An Internet Protocol (IP) security camera is clearly distinguishable from traditional analog security cameras in a variety of ways. Beyond the heavy reliance on the internet that makes the use and operation of IP cameras possible in the first place, they also are clearly distinguished from analog IP cameras by their use of IP networks for operation and generally, require no recording device to function.
This reality means that there are fewer things in such a setup. With fewer things in the setup, comes the reality of easy installation, and with that, the greatest of the features yet: a wire-free reality that makes the cameras easy to place anywhere there is a need to record and capture footage.
However, these advantages come at an almost steep cost: IP cameras generally require the internet to work. This means, without internet connectivity, motion detection, event recording, and footage playback would likely be impeded. This isn’t what many users who are considering this camera type want to hear, hence the prevalent question remains: can (some) IP security cameras work without the internet?
Or, rephrased: what IP security camera brands without the aid of the internet?
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Do Remote Surveillance Cameras Without The Internet?
Generally, IP security cameras do not work without the internet, especially when tasked with the business of remote surveillance. This is the manner these cameras have been programmed to work and there is little anyone can do about it.
However, there are classical exceptions, bordering majorly on models that employ a sort of base station like the Eufy Cam 2 Pro. These unit types, contrary to what you might think or expect, do not connect to the home WiFi router directly. Instead, the cameras sync up first with the base station which then connects to the home router.
Such a connection then ensures that the IP network created is between the base station and the cameras directly and not the home router. This way, if anything goes wrong with the home internet WiFi router, the IP network created and sustained by the base station is completely unaffected and the camera(s) paired to the base carry on without any hiccup in their operation, especially as regards motion detection and event recording.
This theme was previously covered in my article: Do Eufy Security Cameras Connect To The Base Station Or Home Router? If you need an elaborate answer relating to this or will simply love to dig deeper, this presents a perfect opportunity. The article treats the subject matter in sufficient detail and leaves no detail unattended.
Can You View Footage Remotely Without The Internet?
Unfortunately, it is not possible to view footage remotely without an active internet connection. As a matter of fact, you cannot even view footage directly, on-site, without an active internet connection since that is the way IP cameras are generally designed.
Footage recording and normal camera operations will continue, of course, but you won’t be able to do anything else. If you are looking forward to cloud storage too, you’ll also be disappointed; once the internet connection is restricted, backup to the cloud will also naturally be paused and generally, inaccessible.
It will also be a challenge to tackle camera/base station tasks like powering the camera on, adjusting detection sensitivity, and a whole lot of functions that are based on the body of the camera itself or the base station.
The interesting thing remains that, with internet challenges notwithstanding, once things normalize, you’ll be able to get the full action that happened in your absence and have everything downloaded to your phone and a notification to the effect forwarded for each episode that successfully downloads.
Wrap Up
IP security cameras operate, usually, with the help of the internet. However, the internet is needed basically for settings, review of footage either on site or remotely, and the control of the camera and base station, if so designed.
What this means is simple and straight to the point: once you set up the system, you don’t essentially need the internet to get things working, especially if you’re using a base station-powered unit like the Eufy Cam 2 Pro. While non-base station-powered units like the S40 Solo Cam may also work without the internet, this isn’t guaranteed and results vary wildly, depending on a plethora of factors that it is difficult at the moment to pinpoint or address exactly.
However, for best results, it is advised to have a backup internet system and make certain that you try as much as you can to ensure that your unit remains as online as it actually depends on you.