I decided to start a new post since my previous issues were resolved.
I installed a desktop Windows XP Pro computer at my remote location and had 2 USB webcams and 1 IP cam (747W). Everything would work for a day or two. The IP cam kept dropping out after a day or so. The USB cams would continue to run for up to 5 days or so, then the iCamsource program would crash. I go there every weekend and will be until early December. I attempted to set up Remote Desktop on the remote computer so I could restart everything from home. No luck. I have an XP Pro laptop that I am able to Remote Desktop into from my other computers when I have it on my home network: can see it internally and externally with port 3389 forwarded in the router and using dyndns domain that I set up. Cannot see the desktop internally or externally when at the remote location. The RDP listening port is 3389. I brought the computer home for troubleshooting. The USB cams are now "dummy" cams pointed out of the windows.
Next issue: I left the IP cam connected to the router. I have DSL with a Westell 7500 modem/router that I bridged so it is just a modem now, or so I think. I then installed a Netgear router, WRN2000v2. I have the same router at home and am familiar with it. I actually installed the Netgear router last week hoping to get the IP cam stable, but still had drop out issues. Since I couldn't Remote Desktop to the remote computer, I decided to use the IP cam like it was intended for now. I forwarded port 80 to the internal IP address of the IP cam, 192.168.1.xxx. With the dyndns domain, I could see the IP cam when on my network at remote sight. I turned on Remote Management for the router and could see it when using the external IP on a laptop when on my network at remote sight. I went to a local library with WIFI and cannot see the router or IP cam. Turned off router remote management and left IP cam in place. Tried seeing it from home and cannot.
So, is there a possibilty that the Westell modem is blocking my ports when attempting to see externally? If so, does anyone have a fix?
As far as the remote desktop issue, I will work on that separately from this forum, unless someone as some ideas. I understand the basics of RDP and firewall rules, but I am defintely missing something with this computer. I bought it used and have been searching the web like crazy looking for anything to get it to work like I want. I have Norton Security Suite on it like my other 3 computers.
I had very little issues with the Airlink when I had it at home wired to my Netgear router. It is wired to a Westell modem/router at my remote location. I'm wondering if the issue is the router. I do have another router (older Linksys) that is not being used. I might bridge the Westell and use the Linksys.
I traveled to my remote location this past weekend. Last week we had a major storm go through the area. I think the power glitched and lost the Icamsource program. I have the computer set up to power back on when the power fails, but the computer needs to be logged in to get Icamsource to autostart. Next trip there, I plan on setting up Remote Desktop so I can see the computer from home.
I added a cheesy webcam to the setup which is now an Airlink 747W pointed inside, Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 pointed outside and the cheesy webcam pointed inside. Two days later, the Airlink 747W locked up. It did this last week also before the power glitched the computer. I updated the firmware after I purchased it. I found that seeing a good night time image at 20' across the room was a little optimistic. It was better at 8' and that's where I mounted it pointed at the door.
Questions:
Is the 747W known for locking up? I am using it wired and disabled the wireless feature in the setup.
What is realistic night vision with the 747W? Would an IR illuminator help increase the night vision across 20'?
Installed the new desktop, Airlink 747W and Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 at my remote location today. Everything went well and can see both cams on phone app. The Logitech image is very good. Only one issue. The 747W image is crappy. I bought a 50' cat6 network cable (Staple's brand) and the image is very grainy. I did not test the cable at home, my mistake. The camera had a very good image when used with a different network cable at home. I left the setup as is for now. The night IR image is worse than the daytime image. I'm going to bring back the Staple's cable and return it. Any recommendations for a good network cable? I need at least 30'. The 50 footer was the only cable over 15'.
EDIT: I also used a network cable that came with the DSL modem/router in between the computer and router. Cable was originally used for modem/router setup. It has a funky end on it for the computer end, Y with a USB and regular RJ45 connector. I did not use this cable with the IP cam at home, so this cable may be the cause of a poor image on the cam. I'll be back to the remote location this coming weekend with cables in hand to resolve the issue. Hopefully it's a cable issue and not a modem/router issue. As of this morning, both remote cams are on.
The Westell router/modem is in place at the remote location. I have the new desktop working with two cams (IP and a webcam) at my home. Home setup is cable modem feeding a Netgear router. I am currently not having any issues.
