How to Remotely Access a CCTV DVR with no IP?

[custsrvcrep 0]

I hope if you have clicked on this post, you have patience ... as I need to explain the whole story to get a valid suggestion.

 

When I installed my CCTV DVR in the country of the Philippines, I was able to use DDNS and access my system remotely over the internet. [iE: router worked, ports were open, everything worked, video visible].

 

With the shortage of IP addresses, the ISPs in the area converted to CGNAT (Carrier Grade Network Address Translation).

 

CGNAT shares ONE IP address among an unknown number of subscribers. It uses its own internal service to route my traffic from the internet to my "internal" ip on their router.

 

This PREVENTS inbound traffic originating from the internet. You can not access a camera or a computer behind their router. In other words, there is "no such thing" as port forwarding when you are behind a CGNAT. You cannot access anything beind your home router ...

 

To be clear, NOTHING using a "dynamic dns service" will work. IF i rent a dedicated IP for $50/mo, then the problem will be solved. I'm looking for other solutions. I would rather pay for new technology instead of paying $50USD for ONE IP per month.

 

Teamviewer works fine behind the CGNAT because it somehow pushes a connection between my computer and their servers (vpn?).

 

Here are the ways I have considered to work around this problem without the additional IP.

 

1. There are IP cameras that PUSH video up-the-internet into the cloud (ie: dropcam). All the video is then in the cloud, available to be viewed from anywhere.

 

I have been trying to find an adapter that would connect to the monitor-output jack of my dvr, and push the converted signal/stream to the cloud (in the same way as an IP camera would push a signal/stream). [in my example, I would be pushing one "stream" of a four-camera quad image -- the same image being monitored.]

 

I have been unable to find such an adapter. (THIS WOULD BE MY SECOND CHOICE)

 

2. Find a CCTV DVR that connects to a server in the same manner that Teamviewer connects. The DVR would push a connect request to some server, which would acknowledge and maintain a connection.

 

With the connection made from the dvr to the server, access from anywhere would be simple -- the same as if I access my computer via teamviewer.

 

There are dozens of DVRs that claim to be "cloud dvrs" with easy setup and no port forwarding -- but so far, they all use their own proprietary ddns, which won't work with CGNAT. (THIS WOULD BE MY FIRST CHOICE)

 

I have heard about xmeye -- but no one can tell me how xmeye actually works.

 

3. I am aware that I can use teamviewer to access a computer on the same network; then use that computer to access the dvr. This is not my preferred solution.

 

4. Place a dropcam in front of the monitor screen of the dvr and let dropcam record a 2nd generation copy of the activity and push it to the cloud. Not a good solution.

 

5. Connect a slingbox to the dvr. Slingbox maintains a connection like teamviewer. However, it would be only usable for live streaming as it has no storage capability.

 

6. Instead of slingbox, connect a Hauppage 1212 pvr. All output of the CCTV DVR would be stored on the computer attached to the Hauppauge and stored in the cloud. This requires a computer running 24x7 as well as the Hauppage unit. (I found an example of how to do this at http://slingboxreview.com/ )

 

NOW THAT I HAVE WRITTEN THIS RIDICULOUSLY LONG POST ... I am looking for better ideas and solutions, or existing applications that will solve the problem of accessing a camera/DVR behind a CGNAT.

 

If you stayed this long ...thanks!

[Securame 0]

2 and 3 seem fine.

 

Most DVRs advertised as P2P should work. Not sure about those you say that "claim" to be cloud devices, but I would say you should be fine with any modern Dahua or Hikvision unit.

[richms 0]

Can you not just pay for a public IP address? ISPs here that are doing CG Nat are doing that for the same cost as a static IP.

[CYANiDE 0]

#3 is free and would be my first choice.

 

I honestly think it will be up to you. I would not even consider a dropcam on the screen due to cost.

[custsrvcrep 0]

Can you not just pay for a public IP address? ISPs here that are doing CG Nat are doing that for the same cost as a static IP.

 

"IF i rent a dedicated IP for $50/mo, then the problem will be solved. I'm looking for other solutions. I would rather pay for new technology instead of paying $50USD for ONE IP per month."

 

A dedicated, private IP has already been quoted at $50 ADDITIONAL per month. The internet service itself is $30/per month, raising the cost of basic internet to $80/per month.

[nginmu 0]

I'm aware this is quite an old thread, but I hope it's ok to revive it seeing as I'm experiencing precisely the same problem in 2017 on EE 4G in the UK.

 

Other threads on other forums where I've raised the issue & tried various avenues to workaround CGNAT:

 

https://community.ee.co.uk/t5/4G-and-mobile-data/Incoming-Connections-4G-PAYG/td-p/549628

https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2357455&p=13628347#post13628347

https://forums.openvpn.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=23831

 

Has anybody come up with a working solution at all, or have any promising avenues of investigation?

