CCTV router has no internet
CCTV router offline? Check the router has mobile data first, then that the recorder uses it as its gateway and the plan suits your video usage.
Work from the router outward
There are four places the connection can fail: the mobile link, the SIM and plan, the local network between the router and the recorder, and remote access from outside. Check them in that order and change one thing at a time.
1. Does the router itself have mobile data?
- Open the router's status page and look for the registered network, the signal readings and an IP address on the mobile interface.
- No network or no signal: see SIM not connecting and weak or no network.
- Registered but no IP address: the APN is the usual cause. See APN setup.
2. Is the SIM active, with a plan that suits video?
Confirm the SIM is active and the plan has data left. Video uses far more than most equipment. A camera sending a 2 Mbit/s stream continuously uses about 21 GB a day, so a small allowance can be gone in hours. Record on motion where you can, and use the lower-quality sub-stream for remote viewing.
3. Is the recorder using the router?
- The recorder or camera must use the router's LAN address as its gateway and DNS server. If it has a fixed address, check that address is in the router's subnet and does not clash with another device.
- If the router hands out addresses by DHCP, check the recorder actually received one.
- Check the date and time on the recorder. Cloud and P2P services often fail when the clock is wrong.
4. Remote viewing when the router is online
Mobile networks normally put customers behind carrier-grade NAT, so port-forwarding rules on the router usually do not work from outside. The reliable options are the manufacturer's cloud or P2P service, or a VPN. If you need direct inbound access, ask us about private APN options.
What to send us
- The ICCID of the SIM and the router model
- What the router's status page shows: network, signal readings and whether the mobile interface has an IP address
- Whether the problem is at the router, the recorder or only remote viewing
- The recorder model and how remote viewing is set up
Frequently asked questions
Why can I not view my cameras remotely when the router shows online?
Mobile networks normally place customers behind carrier-grade NAT, so a port-forwarding rule on the router usually does not work from outside. Use the recorder or camera manufacturer's cloud or P2P service, or a VPN. If you need direct inbound access, ask about private APN options.
How much data does a camera use?
A camera sending a 2 Mbit/s stream all day uses about 21 GB. Continuous streaming can empty a small data plan in hours, so record on motion where you can and use the lower-quality sub-stream for remote viewing.
The router has signal but no internet. What next?
Check that the SIM is active, that the plan includes data with allowance left, and that the router's mobile interface has an IP address. If it registers but gets no address, see the APN setup guide.
Still stuck? Engineer Support can continue from this guide without sending you to a generic page.