Camera Access through WireGuard

S

spectac

n3wb
Jul 20, 2024
15
9
North Carolina
Hi All,

I think I have everything pretty much set up. I can enable WireGuard on my phone for example and access my POE DVR. I can also see my feeds through the DMSS app. Question is, how do I access my feeds through an actual web browser on my phone? I can get to the DVR from my phone but can't see the feeds. This is the same whether I'm using WG or just on my home wifi. I've seen some threads on this talking about using a different browser or that it's not even possible maybe without opening yourself up to other security concerns. I get that the DVR sort of acts like it's own firewall isolating the cams. When trying to access through my phones browser, it does say to download a plugin to use the live feed function. I download but doesn't look like it actually installs. Thoughts?
 
FWIW, it's likely a POE "NVR" (digital IP cameras), not a "DVR" (analog cams on coax).
If it's asking to install a plug-in, it's likely Active-X, downloaded from the NVR or camera and you would use Internet Explorer or IE Tab with Edge.

How to enable native Internet Explorer in Windows 10 and 11:
  • Open Notepad:
  • Copy then paste the single line of code below into Notepad:
  • CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application").Visible=true
  • Save as OpenIE.vbs
  • Make sure the the file name ends in .vbs not .txt, If it ends in .txt you must rename to .vbs
  • Create a shortcut to the above file and double-click it anytime you want native Internet Explorer.
 
TonyR said:
FWIW, it's likely a POE "NVR" (digital IP cameras), not a "DVR" (analog cams on coax).
If it's asking to install a plug-in, it's likely Active-X, downloaded from the NVR or camera and you would use Internet Explorer or IE Tab with Edge.

How to enable native Internet Explorer in Windows 10 and 11:
  • Open Notepad:
  • Copy then paste the single line of code below into Notepad:
  • CreateObject("InternetExplorer.Application").Visible=true
  • Save as OpenIE.vbs
  • Make sure the the file name ends in .vbs not .txt, If it ends in .txt you must rename to .vbs
  • Create a shortcut to the above file and double-click it anytime you want native Internet Explorer.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the correction. Is there anyway to do it on my phone? Looks like you can add the IE tab extension in Edge but trying to actually use it is challenging on mobile.
 
spectac said:
Thanks for the correction. Is there anyway to do it on my phone? Looks like you can add the IE tab extension in Edge but trying to actually use it is challenging on mobile.
Click to expand...

You're talking abut viewing the live cameras on the NVR GUI via your phone? Is that right?
 
bigredfish said:
You're talking abut viewing the live cameras on the NVR GUI via your phone? Is that right?
Click to expand...
I think I'm actually asking for two things now that I messed around more. The main thing I want is to be able to type in the camera IP address (assigned a 10.1.1.x address through the NVR) into my web browser and log in the camera directly that way.

I can access the NVR through wireguard but when just typing in the camera IP, I can't access. I'm assuming there is something further I need to do either on the router or NVR?
 
I dont think you can. The NVR effectively creates a VLAN using the 10.1.1.x range. You can't access it through the NVR directly by design.

Only way I've ever done it is by plugging a laptop into one of the NVR PoE ports. It gets a ssigned a 10.1.1.x address and then can communicate directly with the cameras.

To do what you want to do, you would need to put the cameras on an external switch and assign them IP's in the same range as your NVR
 
With
spectac said:
I think I'm actually asking for two things now that I messed around more. The main thing I want is to be able to type in the camera IP address (assigned a 10.1.1.x address through the NVR) into my web browser and log in the camera directly that way.

I can access the NVR through wireguard but when just typing in the camera IP, I can't access. I'm assuming there is something further I need to do either on the router or NVR?
Click to expand...
If you can access the subnet that the NVR's LAN IP resides on you should be able to open a browser to the NVR's LAN IP which should open the NVR's embedded webGUI. Depending on the brand of NVR there should be a place that displays a browser icon, such as a blue "e" for Internet Explorer and that will open the camera's embedded webGUI which is on that 10.1.1.X subnet that bigredfish mentioned.
 
TonyR said:
With

If you can access the subnet that the NVR's LAN IP resides on you should be able to open a browser to the NVR's LAN IP which should open the NVR's embedded webGUI. Depending on the brand of NVR there should be a place that displays a browser icon, such as a blue "e" for Internet Explorer and that will open the camera's embedded webGUI which is on that 10.1.1.X subnet that bigredfish mentioned.
Click to expand...

yes he can login to the NVR, but can't see video due to the plugin requirement

Yes if you connect through a VPN or from your own LAN this works. (But if the NVR sees you as an external IP it wont allow you to open the camera)
He wants to log straight into the camera GUI with 10.1.1.x which wont work

You can use a phone browser and get to and login to the NVR GUI just like a computer.
But you run into a plugin issue for live video view

It may make a difference on browser and iOS vs Android as to whether you can.

I just loaded new MS Edge browser on my iPhone and successfully logged into the NVR and clicked and saw the LIVE video successfully on the NVR GUI under "LIVE"
Its very clunky due to screen size and resolution but it worked
I couldnt get it to work with Safari or Chrome as they want the plugin just like on a computer

So I tried the blue IE button and did get to a camera, but got a plugin request. I think it will very much have to do with the age/FW of the specific camera.
I didnt test opening all 13 because its such a PIA on such a small screen.

Recommend using DMSS which is designed for this'
 
bigredfish said:
yes he can login to the NVR, but can't see video due to the plugin requirement

You can use a phone browser and get to and login to the NVR GUI just like a computer.
But you run into a plugin issue for live video view
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah.....I forgot about him wanting to use the phone.

I personally have become so $%^# disenfranchised with trying to use the phone for practically anything other than phone calls and texts. :idk:
 
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