Megapixel IP camera app. How to set up a network camera (a. k. a. IP camera)

Alibi Witness 4MP 65′ IR Vandalproof WDR Outdoor Dome IP Security Camera

PoE Injector. 10/100 Mbps, 802.3af Compatible

Overview

Monitor and protect your home or business with the Alibi 4.0 Megapixel 65′ IR Vandalproof WDR Outdoor Dome IP Security Camera.

The network IP camera features a 4 mm fixed manual lens with an 83° field of view, along with a 1/3″ CMOS progressive-scan image sensor that delivers up to 4.0 megapixel resolution at 20 frames per second (fps).

The 4.0 megapixel IP security camera features integrated IR LEDs that enable the camera to see up to 65′ in the dark. The camera features Smart IR, an Advanced Infrared Technology, which reduces over-exposure of the IR LED at the center of the image without washing out the subject at close range.

This IP camera also features H.264 OVC (Optimized Video Codec), a next-generation video compression format of the well-known H.264 video codec. H.264 OVC reduces IP camera file size by 50% (or greater), and enables the camera to see more detail, while reducing bandwidth and storage requirements. It also allows for faster, more fluid remote viewing, along with the ability to view more channels remotely.

The camera also offers H.264 and MJPEG video compression formats to further meet your application needs.

The megapixel IP camera is equipped with true day/night (ICR) which captures sharp, detailed color images during the day and black and white images in low light. 120db true wide dynamic range (WDR) and 3D digital noise reduction (3D-DNR) produce exceptional image quality with less noise in variable and low light conditions.

The camera’s IP66 weather-rated enclosure provides protection from particles such as dust and sand, as well as harsh weather conditions, including rain and snow. The vandal-resistant camera’s enclosure is also IK10 impact resistant, which provides protection against physical impact. The camera features a.22 °F ~ 140 °F operating range.

The megapixel IP dome camera supports up to 128GB micro SD cards (sold separately). The camera can be powered via 802.3af PoE or 12 Vdc power supply, and is ONVIF Profile S compliant for greater device compatibility and ONVIF Profile G approved.

This camera also features an event log, and event notification, along with email notification.

The free Alibi Witness mobile app enables you to view your live and recorded video remotely—from anywhere, from your Android or iOS mobile device.

What’s Included:

• (1) Alibi 4.0 megapixel 65′ IR vandal-resistant outdoor dome IP security camera
• (1) Mounting template
• (1) Set of mounting hardware
• (1) Quickstart guide
• (1) CD-ROM (installation tools and instructions)

Note: Micro SD card sold separately.

Note: This product is supported by the following browsers: Safari, Firefox, and Explorer

Key Features:

Megapixel Resolution – Cover more area and see more detail. Megapixel cameras can cover a larger area without compromising image quality. Megapixel resolution cameras deliver high-definition images with much greater detail. They are ideal where a greater level of detail is needed, such as for facial recognition and license plate identification.

Smart IR – Captures clear, sharp images in low light. Smart IR (Smart infrared) automatically adjusts the amount of infrared light used to illuminate a scene as the subject moves closer to or further away from the camera, resulting in optimal exposure and a sharp, clear image that is neither washed out or too dark.

H.264 OVC (Optimized Video Codec) – Improves image quality and reduces bandwidth requirements. H.264 OVC is a next-generation video compression format of the well-known H.264 video codec. H.264 OVC is an optimized compression technology that improves image quality and reduces bandwidth for security applications. It also allows for faster, more fluid remote viewing, along with the ability to view more channels remotely.

True Wide Dynamic Range (WDR) – Gain better images in diverse lighting conditions. This feature enables the camera to take multiple images while capturing video at different exposure levels. It combines the images for the best balance, and compensates for lights and darks for perfectly exposed images in both bright and shadowed areas of a diversely lit scene. True WDR also reduces video noise.

3D Digital Noise Reduction (3D-DNR) – Get exceptional video image quality with less noise. 3D-DNR incorporates frame-to-frame noise reduction with spatial noise reduction to produce clear video images with less noise, in low light conditions. Noise reduction is critical for video because noise affects image quality. Cameras with 3D-DNR produce sharper, more accurate video images.

True Day/Night (ICR) – Enjoy around-the-clock surveillance. Our day/night cameras with true day/night (ICR) deliver a sharp image in low light and nighttime conditions. An IR cut filter blocks out infrared light to produce true-to-life color images during the daytime. In low light conditions and at night, the filter is removed, letting infrared light pass through to provide crisp, well-defined black and white images.

IK Impact Resistance. Withstand physical impacts. The IK rating system an international numeric classification for the degrees of protection provided by enclosures for electrical equipment against external mechanical impacts. It provides a means of specifying the capacity of an enclosure to protect its contents from external impacts. Ratings range from IK-01 to IK-10, with IK-10 being able to withstand the largest amount of impact energy (20 joules).

Privacy Zone Masking – Keep desired areas private. This feature enables you to set zones for select areas within the camera’s field of view, that need to be excluded when viewing and recording video. These areas are overlaid with a privacy mask so that video of the specified zones cannot be viewed or recorded.

Free Alibi Witness iOS/Android App – View your video remotely from anywhere. Enjoy convenient remote access from your iOS or Android device with a FREE app.

Power over Ethernet (PoE) – Receive power and data through a single cable. PoE allows IP (internet protocol) devices to receive power and data over existing LAN (local area network) cabling. This eliminates the need to install a separate power cable, simplifies installation, and lowers cabling costs.

