Static IP versus Dynamic IP
From EZWatch Wiki
Whenever your computer is connected to the internet, it has its own unique address called an IP Address. This address is where data is sent to and from when you view websites, download e-mails, or perform other tasks online. You can find out what your IP address is by going to a website such as WhatIsMyIP.com or IP Chicken.
IP Addresses can be thought of as your computer's internet phone number. If you wish to access your computer from a remote location, you must enter the address to do so. Unlike a phone number, an IP address can potentially change. An IP address that never changes is called a Static IP Address while an IP address that can change is called a Dynamic IP Address. If you are not sure which you have, your ISP can tell you.
When you wish to view cameras remotely over the internet, you must know what your current IP address is. If that address changes, you will not be able to view the cameras until you find out the new address. Some internet providers use dynamic addresses that change very infrequently (Once a month or less), others use addresses that can change once or more per day. This can make remote access extremely hard to use and leaves you guessing as to whether or not your system will work every time you wish to view the cameras.
Static IP Addresses are not always available from your ISP; even when they are available, they almost always have an additional monthly charge associated. Assuming that your ISP does offer a static address, the monthly charges can very rapidly rise into the level of hundreds and hundreds of dollars for a couple years of service.
EZ Watch Pro offers a way to eliminate most if not all of the issues caused by a Dynamic IP address, using a service called EZ Watch IP. The way this service works is that once every 30 minutes, your PC will send a signal to EZ Watch Pro telling us what your current IP address is. We then make a special domain which you can access which is always kept up-to-date with your latest address. The domain is something you can select, such as 'MyCameraPage.ezwatchip.com'.
The EZ Watch IP service costs a one-time charge of $99.00, which is often a fraction of the cost of a Static IP address. If you wish to use the EZ Watch IP service, simply go to the 'Sign Up' page and subscribe.
