Issue connecting to cameras without a router

SaeedKY

n3wb
May 5, 2021
12
2
Louisville, KY
I had an offline, wired setup in which IP cameras connect to a POE switch, which then connects to a PC running Blue Iris. All cameras and the PC have static IPs. I used to be able to access the cameras in this setup without the need to connect the switch to the router (I don't want the system to rely on internet/router). But since I changed my ISP and router, I lose connection to the cameras (both in BI and the cameras' own software) if I unplug the switch from the router. I even tried reestablishing the cameras in their software by deleting them and finding them again. I can confirm that their IPs have not changed and are the same static IPs that made the system work previously. What's gone wrong? How can I revive the ability to view the cameras without a router wired to the switch?
 
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And MY POINT is when you swapped out the old router, did you accidently connect the WRONG CABLE to the router and WRONG CABLE to the POE switch or BI computer and if you swapped them then it will work as intended....

That is the only way for it not to work since you had an isolated system previously....or maybe you thought you did and you didn't.

Is your BI computer dual NIC?
 
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No, I did not connect anything to the new router when I swapped it in. All my devices are wireless. So, the router is just connected to the modem.
As for the POE switch. Those cables did not change (camera cables coming into it and one cable coming from it to the PC).

The only time I connected any cable to the router was to connect it to the POE switch after the cameras stopped working, in an effort to set things up again. Like I said, this did make the camera work again but only as long as the cable is connected.
 
I think it is time for a diagram of your network because something isn't right.

If your BI computer and cameras were all offline and not connected to the router in any form or fashion (wired or wifi), then the cameras would still work on the BI computer.

Or are you saying you could view things on other devices because your BI computer connects wirelessly to the router, but all the cameras go from a POE switch straight to the BI computer?

If so, then you likely have the wifi adapter in the BI computer on a different subnet than the router, and plugging in to the POE switch then gave it another access way.

OR as I said originally, you thought your system was isolated and it wasn't and the router is actually routing the cameras thru.
 
No, I did not connect anything to the new router when I swapped it in. All my devices are wireless. So, the router is just connected to the modem.
As for the POE switch. Those cables did not change (camera cables coming into it and one cable coming from it to the PC).

The only time I connected any cable to the router was to connect it to the POE switch after the cameras stopped working, in an effort to set things up again. Like I said, this did make the camera work again but only as long as the cable is connected.

Use tracert from the BI machines to see if it can trace route to the IP cameras ..

somehow I am guessing a route / gateway setting issue here
 
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If I am understanding your initial post, in your "offline set-up" the PoE switch (hosting the cameras) is connected to the BI machine via an ethernet cable?

Does your BI machine have a second Ethernet card, or wireless network dongle/card to connect to your router?
 
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I'm curious.....in January of 2023 you had some issues concerning the cable, termination spec and/or RJ-45 connectors. Since it seems you got things resolved and have had no issues for 32 months until now, what did you do to fix it?

 
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I'm thinking that maybe that switch has something going intermitant with its "fluffy" configurable features: Extend Mode, Priority Mode, or Isolation Mode.

I'd buy this plain-jane, unmanaged Netgear POE+ switch here, try it and if it doesn't solve your problem, return it.
 
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What devices were on your old ISP setup. Like exact name and model.
Your Home (local Area Network) / LAN, creates an environment so that communication can take place. If nobody is sorting the mail, it gets delivered to the wrong address, or all the addresses get a copy, when only one guy needs the letter. This is an inefficient way to have traffic control. You can get a $5 piece of shit D-link from the Salvation Army or E-bay and leave the WAN port un used and have a pain free life, or pound your head aginst the wall....being stuck on your way of doing it.