ONVIF Profile S Compliant – Enjoy greater compatibility with more devices. This product conforms to ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) specifications for IP-based security products. ONVIF defines a common protocol for the exchange of information between different network video devices from different manufacturers, to allow greater interoperability in multi-vendor network video systems.

Specifications

Resources

How to set up a network camera (a.k.a. IP camera)

Network cameras (a.k.a IP cameras) are gaining popularity rapidly among consumers due to their ever-improving quality, features and declining prices. An HD network camera that normally cost over 300 in 2012 can be bought under 60 in 2021. Traditional typical users of network cameras are enterprises that have professionals for installation and maintenance. Many consumers choose the DIY approach to set up their cameras. This article is meant to help these users. It by no means can replace the help from professionals that is needed for a variety of reasons – complexity of a video surveillance system, user lacking required basic computer/network knowledge, demanded expedition…

There are literally thousands of models of network cameras in use. It is impossible to have a set of instructions fitting every model perfectly. We use a popular model (M1034-W) by the network camera inventor – Axis – in this article. The setup steps for the vast majority of other network cameras are either identical or very similar to the ones described here.

A word about ONVIF®. Detailed explanation about ONVIF is beyond the scope of this article. An average user may only need to know that ONVIF is an international standard. An ONVIF conformant camera offers the maximum compatibility and interoperability with many software and hardware on the market. Generally speaking, ONVIF conformant cameras have more features and better quality than traditional non-ONVIF network cameras.

You can find numerous ONVIF conformant models on any popular online stores such as Amazon or eBay

For this article, we assume the reader has very basic computer and network knowledge. Technically savvy users may find many parts are too rudimentary for them.

Network configuration

Network cameras are different from web cams and analog CCTV cameras. Web cams are connected to computers by USB cables. Analogy CCTV cameras are connected to servers by coax cables. Network cameras are connected to a network for access just like computers are connected to networks. Each network camera is actually a computer with a CPU and memory. I process images from CCD (Charge-coupled Device) or CMOS (Complementary Metal-oxide Semiconductor) sensors, send to clients (e.g. apps) and hosts a web server.

• Connect the network camera to your Local Area Network (LAN). A LAN is often the home network of a consumer. Plug an Ethernet cable (a.k.a. Cat 5 cable) into the Ethernet socket of the network camera, then plug the other end to the router (a.k.a. gateway or access point). If this network camera does not have Wi-Fi, this may be the only step needed for the network configuration.
• Find the IP address of the network camera. There are a few ways to do it.
• Use a utility program from the camera’s vendor to find the camera. Please make sure Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is used for now to ensure the network camera obtains an appropriate IP address from the router. The following is from AXIS IP Utility:

Configure then network camera to turn the dynamically assigned IP address to a static IP address. You can use a utility program to do this. The following is from AXIS IP Utility:

Enable ONVIF Services (for some models of Axis).

Some ONVIF cameras (e.g. some from Axis) have ONVIF services disabled by default. You will need to enable ONVIF as shown by the following figures for Axis 1031-W:

Axis cameras require a set of users for ONVIF services different from that for other types of access (e.g. web UI, proprietary API). It is critical to add users for ONVIF services because these cameras have no users for ONVIF services by default. The following figure shows how to add ONVIF users.

Configure Apps

Most users want to access their network cameras outside their LANs (e.g. outside their homes). The next section will explain how to access the cameras via Wide Area Network (WAN) (e.g. via cellular connections). Unless you are experienced with the camera and its configuration, it is extremely important to make sure the camera works on your LAN first. This is because the WAN access will never work if the LAN access does not work. If it works on your LAN, it will be very easy to diagnose any issues with the WAN access.

Many apps have automated the setup process to a great degree, and it usually takes less than 1 minute to set up a camera before starting enjoying its video.

The following is for setting up a camera with apps Onvier for Android, and IP CENTCOM for Windows 8.1/10 and Windows Phone.

The first step is choosing the type of device for the configuration as shown by the following figure:

ONVIF is the recommended one. Almost all new modern network cameras are ONVIF conformant. Please note most ONVIF cameras can also be used as generic RTSP stream or generic MJPEG. Older network cameras support RTSP, MJPEG, or both.

Once the type is selected, input the few required parameters (e.g. user name, password), the setup will usually be completed in seconds. The following figures show the setup screens for Onvier, IP CENTCOM for Windows Phone and Windows 8.1/10 respectively:

Configure WAN Access (i.e. Remote Access)

Most users want to access their network cameras outside their LAN (e.g. home network). They may access via a cellular connection, a Wi-Fi hotspot, workplace network, etc. We have received far more questions about this topic than any others.

The following are the quick steps to set up WAN access:

If you happen to use one of our apps, you can click button WAN Access after the video test on the setup screen is finished successfully as following figures show for Onvier for Android, and IP CENTCOM for Windows and Windows Phone respectively:

You will get specific step-by-step instructions for the configured network camera as following:

We hope you will read the following to gain fundamental understanding of WAN access configuration regardless of whether you use our apps. It may look daunting to configure the WAN access, but it actually takes only a few minutes to do it once you know how. This section may be a bit long because we try to help you understand the principles behind the process. The specific steps highly depend on your camera and router.

Please note that most instructions here regarding configuring WAN access are NOT specific to our apps. They are applicable no matter which app (including browsers) you use to access your device remotely unless you use technologies such as P2P that maintain a constant connection between your camera and a server of a company that is usually unknown to users.

