Remote-View Configuration for a SleuthGear Wireless Hidden Camera System (with USB Receiver)

Follow these instructions carefully to enable Remote-View on your SleuthGear Wireless hidden camera system. These instructions apply to SleuthGear Digital Wireless systems with USB Receiver only. Remote-view requires an "always on" broadband internet connection, a router, and port forwarding.

Open a Router Port

Opening a port on your router allows the SecuExpress II Watcher software to broadcast your live video feed to the internet. It is recommended to open a port that is not a common port, such as port 30000. There are several options for opening a router port. The most obvious would be to contact your router manufacturer's technical support or refer to your router user's manual. If contacting the manufacturer, tell them you need to open a router port for remote-view of an IP security camera. They should walk you through doing so. If you're using a broadband router (a combination modem/hub) provided by your internet service provider (ISP), contact your ISP for instructions on opening a port. Another option for the handy do-it-yourselfer is to visit http://www.portforward.com to find your step-by-step instructions on port forwarding for your particular router. There are many ads and nuances to this web site, so follow these instructions carefully:

• Scroll to the bottom, find, and click on your router brand and model
• In the top right corner of the screen, click the words “Click here to skip this advertisement…”
• Click the orange “Default Guide” (located in the last sentence in the upper paragraph) - Here you will find step-by-step instructions on opening a port on your router
• Follow the instructions carefully and open your router port
• Once again, when you open a port, use an uncommon port, such as 30000. You may also open a range of ports, e.g. 30000-30005 if necessary. If you are operating more than one SleuthGear Wireless Hidden Camera System, you will need to open a separate port for each system.

Find your External IP Address and Verify Your Open Router Port

There are many sites that enable you to find your external IP address. You may have already seen it on portforward.com, but this site will enable you to do two things at once - find your external IP and verify that the port you opened is actually open. Your port must be open for remote-view to work.

• Visit http://www.yougetsignal.com/tools/open-ports/ (see image above)
  
• You will see your external IP address in the 'Remote Address' field
• Type the port number you opened (30000, for example) into the 'Port Number' field
• Click the "Check" button
• If it tells you that your port is 'open' then you've done everything correctly
• If it tells you that your port is 'closed', then the port has not been opened correctly - Do not go any further as a port must be opened for remote-view to work!

Enable Web Server in SecuExpress II Watcher Software

• From within SecuExpress II Watcher, go to Options-->Remote Access (see image above)
• Put a check in the box next to 'Enable Web Server'
• Type in the port you opened (30000, for example) in the 'TCP Port Number' field
• Ignore the 'Enable Video Server' and its "TCP Port Number' field. They are not used and do not affect remote-view functionality.

View your Live Video Feed Remotely

• In the Address Bar of your computer or smart phone's web browser (see image above), type in your external IP address and open port number (this works in a web browser on a remote computer or smart phone...e.g. iPhone, Blackberry, Android, etc)
• Use this format: http://IPADDRESS:PORT, http://12.34.567.89:30000, for example

Notes

• "Remote-View" is exactly that - a live view from a remote computer. This will not work from a computer that is on the same network
• Occasionally, your ISP may change your external IP address. It may also change after a power outage, or if you've turned off or unplugged your broadband modem. If your remote view stops working, check to see if your external IP address has changed

A Few Words About Remote-View Technology

Although this is extremely cutting-edge technology, please don't have unreasonable expectations. This may not work exactly as you see in a Hollywood movie! Streaming video is only as good as the equipment and connections that enable it. There are many variables that affect how smooth the video stream is that you actually see remotely. These variables include the speed, current load, and bandwidth of the internet connections of both the web server (your computer) and the remote view computer or smart phone, your ISP's limitations on bandwidth, the speed and current load on your cellular network (2G, 3G, 4G, etc). A poor connection doesn't mean that it's not working.

Download Printer-Friendly Version

If you have questions about remote-view configuration, please post them in the comments section below for everyone to share!