CCTV Remote Viewing Setup in Leicester
A CCTV system you cannot check from your phone is a system you will stop using. We configure remote access properly - secure P2P connections, phone apps, push notifications, multi-user accounts, and remote playback. Whether it is a new installation or an existing system you have never been able to access remotely, we get it working and show you how to use it.
By the Doberman install team · CCTV system designers & installers, Leicester · Last reviewed February 2026
By the Doberman install team
CCTV system designers & installers, Leicester
Last reviewed February 2026
What you get
Phone app configuration
Hik-Connect, DMSS, or the appropriate manufacturer app installed and configured on your phone. Live viewing, playback, and push notifications - all tested before we leave.
Secure remote access
P2P cloud access configured with strong passwords, two-factor authentication where supported, and no unnecessary port forwarding that exposes your recorder to the internet.
Multi-user setup
Separate accounts for family members, business partners, or staff. Each user gets their own login with appropriate access permissions.
Push notification tuning
Motion detection zones and sensitivity configured so you get alerts that matter - not 200 notifications a day from passing traffic or blowing trees.
How it works
Assess the system
We check your recorder model, firmware version, and network setup. If the system needs a firmware update or network configuration change before remote access will work, we handle that first.
Configure access
P2P cloud access is set up on the recorder, user accounts are created, and the phone app is installed and linked. We configure live view, playback, and push notifications.
Test and hand over
We test remote access from outside your Wi-Fi network to confirm it works over mobile data. You get a walkthrough of the app so you know how to view live footage, play back recordings, and manage alerts.
Why most people cannot access their CCTV remotely
We get calls every week from people in Leicester who have a CCTV system that records fine but they have never been able to view it from their phone. The reasons are always the same: the original installer did not set up remote access, the app was configured once but stopped working after a router change, or the system was bought off Amazon and nobody configured it properly in the first place. On older systems, remote access was set up via port forwarding on the router - which breaks every time the ISP changes your IP address and opens a direct path into your network. Modern systems use P2P cloud access which avoids both problems, but it still needs to be configured correctly on the recorder and linked to the app.
The other common issue is firmware. Hikvision and Dahua both require relatively recent firmware versions for their cloud platforms to work reliably. We regularly find recorders running firmware from 2018 or 2019 that cannot connect to Hik-Connect or DMSS until they are updated. Firmware updates on NVRs are not something most people are comfortable doing themselves - get it wrong and you can brick the recorder. We handle the update, verify recording continues normally afterwards, and then configure remote access. If your current system is too old for reliable remote access, it may be a sign the whole system needs attention - our CCTV installation overview covers the full range of services we offer.
P2P vs port forwarding - and why it matters
Port forwarding was the standard way to set up CCTV remote access for years. You open specific ports on your router, point them at the recorder, and connect via the public IP address. The problems with this approach are well documented: your recorder is directly accessible from the internet, default passwords on older systems mean anyone can find and access your cameras via search engines like Shodan, and the connection breaks every time your ISP rotates your IP address. We have attended properties in Leicester where the homeowner had no idea their cameras were publicly accessible online because port forwarding was set up with the factory default password.
P2P cloud access is the modern alternative and what we configure on all new installations. The recorder connects outbound to the manufacturer's cloud relay - Hik-Connect for Hikvision, DMSS/P2P for Dahua - and your phone app connects to the same relay. No ports need to be opened on your router, the connection survives IP address changes, and the recorder is not directly exposed to the internet. We still change default passwords, enable encryption where supported, and set up two-factor authentication. Security is not optional. Our camera and lens specifications covers what to look for in recorder network capabilities if you are comparing systems.
Setting up multiple users and permissions
For residential systems, you typically want two or three people to have app access - both partners and maybe an adult child. Each person gets their own Hik-Connect or DMSS account linked to the system with their own login credentials. This means if one person's phone is lost or compromised, you can revoke that single account without affecting anyone else. We set up each account, install the app on each phone, and test that every user can view live footage and play back recordings independently.
For business systems, user permissions become more important. You might want the business owner to have full access including playback and system settings, a manager to have live view and playback but no settings access, and a keyholder to receive push alerts only. Hikvision and Dahua both support tiered permission levels - we configure these during setup so each user sees only what they need. If your business has multiple sites across Leicester, we can link multiple recorders to a single app so you can switch between locations without logging in and out. The pre-installation site assessment for commercial systems covers network requirements for reliable multi-site remote access.