Let us have some basic understanding of how network cameras are accessed first. Every network camera has an IP address (e.g. 192.168.0.100) on a LAN. Non-technical users can treat this IP address as a street address, and their LAN (e.g. home network) as a city. Every computing device on your LAN can find the network camera by its IP address, just like everyone in your city can locate a home by its street address.

A network camera may use more than one port (the default port is HTTP default port 80). Each port offers a unique service. For example, one port for web UI, one port for RTSP. Non-technical people can treat ports as doors of a home. You get different services by entering different doors.

The IP address of a network camera is a private IP. The most common range is 192.168.0.0. 192.168.255.255, followed by 10.0.0.0. 10.255.255.255. They are least likely in the private IP range of 172.16.0.0. 172.31.255.255. Private IPs are good for a LAN. It is like that a street address 101 5th Avenue is good for locating a home in a city, but you cannot use it to locate a home in another city because every city may have 101 5th Avenue. Every LAN may have a device using a private IP address such as 192.168.0.101.

Now, we can talk about how to access a network camera outside its LAN, or access a home outside its city.

Each LAN is behind a router (or gateway), and the router has an IP address and that IP address is public IP address, not a private IP address like that of a network camera though the IP address’s format is the same. Since it is a public IP, the router can be accessed on the Internet anywhere in the world. How do we tell a router that we want to communicate with a specific network camera on the LAN behind it? The trick is port forwarding.

The only way to access a computing device on a network is through its IP address and ports. If there is only one network camera on a LAN, we can ask the router to forward everything to the camera, and everything will be the same as accessing the camera on the LAN except using the public IP address of the router. This would not work for multiple network cameras.

To deal with multiple cameras, we need to allocate different ports for different cameras. In other words, you will access every network camera with exactly the same IP address. the public IP address of the router, but with different ports. Using the city analogy, you will send/request packages to different homes of a city by using its different doors. For example, doors 8080 and 5556 of the city to doors 80 and 556 of address 101 5th Ave, doors 8082 and 5558 of the city to doors 80 and 556 of 102 5th Ave, and so on.

Most cameras allow modifying its used ports. Port 80 is usually used for HTTP and ONVIF, and port 554 is used for RTSP. Though it is not necessary theoretically, it is the best to change a camera’s ports to match their external forwarding ports. For example, if port 8080 is forwarded to a camera’s HTTP port, it would be the best to change the camera’s HTTP port to 8080; if port 5554 is forwarded to a camera’s RTSP port, it would be the best to change the camera’s RTSP port to 5554. The following two figures show how to configure port forwarding for multiple cameras after modifying their ports to match the external ports.

Some cameras do not allow the modification of their ports, in this case you can forward different external ports to the fixed ports of cameras, but it is critical to tell apps to overwrite the RTSP ports informed by the cameras with their corresponding external RTSP forwarding ports (e.g. 5554, 5556…) in apps. This is because the cameras are not aware of port forwarding, so they always tell apps to use their ports. All of our apps support RTSP port overwriting. The following figure shows the port forwarding configuration of this scenario.

Each router has its own port forwarding UI. All of them have the same pattern. each port forwarding entry allows forwarding one port or a range of ports from the router (called external or public) to one port or a range of ports of a device.

The following is the port forwarding page of Netgear N300 Wireless Gigabit Router WNR3500Lv2, a popular low cost router. It represents the simplest port forwarding UI

The following represents a more complex port forwarding UI from Quantum Gateway (Fios-G1100). It shows that port 60163 is forwarded to port 80 of an Axis camera following the WAN access instructions of our app. Other ports can be forwarded in exactly the same way.

Enter router web UI Firewall PortForwarding Select the Axis camera 192.168.1.163 Custom Ports Advanced

All network cameras of major brands use one port for everything. Web UI, ONVIF services, RTSP and snapshot because they use only one transport protocol. HTTP. They support RTSP over HTTP. Some cameras, especially many made in Shenzhen, China require up to three ports. one port for web UI and maybe snapshot, one port ONVIF services, and one port for RTSP.

Finding the required ports sometimes is a bit tricky. Fortunately, all of our apps list the required ports as shown by the following screenshots:

Now you can use your router’s public IP address to access your network camera. If you do not know your router’s public IP, there are a few ways to find it:

Suppose your router’s public IP is 109.173.137.12 and you have forwarded external port 8080 to the camera‘s ONVIF port 80, you can set up your camera with address 109.173.137.12:8080, and access it anywhere in the world.

Dynamic DNS

The above method of WAN access assumes the public IP address of the router is static (i.e. does not change). This is not the case for most consumer homes. Public IP addresses are dynamically assigned to home routers except for those who obtain static public IP addresses by paying fees to their ISPs.

Fortunately, there is a way to deal with this. It is Dynamic DNS (DDNS). The details of DDNS are beyond the scope of this article. For the purpose of network camera WAN access, users only need to know that DDNS offers a static host name (e.g. mycamera.myddns.com) to replace a router’s public IP address, so the address to a network camera remains constant.

When a DDNS host name is used, it is resolved to the dynamically assigned IP address of a router. It essentially tracks the change of the router’s IP address. Many network camera manufacturers offer free DDNS service. One can also subscribe to paid or free DDNS service such as dyndns.org, freedns.afraid.org, dynu.com

• DDNS support of a router. Here is how to Setup a NETGEAR Dynamic DNS account.
• DDNS support of network camera. The following is the Axis camera’s DDNS configuration UI:

All of them use the same mechanism. sending the router’s dynamic IP address to a DDNS server upon its change or periodically. Each DDNS or service or router usually has detailed setup instructions. Some network camera manufacturers also provide detailed instructions for DDNS. Please see the last section The Axis Internet Dynamic DNS service of this Axis document for an example.

