How to Find RTSP URLs for Common Camera Brands

RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) URLs are essential for connecting IP cameras to video management systems, AI platforms like Visionify, and other streaming applications.

Use the RTSP URL Lookup Tool above to quickly find the correct URL format for your camera brand. Simply search for your camera brand, enter your camera's connection details, and get instant RTSP URLs ready to use.

Understanding RTSP URLs

An RTSP URL typically follows this format:

rtsp://[username]:[password]@[IP_address]:[port]/[path]

Components:

Protocol: rtsp:// (always required)
Username: Camera login username (often admin by default)
Password: Camera login password
IP Address: The camera's IP address on your network
Port: RTSP port (usually 554 by default)
Path: Camera-specific stream path (varies by brand and model)

Supported Camera Brands

The lookup tool above supports the following camera brands:

Hikvision - One of the most popular IP camera brands
Dahua - Widely used in commercial and residential settings
Axis - Professional-grade network cameras
Bosch - Enterprise security cameras
Sony - High-quality IP cameras
Panasonic - Professional surveillance cameras
Vivotek - Network camera solutions
Foscam - Affordable IP cameras
Reolink - Modern IP camera systems
Amcrest - Consumer and commercial cameras
Uniview - Video surveillance solutions
Hanwha (Samsung) - Enterprise security cameras
TP-Link - Network camera products

Use the RTSP URL Lookup Tool at the top of this page to find the exact URL format for your camera brand.

How to Use the Lookup Tool

Search for your camera brand using the search bar
Click on your camera brand from the results
Enter your camera details:
- IP Address (e.g., 192.168.1.100)
- Username (usually "admin")
- Password
- Port (usually 554)
Copy the generated RTSP URL for either main stream (high quality) or sub stream (lower quality)
Test the URL in VLC Media Player or your video management system

Detailed Brand Information

Hikvision

Hikvision cameras are among the most popular IP cameras. The RTSP URL structure varies by model and firmware version.

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/Streaming/Channels/[channel]

Common Formats:

Main Stream (High Quality):

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/Streaming/Channels/101

Sub Stream (Lower Quality):

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/Streaming/Channels/102

Alternative Format (Older Models):

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/h264/ch1/main/av_stream
rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/h264/ch1/sub/av_stream

DS-2CD Series:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/Streaming/Channels/1

Channel Numbers:

Channel 101 = Main stream, camera 1
Channel 102 = Sub stream, camera 1
Channel 201 = Main stream, camera 2
Channel 202 = Sub stream, camera 2

Dahua

Dahua cameras use a similar structure to Hikvision but with different path formats.

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=[channel]&subtype=[stream]

Common Formats:

Main Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0

Sub Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=1

Alternative Format:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/channel1/stream0
rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/channel1/stream1

Stream Types:

subtype=0 = Main stream (high quality)
subtype=1 = Sub stream (lower quality, lower bandwidth)

Axis

Axis cameras typically use a simpler RTSP URL structure.

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/axis-media/media.amp

Common Formats:

Main Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/axis-media/media.amp

With Profile:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/axis-media/media.amp?profile=Profile1

Alternative Format:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/mpeg4/media.amp

Note: Axis cameras often have multiple profiles. Check the camera's web interface to see available profiles.

Bosch

Bosch cameras use a specific RTSP path structure.

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/videoinput_[channel]_[stream]_overlay.data

Common Formats:

Main Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/videoinput_1_1_overlay.data

Sub Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/videoinput_1_2_overlay.data

Stream Numbers:

Stream 1 = Main stream
Stream 2 = Sub stream

Sony

Sony IP cameras have a straightforward RTSP URL format.

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/[stream]

Common Formats:

Main Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/stream1

Sub Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/stream2

Panasonic

Panasonic cameras use a simple path structure.

