If you are in the market for WiFi security cameras, then you will definitely need a wireless Internet access operating 24/7. This network forms the backbone of your WiFi-based home CCTV systems, as it connects the essential cameras to the DVR and hard disk drives. This network even allows you to remotely view the feed from your WiFi security camera using your phone or tablet.
The question now, however, is what to do when the WiFi network you rely on goes down?
WLANs and Fixed IP Addresses
The typical WiFi security camera network transfers data on a wireless local area network (WLAN.) The cameras themselves utilize a fixed IP address that can be accessed via the Internet but does not need the Internet to work properly.
What does this mean? Simple: your WiFi surveillance camera will still work even if you aren’t connected to the Internet via a service provider. You will lose the ability to remotely view or manipulate your cameras, but they can still function just fine without Internet access.
What you will need, however, is a wireless router, a network video recorder, an uninterruptible power supply and a clean, virus-free PC to get the whole setup working.
The NVR
The network video recorder is basically a software package. The video is processed directly inside the WiFi security camera, and the NVR hardware allows a computer to receive, store and send the video feed from wireless security cameras to mobile devices or other computers via the Internet. If the Internet goes down, then the NVR won’t be able to send data or receive commands from the mobile devices – but it will still be able to store video feed from a WiFi security camera.
The Wireless Router
The wireless router is typically used to ‘share’ Internet access with devices connected to the network. In this case, though, the router is used to wirelessly connect the PC to WiFi home surveillance cameras via the NVR software package. This NVR package will instruct your computer to ‘recognize’ the cameras, and the router bridges the wireless gap between the devices. Do be careful to note the range of the router’s WiFi signal, though. You will have to move the cameras closer or buy a range extender if your PC cannot connect to the cameras.
The UPS
When the power goes out, expect Internet access to go out as well. Your security camera network, however, need not go down with the power. An uninterruptable power supply (UPS) is a must for any WiFi security camera network that needs to work 24/7. Many digital camera models used for surveillance purposes can be hooked up to batteries that store power and/or draw power from renewable sources like sSWolar panels, but the PC and router will need a dedicated power source that will work when the lights are out.
A ‘Clean’ PCs
And last but not definitely not the least, you must make sure that the PC hooked up to your WiFi surveillance camera network is free from viruses. Decent antivirus software suites like Avast, Kaspersky or Norton will do a good job of protecting the nerve center of your security system. Even then, it is highly recommended that you not browse the Internet or install various unnecessary programs on this PC. All it takes is one misclick, on errant program, and you open up your system to crooks and snoops.
Keep all this in mind, and you will set up your WiFi security cameras in a way that they’ll function just fine even without Internet access!
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