Once the WAN configuration is successfully created, we suggest using it under all circumstances including being on the same LAN as the camera. This is because most routers nowadays support hairpinning that routes WAN configuration’s traffic within the LAN (i.e. not going out) if the router detects the camera is on the same LAN. This is why we do not combine WAN configuration and LAN configuration in our apps. Automatic detecting whether the WAN or the LAN configuration should be used for streaming may take a few seconds under certain circumstances though it is instant in most cases.

ONVIF is a trademark of ONVIF, Inc.

Iegeek IP camera URL

Try the following connection options in iSpy or Agent DVR to connect to your Iegeek IP camera.

The settings for Iegeek cameras are built right into our free surveillance software. the inbuilt wizard will automatically setup your Iegeek cameras. Remember to also try connecting via ONVIF as Iegeek cameras may support ONVIF connections as well.

Iegeek compatible software

Download Free Iegeek Compatible Software

Agent DVR is the ultimate DIY solution for video surveillance. With advanced AI capabilities, this free software is capable of detecting and tracking people, vehicles, and objects in real-time, providing you with multiple layers of security. It’s easy to install and use, and it comes with a user-friendly interface that works on mobiles, tablets and desktops. With Agent DVR you can manage unlimited cameras, set up alerts, and customize your recordings. Agent DVR also supports remote access with no port forwarding required, so you can monitor your cameras from anywhere, anytime. With its class leading powerful features Agent DVR is a must-have for anyone who values their safety and security. Download it today and experience the peace of mind that comes with 24/7 AI powered video surveillance.

For secured remote access or business use see pricing

Tip: Click a model to generate a URL for your camera

Page:

iSpyConnect has no affiliation, connection, or association with Iegeek’s products. The connection details provided here are crowd sourced from the community and may be incomplete, inaccurate or both. We provide no warranty that you will be successful using these connection URLs or that Iegeek products are compatible with iSpy.

The 3 Best IP Camera Apps for Android Devices

If you have a mish-mash of IP cameras from different brands in your DIY Home Security Camera System like me, an IP camera viewer app can be quite handy. Of course, there are a few different ways to monitor all your cameras in a single place. But a single app on your Android smartphone or tabloid is arguably the most convenient. The only requirement is that all your IP cameras should ideally support the ONVIF industry standard, or at least provide an RTSP/MJPEG stream. ONVIF allows you to mix and match cameras from different manufacturers.

A quick note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post contains affiliate link(s). An affiliate link means I may earn advertising or referral fees if you make a purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

The Best IP Camera Apps for Android

tinyCAM Monitor

• 2-way audio on selected models
• Motion detection (both in-app and on-camera), face detection
• Video recording (local storage, time-lapse, FTP/FTPS, Amazon Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, ownCloud)
• Background/DVR mode (background recording and motion detection)
• Internal web server for remote recordings playback and live view
• Android Wear app Google Cast (Chromecast) support
• TV support (Android TV, Amazon Fire TV) Home screen and lock screen widgets
• Floating Windows
• Tasker automation plugin support

This app really stands out for a variety of reasons. It has a beautiful interface that’s been thoughtfully designed. But its not form over function. The plethora of features is simply mind-blowing. This app is simply one of the best I have used on Android.

It is also very responsive and has been super stable over the past 4 years that I have been using it on a wide range of Android devices.

Apart from supporting ONVIF, the camera can automatically detect and set up over 10,000 different camera models. FOr example, the automatic scan detected my Reolink C1 Pro IP camera which didn’t happen with the other 2 apps I tested.

For matrix or multi-camera view, you can pick any of the 17 different layouts. Most of them also auto-rotate when you rotate your device to portrait (vertical) or landscape (horizontal) mode. This is how the portrait 3-camera view looks like on my Samsung Galaxy A5:

There is an ad-supported free version with limited features and a paid pro version. We recommend choosing the pro app because of all the additional features at a super low price of less than 5.

On my Galaxy A5, the app automatically picked the hardware acceleration option for my Reolink C1 Pro. It can comfortably do 10 fps for 4 cameras simultaneously on the sub-stream.

I use the app as my baby monitor app and the advanced audio features such as audio amplification are a great touch.

• Tons of features such as face detection
• Presets for wide range of IP cameras
• Great value
• Supports in-camera motion detection also
• Cloud platform is optional

Smart Home Checklist

• Cloud reliant: No
• Smart home compatibility: ONVIF, RTSP, Tasker and Web server built-in
• Subscription fees: None, one-time purchase

IP Cam Viewer Pro

• 1600 devices supported including NVRs and DVRs
• RTSP, ONVIF, MMSH supported
• MPEG4/H265/H264/MJPEG codec support
• Controls PTZ (Pan/Tilt/Zoom) cameras
• Camera grouping, auto sequence
• Automatic camera detection
• Home screen and lock screen widgets
• 2-way audio and background audio support for many devices
• In-app motion detection
• Record mode for 24/7 recording of all cameras
• Embedded web server for remote control of app, Tasker integration, or use as a transcoder/proxy
• Chromecast and Android Wear support

While this app is certainly functional, the interface is a letdown compared to our app of choice, tinyCAM. The feeling I got was of using an app from the early years of Android. There’s no material design here. Large blocky buttons and huge fonts dominate. The designer seems to have taken a very workmanlike approach to designing the UI. But the app undeniably does do what it claims to do.

Apart from supporting ONVIF, the camera can automatically detect and set up over 1726 different cameras. The automatic scan however could not detect my Reolink C1 Pro IP camera.

