Cameras are here but nothing works, what am I doing wrong?

[funkybunch]

This shouldn't be this hard @aristobrat gave you all the info you need. Take a deep breath and don't freak out. Set your PC with the manual IP as was described hardwired into a spare switch, plug just the camera and PC into the same switch. Once you have that, you can go to the web address locally of the camera on

http://192.168.1.108

. Once there, you can give the camera an IP of 192.168.0.XX - whatever you have available there for your home network. Once that is successful, put your laptop IP back to DHCP and you should be all set. You'll then take your laptop and go to the new IP of the camera. If this is too much, maybe you have a friend that can help you out who may know a little more about networking. Unfortunately, these are IP cameras which run on IP networks and you can't be afraid of making any network changes or else you'll never get anywhere with these things. Good luck in your endeavors of getting this up and running.

i dont have a spare switch and i can't disconnect everything i have going into my existing switch. i've never had to change my IP in my computer to connect any device before. what is the point of the config tool or smartpss if it doesnt work? and why do they provide you with a default ip address for the camera when you cannot even enter it into your browser? nothing works. does everyone go thru the same trouble i'm going thru? what if i didnt have a switch? can't i connect this camera directly to my RJ45 on my laptop? with poe injector of course

 

[mikeynags]

Again - take a deep breath. You can find cheap switches on amazon for occasions like this. They cost about $20. They’ll come in real handy for the next cam you will buy. These cameras come from the factory hard coded to that IP address. That’s what is creating the challenge.

What router are you running? I’m assuming you have the laptop and the camera plugged into your wireless router/switch?


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[funkybunch]

Again - take a deep breath. You can find cheap switches on amazon for occasions like this. They cost about $20. They’ll come in real handy for the next cam you will buy. These cameras come from the factory hard coded to that IP address. That’s what is creating the challenge.

What router are you running? I’m assuming you have the laptop and the camera plugged into your wireless router/switch?


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netgear 16 port gigabit unmanaged

 

[tigerwillow1]

My network is a different subnet than the default camera subnet, and the config tool always finds it. I admit it was difficult the first couple of times. Now it's run the config tool, initialize the camera, and change the ip address. I don't have to mess with the computer's network configuration. The two potential gotchas are getting the config tool to scan both my network and the camera's default network, and getting the camera's new password entered into the config tool.

 

[mikeynags]

K - hardwire the laptop and the camera each into their own port, follow the steps above to temporarily move your pc to the same network the cam is on (192.168.1.xxx) log on to the cameras admin web interface and set the camera to be on your real home network at 192.168.0.xxx and save the config. Once done, set your pc back to DHCP. You should be good to go.


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[funkybunch]

i'm starting from scratch, should i download the stand alone config tool or use the config tool that's in smartpss? i guess i have the latest version, i can use the older version of smartpss found in dahua wiki. i'm finding there's tons of info and videos out there but they are several months if not years old and everything is different, shouldnt be this hard to talk to a camera, seriously. it's like i'm trying to launch a spacex rocket here.

 

[aristobrat]

shouldnt be this hard to talk to a camera, seriously. it's like i'm trying to launch a spacex rocket here.

@funkybunch, these are not consumer-grade devices. They're designed and manufactured with the understanding that they will be professionally installed, typically in a business/professional environment where "auto-sense" isn't a thing and IP addresses aren't assigned automatically like they are in a consumer environment (i.e. the average American home). Virtually everyone here skips the "pro install" part and figures out how to do it themselves to save several hundred dollars of labor. It's a relatively small group of folks doing this so unfortunately the information shared isn't always the latest.

Is there a learning curve? Yes, you're attempting to figure out something that normally make a career of and get training to learn. Is the experience of setting up the first camera especially frustrating? Usually. But are there folks here willing to help you through? Also yes, but I have to add that for me personally the venting in your posts is rubbing me the wrong way so it's best that I jump out of the thread here. It looks like there are some great folks here willing to guide you through!

 

[funkybunch]

@funkybunch, these are not consumer-grade devices. They're designed and manufactured with the understanding that they will be professionally installed, typically in a business/professional environment where "auto-sense" isn't a thing and IP addresses aren't assigned automatically like they are in a consumer environment (i.e. the average American home). Virtually everyone here skips the "pro install" part and figures out how to do it themselves to save several hundred dollars of labor. It's a relatively small group of folks doing this so unfortunately the information shared isn't always the latest.

