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Thunder_Mountai's avatar
Thunder_Mountai
Explorer II
Dec 30, 2016

Remote computer access

We've been using Logmein for accessing a computer in the house while snowbirding. I have a webcam and Davis Instrument weather station for monitoring temps inside and out. Logmein increased its yearly rate from $149 to $249. Really can't justify the cost for five months use a year.

Anybody got a suggestion for remote computer access programs that are low or no cost?

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  • Thunder_Mountai's avatar
    Thunder_Mountai
    Explorer II
    Dec 31, 2016
    fj12ryder wrote:
    If you're using Windows 7 Pro you can use Remote Desktop. You don't say what operating system you're using.


    Sorry about omitting the OS. I'm running a Dell with XP that can't be upgraded. Not enough HP to run Windows 7.
  • Dutch_12078's avatar
    Dutch_12078
    Explorer III
    Dec 31, 2016
    Team Viewer works fine for me on both Windows and Linux systems. I can even access the remote systems from my Android tablet and phone.
  • AsheGuy's avatar
    AsheGuy
    Explorer
    Dec 31, 2016
    I use both TeamViewer and Google's Chrome Remote Desktop. Both are free and both do the job just fine although they go about it a little bit differently.
  • strollin's avatar
    strollin
    Explorer
    Dec 31, 2016
    pconroy328 wrote:
    ... you can just RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol). See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL8NuI9C01M ...

    With the caveat that you need to be using a Pro version of Windows on the computer you are remoting into. Any version of Windows can act as a client but only Pro (and Enterprise) Windows can act as a host.
  • pconroy328's avatar
    pconroy328
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2016
    There's really no need to pay for any remote desktop product anymore. There are a half-dozen free ones and, like the previous poster posted, you can just RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol). See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CL8NuI9C01M

    What you pick will depend on your level of security desired.
  • fj12ryder's avatar
    fj12ryder
    Explorer III
    Dec 30, 2016
    If you're using Windows 7 Pro you can use Remote Desktop. You don't say what operating system you're using.
  • GordonThree's avatar
    GordonThree
    Explorer
    Dec 30, 2016
    I think TeamViewer is still free for personal use.

    I use a VPN to dial into my home router and then plain ol' Windows remote desktop to connect to the PC.

    The router can even wake up my desktop if it shutdown or fell asleep.

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