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ow to set up a point-to-point wireless access point link for cameras
The 2.4GHz Wireless Access Point Radio is a great product to use for long-range wireless video transmission, especially in cases where the camera's built-in wireless radio or wireless router is not powerful enough to provide a stable video signal. If you currently have a wireless IP camera and notice that the camera frequently drops frames or disconnects, a wireless access point in either the camera or router, or both, may solve the problem.
Suppose you don't even have Ip cameras, and you want to send your internet signal from one building on your property to another, then the setup described in this article will help you achieve this task. You will be able to connect a powerful, high-gain wireless radio to each end to send out a stable and strong WiFi signal. In this guide we show how to set up a point-to-point WiFi connection.
2.4GHz wireless access point
To broadcast a WiFi signal, we need a 2.4GHz access point to set up our wireless security camera. For solid performance and reliability, we recommend using one of the following Ubiquiti access points or something similar like a Cisco AP.
2.4GHz external wireless access point
Item NB24
Integrated powerful 11dbi antenna
Weather-resistant construction for outdoor applications
Also great for indoor industrial applications where there are obstacles
Up to 1 km range (clear line of sight) when used with WiFi cameras with built-in radio
How do wireless access points work?
It's important to understand how this all works. We will use two wireless access points to connect to each other to create a point-to-point Wi-Fi connection. Although in our case we are using 2.4 GHz models, this setup can be done using 5.8 GHz models as well. Each of these units has a WiFi radio and high gain antenna making these units powerful enough for a mile or more of line of sight wireless transmission.
One radio is configured as an access point, which sends a WiFi signal that can be detected as an SSID or available wireless network. The other radio is configured as an AP station that acts as a receiving or client station on the wireless network. Once the two radios are talking to each other, you have a PTP (point to point) wireless link.
Connect IP camera system to points
On the access point side, our setup is geared towards enabling the NVR recorder to connect wirelessly to the cameras on the station's access point. We connect the access point to our router or switch to which the NVR is also connected.
In AP station, we can connect one camera directly to the radio, or mutliple cameras to the radio using a switch between them. We do not recommend using more than 4 cameras per AP, or you will clog your wireless connection with more data than it can handle.
Connect to multiple cameras using a switch
Access
Diagram setup key
Connect directly without a key
Keyless setup diagram
Let's break it down into layman's terms how the signal gets from the camera to the NVR
The camera sends data via a network cable (through a switch if there are multiple cameras connected) to the AP station
The AP transmits that data to the WiFi signal and sends it to the AP at the NVR site
An access point (AP) converts data received via WiFi into a wired network signal and sends it to your router
Then the router forwards the data to your NVR (it also provides internet to the NVR)
The NVR records the IP camera streams it receives to a hard drive inside, and makes the cameras available for viewing from remote users
Using IP cameras makes it easy to make any type of camera wireless and link it back to the same recorder where other wired or wireless IP cameras are connected. If you use our Tribrid DVR, you can even connect other types of cameras that use coaxial cables and use wired IP cameras, wireless IP cameras, analog CCTV cameras and HDCVI HD via coaxial cameras.
Once you have your cameras back to your security video recorder, you can even port forward and make your camera or NVR available for remote viewing from the outside world.
Let's start by setting up the configuration of one IP security camera to connect it to the station and send the signal back to the external 2.4GHz wireless access point.
Step 1: Determine the IP address of your computer
1) Open a command prompt:
Click the Start button on your Windows computer
Type cmd, and press Enter
A command prompt like the following will appear. Typeipconfig in windows command prompt and press Enter.
Type ipconfig at the command prompt
2) Locate the computer's IP address and the router's IP address in the output from the ipconfig command.
Find the router's IP address
The IP address of the computer you are using will be listed as IPv4, and your router's IP address will be listed as the default gateway. In our network, the router's address is 192.168.1.1 and our computer's IP address is 192.168.1.4.
