setting up remote surveillance with cctv and dvr

so a few months ago i had to set up CCTV software and dvr hardware for one of my clients who wanted to see their CCTV camera either over the Internet or on their mobile phone while away from their installation sites(of the CCTV cameras). Here's what is requisite.

1. CCTV cameras (already mounted at their points plus wiring done).
2. A Digital Video Recorder(DVR) ; this is a device that one uses in order for the computer to communicate with the cameras. In this manual i will use one from http://www.q-see.com/support/dvr-center.
3. The DVR's software and drivers(when DVRs are bought they usually come with their drivers in a disk).
4. A computer with a graphics card of at least 128 MB, RAM 512 MB, 2.0 GHZ processor. Running Microsoft Windows XP sp3 and above i.e. Windows Vista, Windows 7
   
5. Internet connection of at least broadband speeds, Router - for multiple internal computers viewing the camera.
6. A router Optional:(for those with multiple local computers to view the cameras.). I used a Cisco wrt310nv2 for my setup.Plus the router's password and username.
7. A phone with either windows mobile or Symbian Operating system.
   
8. Some time to sit in front of the computer.
   

1. After hooking up the cameras to the power and the DVR(Assuming you are using the USB DVR). Connect the DVR to the computer.
2. Insert the disc with the software for the DVR into the computer cd Drive and install the appropriate driver(there is a wizard that will guide you).
3. After installation of the software reboot your computer.
4. When your computer boots up make sure the internet connection in running. Also that the computer is connected to the router. Single local computer user can skip to step 10 (local computer: means that at the premises where the CCTV cameras are installed there is only one computer to view the cameras.)
5. For this step you shall need to have access to some administrative rights to your router. Log in into your router. This is done by opening up a browser and typing either 192.168.1.1 0r 192.168.0.1 into the address bar if both of these fail google your router and some information on its address will be available.
6. You will be prompted for a username and password of your router enter these and go to the tab that says either 'Application and gaming > port forwarding', 'Forwarding' or look into your router's manual on how to forward ports.
7. Now launch your DVR program (i used superDVR, it came with the DVR). Go to basic configuration tab and you will find a section for Web Camera ensure that the check box next to 'enable is checked'.
8. Take note of the HTTP port, data port and command port. Now go back to your router configuration window and in the first tab for forwarding the ports input the HTTP port, in the second tab input the data port and in the third port input the command port. apply and save this settings and then exit the routers configuration port.
9. Go to the command prompt and type 'IPCONFIG' without the quotes make note of the machines internal IP address. Go to the site http://whatismyip.com and make note of your external IP address.
10. If you want to view cameras with a different computer within the same network - launch internet explorer NB only internet explorer not any other browser and type into the navigation bar the internal IP address you noted earlier you will receive a prompt asking you whether you want remote playback or live surveillance. choose live surveillance and click OK it will proceed to install a client version on the computer.
11. After installation is complete you will have an icon on the desktop named Webcam double click on this icon and enter credentials for the DVR system then you will be able to view the cameras.
12. Now to view the cameras from a different network i.e over the internet the procedure is the same except in internet explores navigation bar you enter the external IP.
13. In order to view the cameras from a phone enter the external IP into the phones browser internet explore if Windows Mobile and the equivalent for symbian you will be prompted to install a software calles pcCAM Install it and when you launch enter credentials and voila you can see!

questions and comments are welcome