Explain this OCUK

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Apr 2026 at 18:52

Here in Stoke 1000s of us have lost our internet today with Lila, no problem because it's the first time in three years.
However all my 4 CCTV cameras work on WiFi, none of them are cabled or use SIMS.
Two of my cameras are working, how the hell can that happen, I can't work it out.

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Apr 2026 at 19:02

Armageus said:
They are connected to someone else's WiFi that uses a different isp or 5g mobile etc

You need passwords and WiFi is not working on our phones.

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Apr 2026 at 19:08

john_smith said:
Wifi is internal. Internet is internet. Your internet can be off and as long as your wifi is working the cameras will still be comnnected?

So it can work with the cameras but not our phones etc?
WiFi does say Connected No Internet.
That does make a bit of sense because I have two digital mixers that connect to my phone with there own WiFi.
However two cameras aren't working so no idea what's happening there.

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Apr 2026 at 19:14

john_smith said:
So you were local to the working cameras when connecting to them on the same wifi?

I'm sitting in my house with 4 outside WiFi cameras.
It now does make sense they can work if i think about both of my digital mixers built in WiFi and how they work.

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Apr 2026 at 19:15

Uther said:
You know you're on the internet now right?

It's called an EE or Smarty sim in a phone, you do know how they work

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Apr 2026 at 19:53

Internet just come back on.

Thanks @john_smith it makes sense what you said.
I always thought you needed an internet connection coming into your router.

RetiredGreyFox · 15 Apr 2026 at 22:11

JonRGV250 said:
Not aliens then?

I want it to be but you have to think about the Fermi Paradox where WiFi is concerned.

RetiredGreyFox · 16 Apr 2026 at 00:01

aaronyuri said:
You're using your WiFi which is connected to your LAN (RFC 1918 address like 192.168.0.0/24). The cameras are also using this same WiFi and connected to the local network. Your phone is performing a direct connection to the cameras using your LAN.

It would be a terrible use of bandwidth and compute if all camera connections were to hairpin to an external service (on the Internet) back to your WiFi when a perfectly good direct connection is available locally.

Like I said I have two digital; mixing desks - a Behringer X32 and A&H CQ18T which both have onboard WiFi for tablets/PCs/phones to connect to and I can now see it works like that.

RetiredGreyFox · 16 Apr 2026 at 09:08

dirtychinchilla said:
I think you've had two cameras go down coincidentally. The other cameras are using the local network, not the internet. Your phone are connected to the Wifi because that's still a local network. None of this stuff can contact the outside world through your router, though

Funnily enough the PC showed two cameras but my phone showed all four.
No idea why the doorbell and garden didn't show on the PC.
And i did walk outside so they weren't showing old captures.

RetiredGreyFox · 16 Apr 2026 at 11:00

mrk said:
You have been blessed by the ghost of Fenton Park. She works in mysterious ways so take advantage whilst you can, for in return you have to give something back.

She will let you know as you sleep.

I gave the Fenton Ghost 5 urines last night, bloody diabetes and old age.

RetiredGreyFox · 16 Apr 2026 at 11:01

Armageus said:
demnons?

Memories. I wonder if that ghost camera ever worked

RetiredGreyFox · 16 Apr 2026 at 12:06

mrk said:
The ghost of 66 Berdmore Street does not like this.

Ooh, I know Berdmore Street, what clues are you giving me?

RetiredGreyFox · 16 Apr 2026 at 12:32

mrk said:
It's where I used to live, and Oldfield Street. the school above Berdmore Street was my primary school, it is also where I petted my first cat!*

*Not a euphemism.

I went to Glebe County Primary by Victoria Place.

I have a sick story about a cat and that area.
I was about 14 and my mate talked me into going up to the Fenn Park Gang and he assured me I wouldn't get beaten

We met at Longton Train Station where they proceeded to smash all the overhead lights on the platform but my neighbour opposite was the station guard who took me fishing so I was embarrassed beyond belief.
We walked over to the Spiritualist Church near to Berdmore Street where they disrupted a meeting and threw books all over the place.
After that one of them saw a cat and they all proceeded to kick it to death, I never went back again

I have no idea why people can be so cruel and idiotic.