Remote viewing setup: watch your CCTV on your phone
Being able to check your cameras from anywhere is one of the most useful parts of a CCTV system. We connect you with a vetted installer who sets it up securely and shows you how to use it.
What remote viewing involves
Remote viewing links your recorder to an app on your phone or tablet through the internet. Most current recorders use the manufacturer's cloud service to make the connection, so there is no need to open ports on your router. The installer registers the recorder, adds it to your app, and sets up user accounts for the people who need access.
Done properly, it also includes motion or person alerts tuned so that you are not woken by every moving branch, and a quick lesson on finding and saving footage from your phone.
Common reasons it stops working
- A new router or a new fibre line was installed and the recorder is no longer on the network.
- The recorder's network settings were reset after a power failure.
- A password was changed on the recorder but not in the app.
- The app was updated and no longer supports an old recorder.
- The router goes off during power outages, so the cameras record but cannot be viewed.
Keep it secure
A recorder connected to the internet should be treated like any other connected device. Ask the installer to change every default password, use a strong administrator password that only you hold, create separate accounts for family members or staff, and update the recorder's firmware where updates are available. Avoid opening ports on the router unless there is a clear reason and it is done carefully.
If you share a login with someone who no longer needs it, change it. If staff can view a business system, give each person their own account so access can be removed later.
Alerts that are actually useful
Basic motion detection reacts to anything: shadows, rain, insects in front of an infrared light. Many newer cameras and recorders can tell a person or a vehicle from other movement, and let you draw a line or zone that triggers an alert only when crossed. A short tuning session after installation makes the difference between alerts you trust and alerts you switch off.
Power and the router
Remote viewing needs the router and the fibre or wireless connection to stay on. If you want to check the cameras during a power outage, the router needs backup power as well as the recorder. Our guide on CCTV and backup power explains what to include.
How the enquiry works
Tell us the suburb, the make of the recorder if you know it, the type of internet connection and what is not working. We pass the enquiry to a vetted, independent installer who covers your area, and the installer quotes you directly. If cameras are also faulty, see CCTV repair. If the recorder is too old for current apps, see CCTV system upgrades. New systems normally include phone setup as part of CCTV installation.
What moves the quote
We do not publish prices. The installer quotes you directly once they understand the job. These are the factors that usually make the difference:
- Whether the recorder supports a current app, or needs a firmware update or replacement.
- Network work: connecting the recorder to the router by cable, or extending the network to reach it.
- The number of phones, users and alert rules to set up.
- Adding backup power for the router and recorder.
- Whether a site visit is needed or the installer can help remotely.
Our guide to what moves a CCTV quote in Durban explains how to compare quotes fairly.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a fixed IP address to view my cameras?
Usually not. Most current recorders connect through the manufacturer's cloud service, so the app finds the recorder without a fixed address.
Can more than one person view the cameras?
Yes. It is better to give each person their own account than to share one login.
Will remote viewing use a lot of mobile data?
Live viewing uses data while you watch. Most apps let you choose a lower-quality stream on mobile data to save data.
My cameras record but the app shows offline. What is wrong?
Often the recorder has lost its internet connection, for example after a router change or a power cut. An installer can check the network settings.
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