Why can't I reach my 4G camera remotely?

You install a 4G camera, it records and uploads perfectly, and then you try to view it from home and nothing answers. The camera is fine. The cause is how mobile data addresses devices, and it has a straightforward fix.

Mobile data does not accept incoming connections

On a broadband line at home, your router usually has a public internet address, so with the right settings something outside can connect in. Mobile data works differently. Every ThingSIM SIM gets a private IP address, and private addresses are not reachable from the internet. Your camera can connect out to anything, which is why uploads to a cloud service work, but nothing outside can start a connection to it.

That is a sensible default. A device nobody can reach from the internet cannot be attacked from the internet. It just means remote viewing needs a deliberate route in.

The three ways in

Approach	How it works	Suits
Cloud or app relay	The camera connects out to its manufacturer's service; your app connects to the same service	Cameras that support it; no extra cost
Static public IP	The SIM gets a fixed public address you connect to directly	Routers and cameras you connect to yourself
Private network	IPSec VPN or cloud interconnect joins the devices to your own network	Businesses managing several devices

Cloud relay first. Many cameras already include a manufacturer app that works through the camera's own outbound connection. If yours does, remote viewing works on a private address with nothing else to buy. Check the camera's app before paying for anything.

A static public IP gives the SIM a fixed public address, £8 a month per SIM, added from the portal. It is directly reachable from the internet, so you can connect to the camera or router by that address. Because anything on the internet can then reach it, secure the device properly first; see securing a device on a public IP.

A private network suits businesses. An IPSec VPN runs a tunnel from our core to your firewall, so your systems reach each device by its private address. A cloud interconnect does the same into AWS, Azure or Google Cloud. These are set up with you per project.

The guide to choosing between a static IP, private APN and VPN compares them in more detail.

Don't forget the data

Live viewing over 4G uses real data: roughly 15 MB a minute for a 1080p stream at about 2 Mbps. A few minutes a day is fine on a 5 GB plan at £8.85 a month; leaving a viewer open all day is not. See how much data a 4G CCTV camera uses and the CCTV page.

Common questions

Why can my camera upload but not be viewed remotely?

Because it is on a private address. It can connect out to a cloud service, but nothing outside can start a connection in until you add a route in, such as a static public IP or a VPN.

How much does a static public IP cost?

£8 a month per SIM, added from the portal. It is reachable from anywhere on the internet, so secure the device first.

Do I need a static IP if my camera has a manufacturer app?

Often not. Many apps relay through the camera's outbound connection and work on a private address. Check the app first.