There is an ad-supported free version with limited features and a paid pro version.

• Tons of features
• Presets for wide range of IP cameras
• Great value
• Supports in-camera motion detection also
• Not Cloud-reliant
• Poor UI
• Cannot detect motion detection triggers from the camera
• Lacks advanced motion detection methods

Smart Home Checklist

• Cloud reliant: No
• Smart home compatibility: ONVIF, RTSP, Tasker and Web server built-in
• Subscription fees: None, one-time purchase

ONVIF IP Camera Monitor (Onvifer)

• Supports ONVIF, RTSP/MJPEG/H.264
• Records MP4 clips
• Can auto-discover all ONVIF devices instantly
• Supports PTZ cameras
• Has snapshot preview widgets on Android home screen
• Supports viewing multiple cameras simultaneously

While this app is nowhere as popular as tinyCAM, its a decent effort. The user interface is not as polished as tinyCAM but still quite good. Its not as rich in feature either, but it does all the basics well.

There is an ad-supported free version with limited features and a paid pro version.

• Simple and easy-to-use
• Presets for wide range of IP cameras
• Great value
• Not Cloud-reliant
• Basic UI
• No motion detection support at all
• Lacks advanced features such as 2-way audio, video widgets, web server, API, Android Wear, Chromecast support

Smart Home Checklist

• Cloud reliant: No
• Smart home compatibility: ONVIF, RTSP
• Subscription fees: None, one-time purchase

What are the pros and cons of using an IP camera viewer app?

While there are quite a few ways to view all your cameras in one place, the smartphone camera viewer app is a popular option.

Here are the pros and cons of using a security camera viewer app:

• Easy to set up
• ONVIF, RTSP camera support
• Great for home automation
• Very cost-effective
• Limited number of IP camera channels vs. NVR
• 24/7 recording challenging on mobile devices
• Non-ONVIF camera support may be limited
• Requires a dedicated mobile device or computer
• CCTV over Wi-Fi is not 100% reliable

What to look for in an IP Camera app

Automatically detect ONVIF compliant camerasSome apps can automatically scan your network and detect supported IP cameras. You just need to type in the username and password. This feature can save you a lot of time and the hassle of typing in IP addresses and port numbers. This will work only for ONVIF compliant cameras by the way.

RTSP and P2P camera supportThe industry standard for streaming CCTV video is the Real Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) protocol. The beauty of RTSP is that as long as an IP camera can provide an RTSP stream and your viewing software supports RTSP, all you need is the RTSP stream URL and login details. The viewing software doesn’t have to support the camera itself, making it possible for you to use a wide variety of IP cameras with a single viewer software or app. Exactly what we want!

These days, some IP camera manufacturers enable P2P support in their cameras. This means each camera has a Unique Identifier (UID) code. You need only this single code to add the camera to your camera viewing app. What’s more, it will work outside your home network without any additional configuration. No IP address, port forwarding etc. to bother with. But P2P uses a third-party service, so your security and privacy is lower than when using your own secure VPN tunnel.

Preset settings for popular IP camerasWhile ONVIF support is sufficient to view your camera in your camera viewer app, you may want to take advantage of some additional features of your camera that doesn’t work over ONVIF. A good example is the PTZ controls of your ONVIF-compatible PTZ camera such as the Reolink RLC-423. Another example is detecting alerts sent by PIR sensors on your indoor IP camera.

So what’s the solution? Some IP camera apps come with additional presets for the most popular IP cameras. That means you can use most of the features your camera’s native app has. Win-win!

Motion detection and 24/7 recordingIf some of your IP cameras do not have motion detection or are not great at it, you can have the viewer app perform it instead. Some apps can both perform their own motion detection or use the motion detection triggers from the camera itself.

Some apps can also do 24/7 recording to an SD card or to a network device like a NAS. Recording to a separate network device is recommended because SD card will wear out rapidly under continuous recording conditions.

Switch camera streamFor most smartphones and tablets, decoding multiple 1080p or higher streams is too resource intensive. What usually happens is dropped frames, or blank screens.

Thankfully, any good IP camera will have both a high quality stream and a lower quality mobile-optimized stream. a good viewer app will let you switch between the high quality and low quality streams.

What’s more the best apps will automatically choose the mobile-optimized stream if you are on a 3G/4G mobile network. This will also keep your data usage low.

2-way audioIf your IP camera supports 2-way audio and has both a speaker and a microphone, you can use the viewer app to chat with someone at the other end. Of course your camera needs to support full-duplex audio to have a natural 2-way conversation. On the other hand, if your camera is most cameras and has only half-duplex audio, your conversations are going to be of the walkie-talkie variety sadly.

Background audio and recording supportIf you are using your IP cameras as baby monitor or DVR/NVR, the last thing you want is to keep you mobile phone screen on or even worse, the viewer app active on screen at all times. So the answer is background audio support – which keeps the app recording and sound from your cameras playing, even if you are looking at other apps or even lock/switch off the phone screen.

Chromecast and Android Wear supportGot a wearable device? Then Android Wear support is super cool. Chromecast support lets you turn your TV into a giant CCTV monitor! Such fun!

API and/or Web server for remote controlIntegrating home security camera systems with home automation is the holy grail for DIY enthusiasts like me. What really helps is getting the viewer app to do certain actions when triggered by the home automation system or vice versa.

An API or HTTP web server running on the Android device enables such functionality.

ReliabilityIt goes without saying, you want a stable reliable app that will keep going day in and day out. This is especially important if you will rely on it for baby monitoring, 24/7 recording etc.

