Access my AC3 from work?

[Gold Stripe]

I know my IP 192.168.001.048 (Password protected) and I can access from my home computer as both are connected to my router but not sure how to access it from work.

Tried just typing in IP but im sure there are thousands of devices out there using that IP so how do I get mine? Not exactley a computer wiz.

 

[daboxbandit]

You have to setup a public domain name that's tied to your WAN IP provided by your ISP. You can use dyndns.org to setup 5 free domain names. Then you have to setup port forwarding in your router which should point to your apex unit IP address. Be sure that you use the same port number on your apex unit and router.. Try to avoid using port 80 as you can use any port number you wish. Just keep in mind that you don't use port 80, then you will have to use append a ":" followed by the port number you used in the URL. I know it sounds confusing, but it's easy to do. Sorry, I should provide you an example about URL with the colon:

http://yourdomainname.dyndns.com:1227/

The only thing you need to customize using the example above is "yourdomainname" and "1227". If you're still confused, shoot me a PM and I'll try to help more.. And, yes, the guide is extremely user-friendly and very helpful

 

[HeneryH]

You're correct in your gut that the 192.168.x.x address is not correct.

The broadband device in your home (cable company router etc) is assigned a single unique public facing IP address. Problem is that that address is 1) usually unknown and 2) the address of the router and not your apex.

Solve #1 by looking into a dynamic DNS service such as DynDNS. This will let you register a friendly domain name for your use and will update that address whenever your ISP changes your public facing IP address.

Solve #2 by doing a "port forward" on your router.

Both are discussed in the unofficial users guide stickied at the top of the forum.

 

[Gold Stripe]

Thanks guys. Looks like I have a project when I get home tonight. Its an AC3, not an Apex but I assume it works the same. Thanks, again for the quick response!

 

[RussM]

Be sure that you use the same port number on your apex unit and router.

I have to disagree with this. IMO, it is best to leave the AC3 or Apex HTTP port set at 80, and only use a custom public port forwarded to the proper IP address on port 80. The only time the actual device port needs to be changed is when the router doesn't support PAT (Port Address Translation) - the Linksys WRT54G series being the prime example of this deficiency.

 

[Orcrone]

I'm running into the same problem. I set up my DNS and downloaded the client software from DynDNS.com. Left the port address at 80. I have a Linksys WRT54G router. Set the port forwarding on the router to the APEX's address (192.168.1.50), along with a port range of 80 to 80.

When I type http:\\mytankname.dyndns.org:80 into my browser at home it works fine but when I do it from another network it doesn't work.

 

[Orcrone]

I have to disagree with this. IMO, it is best to leave the AC3 or Apex HTTP port set at 80, and only use a custom public port forwarded to the proper IP address on port 80. The only time the actual device port needs to be changed is when the router doesn't support PAT (Port Address Translation) - the Linksys WRT54G series being the prime example of this deficiency.

Just read your post in detail & noticed I'm using the same deficient router you mention. Is this a case where I should use a different port?

 

[HeneryH]

Just read your post in detail & noticed I'm using the same deficient router you mention. Is this a case where I should use a different port?

If your router can't do port translation (incoming on port 1080 gets translated to the Apex on port 80) then you would need to change the Apex port listening port to 1080 then set your router to (incoming on port 1080 gets translated to Apex on port 1080).

The PITA about this is now that whenever you access it within your home you would need to use the port override in the URL such as http://apex:1080

 

[Orcrone]

If your router can't do port translation (incoming on port 1080 gets translated to the Apex on port 80) then you would need to change the Apex port listening port to 1080 then set your router to (incoming on port 1080 gets translated to Apex on port 1080).

The PITA about this is now that whenever you access it within your home you would need to use the port override in the URL such as http://apex:1080

Thanks Henry. I'll give it a shot tonight. Not much of a PITA. I'll just make it a favorite.

 

[RussM]

When I type http:\\mytankname.dyndns.org:80 into my browser at home it works fine but when I do it from another network it doesn't work.

The problem may be that your ISP blocks port 80 (not uncommon). Try changing from 80 to a custom port. I recommend a easily-remembered 4-digit number between 1026 and 9999. Since you have a WRT54-series, you will have to change both the public port and the AC3 http port as HeneryH stated.

 

[Orcrone]

The problem may be that your ISP blocks port 80 (not uncommon). Try changing from 80 to a custom port. I recommend a easily-remembered 4-digit number between 1026 and 9999. Since you have a WRT54-series, you will have to change both the public port and the AC3 http port as HeneryH stated.

It's actually an Apex, but I assume I just change the port number in the Apex's network setup page.

Do I need to reboot or just save it?

The WRT54 gives a range of ports. Do I just use a range of 1 (e.g. 1026 through 1026)?

 

[RussM]

It's actually an Apex, but I assume I just change the port number in the Apex's network setup page.

Yes; the same concept applies to Apex

Do I need to reboot or just save it?

Update Network Settings should do the trick, but I like to reboot anyway.

The WRT54 gives a range of ports. Do I just use a range of 1 (e.g. 1026 through 1026)?

Exactly!

 

[Orcrone]

Still not working

Still not working

I have the port on the Apex Controller set to 1080.

On the Linksys WRT54G router there is an "Applcations & Gaming" menu. The first tab is "Port Range Forward". The first column (Application) is set to Apex. The next two columns (Start and End) are both set to 1080. For protocol I've tried "Both" & "TCP". I put in the last 2 digits of the IP address in the next column and checked the enable box.

The next tab is port triggering. Does anything need to be done with that?

I have noticed that although I've refreshed the IP address coming in using Dyndns software it hasn't changed, but we keep the computer on all the time. Also I assume it wouldn't make a difference if I access the Apex using my cell phone's web browser.

 

[Orcrone]

Getting Close

Getting Close

Turns out my dynamic IP address at home is not that dynamic. I can now enter my IP address away from home and get to my controller. However, when I enter my host URL address I setup with DynDNS it still doesn't work. Obviously I set up something incorrectly with DynDNS but no idea what.

Any suggestions?

 

[HeneryH]

May have missed this but... did you use the PC client app to update your IP address or configure your router to update your IP address.

Either way is fine but the distinction would help debug the problem.

 

[Orcrone]

May have missed this but... did you use the PC client app to update your IP address or configure your router to update your IP address.

Either way is fine but the distinction would help debug the problem.

I might be a little confused here. My understanding is that the client app just verifies the IP address of the computer so that DynDNS knows what IP address to associate with my URL.

With that in mind the PC client app is configured to update my IP address. However, ever since I installed the client app two days ago the IP address has not changed. I even turned off both computers last night thinking that might cause the IP address to be renewed, but it was still the same this morning. I verified this when I entered the IP address into my web browser at work and was able to bring up my Apex.

My router is set for dynamic IP addresses if that's what you mean.

With that said I don't think it's my router settings. After all I can get to my Apex by entering the IP address. It appears to me that for some reason DynDNS is not associating my IP address with the domain name.

Thanks

 

[aquamanic]

ever since I installed the client app two days ago the IP address has not changed.

My lease doesn't refresh but every 4 - 5 days so I wouldn't worry about 2 days. Depending on your ISP (I have Cox) it could be longer.

 

[Orcrone]

My lease doesn't refresh but every 4 - 5 days so I wouldn't worry about 2 days. Depending on your ISP (I have Cox) it could be longer.

I also have Cox. Still need to figure out why I can't use my DynDNS domain name.