Connect a Hikvision camera (RTSP)

The easier way: if your camera has RTMP, connect it over RTMP — no port forwarding and no static IP needed.

Hikvision cameras and recorders (NVRs) provide video as an RTSP stream. You need three things: the camera's address, a user and the RTSP URL.

1. Prepare the camera

1. Open the camera's web interface in a browser (e.g. http://192.168.1.64).
2. Configuration → Video/Audio → Video: set the Main Stream codec to H.264. Most browsers can't play H.265.
3. Configuration → System → User Management: create a separate user with view-only rights. Don't use admin.

2. The RTSP URL

rtsp://user:password@address:554/Streaming/Channels/101

• 101 — main stream of channel 1, 102 — sub stream (lower quality).
• On a recorder (NVR), channel N is N01 and N02, e.g. the third camera is /Streaming/Channels/301.

Enter the sub stream (102) as the "Substream" in the camera's settings — we use it for timelapse and on mobile data, which saves traffic.

3. Access from the internet

Detailed instructions: Connect an RTSP camera with port forwarding.

1. On your router, forward an external port (e.g. 8554) to the camera's port 554.
2. Use a static public IP or a DDNS name.
3. Put the public address and the external port in the URL.

4. Check it

Test the URL in VLC first (Media → Open Network Stream). If it works in VLC, add the camera in the dashboard: Cameras → Add camera.

For your security: the camera password is stored encrypted and never shown in the interface again.