CostWhile there are dozens of free IP camera viewer apps, most of them are riddled with ads and other nasties you don’t want on your computer. So this is one area where you definitely get what you pay for.

Conclusion

With most free IP camera apps being low quality, and the super affordable of paid apps, it is a no-brainer to choose a paid IP camera app. Our choice is the excellent tinyCam Monitor Pro app and we trust you will be happy with it too.

Understanding RTMP Cameras: How to Setup an IP Camera for RTMP Streaming [Updated for 2022]

Elise is a digital marketer and an SEO expert. In 2019, she obtained the Google Analytics Advanced Certificate and the ClickMinded SEO Specialist Qualification.

• Table of Contents
• What is an IP Camera?
• IP Camera Streaming Quality
• IP Streaming Camera Use Cases
• How Does RTMP Streaming Work?
• Using the CamStreamer App for Live Streaming
• Setting Up the Axis IP Camera with CamStreamer
• How to Setup Other IP Cameras for RTMP Streaming
• Integrated Graphics with CamOverlay
• Using CamOverlay to Deliver Your Message Successfully
• Benefits of an IP Camera
• Conclusion

Share this post

Creating live streams and video content of any form has two primary sides. The first is your content, and the second is all the hardware and software that makes broadcasting your message possible.

Many technologies and innovations strive to make the latter easier for broadcasters around the globe. Today, we’ll discuss IP cameras and RTMP streaming.

IP cameras, also called network cameras, have recently replaced many other types of cameras and video recording systems. Analog cameras, CCTV surveillance cameras, and live-streaming webcams are just a few. Part of this recent upsurge in the popularity of IP camera streaming is because they are inexpensive, packed with features, trustworthy, and secure.

There’s another reason IP cam live streams are gaining momentum. They are easy to set up and operate. They don’t require wiring or computer systems. An IP streaming camera has an encoder, meaning you need less hardware and software to get your live streams out.

IP cameras have many advantages that make them popular among broadcasters for live streaming. The most significant advantage is that they provide greater control and security.

RTMP technology is what makes streaming with this type of camera setup possible.

Considering the increasing popularity of IP cameras for live streaming. we’re going to take a closer look at how this type of RTMP camera works. We will look at how to use it to live stream on an online video platform with RTMP ingest. Specifically, we will cover how to successfully stream from a private network using the CamStreamer app with the Axis Camera. Then we will cover how to stream with non-Axis IP cameras successfully.

This blog will look at IP network cameras and where you can use them. We’ll also discuss how PTMP streaming works and compare different software and applications that work well together for IP camera streaming and RTMP ingest. Our goal is to equip you with the information you need to stream on your own private network.

Table of Contents

The content of the original article was provided by CamStreamer. This post was updated in November 2022 to reflect the most recent developments in RTMP streaming with IP cameras and related technology.

What is an IP Camera?

An internet protocol (IP) camera is a video camera with a built-in RTMP video encoder, its own IP address, and often considerable intelligence. The camera’s IP address works just like the one on your laptop. An IP camera may sometimes have a built-in RTMP video encoder, but not all the time.

Axis Communications released the first IP camera in 1996. From that time on, Axis has been a leader in the field, continuously working on the technical development of its products.

Looking at the product portfolio, we see that Axis cameras particularly excel when you use it outdoors. They’re highly resistant to impacts and weather fluctuations, including extreme temperatures, water, sunlight, and other adverse conditions.

Since IP streaming cameras are equipped with the technology mentioned above, they can communicate with other devices over the internet. That comes with many benefits.

Some of the advantages of this include:

• The IP camera’s video stream can be pulled from the camera by other devices with internet access
• The camera can be easily moved
• The camera can leverage its intelligence (advanced video analytics) and autonomously track objects of interest
• It is easy to control the camera from a remote location.

IP Camera Streaming Quality

Wondering what quality video IP cameras can stream? Generally speaking, IP cameras are built to deliver a much higher quality video than analog cameras of most types. You get 10 times more detail from a 5-megapixel IP camera than a 4-CIF analog camera.

The video quality of most analog cameras maxes out at 704 x 480 pixels (4CIF). Comparatively, an I P streaming camera’s video quality can range anywhere from ( 720p/1080p) up to 5 megapixels (2560 x 1920). With this higher resolution of video IP cameras. you can:

• Zoom in and FOCUS where needed
• Get more detailed images and streams.
• Cover larger areas within the range of a single camera

IP Streaming Camera Use Cases

There are some use cases where IP cameras shine. IP network cameras for live streaming are especially suitable for 24/7 streams, broadcasts from poorly accessible locations, and shorter events that don’t require the physical presence of a cameraman, such as conferences, trade fairs, and lectures. Other use cases include

• Nature: Because IP cameras don’t have to be tethered to multiple cables and can normally withstand a wide range of temperatures and external conditions, it’s a great solution for broadcasting nature. So whether that’s broadcasting thunderstorms, hurricanes, or a wildlife sanctuary, IP cam live streaming is a solution for natural environments.
• Performances: Whether you’re looking to capture a concert or a theatrical performance, IP cameras can provide the dynamic angles that’ll engage your audience.
• Graduation: IP cameras don’t require a human to handle them it physically. That makes IP stream cameras an excellent option for setting at an elevated height to capture great angles.
• Surveillance: Thanks to their ability to deliver higher quality streams, most organizations can benefit from integrating an IP network camera system for security purposes. Whether you’re looking to add security to a bank, a construction site, or your home, IP cameras can be a great option to provide that constant feed for peace of mind.

