Can I connect a WiFi AP to a switch and view the camera feeds

[Wired]

Hi everyone.
Can I connect an access point to a switch, and then use that access point
to access the other devices on the switch, its is not a managed switch and
will not be connected to the internet so I would rather not use a router in the mix at all.
.
Cameras will be connected to the switch to power them, and the switch will
be then connected to the NVR to record the cameras.
As the NVR hands out addresses to the cameras I assume they will have addresses.
so can I accees them over an AP connected to the switch, running an RSTP program on my laptop.

An NVR will be connected to the switch, so will the cameras then be able to record on movement detection.

I just want a way to view the cameras via wifi AP, am assuming the NVR will hand out
an IP to the AP as wellI which should put everything on the same network.

The reason I ask is I do not want to buy an expensive AP if this won't work.

Thanks for any advise, it will be much appreciated.

 

[Wired]

I must have asked a really dumb question, not a peep from anyone.

 

[sportster]

A few thoughts:

• you don't mention the brand / model # of NVR & cameras.
• AFAIK, Hikvision NVRs do NOT provide DHCP functionality (even on /8P, 16P, /24P models).... so a HIK NVR won't be handing out any IP addresses to any device via DHCP.
• POE ports on a /8P, /16P, /24P HIK NVR model are limited to 10/100 Mbps. Connecting a switch to one of those ports is possible. But doing so comes with limitations, so usually not recommended.
• hand draw a schematic of the network you have in mind & you might get more informed responses from others more familiar with your brands of NVR & cameras.
• RSTP = Rapid Spanning Tree Protocol. I imagine you mean RTSP. I've not messed with the RTSP functionality. Not sure if you're looking for a feed from the NVR or the camera or both.... but I imagine what you're trying to do is doable with a decent network infrastructure in place. Just be aware of your bandwidth expectations over WiFi. (and it's likely you'll need a DHCP Server unless you're willing to live with static IP addresses on your laptop, AP, and any other non-mentioned devices).

 

[Wired]

I do not use the POE ports on my NVR, I use a POE switch to power the cameras,
and take a feed from that switch into the back of the NVR, which seems to work fine,
it records the camera feeds when triggered.

All ai want to do is add an AP to the switch, which I actuall did today, I added an old
router in AP mode, and I can connect to it from my laptop and my phone, I can
even type a command in the terminal and get a feed to pop up using curtousy of ffplay
which uses ffmpeg to do the work.
I am going to try a raspberry Pi running an rtsp viewer when I get time, just to see how
it copes displaying a camera feed.

HIKVISION DS-2CD2386G2-IU are the cameras am using,
HIKVISION NVR MODEL is DS-7604NXI-K1/4P AcuSense is the NVR I use, which was a bad buy.

 

[Wired]

Here is an image of a similar setup, am just not using a router.

 

[sportster]

ok, so you've confirmed you are NOT using the POE ports and therefore you're using the LAN port on your DS-7604NXI-K1/4P NVR. It should work as you've planned. Adding an AP to a POE switch is done all the time. I have 2 APs in my network. (1 in the garage & 1 in the house).

As an aside, you "may" want to pay attention to the DHCP Server in your network..... and maybe use DHCP Reservations (aka MAC Binding) so your security devices (or any devices of your choosing) are always assigned the same IP Address. But that's just my personal preference in my network. Up to you how you do it.

 

[David]

@Wired, what about firmware updates for your cameras, NVR, etc?

It’s good to plan for a network that has occasional internet connectivity.
David

 

[Wired]

@Wired, what about firmware updates for your cameras, NVR, etc?

It’s good to plan for a network that has occasional internet connectivity.
David

Yep, I manually update the system from time to time.

ok, so you've confirmed you are NOT using the POE ports and therefore you're using the LAN port on your DS-7604NXI-K1/4P NVR. It should work as you've planned. Adding an AP to a POE switch is done all the time. I have 2 APs in my network. (1 in the garage & 1 in the house).

As an aside, you "may" want to pay attention to the DHCP Server in your network..... and maybe use DHCP Reservations (aka MAC Binding) so your security devices (or any devices of your choosing) are always assigned the same IP Address. But that's just my personal preference in my network. Up to you how you do it.

The lan port is what my POE switch with all the cameras, and my AP is connected to. There is no router or DHCP server on
this system, other than the one inside the NVR, the NVR uses two separate NIC's one for the WAN and another for the Cameras.
The IP of the camera never changes nor does the one for the WAN, when the AP got added into the Switch it must have been assigned an IP address just like adding anther camer would, it should not change either, even if it does it should not matter as am
connecting to the WiFi side of the AP, I can go into the settings on the AP and turn on or off Dynamic IP, I must have a look later
at what I exactly did.
I know the AP am looking at also has features to use DHCP or not, and to bridge, so am hoping it will work, either way I need a new AP as the old one is old and the signal does not travel far, I get disconnected 15 ft outside the house and that is pushing it, which means I can not walk around the house with any device connected, no good for my second phone which has RTSP on it so I can still see anyone at the frong when am out back.

Wish me luck, it hurts my head to be learning this network stuff and be almost useless at it.

 

[Wired]

@Wired, what about firmware updates for your cameras, NVR, etc?

