Need Airport Extreme feedback re: setup of webcam

Question

I am trying to get my home network and wireless camera feed to work together, and I would appreciate any guidance you can all share.
I have a MacBookPro 17" running 10.5.2. My internet runs through a cable modem, and then through a Netgear Router, and I connect wirelessly as does my husband who also has a MBP running 10.5.2.
I want to run three things wirelessly on the network, besides the two computers. I have two printers - a Brother all-in-one and an HP LaserJet P1006. Most importantly, I want to operate a wireless internet camera which would serve as a "dog cam" (so I can check in on my dogs when I'm away from home). I purchased a Linksys Wireless-G Internet Home Monitoring Camera (Model WVC54GCA), and was able to connect it within my home network by installing in WinXP via Bootcamp. I could view the feed through the camera utility when I was at home on my own network. I could not EVER, however, access the video feed remotely over the Internet. I have spent hours tweaking settings, uninstalling and reinstalling software and drivers, resetting IP addresses, etc., etc., and even paying a consultant to come out and spend 3 hours trying to diagnose the problem.
No luck.
Ultimately, all I want is to have access to a working live webcam pointed into my living room, when I am away from home. A bonus would be to have wireless printing capability.
The tech who came out to consult suggested that rather than my Netgear router and Linksys camera, I should get an Airport Extreme/Time Capsule and a webcam specifically made for Mac OS. I don't mind doing that, but I'm not sure OS compatibility is the primary problem, since I WAS able to connect to the home network and view the camera as long as I was within my home network. It was just when I tried to connect via the Internet that I ran into a wall. And, the wireless printing.
I suppose my primary question is: Do I need to get the Airport/TC unit and a Mac-specific webcam, or should I be able to get the camera working with my existing hardware?
Hope that's not too confusing - thanks for your help!
Linda

Answer 1

Regardless of what brand of router you use, according to the Linksys camera's user guide, you need to:
-set up Dynamic Domain Name Service (DDNS)
-use port forwarding
From page 29 of User Guide (WVC54GCA_ug-1.pdf):
"I want to access the Camera when I’m away from home,
but somehow I can’t connect.
If your network uses a dynamic IP address supplied
by your ISP, then the IP address you use to reach the
Camera will change as well. You need to use the TZO
DDNS Service, so you can access the Camera using its
domain name while the service keeps track of the IP
address changes. To set up a Dynamic Domain Name
Service (DDNS) account, click the Setup tab of the
Camera’s Web-based Utility, then click the Optons
tab. Then configure the settings in the DDNS section
of the screen.
Important: To allow remote access to the Camera, you
will also have to use the port forwarding feature on
your network router."