Besides quality based on years of accumulated expertise, Axis cameras have another unique advantage compared to some other IP cameras– thanks to their open platform, called the Axis Camera Application Platform (ACAP), space has been created for developers to come up with applications designed to meet specific customer needs and use cases.

How Does RTMP Streaming Work?

Traditionally, RTMP streaming refers to delivering video content to Flash video players. However, in the context of RTMP cameras with IP and most modern live streaming technology, RTMP is responsible for ingesting video feeds.

RTMP ingest transports video files from the encoder to an online video platform. For this process to work, each component must have RTMP compatibility.

In the case of IP cam live.streaming, both RTSP and RTMP come into play. A video signal provided by an image chip inside a network camera must first be encoded into the H.264 video format. Then, you cansend it over the internet.

In principle, all network cameras pack encoded video into RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) that is used to send such a video stream over the network. RTSP is a so-called “pull” type of protocol, meaning you need to connect to an RTMP-enabled camera via its public IP address and forwarded port and pull the video from it.

This technique is okay for the video management systems it was designed for, but online video streaming platforms, such as Dacast, need something else. They need an IP camera with a built-in video RTMP encoder to “push” the video stream to them. RTMP pulls the RTSP video stream from a network camera and repacks it into RTMP.

Using the CamStreamer App for Live Streaming

Running directly onboard the IP camera, the CamStreamer application is a simple piece of ACAP software. Its primary function is to repackage the RTSP camera’s video stream into the RTMP format, which the online video platform can then easily work with.

That brings several advantages since broadcasters using this technology don’t need a computer or a public IP address. They also don’t need to set up port forwarding.

With a few simple clicks, you’ve got the full potential of the IP camera at your fingertips. The RTMP camera is a computer in and of itself, so it can connect to the online video platform without any additional hardware, excess cables, processors, and so on.

Thanks to the intuitive settings and no extra costs, a few seconds is all it takes to get a live broadcast up and running.

Setting Up the Axis IP Camera with CamStreamer

The first step to setting up the Axis IP Camera with Cam Streamer is downloading the CamStreamer app, which you can find on their website.

Next, choose the right installation package according to your camera type, and enter your camera’s IP in your web browser. Once this is set up, you can connect to your RTMP-enabled camera.

In the CamStreamer setup, all you need to do is to choose the desired streaming platform. You can choose Dacast. as it’s one of the preset streaming platforms.

From there, simply enter your RTMP stream details from your Dacast account. Since Dacast is a preset streaming platform from CamStreamer, the RTMP connection will be made automatically, which saves you another step.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you’re ready to stream.

How to Setup Other IP Cameras for RTMP Streaming

Now that we covered how to set up an Axis IP camera for RTMP live streaming, it’s worth it to repeat that not all IP cameras come with a built-in application or brand app (e.g., CamStreamer) that can turn an RTSP camera’s stream into an RTMP stream. In other words, many IP cameras require extra hardware or software to live stream on a platform like Dacast or YouTube.

In the next part of this blog, we’ll cover how to set up an IP camera for RTMP streaming in a more general sense (when you don’t have an Axis IP camera specifically).

Step 1: Choose Wi-Fi vs. Ethernet

The first step of setting up an IP camera for streaming is connecting to the network, which calls for you to choose between Wi-Fi or ethernet for live streaming. Both have unique advantages and disadvantages depending on the use case you’re after.

For starters, ethernet cables allow for a higher quality image than Wi-Fi because ethernet cables can handle more data. It’s also more dependable than Wi-Fi because you’re connected directly to the network rather than wirelessly. Another advantage of ethernet cables for IP cameras is that they support Power over Ethernet (PoE), meaning they can last indefinitely without needing someone to replace the battery.

The downsides of ethernet cables are that they’re tethered to cords, so you don’t have as much flexibility to put the IP camera wherever. Since Wi-Fi requires no cables, you can place IP cameras anywhere as long as can connect to the internet wirelessly.

So when choosing between the two options, consider the importance of flexibility, video quality, and stream length.

Step 2: Choosing an Encoder

The combination of CamStreamer as an application and Dacast as a streaming solution can deliver great results. Using this combination, you can easily produce professional-grade content. But as mentioned, not every IP camera uses CamStreamer because this app only works exclusively with AXIS IP cameras.

A little technical background and refresher: The default protocol for IP cameras is RTSP, which we spoke about earlier. RTSP is designed for network use, meaning it was originally intended to stream directly to a few end-user devices. In other words, it’s unsuitable for live streaming to hundreds or thousands of nationwide viewers.

To add to that, many streaming services don’t support RTSP Ingest. But every streaming service supports RTMP Ingest, meaning you need to add a middle step when streaming directly from an IP camera to a destination like YouTube or your website. For this reason, streaming with an IP camera tends to be a bit more complex than streaming with other webcams.

With that said, to live stream with most IP cameras, you’ll need an encoder. (The exception is if the IP camera supports RTMP push, which you can find out by calling the support line of your camera brand).

An encoder converts the images captured on the IP camera and then transmits them into a readable form that a video hosting service like Dacast can use. CamStreamer serves the same purpose as an encoder, but for Axis IP cameras.

Keep in mind that you can’t just use any encoder. The right encoder will depend on your IP camera and the video platform you use. If live streaming with an IP camera using Dacast, we recommend the Wirecast encoding software or OBS Studio software encoder, a free alternative to Wirecast.

Step 3: Choosing an Online Video Platform

When you want to use an IP camera for live streaming. you’ll need an online video platform most of the time. Now that you know you need an encoder for many IP cameras or an app like CamStreamer for Axis IP cameras, you’re ready to explore online video platforms.

