RECAM Technical Prerequisites and Setup: Network, iOS, Android & Router Setup

1) Network Requirements

Camera works on Wi-Fi or mobile data. The phone acting as the camera just needs an internet connection — home Wi-Fi, office Wi-Fi, or mobile data (4G/5G). Wi-Fi is still recommended for stability and battery life, but it’s no longer required. Any iPhone 8 and later — here’s why works as the camera device, and so does any Android phone or tablet on Android 7.0 or later.

• On Wi-Fi, use a stable 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz SSID with good signal where the camera sits.
• Avoid guest networks that isolate clients, enterprise WPA2-Enterprise portals, or hotspots with aggressive captive portals.
• The viewer device can be on Wi-Fi or mobile data too — RECAM connects them either way.

2) Internet & Reachability

It just works on any connection. RECAM keeps no cloud video storage and runs its AI on-device. To watch remotely, both RECAM devices simply need internet — and RECAM finds the best path between them automatically. Your video is end-to-end encrypted. When your network can’t make a direct connection, a blind relay forwards the encrypted stream — it can never read, store, or watch it.

RECAM tries three paths, in order:

• Same network: camera and viewer on the same Wi-Fi connect directly over your LAN.
• Direct peer-to-peer: across the internet, RECAM connects your two devices directly whenever the network allows it.
• Blind relay (fallback): on mobile data, behind CGNAT, or behind a router without UPnP, the encrypted blind relay forwards your stream so remote viewing still works.

Optional optimisations (nice-to-have, never required):

• Public IP: a public IPv4 (or properly routed IPv6) helps RECAM establish a fully-direct path. Behind CGNAT? No problem — the blind relay handles it.
• UPnP/IGD or manual port forwarding: enabling UPnP, or forwarding the ports RECAM shows in-app, lets RECAM favour a direct connection. Skip it and the relay takes over automatically.
• Double NAT note: if you have a modem plus a separate router and want the direct path, ensure only one does NAT or set the modem to bridge mode.

Summary: remote viewing now works on Wi-Fi or mobile data, on any router — no public IP, no UPnP, no port forwarding required. A direct path is faster when your network allows it; otherwise the encrypted blind relay forwards your stream.

3) iOS, macOS, Android & Device Compatibility

Each device must meet the minimum for its own platform: iOS 16.3 / iPadOS 16 or later, macOS 13 or later, or Android 7.0 or later. Please check the system version on each device and update if needed. You can mix platforms freely — an Android camera with an iPhone viewer, or the other way round.

• Check your version (iPhone/iPad): Settings → General → About. Look for iOS or iPadOS version.
• Update if needed (iPhone/iPad): Settings → General → Software Update.
• Check your version (Mac): Apple menu → About This Mac. RECAM needs macOS 13 Ventura or later, on Apple silicon or Intel. To use Continuity Camera (your iPhone as the Mac’s camera), RECAM needs macOS 14 or later, even though macOS 13 has the feature.
• Update if needed (Mac): System Settings → General → Software Update.
• Check your version (Android): Settings → About phone → Android version. RECAM needs Android 7.0 or later, on a phone or a tablet.
• See compatible models: Apple’s list of supported devices for iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 is available here.

A Mac as the camera

• Keep a laptop’s lid open. Closing it puts the Mac to sleep, and a sleeping Mac films nothing.
• Keep it plugged in. RECAM keeps the Mac awake while it streams; the display can sleep.
• It runs from the menu bar. Close the window and it keeps watching; the RECAM icon in the menu bar shows it and stops it.
• Turn on Open RECAM at login. A Mac kept for the job comes back as a camera after it restarts and logs in.
• Image quality follows the camera. Built-in camera, USB webcam or iPhone via Continuity Camera: up to 1080p at 30 fps, if the webcam can.
• No built-in camera? A Mac mini, Mac Studio or Mac Pro needs a USB webcam, or an iPhone through Continuity Camera (macOS 14+).
• One role at a time. A Mac watches or is watched; Switch Role… changes it.

The Mac as the camera, in detail: RECAM for Mac.

Quick Checklist

• 📱 Each device meets its platform minimum — iOS 16.3+ / iPadOS 16+ or Android 7.0+ (update if needed).
• 💻 A Mac is on macOS 13+ (Continuity Camera: macOS 14+). As the camera: plugged in, lid open.
• 📶 Each device has internet — Wi-Fi or mobile data. Wi-Fi recommended for the camera (stability and battery).
• 🌐 Optional: a public IP (not CGNAT) helps RECAM use a fully-direct path. Not required — the blind relay covers CGNAT.
• 🛠️ Optional: enable UPnP/IGD or manually forward ports to favour a direct connection. Not required.
• 🔒 Optional: if you want the direct path, confirm your modem/router isn’t causing double NAT.

Good news: even if your ISP uses CGNAT or your router won’t forward ports, remote viewing still works — the encrypted blind relay forwards your stream automatically.

FAQ