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Connecting your TetherBox to the Internet
TetherX is designed for remote access - view live video, play back recordings, and manage your system from laptops, tablets, and mobile phones anywhere in the world. A reliable Internet connection is essential for this experience.
During brief Internet outages, your TetherBox continues recording locally, monitoring device health, and running local automations - ANPR gate opening, alarm disarming on entry, and other configured rules will keep working. However, prolonged offline operation is not recommended - you'll lose remote access, cloud backup, notifications, and health monitoring.
Your TetherBox does not require port forwarding or a custom setup and will work in most environments out of the box. It will automatically connect to the cloud if plugged into:
- Typical business and home routers (e.g. BT/Virgin/Sky router/hub)
- Network with DHCP / Shared Internet (e.g. most office/hotel/etc networks)
- 4G/LTE ethernet routers & most 4G/LTE USB dongles
- WiFi 4G/LTE modems (connected via USB or WiFi)
Tip: All configuration changes are logged and backed up to the cloud. You'll receive notifications of any suspicious access or changes to your system.
What is the TetherBox MAC Address?
The MAC address is printed on the bottom of the unit. It is also available by logging into the TetherX Platform:
- Go to Admin → TetherBoxes
- Select your TetherBox
- The MAC address is shown in the Details tab
How Do I Check the TetherBox IP?
Your TetherBox will pick up an IP address from your router using DHCP. It also has a secondary static IP address: 192.168.88.100.
There are several ways to check the TetherBox IP:
Option 1: Use the App or Website (Recommended)
- Sign in to the TetherX Platform
- Go to Admin → TetherBoxes
- Select your TetherBox
This shows key information including:
- IP addresses & MAC address
- Connect & reboot history
- Health stats
Option 2: Check Your Router
Login to your router's admin interface and look for the DHCP leases table. It will show what IP address the router assigned to your TetherBox.
Option 3: Scan the Network
You can scan the network with your IP/network scanning tool of choice.
Can I Connect My TetherBox to WiFi?
Many TetherBox units have WiFi built in. If you provide us with the SSID and WiFi password, we can set this up for you ahead of time. Contact us with these details.
Warning: You can connect your TetherBox to the Internet wirelessly, but we do not recommend using the wireless connection to record Cameras. If you have to record wirelessly, ensure your WiFi can sustain the load. In our experience, any more than 2-5 cameras often fails to work reliably.
Can I Use a Static IP Address?
Yes. If you need a consistent IP address, we recommend configuring a DHCP reservation on your DHCP server using the TetherBox's MAC address. This ensures that if circumstances change - for example switching from a local network to a cellular connection - the TetherBox will still connect automatically using DHCP.
If that is not an option, we can configure your TetherBox remotely to use a static network configuration (provided it is currently online). Contact us to arrange this.
What Ports Does My TetherBox Use?
The following ports are used for outgoing connections only:
| Port | Protocol | Required | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 443 | TCP | Yes | VPN and HTTPS traffic |
| 1194-1197 | UDP | Recommended | More bandwidth efficient |
| 53 | UDP/TCP | Yes | DNS |
Warning: Port 443 is used for both VPN and HTTPS traffic. Some corporate firewalls may block or inspect VPN traffic on this port, even though regular HTTPS is allowed. If you're having connection issues in an enterprise environment, check with your network administrator that VPN traffic is permitted on port 443.
Tip: The UDP ports are optional but provide significantly better bandwidth efficiency. If you are in a restricted network environment and struggling to connect, consider connecting the TetherBox to a local WiFi network or using a cellular router/dongle as an alternative.
Where Does My TetherBox Connect?
The TetherBox connects to TetherX cloud servers hosted on Akamai, with cloud backup stored on Wasabi. You can find the IP ranges here:
- Wasabi: AS395717 Prefixes
- Akamai: AS63949 Prefixes
Tip: If your security requirements prevent the TetherBox from making outgoing connections, we offer a self-hosted solution. There is a minimum requirement of 1,500 cameras to be eligible. Contact us for more information.
Related Articles
- TetherBox Troubleshooting - Diagnose connection and health issues
- Local Streaming - Access video directly from your TetherBox on the local network
- TetherBox - Overview of TetherBox features and capabilities
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