Streaming Webcam Feed From Home
 

I recently purchased a cheap Foscam FI8910W webcam. It allows me to view a live feed via my wireless home network within a web browser quite nicely. I want to be able to view the feed when traveling, but when I tried using the prescribed methods to open a port and set a static (or forwarding) IP, I learned that my reliance on a 4G LTE connection to power my home network presents a problem with this, rendering it difficult or impossible. Not a big deal, as the Foscam model I have lacks some zoom features I want anyway.

Here's what I'm seeking. Would appreciate it if anyone could recommend any equipment/setup that meets all requirements:

> Total cost of equipment must be under $500.

> Webcam must be able to stream live via the internet so that the feed may be viewed remotely via a web browser (Android app or similar interface would be nice too, but not required).

> Webcam must have substantial zooming and panning abilities that can be controlled remotely.

> Webcam must be able to send the signal via WiFi N so it doesn't need to be hard-wired to my router, and it must not require a static IP to access (to avoid the aforementioned problem I face with my current cam). Not sure if this is possible... a bit over my head technically.


Help/advice appreciated!

I don't think it's an issue with the cam - it simply asks your router to give it an internal IP address. If that IP is static, or if a port is forwarded to it, that's under control of the router.

+1 - this is primarily a requirement for your router. The fact that you're on an LTE connection may also pose some problems, as I've seen several cases where these are assigned a private address with NAT somewhere in the ISP's network. In that situation you're not going to be able to port-forward incoming traffic to your network.

It's very easy to get these Foscam cameras to be viewable over the Internet - but your Internet connection has to support incoming port forwarding to make it straightforward. You will also likely need a Dynamic DNS service (which is on some of the Foscam cameras themselves - not sure about that one) to give yourself a hostname you can access regardless of your IP address.

Thanks. I believe what you are saying is correct... my LTE wouldn't allow me to set up the needed forwarding; it was a not a problem witb the function of the cam. So is there a way around this whereby I can essentially upload what my cam is seeing to a server so users can then download/view from there? It seems that there has to be a way I can make this work. Ideas? I want a new cam either way because the Foscam doesn't have optical zoom, and I need that. I just have to solve this issue of not being able to get the images viewable outside my local network.

Beware that many ISPs prohibit this sort of thing.

Streaming a personal webcam feed for personal use? If so, I'm not concerned... will let 'em go after me.

Any tips on how to get this done?

Check your WAN address first. If it's 10.x.x.x. or 172.16.x.x, you won't be able to remotely access things because those are unroutable addresses.

If that's the case, the only thing I can think of is to attach a webcam to a PC (probably running Linux), get some web space somewhere, and write a script to upload a captured frame from the camera to your web space every so often.

edit: Also check out D-Link cameras. They seem to be able to get around this. Not sure.

Many ISP are deploying carrier grade network address translation in an effort to prolong IPv4 use and delay the changeover to IPv6. It effectively renders your internet connection outgoing only. No problem if you only consume contents, but to stream you will need an intermediate server to store and forward.

I think all mobile carriers use CGNAT to certain degree. Some will offer a VPN-compatible data plan, which gives you a routable address because IPSec does not play well with NAT.

If you want automatic address assignment and automatic port mapping, you need UPNP.

It's 192.168.x.x I believe. It seems I'm going to have to do as you suggest... find some software that will just upload periodic still shots to a server. Wanted to stream, but I'll accept that if no other workaround.

You're a bit over my head with all of that, but if I'm following, you're verifying what I suspect, that my LTE connection won't allow a connection in any case.

In the Foscam recommended setup, it did talk about enabling UPNP, which I did, but that didn't get me anywhere.


Unless someone has another suggesiton, looks like I'm down to just forwarding still images. Any simple packaged specific camera and/or software good for this? A decent optical zoom is a requirement.

Thanks again to all of you for the help.

What software comes with the cameras? Are you wanting to watch any time, or only capture changes e.g. use motion detection to trigger pictures/videos

If you have a computer that is always running, you could consider having the camera pictures saved to directory on Dropbox. You could then access them from anywhere on the web, or your devices. It isn't elegant, but it would solve the problem of access control and hosting.

I want to be able to watch any time, not just changes. I want the feed to be accessible not just to me, but to anyone on a public website. Your run-of-the-mill "free cam" site.

You could try to call up tech support and tell them you can't connect to your workplace's IPsec VPN. They might provision a public IP address for you.

UPNP automagically configures the port forwarding for you. Both router and device need to support UPNP. It's usually missing on smartphones' wifi hotspot function though, if that's how you're accessing internet over LTE connection.

seems to be totally irelevant to op - so deleted

Have you looked at www.dropcam.com? I have one and can even view it on my iPhone/iPad - over Wifi or 4G.

Nice camera. Is that a monthly fee on the website?