How to set up Linksys Wireless G Internet Video Camera
WVC54G with Linksys Wireless Router WRT54GS
Introduction
I followed the instructions
in the user guide and could not get my computer to detect my camera. Finally
when I figured out how to do so, I realized that the user guide was designed
for the user who doesn't encrypt his wireless router and does wireless surfing
using the most open mode that you can possibly imagine. Hence, I decided to
write this little article for the benefit of those who would be struggling like
I did to set up the wireless camera in the home.
Assumptions
If I were to write a complete
step-by-step guide here, it would take too long. Hence, I decided to only write
the important points to note and assume that you'll know how to take care of
the rest of the minor details. There are a couple of assumptions that is made
here:
1
You are using a
Linksys Wireless G Internet Video Camera WVC54G with a Linksys Wireless Router
WRT54GS.
2
My wireless home
network is WEP 128-bit encrypted.
3
You are familiar
with configuring the wireless router settings.
4
You are somewhat
technically competent or inclined.
5
You understand
what I'm writing about.
Configuring the WVC54G Wireless G Internet Video Camera
Settings
1
Do not plug the
camera power plug to the power socket. Do not plug the network cable for the
camera to anything yet.
2
Disconnect any
network connection from the computer. Set a fixed IP address 192.168.1.100 with
subnet mask 255.255.255.0
3
The camera has a
default IP address 192.168.1.115. Plug the camera network cable into the
computer network (LAN) socket. Then plug in the power plug of the camera into a
power socket. The camera LED lights will come on and stop blinking.
4
Using your
computer, open up your Internet Explorer web browser and type in the URL http://192.168.1.115.
You should be presented with the camera's admin screen. Click on the "Setup"
link and a password box is prompted. The default username / password is admin / admin.
5
Configure the
camera settings as follows:
a
Camera Name: Give
your camera a name, e.g. MyWebCam.
b
Date, Time, Timezone: Put in the settings accordingly.
c
Configuration
Type: For convenience, select "Fixed IP Address"
i
IP Address: Put
something like 192.168.1.199
ii
Subnet Mask:
255.255.255.0
iii
Gateway:
192.168.1.1
d
Wireless settings
i
If your wireless
router has WEP encryption, then you need to set the same WEP settings on your
camera for SSID, Network Type, and Security Settings. Click on the Enable radio
button for Security.
ii
If your wireless
router has no encryption, then you only need to set SSID, Network Type, and
Channel No (optional) to be the same as your wireless router.
6
Click on the
[Apply] button to save your settings.
7
For the other
settings, like image quality, admin password change and access control for
limited users, it would be good if you visit the other pages and change the
settings according to your preference. It is important however to change your
camera admin password to prevent unauthorized entry.
8
Under the Setup
pages, there is a link called "Options". Click that link and change the
settings for email alerts if you want. What is important is right at the bottom
of the page - a setting called "Alternate Port". Some ISPs block the default http port 80 for some
reasons and hence you need to put a setting here at "Alternate Port" so that you can still access your camera remotely
from a computer outside your home. Put a number like 8001 or something. Then
click the [Apply] button to save the settings.
Configuring Your Linksys Wireless Router WRT54GS
9
Remove your
static IP settings in your computer's network settings and connect it to your
router again.
10
Using your
Internet Explorer browser, login to your router admin page.
11
Click on the link
"Applications & Gaming". You will see the "Port Range Forward" link.
12
Fill in the first
record as follows:
a
Application: Give
it any name, e.g. MyWebCam
b
Start: Give a
starting port number, e.g. 80
c
End: Give a
ending port number, e.g. 9000
d
Protocol: Select
"Both"
e
IP Address: Put
in the IP Address of your camera. In the above example, it would be
192.168.1.199.
f
Enable: Click on
it to check the checkbox.
Testing Your Connection
13
Open your
Internet Explorer browser again, you should type in your camera's IP address
followed by the alternate port number (e.g. http://192.168.1.199:8001) , and see the camera's home page. If you had set user
access control on your camera, you may be prompted for a username/password
dialog box when you click on the "View Video" or "Setup" link. If you can see
the home page, the connection works.
To Configure Your Computer At
Remote Site To Access Your Camera
14
Install the
viewer software ( filename: recorder.exe ) that comes
with your camera in the set CD.
15
Open your
Internet Explorer browser, and type in your camera's IP address followed by the
alternate port number (e.g. http://192.168.1.199:8001), and see the camera's
home page. If you had set user access control on your camera, you may be
prompted for a username/password dialog box when you click on the "View Video"
or "Setup" link. If you can see the home page, the connection works.
To Setup Dynamic DNS for Your Wireless Camera
16
If you want to be
able to remember your camera address easily, you can sign up for a free DDNS
account at http://www.dyndns.org/ and
configure your wireless router to recognize your DDNS domain name.
17
After you have
registered an account at DYNDNS, you can configure, in your account, a DDNS
domain name and the corresponding WAN IP address of your wireless router.
18
In your Linksys
wireless router admin page, click on the link "Setup", followed by "DDNS".
19
Fill in the
following fields:
a
DDNS Service:
DYNDNS.ORG
b
Username: Your
registered username with DYNDNS.ORG
c
Password: Your
registered password with DYNDNS.ORG
d
Hostname: The
hostname you configured at DYNDNS.ORG. Example, mywebcam.dyndns.org
e
Click [Save
Settings] button. You should see this message if the update is successful: DDNS is updated successfully
20
To test your
connection, open a new browser window and type in your domain name in full
including the port number ( e.g.
http://mywebcam.dyndns.org:8001 ). If you see the home page of your camera
server, then the connection works.
All the best!