Internet at the site
The recorder needs a constant connection: home fibre, a fixed wireless line or a 4G/5G router with a data plan. What matters most is the upload speed, because video travels from the site to your phone. Watching one camera in good quality typically needs around 1–2 Mbps of upload; viewing several cameras at once needs more.
Linking the app
Each recorder brand has its own app. The installer adds the recorder to the app by scanning a QR code or entering its serial number, then sets user accounts so each family member or manager has their own login.
When phone viewing stops working
Check these in order before calling a technician:
Keep your cameras private
Change the default admin password, give each user their own account, keep the recorder's firmware up to date, and avoid opening router ports when the maker's cloud connection is available. These steps keep strangers from seeing your cameras.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a fixed IP address to view CCTV on my phone?
Usually not. Most current NVRs and DVRs connect through the manufacturer's cloud (often called P2P), which works on ordinary home internet and 4G routers.
How much data does CCTV phone viewing use?
It depends on quality and viewing time. Watching in the app's sub-stream (lower quality) uses far less data than full HD. The recorder only sends video while someone is watching, so it does not use data for recording.