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Am I being cheated or is it a fair price??

I am in a city of about 45,000 people. There are 4 isp companies. I pay $70.00 per month for 12/6. It has been ultra reliable for one year. There is no limit on the amount of data I can use. At present I have just installed a video surveillance cam system. It works great. However, in order for me to be able to view the system on my Android OR from any remote internet capable sight I MUST have the ability to pass two port numbers that at present my isp does not implement or use. They had an instant flat answer of "you need a VLAN" installed at a monthly charge from $70. I pay now up to $120. To me, that sounds sky high for only needing TWO PORTS to pass through. Am I being unreasonable and is there a good reason for a VLAN? Another friend told me I simply need a Static IP address at something substantially lower than the additional $50. per month. I do NOT mind paying whatever something costs IF it is a fair price, but I hate being ripped off. Please give me backup information that I could present to the ISP owner that would either reassure me that the extra $50. per month is fair OR the reasons that I could present to him to support the fact that he might ACCIDENTALLY be charging me excessively. I am 100% open to either scenario....just need the facts. Note: The ISP I am with is hooked up via a wireless link to one their sites 1/2 mile from me.

SOLUTION

Bryant Schaper

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Steven Carnahan

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SOLUTION

Bryant Schaper

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Need -a- Clue

ASKER

Hi Experts! Thanks for the quick feedback. I hope you can follow my meaning because I don't know much about this. I DO know what has been tried. There are two ports that must be capable of being forwarded from my router to the video system. The router is a Linksys WRT1900AC. I have been to single port forwarding many times trying suggestions from several experts. So far, nothing has worked. I get "port not reachable" or similar. I am able to view all the cams on my local wifi or Ethernet and even my Android when it has wifi turned on. However a very important facet of this whole "Mini Project" is to have the capability of viewing remotely. I am at a disadvantage in this city because if the ISP doesn't care for your request or your company, you are just booted. So far, I have skirted the issue of the high cost but have told them that I do need to have the give me this capability. I know that I do not have a static IP. They wanted to sell me that last YEAR when I began this saga. The cost was $15.00 more a month. If that would accomplish my goal then I would go for it in a flash.

One Expert recommended a site called "www.noip.com" as I remember. Others advised me to beware of that site and similar sites due to privacy issues. They were not specific. I will add that NOTHING being videoed would be of ANY interest to anyone at all. Only for security and safety reasons.

What is your opinion of the noip site? It is free or nearly free. Would that work for me? And, if privacy of my video transmissions is of no concern to me, should I still be concerned with "other" harm that might befall my computer. ( Sort of sounds like a shrink would be of assistance here as well as a Computer Expert. :) )

I am fully willing to answer any other questions that might lead to a solution.

Your advice is VERY much appreciated!

SOLUTION

Lee W, MVP

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Natty Greg

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Need -a- Clue

ASKER

I just purchased dyndns. I have not got the slightest clue on how to use what I purchased. Their site takes you round and round and answers very little. I guess I will have to wait until they phone me, if ever. Fingers crossed. Need sleep. Thanks all

SOLUTION

Don Johnston

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Jan Bacher

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giltjr

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David Johnson, CD

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Need -a- Clue

ASKER

I just tried www.noip.com. They are telling me that the difficulty I am experiencing is in my switch or router. First is the Linksys WRT1900AC, that does have port forwarding. Then it goes to a Ubiquity switch. Then to a "commercial" switch. I just found out that the Ubiquiti switch does NOT support port forwarding. So, I am trying to utilize the new commercial switch that may or may not support forwarding.

The following is an excerpt from an email that my isp sent to me:

Our static IP addresses as of right now are extremely limited. We are not offering any new ones to our residential customers until we can acquire more from our supplier.
Your option is a VLAN
Programming set up - $125 (one time fee) Set up for a Static IP is the same.
Monthly charge - $25 (residential)

I am to have a conversation tomorrow with a tech at noip.com and he will try to find a workaround for this dilemma.

If any Expert out there has a MAGIC WAND I can borrow for a couple hours I'd love to have it. Contact me at 123 DreamOn Lane. :)

By the way, you guys and gals are the BEST!!! I sincerely appreciate the time and personal interest you have in finding solutions for me. THANKS!!

Don Johnston

I don't think I ever saw the answer as to what type of IP address you're getting from you ISP. If it's private, port forwarding, dyndns and everything else isn't going to make any difference.

SOLUTION

giltjr

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David Johnson, CD

from a browser go to whatismyip.com and give us the first 3 i.e. 192.x.x.x it should not be in the range of 10.0.0.0 to 10.255.255.255. From 172.16.0.0 to 172.31.255.255. From 192.168.0.0 to 192.168.255.255. These are private non-routable addresses. You are a residential customer and as such your isp is limiting the ports you have available. At your router you should be able to set up a vpn (most routers have this capability.

Need -a- Clue

ASKER

Let me answer each Expert's questions/comments:
DONJOHNSTON: I literally am fearful that if I ask too many questions (in the mind of the isp) that they will simply cancel me. At last check there are now only 2 reliable isp companies in town. I cancelled the first one after MANY promises made by them were not kept. So, I must tread gently. I did not ask them that question. I believe that maybe the information below will answer your question. I can view all my cameras locally by typing 192.168.1.xxx into the address bar.

GILTJR: I definitely do NOT have a static ip nor a vlan at this time. The cost the isp proposes to charge me seems like a ripoff. It may not be. I have not decided yet. However, it would be nice to do this without paying the isp for a vlan that all experts indicate is NOT necessary for my requirements.

DAVIDJOHNSON: It shows that my ip is 50.30.26.xx

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Jan Bacher

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Don Johnston

You don't have to ask anyone what your IP address is. And it would appear that you know what your address is.

You have a public IP address. This means that if you can't receive incoming traffic originating from the outside, your ISP is intentionally preventing it.

I've never seen this type of... service before from a provider. If this is truly the case, then (IMHO) your provider is just trying to increase your bill. So in answer to your original question: Yes, your provider is trying to rip you off.

Need -a- Clue

ASKER

Jan, Jan, Jan..... Knowledge wise on this subject you are obviously a 100. I am a 5-10. I am sure I could eventually become far more knowledgeable about this, but I seldom need this level of assistance. That said, I have no way to follow what you are suggesting to me. I never heard of an ssh tunnel or a socks proxy. (See what I mean? )

Just curious, is there a feature and/or ability for an Expert to accept money/Paypal for personalized phone consultation? I don't mind paying for expertise as long as it leads to a good solution. If there is such a possibility can you direct me to what the rules are for this service?

Don Johnston

If you click on the expert and go to their profile, you would see an "available for hire" link.

Steven Carnahan

Quick question: Is the Linksys WRT1900AC directly connected to the line or is there another device (ISP supplied modem/router) in front of it?

Need -a- Clue

ASKER

To ALL experts participating in this question. The member asking this question is in the hospital and has been for several days. I was asked to post this information so that the experts would not think they were being avoided. Thanks for your understanding.

Jan Bacher

Oh geez. Sorry to hear that. Best wishes.