I hope to move the new desktop, IP cam and webcam to the remote location in a few weeks. I travel there every 2 to 3 weeks. I'm waiting for a new Logitech Pro 9000 to arrive from an ebay vendor.
When I said I couldn't see it when I'm at home, I meant that I could not physically see the make/model of the DSL modem/router. Sorry for the confusion.
I resolved my issue today. I was able to get the webcam and the Airlink 747W both on at the same time. I kept having a conflict adding a cam, iCamsource acted like it was the same cam being added and would delete one. I messed around and finally got both cams on and have been on without issues for about 6 hours. I did have to change the URL from MJPEG to JPEG to keep the IP cam from getting bright like contrast flashing, even though it is not visible with the Airlink utility software. Auto-config is off.
I'm happy with the Logitech Pro 9000 that is on my other desktop, so I ordered one for the new to me desktop to use at my remote location with the IP camera. Hopefully all will work together. I'm going to try the Logitech at home with the IP cam before attempting set-up at remote loacation.
Next question: will a Westech DSL modem/router be a problem with this set-up at remote location? I plan to hard-wire the IP cam to the router with a Cat-5 cable so there is no wireless issues. Thanks.
I only had a little time to check it out last night. UPNP is enabled on the router. I tried selecting "auto config router" and still get errors for the IP cam. I also have the newer version of icamsource. Each time I tried to start icamsource with both cams, the webcam would function and the IP cam would get an error. I tried the the different URLs that are listed on this site with no luck. The Airlink IP cam works with the Airlink utility software.
SKJM, thanks for the info. It looks like if I can get both cams to function simultaneously on one computer, my remote location experiment will work.
I have a Logitech Pro 9000 connected to a Dell XP desktop computer running iCamsource with no issues. I also have an Airlink 747W that I can connect hardwired to the Netgear router with no issues, but cannot get them on at the same time on Icam. This was a few months ago that I was attempting this and gave up when summer arrived. I've just been running the Pro 9000 for a few months.
Fast forward to now. I purchased a used XP desktop to be used at a remote location connected to a DSL modem/router. Instead of going the "port forwarding" route, I decided to have a desktop there (minus the keyboard, mouse and monitor) with a webcam and the Airlink 747W running iCamsource. I will have the 747W pointed inside and a webcam pointed out of a window. I have been testing the new desktop at home connected to the Netgear router and I have the same issue as my other desktop: I can run a webcam (Intel Pro) solo or the IP cam solo, but not both together.
My initial thoughts are router related, but I'm not sure. Any ideas? Is my logic flawed for having a remote computer without port forwarding to be able to see two cams? Thanks.
Last night I checked the JPEG box and started the IP cam on wireless with the two USB webcams. All was fine until 9:37am today. I noticed when checking remotely on my Android phone from work that the IP cam pictre is washed out and cam froze and stopped at 9:37am. Might be an issue with the amount of snow on the ground. One of the USB webcams, a cheap Logitech, gets washed out frequently. The other webcam, an Intel, has a good pic.
Thanks for the info, I'll keep plugging away to get the IP cam working right.
EDIT: Had to power cycle the IP cam when I got home to restore functionality.
I am having some isues with my IP cam, 747W. Quick background, I have been using two USB webcams with Icamsource since last summer that are pointing out of windows. Outside of some sunlight induced contrast issues, it has been working pretty good. I recently bought an Airlink AICN747W based on the recommendations I have read on this forum. I liked the IR and wireless features. My goal is to have this cam at a remote location, but i have a lot to learn as far as networking, port forwarding, etc. but for now I am using it at home for the learning curve.
I have done the initial set-up to the IP cam hardwired to the Netgear router. When used wirelessly and used on the same Icamsource program as one of the USB webcams, the IP cam is not stable. It will randomly freeze. Desktop computer is an XP, SP3. I decided to run the cam wirelessly from my laptop, also running XP, with no other cams on that Icamsource program and it did not have the same stability issues. Just yesterday, I connected the cam to the router, hardwired, and ran it with one of the webcams and it has been on since last night with no issues.
I'm not sure if any of the other devices in the household can cause the wireless issues. Router is connected to the desktop. Other devices used on the wireless connection at any given time: 2 laptops, 1 Android phone and 1 iPhone. Any ideas? Thanks.
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