is a Technical Support Manager at CCTV Camera World, a leading Security Camera distributor located in Buffalo, NY. His area of expertise is in designing professional security camera systems for medium and large scale businesses, schools, and government projects.

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