capz 0 Posted October 23, 2012 Hello all. I'm new to the forum and to ip video. I'm setting up a system for our business. I've got a couple cams set up and I'm trying to decide what nvr software to use. I like the ExacQ interface and features but I hit a snag with the mobile app that's kind of a deal breaker. First let me back up. We have Arecont cams so I first started using their AV100 software. Surprisigly, they don't have a mobile app. So I've been using IPCamviewer. It works well and it's available on iphone and android. With this app, all I had to do was forward ports to each cam from the static ip address of the router (Comcast business class SMC). This allows us to view the cams whether we were inside our private lan OR over the internet. Now I try ExacQ. It runs smoother and the mobile app is slick. Except it's client/server based. Unlike IPCamviewer, I need to set up two servers in the app, one for our private lan and one for internet viewing. This results in an annoying "can't connect to server" notification on one of them, depending on if we're local or remote. I googled the problem and it seems the router supplied by Comcast can't handle NAT loopback. In other words, you can't reach a LAN device through the WAN ip from within the LAN. But why am I able to do this with IPCAMviewer? I'd really like to use ExacQ and their mobile app. Is there a problem with how the router is configured? Do I need to bridge the router and add another one that handles NAT loopback? Any info, experience is much appreciated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buellwinkle 0 Posted October 24, 2012 Try a different router. Personally, I buy routers that I can load DD-WRT firmware on. The flexibility makes it worth the while. I don't have any issues on 3 different carriers NATing the ports and accessing them via the LAN IP or through the WAN IP. Also, DD-WRT actually uses the term NATing, not port forwarding like consumer routers. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
capz 0 Posted October 24, 2012 That may be the best option. Maybe not the only one though. I did a little digging and found I might be able to circumvent the nat loopback issue by editing the hosts file. I have a little experience working with the hosts file back when I attempted to jailbreak an iPhone. Long story short I bricked the phone and the pc misbehaved until I reversed what I had changed. So I'm reluctant but I'll explore it a little more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
capz 0 Posted October 24, 2012 It looks like I'm buying another router. It seems I can edit the hosts file on the connecting devices to allow nat loopback, but as soon as they leave the LAN the file would have to be amended again. I wanted to avoid adding another router. One more hop the transmission has to take. Damn Comcast! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buellwinkle 0 Posted October 24, 2012 Didn't think the hosts file would work, that's more of a local DNS than a way to trick the router. If you go on eBay, there's lots of people selling routers with DD-WRT pre-installed for decent prices. That's what I do since like you said, don't want to take the risk that I may brick the router when I can buy it already pre-done and working. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