Is there a learning curve? Yes, you're attempting to figure out something that normally folks get training to do. Is the experience of setting up the first camera especially frustrating? Usually. But are there folks here willing to help you through? Also yes, but I have to add that for me personally the venting in your posts is rubbing me the wrong way so it's best that I jump out of the thread here.

understand, thanks for the help. i'm beyond frustrated at this point and feel that my time researching cameras every day for 12+ hours the last week has been pointless since i'm not familiar with basic networking. i changed the ip address of my computer and it will no longer connect to the internet.

 

[mat200]

understand, thanks for the help. i'm beyond frustrated at this point and feel that my time researching cameras every day for 12+ hours the last week has been pointless since i'm not familiar with basic networking. i changed the ip address of my computer and it will no longer connect to the internet.

It's OK @funkybunch

Sometimes it is a bit challenging to learn the IP stuff, once you get it and get the cameras up and running they'll give you good and reliable service.

note: when I picked up a Dahua OEM NVR from Andy - the Dahua OEM international model and the Amcrest cameras were an easy plug and play experience.

 

[funkybunch]

hey mat200, i remember you from other threads, amazon reviews, youtube channels, etc dont mean to rub anyone wrong being the new kid on the block, i'm almost embarrassed to say i retired from a career in surveillance, but the frustration is real. going to start from scratch and see if i can make heads or tails of this, i've been watching youtube videos and reading stuff online for hours. i just dont know what i'om doing when it comes to changing ip addresses, gateways, subnets, etc.

 

[mikeynags]

hey mat200, i remember you from other threads, amazon reviews, youtube channels, etc dont mean to rub anyone wrong being the new kid on the block, i'm almost embarrassed to say i retired from a career in surveillance, but the frustration is real. going to start from scratch and see if i can make heads or tails of this, i've been watching youtube videos and reading stuff online for hours. i just dont know what i'om doing when it comes to changing ip addresses, gateways, subnets, etc.

Try the utility @tigerwillow1 recommended. That has a pretty good success rate. It will get you to be able to reconfigure the camera and not the pc.


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[mat200]

hey mat200, i remember you from other threads, amazon reviews, youtube channels, etc dont mean to rub anyone wrong being the new kid on the block, i'm almost embarrassed to say i retired from a career in surveillance, but the frustration is real. going to start from scratch and see if i can make heads or tails of this, i've been watching youtube videos and reading stuff online for hours. i just dont know what i'om doing when it comes to changing ip addresses, gateways, subnets, etc.

Hi @funkybunch

Internet Protocal ( IP ) concepts can be quite a real frustration at first.

You've got a couple of good cameras, just see the post mikeynags just posted and the software that tigerwillow1 mentioned. Give that a go and let us know how well it works.

If you need take a break, and come back to it after relaxing a bit.

 

[Hammerhead786]

As others have said, you need to configure your computer's ip address to be in the same range as that of the camera i.e 192.168.1.x. When you do this, you will lose internet connectivity as you will not be on the same network as your router. Type the ip address of 192.168.1.108 in the browser and this should get you to the camera's web interface. Log into the interface and then change the ip address of your camera to the same as that of your home network 192.168.0.x, but do not set it to something that is already being used. Once you have done this then set your computer's ip address back to dhcp.

Think of it this way, your computer is a train and you are trying to get to your end station which is your camera in this case. Your train and end station need to be on the same track which is the ip address of 192.168.1.x. Your router and internet is on a different track which has the ip address of 192.168.0.x and this is why your computer cannot access the internet when you change the ip address.

I hope this makes sense.

 

[tigerwillow1]

I use the standalone config tool. Didn't even know that SmartPSS has the capability. You're being told 2 different approaches for connecting to the camera. I use the one that I think is easier, but they both work. In normal operation, when a message is going from the computer to a device on the same subnet, it's just sent out. When the message is addressed to a different subnet, the networking stack sends it to the configured gateway (analogous to the message being stuffed in an envelope that's addressed to the gateway, which in a simple system sends it out to your ISP). The config tool bypasses this routing and can probe for any subnet address without any routing to the gateway.

