In order for you to view the CCTV from your phone or other devices (laptop, desktop PC/Mac or tablet) the recorder box needs to be connected to a network.

In a home or small business environment your WiFi router handles local network data and provides a gateway to the internet for all your devices including your CCTV system.

DVRs / NVRs connect to your wifi router over CAT5e ethernet cable. This is usually with one single cable from recorder box, direct to the router.

Sometimes, to save running a very long ethernet cable from recorder box to router, ‘powerline network plugs’
are used. These utilise your building’s power lines from one wall socket to another, effectively turning the ring main’s earth wire into a data network.

These network plugs need to be ‘paired’ to maintain connectivity. Once paired they should remain paired as long as there is power, however sometimes re-pairing them is necessary. Click here to read how to pair powerline network plugs.