Any way to add a WiFi cam directly to BI server without a WiFi router?

Sybertiger

Sybertiger

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Jun 30, 2018
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You can see my network configuration below. Basically, all my POE cams are sitting on a separate NIC behind the BI server (green). The BI server has a NIC on the front end to connect to the router of the home network side (red).

(1) I take it there is no easy way to add WiFi capability to my BI server using a WiFi USB dongle then allowing a WiFi cam to directly connect via WiFi to the BI server?
(2) I take it that it might be better to connect the WiFi cam directly to my WiFi router then have the BI server talk to it from the home network side?

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I figured as much. My other option is to connect the cam via WiFi to the home network side I suppose.

I'll double-check to see if I can make a "hotspot" of a WiFi dongle as a last ditch effort.
 
wittaj said:
You would have to take an old wifi router and not connect it to the internet to accomplish what you want. Simply connect it to the camera NIC side.
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That's the way that I swim. That way I connect to the isolated router from my laptop to login and edit individual cameras configurations. You can access the BI ui3 from either router also.
 
I set up a WiFi dongle as a hotspot on my BI server. I was able to connect my phone to the hotspot and surf the web but for some reason the Amcrest cam will not connect to the hotspot. Beats me. For some reason the cam does not see the hotspot network name.
 
Sybertiger said:
I set up a WiFi dongle as a hotspot on my BI server. I was able to connect my phone to the hotspot and surf the web but for some reason the Amcrest cam will not connect to the hotspot. Beats me. For some reason the cam does not see the hotspot network name.
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I think that what you are needing is a Wi-Fi access point connected directly to a second NIC on the BI PC, you would have to have it set with a different SID and subnet and manual IP assignment!
 
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Or this.....

IPCT-sybertiger_122325.jpg
 
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Sybertiger said:
You can see my network configuration below. Basically, all my POE cams are sitting on a separate NIC behind the BI server (green). The BI server has a NIC on the front end to connect to the router of the home network side (red).

(1) I take it there is no easy way to add WiFi capability to my BI server using a WiFi USB dongle then allowing a WiFi cam to directly connect via WiFi to the BI server?
(2) I take it that it might be better to connect the WiFi cam directly to my WiFi router then have the BI server talk to it from the home network side?

View attachment 234909
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if i understand what you are saying - with this illustration the BI 'server' functions as a virtual NVR for the wifi cams?
 
Bruce_H said:
Yes that is exactly what the Blue Iris software does!
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the WiFi cams on my system are assigned static ip addresses & are controlled by an AP, also with a static ip.

what is needed is for the software to display them on a dedicated win 11 box & collect video snippets and/or photos when triggered.

will BI do this?

thx.
 
ennywohn said:
the WiFi cams on my system are assigned static ip addresses & are controlled by an AP, also with a static ip.

what is needed is for the software to display them on a dedicated win 11 box & collect video snippets and/or photos when triggered.

will BI do this?

thx.
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Why would you need a separate box, BI running on a decent Win11 box will do all of that! Have you not read about what Blue Iris software is capable of? Any PC can also run the UI3 web client and display all of the BI cameras on the local LAN, getting access to the cameras from an external network safely is a bit more complicated
 
Bruce_H said:
Why would you need a separate box, BI running on a decent Win11 box will do all of that! Have you not read about what Blue Iris software is capable of? Any PC can also run the UI3 web client and display all of the BI cameras on the local LAN, getting access to the cameras from an external network safely is a bit more complicated
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linux is the primary OS used here. now win 11 is used for media streaming. the surveillance computer, also running win 11, has its own display & will only be responsible for this.

any computer on the lan can access the ptz cameras, but they don't. the cameras are on a 2.4Ghz circuit. the others are on 5Ghz.
 
ennywohn said:
linux is the primary OS used here. now win 11 is used for media streaming. the surveillance computer, also running win 11, has its own display & will only be responsible for this.

any computer on the lan can access the ptz cameras, but they don't. the cameras are on a 2.4Ghz circuit. the others are on 5Ghz.
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Linux - that leaves me out for being able to help, 15 years in IT supporting 1,500 windows desktop systems
 
Bruce_H said:
Linux - that leaves me out for being able to help, 15 years in IT supporting 1,500 windows desktop systems
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the question i have is about the network diagram you indicate is either ideal or necessary to run SI - that the IP cameras be isolated for access ONLY by the win 11 computer displaying the cameras. i would consider software like this to be 'not very good'. in the network (LAN) architecture here this is really impossible since the broadband source is in the shed 100' from the house and is sent to the house via a WiFi bridge to an AP in the house for the house. this has nothing to do with linux vs win 11.
 
No it is not necessary to isolate the BI system from the rest of your network, I have three system that run that way, the OP was asking how to keep them on separate WIFI for some reason
 
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ennywohn said:
thanks. can't wait 'til BI is back in stock.
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You do realize that BI has been out of stock on IPCAMTALK for a long time and may never be back in stock, I guess it depends on how long you are prepared to wait! You could be nice and purchase it directly from the BI site, the developer would appreciate getting the funds, he deserves it for the work that he does!
 
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Bruce_H said:
You do realize that BI has been out of stock on IPCAMTALK for a long time and may never be back in stock, I guess it depends on how long you are prepared to wait! You could be nice and purchase it directly from the BI site, the developer would appreciate getting the funds, he deserves it for the work that he does!
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no i didn't realize this. thx for the info. what determines when/if it is in stock?
 
ennywohn said:
no i didn't realize this. thx for the info. what determines when/if it is in stock?
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You guess is as good as mine, I have no idea who manages the IPCAMTALK store! But a search of this forum will probably turn up lots of posts on this subject,

I always buy direct from Ken at Perspective software, I think that he deserves to get the full price, and in reality this software is pretty good for what it costs!
 
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