Beebo always tries a direct connection first. Your video goes straight from the computer at home to your phone or browser, encrypted from end to end. For most homes there’s nothing to set up.
Video goes over WebRTC, straight between your home computer and your phone or browser. It’s encrypted from end to end (WebRTC DTLS).
Beebo’s service (beebo.tv) only helps your phone find the computer and signs people in. With a direct connection, your video never passes through Beebo’s servers or any relay.
The first time you set up Beebo, the Test your connection wizard runs two quick tests with your phone.
Put your phone on the same Wi-Fi as the computer. Open the Beebo app, tap Scan QR to connect and scan the code on the computer.
The test ticks when a device on your home network reaches the computer. No address is stored.
Turn Wi-Fi off on your phone so it uses mobile data. Open the Beebo app, or scan the code to open yourname.beebo.tv. Sign in and start any video.
The test shows live whether it connected Direct, through a relay, or couldn’t connect.
You’ll then see your options: Beebo Relay, Cloudflare only, Open ports on my router, or Home only for now.
While you test, the computer also looks at your home internet on its own:
Beebo asks your router to open its UDP ports automatically. It tries NAT-PMP first, then UPnP. You can see the result in Settings › Your Beebo address.
The automatic check is a hint. The phone test is the proof. If Test 2 says Direct, you’re all set.
Most home routers have UPnP switched on. If the check says your router didn’t open the ports, you have two choices:
A note on security: UPnP lets any program on your home network ask the router to open ports. That’s a small risk. Forwarding only Beebo’s ports by hand is the tighter option.
There’s nothing to set up, and it costs $0 (no relay). Choose it in the wizard result, or go to Settings › Connection › Change option › Home only for now.
With Home only, watching away from home may not work. You can change it anytime.
Changed your router or internet provider? Go to Settings › Connection › Re-run test. The same screen shows your current status, and Change option lets you pick a different way to connect.