[Harry88 0]

Have you tried anything like this: https://www.stream-technologies.com/

[iamtomhauer 0]

On 6/28/2015 at 12:19 PM, custsrvcrep said:

I hope if you have clicked on this post, you have patience ... as I need to explain the whole story to get a valid suggestion.

 

When I installed my CCTV DVR in the country of the Philippines, I was able to use DDNS and access my system remotely over the internet. [iE: router worked, ports were open, everything worked, video visible].

 

With the shortage of IP addresses, the ISPs in the area converted to CGNAT (Carrier Grade Network Address Translation).

 

CGNAT shares ONE IP address among an unknown number of subscribers. It uses its own internal service to route my traffic from the internet to my "internal" ip on their router.

 

This PREVENTS inbound traffic originating from the internet. You can not access a camera or a computer behind their router. In other words, there is "no such thing" as port forwarding when you are behind a CGNAT. You cannot access anything beind your home router ...

 

To be clear, NOTHING using a "dynamic dns service" will work. IF i rent a dedicated IP for $50/mo, then the problem will be solved. I'm looking for other solutions. I would rather pay for new technology instead of paying $50USD for ONE IP per month.

 

Teamviewer works fine behind the CGNAT because it somehow pushes a connection between my computer and their servers (vpn?).

 

Here are the ways I have considered to work around this problem without the additional IP.

 

1. There are IP cameras that PUSH video up-the-internet into the cloud (ie: dropcam). All the video is then in the cloud, available to be viewed from anywhere.

 

I have been trying to find an adapter that would connect to the monitor-output jack of my dvr, and push the converted signal/stream to the cloud (in the same way as an IP camera would push a signal/stream). [in my example, I would be pushing one "stream" of a four-camera quad image -- the same image being monitored.]

 

I have been unable to find such an adapter. (THIS WOULD BE MY SECOND CHOICE)

 

2. Find a CCTV DVR that connects to a server in the same manner that Teamviewer connects. The DVR would push a connect request to some server, which would acknowledge and maintain a connection.

 

With the connection made from the dvr to the server, access from anywhere would be simple -- the same as if I access my computer via teamviewer.

 

There are dozens of DVRs that claim to be "cloud dvrs" with easy setup and no port forwarding -- but so far, they all use their own proprietary ddns, which won't work with CGNAT. (THIS WOULD BE MY FIRST CHOICE)

 

I have heard about xmeye -- but no one can tell me how xmeye actually works.

 

3. I am aware that I can use teamviewer to access a computer on the same network; then use that computer to access the dvr. This is not my preferred solution.

 

4. Place a dropcam in front of the monitor screen of the dvr and let dropcam record a 2nd generation copy of the activity and push it to the cloud. Not a good solution.

 

5. Connect a slingbox to the dvr. Slingbox maintains a connection like teamviewer. However, it would be only usable for live streaming as it has no storage capability.

 

6. Instead of slingbox, connect a Hauppage 1212 pvr. All output of the CCTV DVR would be stored on the computer attached to the Hauppauge and stored in the cloud. This requires a computer running 24x7 as well as the Hauppage unit. (I found an example of how to do this at http://slingboxreview.com/ )

 

NOW THAT I HAVE WRITTEN THIS RIDICULOUSLY LONG POST ... I am looking for better ideas and solutions, or existing applications that will solve the problem of accessing a camera/DVR behind a CGNAT.

 

If you stayed this long ...thanks!

This has been a long time ago, were you able to find a solution to this? In my case, I use the same solution as in #3. While it works fine, the connection eats up bandwidth. I'm just hoping a new generation of routers will address this issue with CGNAT or maybe ISP providers should start using IPV6 version protocols so we won't have any issue with the shortage of IP addresses.

[SamHodgson105 0]

Option #1 looks best to me, I'd say look into a cloud connector solution.

Cloud connectors integrate a cloud storage measure into your traditional surveillance system. For specialist cameras, you just need to add one alongside your existing NVR and upload footage straight to the cloud.

There's some good info on this technology in this article: https://www.chrislewis.co.uk/blog/cloud-cctv-what-can-it-do-for-me

[JustinBlack 0]

Using Security Camera Systems with No-IP

1. Step 1: Create an Account. ...
2. Step 2: Confirm Your Account. ...
3. Step 3: Login to Your Account. ...
4. Step 4a: Add a No-IP Plus Domain to Your Account. ...
5. Step 4b: Add a Free/Enhanced Host to Your Account (Optional) ...
6. Step 5: Add a Host to Your Domain. ...
7. Step 6: Making It Dynamic.