It’s good to plan for a network that has occasional internet connectivity.
David

This system lives off line in a safe location where one can not walk off with the NVR to
hide their crimes, so there will be a record of any trespassers burglars or such,
It is also backed up with another more covert system on its own network.
I only accesed themm locally, and update ithem manually.

 

[David]

The IP of the camera never changes nor does the one for the WAN, when the AP got added into the Switch it must have been assigned an IP address just like adding anther camer would, it should not change either, even if it does it should not matter as am
connecting to the WiFi side of the AP, I can go into the settings on the AP and turn on or off Dynamic IP, I must have a look later
at what I exactly did.

It is not clear where your network IP addresses are coming from, I assume from the DHCP server within the AP. Check that your IPCCTV / AP network will keep the same IP addresses after a complete shutdown and switch on.

On the AP, did you create any DHCP IP address reservations?

David

 

[sportster]

There is no router or DHCP server on this system, other than the one inside the NVR, the NVR uses two separate NIC's one for the WAN and another for the Cameras

Sorry, you would be incorrect on your understanding of what's inside that NVR. At the risk of complicating things further, let's clean your statement up a bit. Not trying to split hairs here..... just attempting to get us on the same page. (And assist other readers that might be following this thread).

1. you are correct, there are 2 NICs inside your NVR
   • the 1st NIC is the LAN port. In your configuration, this NIC has access to your external POE Switch, Cameras, AP, etc.
   • the 2nd NIC is for the embedded POE Ports. You've confirmed you're NOT using the POE ports so, for your installation, we can ignore the 2nd NIC.
2. the NVR is NOT a router
   • the NVR does NOT forward or bridge IP packets from network A to network B.
   • (even if you were using the 2nd NIC for the POE Ports, the NVR still would NOT forward IP packets from the 1st NIC to the 2nd NIC, or vice versa).
3. the NVR is NOT a DHCP Server
   • there is nothing "inside" your NVR that will respond to a DHCP Request for an IP Address. Under the covers there's a Linux O/S but HIK did NOT include a DHCP Server function.
   • thus, the IP Address assigned to the LAN port of the NVR is either:
     • statically assigned (somone manually configured it) inside the NVR, or
     • dynamically assigned by some DHCP Server in your network
   • failing which the NVR would assign itself some IP Address on the 169.254.xxx.xxx network..... rendering itself unreachable by other devices on the network

Your cameras would receive an IP Address in a simialr fashion; that being:

• statically assigned (somone manually configured it) inside the camera, or
• dynamically assigned by some DHCP Server in your network, or
• maybe revert back to a factory default, such as 192.168.1.64

failing which the camera(s) would also assign itself some IP Address on the 169.254.xxx.xxx network..... rendering itself unreachable by other devices on the network.

Regarding your AP..... you'll need to dig into that & determine how it is configured. As @David indicated, it likely is an active DHCP Server.

 

[David]

Your cameras would receive an IP Address in a simialr fashion; that being:

• statically assigned (somone manually configured it) inside the camera, or
• dynamically assigned by some DHCP Server in your network, or
• maybe revert back to a factory default, such as 192.168.1.64

failing which the camera(s) would also assign itself some IP Address on the 169.254.xxx.xxx network..... rendering itself unreachable by other devices on the network.

Regarding your AP..... you'll need to dig into that & determine how it is configured. As @David indicated, it likely is an active DHCP Server.

As everything seems to be getting its own ip address I assumed device dhcp clients were running and resolving IP etc from the AP / router DHCP server. It would be nice to know the AP and switch model numbers.

David

 

[Wired]

As everything seems to be getting its own ip address I assumed device dhcp clients were running and resolving IP etc from the AP / router DHCP server. It would be nice to know the AP and switch model numbers.

David

Hi David. I have no idea what router am uisng as an AP, I just found it in a box that someone gave me when they upgraded the router their phone / internet provider gave them, they got disconnected from that company and gave me the router they bought and no longer needed. It is a TP link, with four LAN and one WAN. I will look when I get time again.

I must also look into my NVR settings, it all works well so it has been a while since I looked how it is set up.
But I do clearly remember there being a function to bridge both cards, I do not recall much else other than
it was advised not to do so as it was a security risk, that message was in the NVR settings where one would
make the link.

I have a bug of some kind and feel like death, so might be a day or so before I get back with an update.

I do appreciate everyone who has responded, thanks to all.

 

[Wired]

OK, an update.
MODELR of router, TD-W9970 v4, it is a TP Link device.
I can connect to it via phones or any other computing devices
either wirelessly or via on if its four LAN ports.
I can confirm my POE switch and the NVR are connected to this
Router / AP as LAN clients and my laptop and phone are connected
to it as WiFi clients.
I will look for the mystery setting in my NVR later, which offers to bridge
something, I did not sellect to do that so not sure what it was all about until
I look into it.

 

[Wired]

NVR Settings, I see it can do DHCP, would it be better to turn this
feature on or would this result in IP addresses in a range that the
rest of the network can't access.

 

[David]

NVR Settings, I see it can do DHCP, would it be better to turn this
feature on or would this result in IP addresses in a range that the
rest of the network can't access.

it is ok to publish the IPv4 address of the NVR, could you post a screenshot of the router network setup and NVR camera management page?

leave NVR DHCP as it is for now, did you say you could access the NVR and see video from the cameras?

David