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/nphMpeg4/[stream]

Common Formats:

Main Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/nphMpeg4/1/main

Sub Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/nphMpeg4/1/sub

Vivotek

Vivotek cameras typically use this format:

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/[stream]

Common Formats:

Main Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/live.sdp

Alternative:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/stream1

Foscam

Foscam cameras use a simple structure:

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/videoMain

Common Formats:

Main Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/videoMain

Sub Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/videoSub

Reolink

Reolink cameras have a specific format:

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/h264Preview_[channel]_[stream]

Common Formats:

Main Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/h264Preview_01_main

Sub Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/h264Preview_01_sub

Amcrest

Amcrest cameras (often rebranded Dahua) use:

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=[channel]&subtype=[stream]

Common Formats:

Main Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0

Sub Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=1

Uniview

Uniview cameras use:

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/[stream]

Common Formats:

Main Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/Streaming/Channels/101

Sub Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/Streaming/Channels/102

Hanwha (Samsung)

Hanwha cameras (formerly Samsung) use:

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/[stream]

Common Formats:

Main Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/stream1

Sub Stream:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/stream2

TP-Link

TP-Link cameras typically use:

Generic Structure:

rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/stream1

Common Format:

rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.100:554/stream1

How to Find Your Camera's RTSP URL

Method 1: Check Camera Documentation

Locate your camera's model number (usually on a label on the camera)
Search for the camera's user manual or technical documentation
Look for "RTSP" or "Streaming" sections

Method 2: Access Camera Web Interface

Open your web browser and navigate to the camera's IP address
Log in with your admin credentials
Navigate to:
- Settings → Network → RTSP
- Settings → Streaming → RTSP
- Configuration → Video → Stream
The RTSP URL is often displayed in these settings

Method 3: Use ONVIF Device Manager

Download and install ONVIF Device Manager (free tool)
Scan your network for cameras
Select your camera and view the RTSP stream URLs
ONVIF-compliant cameras will show available RTSP paths

Method 4: Check Camera Configuration Tool

Many manufacturers provide configuration tools:

Hikvision: iVMS-4200 or SADP Tool
Dahua: SmartPSS or ConfigTool
Axis: Camera Management Tool

These tools often display RTSP URLs for connected cameras.

Method 5: Test Common Formats

If you know the camera brand, try the common formats listed above:

Replace IP_address with your camera's IP
Replace username and password with your credentials
Test the URL in VLC Media Player or another RTSP client

Testing RTSP URLs

Using VLC Media Player

Open VLC Media Player
Go to Media → Open Network Stream
Enter your RTSP URL
Click Play
If the stream works, the URL is correct

Using FFmpeg

Test from command line:

ffplay rtsp://username:password@IP_address:554/path

Using Online RTSP Testers

Several online tools can test RTSP URLs, though be cautious with credentials.

Common Issues and Solutions

Issue: Connection Refused

Possible Causes:

RTSP port (554) is blocked by firewall
Camera RTSP service is disabled
Incorrect IP address

Solutions:

Check firewall settings
Enable RTSP in camera settings
Verify camera IP address with ping

Issue: Authentication Failed

Possible Causes:

Incorrect username or password
Special characters in password need URL encoding
Account doesn't have RTSP permissions

Solutions:

Verify credentials in camera web interface
URL encode special characters (e.g., @ becomes %40)
Check user permissions in camera settings

Issue: Stream Not Found

Possible Causes:

Incorrect RTSP path
Channel number is wrong
Stream type (main/sub) doesn't exist

Solutions:

Try alternative path formats
Test different channel numbers
Try both main and sub streams

Issue: Port Not Standard

Some cameras use non-standard RTSP ports:

Check camera documentation
Common alternatives: 8554, 10554
Verify in camera network settings

URL Encoding Special Characters

If your password contains special characters, encode them:

@ → %40
: → %3A
/ → %2F
? → %3F
# → %23
[ → %5B
] → %5D

Example:

Password: P@ssw0rd/123
Encoded: P%40ssw0rd%2F123

Security Best Practices

Change Default Passwords: Always change default admin passwords
Use Strong Passwords: Use complex passwords with mixed characters
Network Isolation: Place cameras on a separate VLAN if possible
Disable Unused Services: Disable RTSP if not needed
Regular Updates: Keep camera firmware updated
VPN Access: Use VPN for remote camera access instead of exposing RTSP

Quick Reference Table

Need More Help?

If you're still having trouble finding your camera's RTSP URL:

Check Manufacturer Support: Contact your camera manufacturer's support
Community Forums: Search manufacturer-specific forums
Visionify Support: Contact our support team for assistance with camera integration

Conclusion

Finding RTSP URLs can be straightforward once you know the format for your camera brand. Start with the generic formats listed above, and use the camera's web interface or manufacturer tools to verify the exact path. Remember to test your RTSP URLs before integrating them into your video management system or AI platform.

For Visionify users, once you have the RTSP URL, you can easily add it to your camera configuration in the Visionify dashboard to start monitoring your workplace safety scenarios.

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How to Find RTSP URLs for Common Camera Brands

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