It is important to note that the default IP address of our AP and IP cameras is as shown below:
National number: 192.168.1.108
IP Camera: 192.168.1.108
Ubiquiti Wireless AP: 192.168.1.20
Both the AP and station radios have the same default IP address before they are configured, and they must have a different IP address to be connected to the network at the same time. For a router with IP address 192.168.1.1, you just have to change the 4th octet in the default IP address, i.e. 192.168.1. XXX where XXX is the set of numbers that needs to be changed and must be unique for each device on the network. For example, you can configure one camera and two radios as follows:
National number: 192.168.1.108
IP Camera: 192.168.1.107
Access point: 192.168.1.95
AP station: 192.168.1.96
You may need to change the IP addresses of one or both APs if there is an IP address conflict or does not fit your network. You can follow the instructions in How to View IP Cameras from a Web Browser on how to change the camera's IP address. You can also find instructions on how to change the IP address of the access point here.
Step 2: Connect the AP to your network
To configure the AP, you first need to connect it to your network so you can access the internal web-based settings page. Each access point comes with a PoE injector. Connect the AP to the power injector using the MAIN port (PoE), and the power injector to the switch or router using the SECONDARY port (LAN) as shown below.
How to connect a wireless access point to your network
Here's a close-up view of the PoE injector:
PoE injector close-up view
Step 3: Log in to AP
The default IP address for Ubiquiti radios is 192.168.1.20. Make sure you are using a compatible network, and enter this IP address into the address bar of your web browser. If you don't see the login page and get a security error message, follow the instructions in the image below. We are using Chrome as the browser in this case.
Wireless Security Camera-Configuration-3
The login page should look like the page below. ubnt the default username and password and click the checkbox at the bottom of the page before pressing login.
Step 4: Change the default password
After logging in for the first time, you will be asked to change the default password. On the bottom right side, there will be an orange dialog box. Click "System" there to go to the page to change your password.
Log in to the system
Once you get to the system page, change the default password by clicking on the magnifying glass as shown below to bring up a drop-down section that allows you to change the password.
Click to change password
Enter your old password and new password on this page now. In addition, before saving changes, set the time zone. When finished, click the Change button to save your changes.
Saving changes
Once you click the change button, look for a blue bar to appear at the top of the screen. Make sure to click Apply to save the changes.
Apply changes
You have now successfully done the following:
Set a custom password and secure your Ubiquiti access point
Set the correct time zone on the device
Step 5: Configure the AP for access point mode
To properly configure two wireless access points to communicate with each other, you must configure one as an access point and the other as a client radio. First, we will set the access point that will transmit the WiFi signal. a) Click the WIRELESS tab at the top of the Admin page to go to the page that allows you to configure the radio settings. Take a look at the image below to see how to configure the radio. Make sure the channel width is set to 40 MHz.
Ubiquiti Wireless Access Point Configuration Settings for the Radio Kit as a PTP access point, with WiFi security enabled.
Ubiquiti Wireless Access Point Configuration Settings for the Radio Kit as a PTP access point, with WiFi security enabled.
Here's how to configure the settings for use on the AP:
Wireless Mode - Select the access point
WDS - Mark the check box labeled Enable
SSID – This is the name of the WiFi radio you will see under Network Connections on your laptop
Country Code - Choose the appropriate country you are in
IEEE 802.11 Mode - Select Mixed B/G/N for best compatibility
Channel Width - Select 40MHz
Frequency - automatic adjustment. If you have many other wireless access points and access points in the area, you can select a channel to reduce interference
Extension Channel - Select None
Frequency List - Leave this unchecked as we do not select specific transmission frequencies
Calculate EIRP Limit - Leave as is (verified)
Antenna Gain – Depending on the strength of the antenna on your AP, it can vary
Output power - set as max
Data Rate Unit - Leave it as default
Maximum TX Rate, Mbps – Unless you have more than 6 radios in close proximity, you can leave this at its default settings as in the image below
Security - Select the type of encryption you want for the WiFi signal emitted from this pattern point. Set it to WPA2-AES as it is a very secure encryption
WPA Authentication - Select PSK
WPA Pre-Shared Key - Set the WiFi password you wish to set
MAC ACL - Leave unchecked
Once you have all the settings selected, click Change at the bottom right, then look for the blue bar at the top to appear and click Apply. Otherwise, your settings will not be saved.