Dacast includes all of the tools you need for a professional broadcasting experience. Our platform supports video monetization. video player customization. reliable security and video delivery, private video sharing. a powerful content management system. and more.

Unlike YouTube and which as streaming platforms, don’t allow audiences to be divided up for more efficient marketing, Dacast offers all the tools needed to make streams effective, attractive, and profitable.

Of course, Dacast is one of many online video platforms on the market. Feel free to check out our online video platform comparison post to see how Dacast stacks up to some of the other top options on the market.

Step 4: Set Up and Configure Encoder

For simplicity, we’ll cover this step as if you’ve chosen OBS studio, a free and popular software encoder. Other encoders have similar steps. Here are the rough steps you’d follow:

• Open OBS Studio.
• Find the “” sign under the “Sources” section.
• At this point, you’ll name your IP camersource (e.g., brand IP camera)
• Generally, you’ll uncheck all the options available on this tab.
• In the “Input” field, insert the RTSP URL. (Each type of camera has different URL formats, so if you get stuck here, your camera brand’s support team should be able to help.)
• Click “OK,” and your live feed should be ready. Right-click the video to play around with the video size.
• Go to the OBS Studio settings menu and click on the “Stream” tab
• Enter the relevant information depending on what service you’re using. If you’re using Dacast, check out our OBS Studio guide for more.

That’s it! You should now be ready to live stream from an IP camera.

Integrated Graphics with CamOverlay

Now that we’ve covered how to set up an other IP camera for streaming let’s talk about ways you can improve the videos on Axis cameras.

CamOverlay is an app that works with the CamStreamer application to help broadcasters to add their own graphics to a stream.

This tool is useful for adding additional information to the screen to increase the viewers’ experience. CamOverlay supports multiple sources, which gives broadcasters added flexibility on what they can do with their live streams.

Just like CamStreamer, the setup of CamOverlay is effortless. There are preset templates to choose from, or you can create your very own graphics. Both options give you control over your stream’s appearance, timing, and position.

Now that we’ve covered the “whys” of using CamOverly, let’s look at how to use this app. Here are three steps for setting up CamOverlay:

• Install the CamOverlay application on your RTMP camera
• Select one of the preset templates or generate your own graphics
• The application then inserts the graphics directly into the video stream

That’s all there is to it. The types of information added to live broadcasts can vary. The most common uses of CamOverlay are for displaying advertisements, presenting partners and sponsors, and for providing information that’s useful to viewers.

Using CamOverlay to Deliver Your Message Successfully

Unlike other methods of adding your own graphics to a live broadcast, CamOverlay has two specific advantages that result from the fact that displayed graphics become part of the live stream.

The first is that the graphics are immune to ad blockers, and the second is that there are no compatibility issues with different types of players.

The graphics are simply a part of the live stream, so you don’t have to worry about things like keeping them in FOCUS, the way they look in various types of browsers, administration, timing, etc.

The biggest benefit to this solution (and this isn’t true only of CamOverlay but of overlay graphics in general) is that you can make simple streams more attractive with information that gives the broadcast a story, an idea, and some context.

It works well, for example, in the live camera stream of the Prague skyline (pictured above). Besides weather data, the stream displays facts about the individual monuments the RTMP camera is focused on.

Thanks to CamOverlay, viewers get helpful information from a plain reality stream, in this case, regarding the history and beauty of the capital of the Czech Republic. You can also choose a different call-to-action (CTA) and get results based on marketing or other needs.

Benefits of an IP Camera

Compared to other webcams, IP cameras are much more versatile and flexible. Because they can connect over the internet, they don’t have to be close to the computer processing the image.

Another advantage of IP cameras, specifically PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) IP Cameras, is that you can reposition a camera or zoom in and out without a physical human being present. A person miles away can control many different IP cameras from one place. They don’t require a human to constantly monitor it either. That’s why it’s great for 24/7 use cases.

IP cameras today also use Power over Ethernet, meaning that they can stay charged indefinitely when connected to the wired network.

Conclusion

To summarize, an IP camera (like Axis) is a good investment for those who are serious about broadcasting. This broadcast setup streamlines many processes thanks to the camera’s built-in RTMP encoder and other technology.

IP cameras leverage a massive advantage for video content creators. Recording or streaming video content no longer comes with the pre-condition of having next-level technical expertise.

Freeing broadcasters from the technical aspects of content creation, such as understanding multiple streaming protocols, and managing multiple playback devices, means better content in less time.

With the tools from CamStreamer, you can equip your RTMP-enabled camera with software and applications that will save you a great deal of time, energy, and resources. All of this makes the product the ideal solution for many different types of organizations that want to use live video streaming to fulfill specific objectives, such as generating publicity, educating, sharing activities with the public, and more.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-use, robust platform with broad streaming capability, try Dacast. You get 14 days of free access to see why we were selected as the Streaming Media Readers’ Choice for Best Small/Medium Business Platform several years in a row. No credit cards or hefty startup fees are required.

For exclusive offers and regular live streaming tips, join our LinkedIn group. Do you have questions or feedback on this article or streaming protocols in general? We’d love to hear from you in the Комментарии и мнения владельцев below.

For more information about CamStreamer, please visit their website.

Thanks for reading, and happy streaming.

Elise Furon

Elise is a digital marketer and an SEO expert. In 2019, she obtained the Google Analytics Advanced Certificate and the ClickMinded SEO Specialist Qualification.

Free 14-Day Trial