LOFTEK CXS 2200 by a Noob: How I Failed and then Succeeded to Setup FTP on a Mac
I’m a network camera noob, and this was my first time going through a setup process by myself. While everyone else at Sensr.net is an IP camera genius, I am not. This “How Not To,” is intended to be helpful, or at least somewhat encouraging, for those of us with limited experience in setting up network cameras. But if you’re a netcam master and still having trouble getting a LOFTEK CXS 2200 configured, this might still help you. If not, you can call me names in the comments section.
I just finished setting up the LOFTEK CXS 2200 on my Mac and put it up on Sensr.net. I hate to admit it, but it took me a couple hours. It wasn’t the camera or the router’s fault – it was at least 95% user error. While getting everything configured, I managed to:
- Make my wireless network undetectable by any device
- Make my router impossible to log into
- Wipe my router to factory default settings
- Crash my new MacBook Air for the first time
But in the end, I prevailed! And it was worth the trouble. Partnered with Sensr.net, the camera is really fun to use. I already want another, despite not having anything particularly interesting to point this first one at. Maybe I’ll discover which of my neighbors is letting their dog empty its bowels on my yard without cleaning it up. First thing’s first, though. Let me start at the beginning of my misadventures in the setup process.
In a hurry to get your camera setup? Go to the bottom for the “TL;DR” (too long; didn’t read) version.
I’ll also show you how to push images to Sensr.net so you can take advantage of all of our cool features, like SMS and email alerts, 30 days archiving, no firewall config, clip sharing, embedable live streams, guest access, etc.
Misadventures (Stuff You Shouldn’t Do)
First I find my router’s IP adress – it was 192.168.1.2. Pretty standard. (To check your router’s IP address on a Mac, go into System Preferences -> Networks -> Advanced ->TCP/IP. You’ll see an IP Address following Router:)
Then I plug in my shiny, fresh out of the box LOFTEK CXS 2200 straight into the router via ethernet, log into my router’s settings, and refresh my DHCP Client List expecting to see a new IP address. Meanwhile, the light on my camera is blinking once every second or so, which, according to the manual, means that it has found a network! Huzzah! …Nothing new on the list. Hm, weird. Refresh. Nothing?!
So I open up Network Utility, check the Netstat to see if there are any other connected devices the router just isn’t displaying. There are loads! I start trying to browse to all the IP addresses ranging from 192.168.1.3 – .15. Nothing, still!
I’m not really sure what I’m doing wrong at this point. The ethernet cable connecting the camera to the router works fine; I had just tested it on an Xbox 360. So rather than Googling to see if other people have had the same issue with getting a LOFTEK CXS 2200 set up, I begin furiously tinkering with router settings. I’M A MAN, I’LL FIGURE IT OUT BY MYSELF! Seemed like a good idea at the time, at least. (WARNING: Seriously, back up your router settings before you start randomly changing stuff.)
First I update the firmware – no problems there, but it doesn’t resolve anything. Still no new devices, and no IP address in my lists connect me to my camera. So I figure it’s probably best to alter/disable a bunch of settings I won’t get into here, and then my connection drops and the wireless network is no where to be found.
I check to see if it’s detectable on my iPhone – nope. Restart the router. Still no visible network. Now I’m wondering how I’m going to explain to my girlfriend that I broke our internets and she won’t be able to watch the latest episode of House tonight. So I start thinking like House, and diagnose the router with lupus…or is it?
Okay, guess it’s not lupus again. Now I’ve got to dig around for a toothpick to push the ridiculously tiny red reset button on my router to get back online. Fortunately I had saved my router’s settings before I started. TheFlooNetwork (yeah that’s my RFID. I’m cool like that) is back, and I’m no longer faced with potential girlfriend-wrath. Whew. Hugh Laurie is so brooding and mysterious though, can you blame her?
Figuring It Out
After a brush with internet death, I surrender manly pride and turn to my good friend Google for answers. Naturally, the resolution is easily uncovered; it’s one of the first search results in an Amazon review of the camera. I see that the CXS 2200’s default IP is fixed at 192.168.0.178, meaning it’s stuck on the .0.x range without the setup disc. As I mentioned, my router’s IP address was 192.168.1.2. So I change the IP to 192.168.0.2, browse into the camera’s default 192.168.0.178, and presto! I get a login/password prompt, and I’m in business!
Two hours down and a few router resets, but it works! Now to add the camera to Sensr.net.
FTP Configuration/Adding to Sensr.net
I log into Sensr.net and go to “My Cameras,” as seen below.
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Then I “Add A Camera,” because I’ve clearly displayed I know what I’m doing. I’m ready!
Now I’m at the page with my camera’s FTP login credentials, which looks like:
At this point I fumble around on the LOFTEK configuration for 5 minutes like a dummy, until I see their FTP Settings are clearly labeled as…FTP Settings. They’re under the Alarm tab. So I copy the server, username, and password from the Sensr.net page, and set the FTP Mode to PASV.
I check “Upload Image Periodically,” and set the interval to 1 second, and submit all the info. I run the test, it’s successful, and I’m like… YEAH I’M GOING TO FIND OUT WHO IS LETTING THEIR DOG DEFECATE ON MY YARD TODAY! Then my new MacBook Air crashes for the first time ever. Weak. Not sure why either, but whatever. I turn it back on, and at least all my FTP settings were saved on the camera configuration.
So I log back into the Sensr.net page, and see images from my camera and a nice “Success!” below! Finally done! I have my camera set to private right now because I don’t really have anything fun to point it at. But once I find something consistant to point it at, I’ll make it public and post a link. Or, if I do actually manage to capture the doggie-poo culprit, I’ll make a clip and we can all join in shaming them online. That’s what the internet is for, right?
If you made it this far, thanks for reading about my misadventures in setting up my first network camera. It was fun, and if you haven’t tried it yet, you should. If I can do it, anyone can!
I’ll have a more detailed review of the LOFTEK CXS 2200 with sample videos after I’ve played with it some more. Also, I’ll be making a straight forward guide to setting up the LOFTEK CXS 2200 on a Mac after this. It’s not hard at all, I just committed a whole bunch of fails.
TL;DR Version (too long; didn’t read)
The LOFTEK CXS 2200’s default IP address (192.168.0.178) is hard coded, and it expects to see your router’s IP in the 192.168.0.x range. Mine was 192.168.2.x. Rather than Googling for help and finding a solution on the first Amazon review, I screwed with my router and broke stuff for two hours. You can configure this on a PC without changing your router’s IP address if you use their setup disk. I’m on a Mac so I just changed to a 192.168.0.x and then it worked. Tah-dah!