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How to connect directly to Foscam camera using a computer?

This article will introduce the unique situation of connecting a camera directly to a computer to interface with the web UI of the camera. This only occurs in specialized situations when a connection to a router using an Ethernet cable is not practical due to some type of specialized configuration of the network or the physical location of the router makes it impractical to make a physical connection. Another situation may arise where the Equipment Search Tool is unable to locate the camera on a network due to some type of setting preventing the software from scanning the network to find out the IP address of the camera.

Note: The example provided below is using a Windows based computer.

Step 1: Document the configuration of the local network.
Obtain the network configuration by using a Windows based computer connected to the network and performing the following steps.
1) Press the “Window + R” key at the same time. (Do not press the + key just the WIN Key and the character R)
2) A box will appear type the following cmd
3) Type ipconfig/all in the command prompt and hit the Enter key.
4) The Ipv4, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway and DNS will all be displayed. Document this information somewhere or write it down for future used.
Step 2: Assign a Static IP Address to the computer
1) Press the “Window + R” key at the same time. (Do not press the + key just the WIN Key and the character R)
2) A box will appear type the following ncpa.cpl
3) The Network connection icon will now be displayed. Right click Local Area Connection and select Properties
4) Scroll down the menu until Internet Protocol Version TCP/Ipv4 is displayed or double click it.
5) Click Use the following IP address:
6) Enter the Ipv4, Subnet Mask, Default Gateway and DNS that were documented earlier and click OK to save this information.

Step 3: Disconnect the computer from any WIFI network and leave it connected to a cable only.

Step 4: Connect the camera to the other end of the Ethernet cable connected to the computer.
1) This process can take 5-10 minutes to complete.
2) If the Equipment Search Tool is running the camera followed by err2 may be displayed. This indicates the network card inside of the camera is functioning normally.

To access the camera locally right click it, choose Network Configuration and set the camera up with the same static IP with the same network segment as the computer.

Once the proper IP address for the camera is displayed open a web browser and type the address along with the port number into the address bar of the browser and click enter. The GUI page for the camera should now be displayed.

Technical Note: Please be sure to reenable the WIFI networking once the work with the camera is completed and/or restore the computer’s network settings as they were before plugging the system back into the network.

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How to connect directly to Foscam camera using a computer?

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