IP Cameras

IP or network cameras connect to computer networks. They do not plug directly into your computer like webcams. Because there is no range limitation on computer networks, this lets WebCam Monitor use cameras that are at any distance, even hundreds of miles away over the Internet.

Using IP Cameras

Most IP Cameras work like a web server and provide live streams in either MPEG or MPEG4 format over HTTP. If an IP Camera is part of your network then you can view live video provided by the IP Camera from any computer in the network. To view live video from an internet enabled computer outside the network, you must assign a routable (static) IP address to the IP Camera.

Adding IP Camera

To use an IP Camera with WebCam Monitor, you must first add the IP Camera and specify its settings. To add an IP Camera:

• On the Tools menu, click Options.
• Select the Camera Manager tab.
• Click Add.
• Specify the IP Camera's settings and click OK.

You can also add the IP Camera by using the Add Camera Wizard. Once you add an IP camera, the settings get saved and are restored every time you restart the application. These settings are not lost even when you re-install the application in case of an upgrade etc.

If Your IP Camera is Not Listed

WebCam Monitor supports many different type of IP cameras. If your IP Camera is not listed, try selecting the Generic IP Camera from the Camera Model dropdown box and specifying the URL yourself. To find the URL for the video stream, please refer to your IP camera's user manual.

Authenticating

Some cameras require authentication to view the video stream. To specify the user name and password required for authentication:

• In the IP Camera Settings dialog, check the Camera requires authentication option.
• Specify the User Name and Password required for authentication. Please avoid using special characters in the password. Use only numbers and letters.
• Testing the IP Camera

To test if WebCam Monitor is able to connect to the specified IP Camera, click the Test button in the Camera Manager.

Searching for Your IP Camera Address

This feature lets you search for an IP camera in your network when you do not know the exact IP address.

• From the Tools menu, select Options.
• Click on the Camera Manager tab.
• Click the Add button.
• From the Camera Model dropdown list, select the IP camera model you want to search.
• Click the button which is now highlighted.
• In the Search IP Camera dialog that opens, specify the IP address range within which the camera would be searched. Change the Port No. if required (it is 80 by default) and click OK.
• The Searching IP Camera dialog updates as the search progresses.
• If a camera is found a dialog appears saying so, and asking whether to stop the search. If you click Yes, the camera's information is entered into the IP Camera Settings dialog. If you click No, the search continues for a different camera at another address.
• If you click Yes, you can now click OK to complete the process of adding the camera.

Editing IP Camera Settings

To edit the settings of an IP Camera:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. Select the Camera Manager tab.
3. From the list of IP Cameras, select the IP Camera that you want edit.
4. Click Edit.
5. After changing the settings, click OK.

Removing IP Camera

To remove an IP Camera:

1. On the Tools menu, click Options.
2. Select the Camera Manager tab.
3. From the list of IP Cameras, select one or more IP Cameras that you want to remove.
4. Click Remove.

Controlling the Movement of an IP Camera

Many IP Cameras support PTZ camera movements, which is short for "Pan, Tilt and Zoom". You can control the camera movements of supported IP cameras using WebCam Monitor.

To control the movement of the currently running IP Camera, use the following buttons on the preview control bar:

• Pan/Tilt: Click on this button. Now point the pan/tilt cursor to part of the preview you want to pan or tilt to and click on it.
• Zoom In: Every time you click on this button, there is a 25% increase in the preview size. You can zoom in up to 200% of the original view. If you want to zoom a particular portion of the Preview, click on the Zoom In button. Now point the cursor to that portion and click on it.
• Zoom Out: Every time you click on this button, there is a 25% decrease in the preview size.

Note that digital zoom works for any camera, whether it is an IP, USB, or FireWire type.