Step 6: Turn on MIMO signaling on Ubiquiti radios
As of May 2016, almost all wireless APs in the supply chain are MIMO enabled for new products. Which means you can only access it using an access point or another MIMO-enabled laptop. Since you'll be using another identical access point to receive the signal, you'll of course want to leave it turned on. Since we didn't short out the device first, let's check to make sure it's working.
Here's how to turn on MIMO using Ubiquiti access points:
a) Click on the tab that contains the Ubiquiti logo. This is the airMax section
b) Make sure the box next to Enable on airMAX is checked
c) Click Change in the lower right corner of the window
d) Then press Apply at the top
Enable airMAX
Now the AP is configured to use it as a WiFi signal for another MIMO device only. Let's continue configuring the IP address.
Step 7: Configure the radio's IP address to avoid IP conflicts
Since we have multiple radios that default to the same IP address, we have to change the IP address before connecting the next device or there will be a conflict trying to access the default IP address.
Make sure to change the last octet* on the IP address to an address that is open on your network either:
It is later reserved on your network pointing to the device's MAC address
Out of DHCP range to avoid IP conflicts on the network
* Octets are separated by a decimal point. The fourth and final number in the 192.168.1.20 address is number 20.
Change the network address on the wireless radio
Once you change its address, click Change, and if a blue bar appears at the top, click Apply. We have set the IP address of our AP to 192.168.1.95 (not shown). The AP will restart, and your browser should be redirected to the new address of the radio. If not manually, enter the new IP address in your browser. This AP configuration is complete.
Leave it plugged in and connected to the network in its location for now.
Step 8: Pair the station's radio to the AP using MIMO
While the AP is still connected to the network and powered, let's configure the second radio as a station. Follow steps 2-4 to access the terminal, change the password, and set the correct time and time zone.
Now that the terminal is checked out and the password changed, click on the Wireless tab at the top of the page.
The wireless mode must be set to Station
WDS - If you do not enable it, and the AP is enabled, it will automatically configure itself as enabled
The country code must match your country
IEEE 802.11 b/g/n mode must be mixed
Frequency scanning is left unchecked
The EIRP limit should be left alone
Set your antenna gain to its maximum value
Leave the data rate and tx rate at their default values
With all of these settings configured as shown above, press the SELECT button located to the right of the SSID text area.
You will be brought to a menu like the one below. Select your unique SSID from the list provided. Click the radio button to the left of your SSID, and then click LOCK TO AP.
This station radio is now almost paired to work with the selected AP. The AP's SSID and MAC address will be filled in the form as shown below.
Now select the Security Encryption Type and Authentication Type and type the WiFi password you created for the WiFi signal on the AP in Step 5. When you're done and your wireless page looks like the above, click Change and then Apply at the top if it appears.
Once this is done, you will need to change the IP address on this AP station as well. Follow step 7 to change the IP address. We have set our number to 192.168.1.96.
The AP and station are now paired with each other. We suggest testing them for connectivity. There is a signal meter at the back. When paired correctly and within signal distance, you will see something like the following:
The signal meter located on the back of the access point provides an indication of whether two radios are properly paired.
The signal meter located on the back of the access point provides an indication of whether two radios are properly paired.
Both radios are now ready for deployment as discussed above. The AP must go to the NVR location, and the terminal must be connected to the cameras. If you are using a single camera, you can use it on the default IP address 192.168.1.108. If you are using an NVR or more cameras, make sure to change the IP address on them so that they do not conflict with the default IP address of 192.168.1.108. You can learn how by reading the following web browser guides on how to change the camera's IP address. You can also find instructions on how to change the IP address of the access point here.