 

[funkybunch]

I just got smartPSS to show the camera online, i'll report back later. in fact i think i'll make a youtube video showing the differences between the stand alone config tool and the smartPSS. you have to refresh several times, back out and re-enter screens for it to recognize the camera. there's a sequence to it that cannot be over looked. note i did NOT have to change my computer IP address, all tho you can change it easily in your router settings instead of your computer, now to go outside and hang this thing in the cold and dark.

 

[TL1096r]

As others have said, you need to configure your computer's ip address to be in the same range as that of the camera i.e 192.168.1.x. When you do this, you will lose internet connectivity as you will not be on the same network as your router. Type the ip address of 192.168.1.108 in the browser and this should get you to the camera's web interface. Log into the interface and then change the ip address of your camera to the same as that of your home network 192.168.0.x, but do not set it to something that is already being used. Once you have done this then set your computer's ip address back to dhcp.

Think of it this way, your computer is a train and you are trying to get to your end station which is your camera in this case. Your train and end station need to be on the same track which is the ip address of 192.168.1.x. Your router and internet is on a different track which has the ip address of 192.168.0.x and this is why your computer cannot access the internet when you change the ip address.

I hope this makes sense.

YES! I did not explain this in the first post. This is good. I find it the easiest way. I thought he was on a separate non-internet attached computer.
I use an old computer/$20 POE to setup my cams and change the IP before putting it on network.

 

[sumguy]

So why have a default ip address, 192.168.1.108, impossible for most of us who are not network savvy to get to as a default address?

 

[wittaj]

So why have a default ip address, 192.168.1.108, impossible for most of us who are not network savvy to get to as a default address?

But on the flip side, it makes it easy when you get a new camera to know what the IP address is.

You can use the IPconfig tool or do this:

The default IP address of the camera is 192.168.1.108, which may or may not be the IP address range of your system.

Unhook a computer or laptop from the internet and go into ethernet settings and using the IPv4 settings manually change the IP address to 192.168.1.100

Then power up your camera and wait a few minutes.

Then go to INTERNET EXPLORER (needs to be Explorer and not Edge or Chrome with IE tab) and type in 192.168.1.108 (default IP address of Dahua cameras) and you will then access the camera.

Tell it your country and give it a user and password.

Then go to the camera Network settings and change the camera IP address to the range of your system and hit save.

You will then lose the camera connection.

Then reverse the process to put your computer back on your network IP address range.

Next open up INTERNET EXPLORER and type in the new IP address that you just gave the camera to access it.

OR use the IPconfig Tool, but most of us prefer the above as it is one less program needed and one less chance for the cameras to phone home or for something to get screwed up.

 

[Mike A.]

Yeah, I'd rather know where it's going to be than have to sort through a bunch of DHCP addresses looking for it when there are a ton of devices on the network. Takes less time to just change the IP and flip it back.

It's really not that hard either way after the first time you do it.

 

[CCTVCam]

Welp changed the ip address to 192.168.1.19 like you said and now my computer won't connect to the internet, I'm typing on my phone, this is depressing

I'm no networking expert, far from it. But it sounds like you're not using DUAL Network Interface Cards ie You haven't added a networking card to your BI pc in ADDITION to the network built into your motherboard.

You can run cameras on a single network although it's not advised as this gives them internet access and can compromise security. The problem here is your pc isn't using a standard IP address ie 192.168.1.X, whilst the cameras are. So when you connect the cameras they can't see your pc and vice versa.

When you change the IP address to one they can see, you then make the PC invisible to your router (unless it has UPNP enabled (not receommended for security)) and to your other devices.

The Whole idea of dual NIC is your BI PC can be on 2 networks - the one that your router and other devices are connected to, and the one your cameras are connected to, but the 2 networks cannot talk to each other except via the BI pc software. The fact you have 2 networks, means your PC can (and should be) on a different range of addresses to your cameras.

It also sounds to me as though you're trying to use 1 pc to do everything. This may also cause issues with cpu loads, read write priorities etc. It's usually recommended to dedicate a PC to BI alone.