run multiple wireless networks into one computer for a security system

[crua9]

Hello everyone.

I've been working on this given problem for months now, and I'm so close to just giving up. Basically, I'm trying to setup a home security camera system with using 12+ security cameras and a program called iSpy. The program is being run on an old computer that I'm using as a backup server with Windows 8, CrashPlan, Dropbox, and iSpy.
The system works great, but it also slows down my network to no end (I think it's the cameras since I have a Nighthawk R7000. Also, I went from a 500ms ping to a 1ms ping when I took the cameras off the main router)
So in order to speed up the system, I moved all but 4 of my wireless cameras to a separate WiFi router. I changed the IP on the moved cameras from 192168.1.x/24 to 192.168.0.1/24 (in hopes that will tell the computer to not search for the cameras at the 192.168.1.x/24.)

Anyways, right now I have 1 wifi card connected to the main wifi router with internet, and another just connected to the separate wifi router. I think about 20% of the time the system works like I want. But, the rest of the time it's bouncing or I have to bring the old computer to a monitor to work on the network. (By bouncing, I mean the net sometimes bounces on the computer and/or everything)
This is a bad thing since the recordings can't be uploaded to dropbox. (I have the system doing this so if someone takes the old computer. There will be at least a way to get the video of the person who broke in)

I can't run any wire because the distance of some of the cameras, and I'm not going to drill through brick. So, is there a better way of doing this? Is there a way to configure my old computer to actually work with what I got?


BTW, I don't think the problem is my old computer. The computer is a 2 year old computer with 2 new 2TB HDD, Win 8.1 pro, and 2 wifi cards

 

[i7Baby]

I gather the cameras just use wifi. Not internet. So their router isn't connected to the internet?

Each router has a separate SSID and password? So the show up as separate networks?

Are they both dual band routers? Are they N600 or better routers?

Do you connect to the routers by ethernet cable or wifi? With a dual band wifi adapter?

Do you use 5GHz for internet and 2.4GHz for cameras?

 

[crua9]

I gather the cameras just use wifi. Not internet. So their router isn't connected to the internet?

Each router has a separate SSID and password? So the show up as separate networks?

Are they both dual band routers? Are they N600 or better routers?

Do you connect to the routers by ethernet cable or wifi? With a dual band wifi adapter?

Do you use 5GHz for internet and 2.4GHz for cameras?

All but 1 of the cameras isn't connected to the net. The main router (that everything uses) is obviously connected to the net. However, the other that is just made for the IP cameras isn't.

Yes, the 2 routers have 100% different SSID, passwords, and IP addresses.

The main router is a Nighthawk R7000. The IP camera router is an old Belkin which doesn't have a dual band.
(BTW, none of my devices has a 5HZ card in them. So everything is forced on the same ban on the R7000. I was thinking about getting a R8000, but I don't know if it would be a waste of money in this case.)

Wifi card

All my cameras are 2.4. In fact, I don't have a device that is 5Ghz

 

[computertech82]

Try setting it up with a much better dual band width gaming router. I mean 'gaming' router, as in a router that will auto adjust bandwidth per device as needed. You also want to upgrade your service's UPLOAD speed as 12 camera all uploading to the internet will put a strain on it.

 

[crua9]

Try setting it up with a much better dual band width gaming router. I mean 'gaming' router, as in a router that will auto adjust bandwidth per device as needed. You also want to upgrade your service's UPLOAD speed as 12 camera all uploading to the internet will put a strain on it.

I believe the Nighthawk is one of the best ones you can get. As I said before, nothing I have uses 5Ghz at this time. So, everything is stuck on 1 band.
BTW, the problem isn't talking to the cameras or devices. The problem is the net goes out at times with this current configuration, and sometimes the computer decides to not talk to anything.


While we are on the topic of dual+ band. Can devices from 1 band talk to other devices on other bands?

 

[i7Baby]

Not unless they are dual band. The same device on different bands is seen as two different devices. eg a dual band router is seen as two devices.

What res and fps does each camera run?

Can you try running the camera router by ethernet cable to your PC?

 

[crua9]

Not unless they are dual band. The same device on different bands is seen as two different devices. eg a dual band router is seen as two devices.

What res and fps does each camera run?

Can you try running the camera router by ethernet cable to your PC?

9FPS and I don't know about the res.

I don't think the problem is within the cameras itself, unless your talking about it slowing down my main when it was on.

As far as the ethernet. As I said in the first post, the distance is just too great and there will be a bit of drilling involve. So no.
However, if you are asking if they work fine if I can connect them by ethernet. The answer is yes. So the bouncing isn't with the camera itself. (BTW in the OP, I was talking about ALL the cameras bouncing at once. It's normal to have a wireless camera bounce every so often if there is a bit of distance and what not. But, it isn't normal to have them all do it)

 

[i7Baby]

So the camera router is a good distance from your PC?

How far?

How far away is the internet router from your PC?

 

[crua9]

So the camera router is a good distance from your PC?

How far?

How far away is the internet router from your PC?

No. The IP router is about 30 feet away, and the main is about 50. The cameras are to far to run a cable to the computer.
But, I did originally have the IP router plug into my old computer. But, I keep running into more problems with it trying to take over.

Anyways, I think I'm getting the wrong message across. When I connect to my main router, the 4 IP cameras on it is working fine and giving me a good 10 FPS. When I connect to my IP camera router, all the rest the cameras are showing with a good 10FPS. However, when I connect both the IP camera router and the main router to my computer. The IP camera router tries to take over, and I'm not getting internet from my main. On top of that, all the cameras tend to slow down to 2FPS and they all tend to go on and off at the same time.
But, give or take 20% of the all the cameras was pushing 10FPS and the internet worked great.

When I had all my cameras on my main router, I experienced similar slowdown issues. Plus it slows down my other devices (and some of the cameras can't reach the main router).


I'm trying to figure out how to connect 2 routers to 1 computer over WiFi, and not have one of them take over.

 

[i7Baby]

I was trying to see if you could use ethernet cable between one of the routers and your PC. That would help alleviate the data jam.