Short answer
For viewing from a phone, the recorder is connected to the internet-connected modem with a network cable, the manufacturer's cloud (P2P) feature is turned on, and the device is added to the phone app with its QR code. Before installation the default password is changed, and separate view-only users are created for family or staff.
How does remote viewing work?
Your cameras record to the recorder in the building (NVR or DVR). When you watch from your phone, you are actually connecting to this recorder over the internet. For the recorder to reach the internet, it must be connected to the modem. There are several ways to set up the connection between the phone and the device.
The most common way is the manufacturer's cloud or P2P service. The recorder registers itself with the manufacturer's server, and the app on the phone makes the connection through this server using the device's serial number. No setting is needed on the modem. The other ways are port forwarding on the modem or setting up a VPN; these require more technical knowledge.
Although you need the internet to watch the video, recording does not depend on the internet. Even if the internet goes down, the cameras keep recording to the recorder; you just cannot watch from outside during that time.
Preparation before installation
To make installation go smoothly, prepare the following first:
- A network cable to connect the recorder to the modem.
- The recorder's admin password, or a screen and mouse for the first setup.
- The brand and model of the recorder, and the mobile app recommended by the manufacturer.
- Access to the app store on the phone.
- A list of the people who will watch and the cameras each will see.
Step-by-step installation
The first step is to connect the recorder to a free LAN port on the modem with a network cable. Prefer a cable over a wireless connection; since the video stream is continuous, a cable works more reliably. Then turn on the option to get the IP address automatically (DHCP) in the recorder's network settings and check on the network status screen in the menu that the device is reaching the internet.
The second step is to enable the cloud or P2P setting in the device menu. You should see the connection show as online on the status screen. The same screen shows the device's serial number and a QR code.
The third step is to install the manufacturer's app on the phone, create an account, and scan the QR code with the add device option. The app asks for the device password. After this step the cameras are listed and you can watch the live view.
The last step is the settings. When watching on the phone, choose the second, lower-resolution stream (sub-stream), so the video opens faster and your mobile data runs out slowly. When you need to look at detail, you can switch to high resolution on a single camera.
Expert note: After finishing the setup, take the phone off your home or business Wi-Fi and try once with mobile data. A connection that works on the same network may not work from outside; it is better to see this on installation day than on the day of an incident.
- 1Connect the recorder to the modem with a cable
- 2Turn on the cloud (P2P) setting
- 3Install the app, scan the QR code
- 4Change the admin password
- 5Create view-only users
- 6Test the connection with mobile data
Security: password, users and updates
Turning on remote viewing means opening the recorder to the internet. Devices left with the factory password can stay open to other people's access. First, change the admin password to a strong password with letters, numbers and symbols, and let only one or two people know it.
Do not give the admin account to the phones of your family or staff. Create a separate user for each of them on the recorder and give view-only permission. If needed, you can hide certain cameras from some users. For example, staff can see the shop cameras while the office camera stays open only to the manager.
Keep the software of the recorder and the app up to date with the updates the manufacturer publishes. If there are port forwardings opened unnecessarily on the modem, close them. Under Law No. 6698 KVKK , recordings are personal data, so it is also sensible to keep a record of who can access them remotely.
How are notifications set up?
Apps can send a notification to the phone when motion is detected. If simple motion detection is left on, wind, shadows, car headlights and cats cause notifications all day, and after a while nobody looks.
If your camera supports it, turn on only person and vehicle detection. Limit notifications to spots where nobody should be at that hour, such as the door and the back garden, instead of all cameras. In most apps you can also turn notifications on and off by time range; for example, from when the shop closes until morning.
A small photo or short video that comes with the notification lets you see what happened without opening the app. Having this feature on helps you quickly tell whether a night alert is real.
Playing back recordings from the phone
Apps show not only the live view but also older recordings on the recorder. When you choose the camera and the date in the playback section, a timeline opens. Moments where motion or a person was detected are marked in a different color on this timeline, so you can jump to the relevant moment without watching hours of recordings.
It is also possible to download a clip from a recording to the phone. However, footage downloaded to the phone is usually taken from the low-resolution sub-stream. To hand an incident over to an official authority, it is more correct to take the recording from the recorder to a USB drive at full resolution.
How smooth the video is during playback depends on the upload speed of the internet at the business. On connections with a low upload speed, moving forward in short steps gives a more comfortable result than playing at fast speed.
What to check if the connection does not work?
The most common cause is that the recorder cannot reach the internet. In the device's network menu, check that the IP address, gateway and DNS information are filled in. If DNS is empty, the cloud connection cannot be made.
The second cause is a modem change. If the internet provider replaced the modem or the modem was reset, the recorder may not be able to connect to the new network. Setups that work with port forwarding also break when the modem changes. On some internet connections direct access from outside is not possible, so port forwarding may not work at all; in that case a cloud connection or a VPN is preferred.
If the video opens but stutters, the internet upload speed at the business may be insufficient. Using the sub-stream and reducing the number of cameras watched at the same time often solves the problem.
The steps are similar on every brand, but the names and places of the menus change by model. If you know your recorder's model, the remote access section in the manufacturer's user manual is the most reliable source.
In systems installed by Desa Bilişim, remote viewing is set up at installation. If you have a problem with an existing system, you can reach us from the remote support page.
Frequently asked
Does the camera still record if the internet goes down?
Yes. Recording is done on the recorder in the building and does not depend on the internet. While the internet is down, you only cannot watch from your phone; when the connection returns, you can reach the recordings remotely again.
Can I watch the same cameras from more than one phone?
Yes. Create a separate user on the recorder for each person and have them sign in to the app with that user. The number of users who can connect at the same time is limited by the device and the internet upload speed.
Does watching from the phone use a lot of mobile data?
Watching at high resolution for a long time uses a lot of data. If you choose the sub-stream in the app, consumption drops noticeably. The same setting applies when you play back recordings.
Can't watch from your phone?
Share your recorder's model, and we will help you set up the remote viewing connection securely.
