Connect any RTSP camera
2026-11-03 · Draft
The easier way: if your camera has RTMP, connect it over RTMP — no port forwarding and no static IP needed.
Almost every IP camera and recorder provides video as an RTSP stream. The URL format depends on the manufacturer.
1. Find the RTSP URL
- Check the camera manual or the manufacturer's website (search: "your model + RTSP URL").
- If the camera supports ONVIF, ONVIF Device Manager (Windows) or a similar tool shows the URL.
- General form:
rtsp://user:password@address:554/path.
2. Camera settings
- Codec: H.264 (browsers can't play H.265).
- A separate user with view-only rights.
- If the camera has a sub stream (lower quality), note its URL too — for timelapse and mobile viewing.
3. Access from the internet
Detailed instructions: Connect an RTSP camera with port forwarding.
- Forward an external port on your router to the camera's RTSP port (usually
554). - Use a static IP or DDNS.
- Local addresses (
192.168.x.x,10.x.x.x) don't work from the internet and are blocked for security.
4. Test in VLC
Media → Open Network Stream, paste the URL. If you see the picture, add the camera in the dashboard: Cameras → Add camera.
Common problems
- 401 / authorization error — check the user and password; special characters in the password (
@,:,/) must be encoded in the URL (@→%40). - Picture shows in VLC but not in the browser — probably H.265; switch to H.264.
- Connection drops — check your upload speed; on slow connections use the sub stream.