[SOLVED] Help please! WiFi for Security Cameras

Sep 9, 2020
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Currently, I use my cell phone as a hotspot for all my home WiFi needs because I got sick of paying a ton of money every month to the cable company. But (there’s always gotta be a but, doesn’t there?)— Now I need WiFi because I will be out of town for a month and need it for my security cameras (3 Tend cameras.
I am clueless. After doing a couple searches, I realized that I don’t have any idea what I need. And I don’t think I even know what questions to ask. Would something like FreedomPop work? What type of speed do I need? How much data?
Any help you can provide is very appreciated! Thank you.
Dana
 
Solution
I am surprised you don't have some form of DVR to record the cameras.

Your best option is likely going to be to get a normal internet connection installed and then cancel it again when you don't need it.

Problem with any form of mobile broadband is that you are going to have problems accessing it remotely. Most hotspot devices have no ability to do port forwarding. In addition most mobile connections use carrier based NAT so you do not have a IP address to connect to.

If the cameras have the ability to push data to some cloud based DVR you might get by with a mobile broadband wifi hotspot but the data costs likely will be outrageous since 3 cameras are going to put out lots of data.
The only WiFi I have at home is the hotspot on my cell phone. I’m going to be out of town for a month and need to get WiFi of some sort so I can keep an eye on things via my security cameras (3 Tend cameras). Is there WiFi that I can buy or subscribe to or something for a short time that won’t cost me a fortune? Or that will cost me a fortune? Cost really can’t be an issue as I HAVE to get something before I leave. What speed will I need? How much data will this use? What else do I need to know? As you might have guessed, I’m not terribly tech savvy — so the easier, the better!
Any help is greatly appreciated as I have no idea where to go from here (other than to the beach for a month lol).
Best,
Dana
 
Your overall requirement being that you must be able to "log in" and view any or all of the 3 cameras 24/7 from anywhere away from home where you happen to be?

And do so using your cell phone or other computer as may be available?

You will need an ISP, modem, router (or modem router), a computer to accept logins from remote locations and run the camera application, the three cameras set up with static IP addresses, possibly a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply).

How much time do you have before you travel?
 
I am surprised you don't have some form of DVR to record the cameras.

Your best option is likely going to be to get a normal internet connection installed and then cancel it again when you don't need it.

Problem with any form of mobile broadband is that you are going to have problems accessing it remotely. Most hotspot devices have no ability to do port forwarding. In addition most mobile connections use carrier based NAT so you do not have a IP address to connect to.

If the cameras have the ability to push data to some cloud based DVR you might get by with a mobile broadband wifi hotspot but the data costs likely will be outrageous since 3 cameras are going to put out lots of data.
 
Solution