Push notifications that actually work
Push notifications are the feature that makes remote CCTV genuinely useful rather than something you open once a month. When motion is detected in a defined zone, you get an alert on your phone with a snapshot - you can see immediately whether it is a delivery driver, a neighbour's cat, or someone trying your side gate. But out of the box, motion detection on most cameras is set to maximum sensitivity across the entire frame. That means alerts for every passing car, every pigeon, every tree branch moving in the wind. Within a day, most people turn notifications off entirely because they are useless.
We configure motion detection zones to cover only the areas that matter - your driveway, your front door approach, your rear garden entry point - and exclude areas that generate false alerts like public footpaths or roads. Sensitivity is adjusted based on the camera position and typical scene activity. On Hikvision systems, we use line-crossing and intrusion detection rather than basic motion detection where the camera supports it, which dramatically reduces false alerts. The result is a system that sends you five to ten meaningful alerts a day instead of 200 worthless ones. This tuning is part of the wider system commissioning on every system we install.
Fixing remote access on existing systems
You do not need a new system to get remote viewing working. If you have a Hikvision, Dahua, or other mainstream IP CCTV recorder that is currently recording but not accessible from your phone, we can usually get it working in a single visit. We check the recorder model, update firmware if needed, configure P2P cloud access, install the app on your phone, and walk you through how to use it. If the recorder is too old to support modern cloud access, we will tell you honestly rather than wasting your time.
This is one of our most common callouts in Leicester. People have systems installed by a previous homeowner, a builder who subcontracted the CCTV to someone who is no longer around, or a company that has since closed down. The system records to a hard drive but nobody has ever been able to view it remotely. In most cases, the hardware is fine - it just needs proper configuration. If the system turns out to have other issues beyond remote access, our CCTV services in Leicester covers everything from cabling to commissioning. We can usually assess the full system condition during the same visit.
Pricing
Remote viewing setup is included as standard on all new CCTV installations. For existing systems that need remote access configured, we charge a fixed callout fee. We provide the price before booking - no hourly rates.
Why Doberman
Secure by default
P2P cloud access with strong passwords and two-factor authentication. No unnecessary port forwarding that exposes your system to the internet.
Notification tuning included
Motion zones and sensitivity configured properly so you get useful alerts instead of hundreds of false notifications every day.
Multi-device setup
We install and configure the app on every phone that needs access. Each user gets their own account with appropriate permissions.
Works with existing systems
You do not need a new installation. If your current recorder supports cloud access, we can usually get remote viewing working in a single visit.
About Doberman
Doberman is a Leicester-based CCTV installer specialising in hardwired PoE camera systems for homes and businesses. Every installation is carried out by our own team - we do not subcontract any part of the work.
We focus on one thing: wired CCTV that works reliably. No alarm bundles, no smart home add-ons, no maintenance contracts you did not ask for. Clean installations, properly commissioned after dark, and handed over so you know exactly how to use the system.
If you want to understand how we work before getting in touch, our remote access guides cover everything from camera placement to system specs to what drives the cost of a CCTV installation in Leicester.
Areas we cover
We cover Leicester city and towns across Leicestershire, including Clarendon Park, Stoneygate, Oadby, Wigston, Braunstone, Hamilton, Thorpe Astley, Glenfield, Groby, Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough, and everywhere in between. If you are not sure whether we cover your area, just ask.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you set up remote viewing on a system you did not install?
- Yes. As long as the recorder is a mainstream brand - Hikvision, Dahua, Uniview, or similar - we can usually configure remote access in a single visit. We check the model and firmware before booking to confirm it is feasible.
- Which app will I need?
- It depends on your recorder brand. Hikvision systems use Hik-Connect, Dahua systems use DMSS, and other brands have their own apps. We install the correct app on your phone and configure it during the visit - you do not need to work it out yourself.
- Will remote viewing slow down my home internet?
- No. P2P cloud access uses minimal bandwidth - a single live stream typically uses 1-2 Mbps, which is negligible on any modern broadband connection. You will not notice any impact on your regular internet usage.
- Can I view my cameras when I am abroad?
- Yes. P2P cloud access works anywhere you have an internet connection. Live viewing, playback, and push notifications all function identically whether you are in Leicester or on the other side of the world.
- What if my system is too old for remote viewing?
- Some older recorders - particularly analogue DVRs from before 2016 - do not support modern cloud access reliably. If that is the case, we will tell you upfront and discuss options. In many cases, a recorder swap is all that is needed without replacing the cameras themselves.
- Is remote access secure?
- When configured properly, yes. We use P2P cloud connections rather than port forwarding, set strong unique passwords, and enable two-factor authentication where the system supports it. Default passwords are always changed.