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Post by meandog on Feb 11, 2008 11:49:18 GMT 12
Will need to do some tests first Ivyplus. But others would have to instal this rigmarole also for it to work. I think after all this it may have been easier with Windows Messenger. But I think I am over the worst of it now. LMAO ;D ;D
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Post by ladeda on Feb 11, 2008 21:55:00 GMT 12
Hiya Meandog, busy busy this week. I have the pacemaker reps here for three days with dinners, educational sessions etc.
I Googled firefox and port exceptions - you still have to make a port exception through Windows firewall (just back track a few posts)!
You'll find that any webcam software that transmits your vid over the internet will need port forwarding, DirectX, etc.
Anyway, set up your webcam with UBroadcast and then anyone can see if it works. ;D You can't test it yourself - you need to have someone else try it out and say "Ooooh, look, I can see your couch, Meandog. Is that Pavarotti you have playing in the background?"
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Post by ladeda on Feb 11, 2008 22:14:59 GMT 12
Here's a site to explain webcams to anyone who is new to this. cowboyfrank.net/webcams/HowTo.htmUnfortunately, this is what they say about port-forwarding and IP's.... Many webcam programs, including TinCam, come with a built-in web server. (booru WebCam does not) Once the camera and web server software are activated and configured, all a visitor needs to do is enter your current IP address in their web browser. As long as your computer is connected to the Internet, your camera should now work, unless your Internet provider is blocking the default port.
Huh? What? IP address? Port blocking? What in the #%& are you talking about?
I said this could get complicated.
When you point your web browser to a web site, such as CowboyFrank.net, you are actually connecting to a specific computer somewhere that has a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address. IP addresses are a series of numbers with dots between them like this (203.173.192.60). The Internet doesn't understand what you mean when you ask for "CowboyFrank.net", it only understands IP addresses. Being able to use a name like CowboyFrank.net, rather than having to remember the number, is a convenience developed to help us humans remember computer addresses easier. This process makes use of a system called DNS (Domain Name Service) which translates the requested name into the proper IP address for you, then your computer can find the website you are asking for. Check my DNS page for further explanations covering DNS and IP addresses.
Every computer connected to the Internet has a unique IP address assigned to it. No two computers connected to the Internet at the same time can have the same IP address. Usually you will get a different IP address each time you connect to the Internet, or, if you have high speed Internet, your IP address may change every few days. This is called Dynamic IP Addressing. Your IP address is a little like your phone number except it can change every day or two. Imagine what the phone system would be like if everybody's phone number was different each time you tried to call someone. Check my Dynamic DNS service page for information on how to get around this changing IP address problem.
I don't want to confuse the issue here, but it is important to know that there are "external" and "internal" IP addresses. If your computer is connected through a router, you will most likely have an "internal" IP address. Most "internal" IP addresses are in the range of 192.168.*.* where the * could be anything from 0 through 255. If you are connected directly to the internet, you will be using an "external" IP address. Your "external" IP address is how the world finds you. Your router sees your "external" IP address, assigns an "internal" IP address to your computer, and forwards everything from and to the Internet through its routing software.
This is your current "external" IP address 203.173.192.60 How do I know what your IP address is? When you retrieved this web page from my site, your computer supplied its IP address to my website so my server would know who to send the page back to. If you sent in one of those little "subscribe to us" notes that fall out of magazines, and failed to include your address, you would never get the subscription.
Ports are another thing. A port is a little like a CB radio channel. Software programs that are designed to connect to other software programs, listen for connection requests on a specific port. When another program calls on the correct port, the program answers and the two programs can then talk to each other. (Who remembers "breaker-breaker one nine, I got a smokey on my tail"...?) When you open a web page, your web browser is calling up the website using the default port 80. Another common port used by some webcam programs is port 8080. There are some 64,000 software ports available on your computer.
Just about any port can be used, providing another program on your computer isn't already using the same port. However, if you use any port other than the default one, both the webcam program and the visitor's browser must know which port you have chosen. The catch with web servers is that some Internet providers block incoming port 80, so you must use a different port if this is your case. If you can see your camera from another computer inside your house, but someone on the outside of your home can't connect to your camera, then port 80 is probably being blocked. The method for configuring a different port is dependant on your software, so you have to check the instructions.
For a visitor to pull up your webcam, they must first know your external IP address and the port number you are using. For example, lets say my current IP address is 68.100.43.74, and I am using port 8080, the visitor will have to type into the browser address bar, 68.100.43.74:8080 and press "go" or "enter". Notice the http:// at the beginning and the colon : separating the IP address and the port number, both are required. (Don't' bother trying that specific number, you wont get anything). If you are using the default port 80, then the visitor dosen't have to enter the last colon or specify the port when they type in your IP address.
If you are using a router, you will have to set a fixed IP address on your computer and map the port you want to use through the router to your computer. If you don't know what a router is then you probably don't have one. If you do have a router, check the instructions for Port Mapping, Port Forwarding, Firewall settings, NAT [Network Address Translation], or NAPT [Network Address and Port Translation] (some of the technical terms for this).
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Post by meandog on Feb 13, 2008 6:12:24 GMT 12
Hiya Meandog, busy busy this week. I have the pacemaker reps here for three days with dinners, educational sessions etc. I Googled firefox and port exceptions - you still have to make a port exception through Windows firewall (just back track a few posts)! You'll find that any webcam software that transmits your vid over the internet will need port forwarding, DirectX, etc. Anyway, set up your webcam with UBroadcast and then anyone can see if it works. ;D You can't test it yourself - you need to have someone else try it out and say "Ooooh, look, I can see your couch, Meandog. Is that Pavarotti you have playing in the background?" Done that, I think I have covered it all in this thread.(He says confidently) ;D ;D
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Post by ivyplus on Feb 13, 2008 7:38:35 GMT 12
Will need to do some tests first Ivyplus. But others would have to instal this rigmarole also for it to work. I think after all this it may have been easier with Windows Messenger. But I think I am over the worst of it now. LMAO ;D ;D Looking forward seeing you!
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