kiaya611

Hello, I am new to this forum and have been wanting to set up a home surveillance system for a while now, but haven't had the funds. I got an email from an online company (Tmart.com) and they had these 720p HD Wireless IP cameras for a "pre-release" price which I thought was very good, so I ordered eight of them. They finally cam and look like really nice cameras, but the information that comes with them and the software and the sites they recommend to set accounts up on are rather lacking in their information. Everything looks simple enough. The IP address, user name and password as well as a P2P ID is on each camera and it looks like you could just load their software, (which I did), create a cloud account (which I did) and install the cameras. Well, as far as I can tell, either the IP address is incorrect, or the camera has to be put into some "discovery mode"...and I have tried removing power to it and then putting it back hoping that it would be "receptive". I have tried two of the eight cameras, both directly connected to the Ethernet and wirelessly. I have tried all kind of third party IP Search programs, and other sites that you can create an online account on. I have tried this on two of my computers and get nothing. I can't communicate with the camera/s at all. I am, by no means a network expert and allot of this is above my head, but I am not unfamiliar with how computers work and have looked at the modem/wireless router and have checked everything I can think of checking. I either need to get these cameras to work or return them and try a different avenue. I don't know if it ok to put links on this forum, but here is the link to the camera and a youtube video on "How to set it up". http://www.tmart.com/Escam-QD520-HD-720P-Waterproof-P2P-IP-IR-Dome-Camera-with-IR-Cut-White_p258837.html I don't know if I am missing something simple or what. I have contacted the company and with their EXTREMELY broken English and seemingly complete lack of knowledge of the product, I didn't get anywhere. I really need some help with this. Any help that you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Steven

Thank you forthat information. After your last post, I contacted my IP and learned that I need a Static IP for this kind of use as I have a Dynamic IP now, so I am going to look into that. Also, I am returning the cameras because they don't offer PoE and I am going to get different cameras, maybe 2.0 Megapixel 1080p cameras (some with sound) instead. I am also trying to figure out if I need an NP Switch and NVR or if I can use these on the "Cloud and with my dedicated "Security Computer"...although it only has a 1TByte HDD. It seems that I need at least a 4TByte HDD if I plan to record any length of video at all out of that many cameras. As you know, I am VERY new to all of this and am trying to conquer the learning curve asap. If you have any suggestion as to the layout of the system, i.e. cameras, NP, NVR, Computer, etc., I would really appreciate it. You know...what is needed, brands to look at (and to stay afraid from) and software providers that like Milestone, etc. that handle all of this monitoring locally and so I can access and change things remotely via a computer or smart phone. Thank you in advance for your help. Steven

I appreciate that info, but how do I "discover" the camera/s in the first place. If I cannot communicate with the camera/s I cannot change anything.