How to Use VLC to Test Your Camera Stream

Setting up a camera stream can sometimes be tricky, especially when it comes to locating the RTSP stream URL, as this information is often not clearly documented. Luckily, many camera brands follow common standards for RTSP URL formats, making it easier to find the right one. In this article, we’ll break down the process into two steps:

• Finding the right RTSP stream URL for your specific camera model
• Testing the RTSP stream using VLC Media Player
  
  

Pre-Step: Connect to the Camera Network

Before trying to access an RTSP stream, make sure your computer is physically connected to the same network as the camera, typically via the network switch.

1. Connect via Ethernet:
   Plug your computer directly into the same network switch or PoE switch that the camera is connected to using an Ethernet cable.

2. Set Your Computer’s IP Address:
   If the camera network is using a static IP range (e.g., 192.168.1.X), you’ll need to manually set your computer’s IP address to be in the same subnet. For example:

   • IP address: 192.168.1.100

   • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0

   • Leave gateway blank if it’s a standalone network

3. Ping the Camera IP:
   Open your terminal or command prompt and type ping <camera_ip_address> to confirm that your computer can reach the camera.

Once you’ve confirmed network connectivity, proceed to Step 1.

Step 1: Figure out the RTSP Stream URL

A typical RTSP stream URL follows this general structure:

rtsp://<username>:<password>@<IP_ADDRESS>:<PORT>/<Manufacturer-Defined Stream_Path>

Here’s a breakdown of each component:

• rtsp:// or rtsps://
  Specifies the protocol (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) used for the stream.

• <username>:<password>
  • <username>: The username to access the camera.
  • <password>: The password for the camera user.
• @<IP_ADDRESS>
  The IP address of the camera, typically in the format 192.168.X.X.

• :<PORT>
  The port used for RTSP communication. Default is often 554.

Everything after the port (i.e., the stream path) is defined by the manufacturer and can vary between cameras. Typically, this part includes:

• /<Stream_Path>
  The specific stream path defined by the camera manufacturer. This can include:

• Channel number: Which camera channel to view (e.g., 101 for channel 1, main stream).

• Stream type: Main stream or substream (e.g., 101 for main, 102 for sub).

• Resolution or codec information (optional)

Each manufacturer uses a different naming convention for this path. Scroll to the end of this article to find a section listing common manufacturers and their RTSP URL formats.

 Step 2: Testing the RTSP Stream in VLC Media Player

Once you have a potential RTSP URL, follow these steps to verify if the stream is working correctly:

• Open VLC Media Player. If you don’t have VLC installed, download it from here.
• Click on Open media. A dialog box will appear. 

• In the Network tab, paste the RTSP URL provided by the camera manufacturer.

• Click Open.  If the stream is correct, it will begin playing in VLC. If the stream doesn’t load or you think some parameters (e.g., resolution, frame rate, codec) might be incorrect, continue to the next step for troubleshooting.

Step 3: Verify Stream Details (Recommended)

Once the video has loaded, you can confirm the incoming stream parameters in VLC by following the steps described below.

• From the top menu, click on Window > Media Information > Codec Details. 

• Under the Codec Details tab, view essential details about the stream, such as resolution, frame rate, and codec. This will help you verify the stream. If you expected a Full HD stream but see a lower resolution, there might be an issue with the stream setup or the RTSP URL may be incorrect. 

• Switch to the Statistics tab to check the amount of data being transmitted, which can help you ensure the stream is functioning correctly.

Common Manufacturers and Their RTSP URLs

Dahua RTSP stream (Cameras & NVR)

rtsp://<username>:<password>@<ip>:<port>/cam/realmonitor?channel=<channelNo>&subtype=<typeNo>

Hikvision RTSP Stream (NVR)

rtsp://<address>:<port>/Streaming/Channels/<id>

Uniview RTSP Stream (NVR)

rtsp://<ip>:<port>/unicast/c<channel number>/s<stream type>/live

Axis RTSP Stream

rtsp://ip-addr/axis-media/media.amp

ACTI RTSP Stream

rtsp://ip-addr/

Avigilon RTSP Stream

http://<username>:<password>@<generated RTSP Stream URI>/

Samsung / Hanwha Techwin Camera RTSP Stream

rtsp://user:password@<DeviceIP>:port/profile<no>/media.smp

Swann camera RTSP Stream

rtsp://admin:password@ip_address:554/ch01/0 where 0 = mainstream and 1 = substream

rtsp://ip-addr/h264.sdp

rtsp://<DeviceIP>:port/LiveChannel/0/media.smp 

Pelco RTSP stream

For Sarix models

rtsp://<camera ip address>/stream1