Hi Customer - I think that I found our disconnect. I am not trying to speak for the average user. I am a just a member of the smaller group of users who do know how and do want to do it. Sometimes because we think it’s fun, sometimes because we might have concerns over privacy, or security, or reliability.
Or perhaps longevity - I have a box full of X10 cameras for sale, all fully functional, at least they were when the X10 servers shut down and they became paper-weights. Turns out that requiring your customers to login to your non-existent servers to use their hardware/software doesn’t work all that well, at least not for the customer.
…which most of the people I know already have.
I’m not sure what you mean.
If you mean the ability to self-host would rely on an app from the app-store, I would say it’s possible that there may be a related phone-app that provides access to your feeds directly on your phone, but that would certainly not be a requirement for self-hosting.
On the other hand, if you mean the self-hosting software itself will probably require some sort of remote hosted-app or service, I say no way. IMO, “self-hosting” means not relying on any external servers or services. It should run exactly the same way with or without the internet present.
Remember we are talking about the smaller group of users ‘that do’, so port-forwarding probably isn’t going to ruffle anyone’s feathers. (And if the “gamers” you hang with are sketchy about digging into their router, they are certainly not the “ardent gamers” of which glorified stories are told to children at bedtime all across the inter-webs. They just like playing video games).
True enough. (Though I don’t think that’s what ‘webcam’ means).
Only if you had no basic understanding of networks, or how your cameras communicated, in which case you are absolutely correct, and you probably shouldn’t be messing with that kind of thing.
“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” - Arthur C. Clarke.
I think you and I have had very different experiences setting up networks in general and self-hosting services in particular. What issues are you referring to? Configuring and securing your router and network? If you aren’t doing that already, please send me your IP. Setting up some software, maybe playing with some firmware settings? None of this is scary, and I assure you there is no magic involved. (Well maybe a little).
Lastly, I’m not trying to be a pr*ck and pick apart everyone’s posts. I am sorry if I’ve ruffled anyone’s feathers, that was not my intention. My only intention is to point out that “self-hosting” is both possible and necessary, and I congratulate Wyze for allowing the use of the alternate firmware to fulfil that need. (I’m giving them the benefit of the doubt and assuming they had a choice in the matter). I’m just asking for them to go a little bit further and supply the matching software so we don’t need 3rd party apps. I would be ever so grateful for a single-vendor solution.
