How to Connect RTSP Cameras to LightNVR Cloud
Find the correct camera-local RTSP URL, prove it works before adding network complexity, then connect the main and sub streams to LightNVR.
8 min read Difficulty: Beginner
1. What is RTSP?
RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) is an open standard for streaming video over a network. Most professional IP cameras support RTSP, which means they can work with any compatible recorder — including LightNVR — not just the manufacturer’s own app.
An RTSP URL looks like this:
rtsp://username:password@192.168.1.100:554/stream1The parts are:
- username:password — your camera’s login credentials
- 192.168.1.100 — your camera’s IP address on the local network
- 554 — the RTSP port (554 is the default for most cameras)
- /stream1 — the stream path (varies by manufacturer)
2. Find your camera’s RTSP URL
There are several ways to find the RTSP URL for your camera:
Method 1: Check the manufacturer’s documentation
Most camera manufacturers document their RTSP URL format. Search for “[your camera model] RTSP URL” online.
Method 2: Use ONVIF Device Manager (Windows)
- Download ONVIF Device Manager
- It will auto-discover ONVIF cameras on your network
- Click on your camera and navigate to Live Video
- The RTSP URL will be shown in the stream details
Method 3: Check your camera’s web interface
- Open your camera’s IP in a browser (e.g.,
http://192.168.1.100) - Log in with admin credentials
- Look under Network → RTSP or Configuration → Streaming
- The RTSP port and path are usually listed there
3. Common RTSP URLs by brand
Here are the RTSP URL formats for popular camera brands:
| Brand | Main Stream URL |
|---|---|
| Reolink | rtsp://username:password@IP:554/Preview_01_main |
| Hikvision | rtsp://username:password@IP:554/Streaming/Channels/101 |
| Dahua | rtsp://username:password@IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 |
| Amcrest | rtsp://username:password@IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 |
| Axis | rtsp://username:password@IP:554/axis-media/media.amp?camera=1 |
| Thingino | rtsp://thingino:password@IP:554/ch0 |
Replace
username:password with a camera-local account and IP with the reserved local IP address. These patterns cover common models, but model and recorder topology can change the path; open the linked brand guide for channel and sub-stream details.
Got Wyze cameras? Wyze cameras don’t expose a public RTSP URL out of the box, but LightNVR bridges them directly through go2rtc using your Wyze account credentials — no firmware reflash, no Wyze Cam Plus subscription. Streaming is camera → LightNVR over your LAN, not relayed through Wyze’s cloud. See the dedicated Wyze setup guide.
4. Add the camera to LightNVR
- Make sure your camera is reachable from your LightNVR instance — either via a WireGuard tunnel or direct network access
- Open your LightNVR instance dashboard at
https://your-instance.lightnvr.com - Select Streams in the main navigation
- Click Add Stream
- Enter a name for the camera (e.g., “Front Door”, “Driveway”)
- Paste the main RTSP URL into Stream URL and the lower-bandwidth feed into Sub Stream URL
- Click Test Connection and preserve the returned message if it fails
- Click Add Stream, then verify both the live picture and a completed recording
5. Optimize stream settings
For the best experience with LightNVR Cloud, we recommend these camera settings:
- Resolution: 1080p (1920x1080) — best balance of quality and bandwidth
- Frame rate: 15 fps for recording, 30 fps if you need smooth live viewing
- Codec: H.264 (most compatible) or H.265 (lower bandwidth, needs more CPU)
- Bitrate: 2-4 Mbps per camera at 1080p is typical
- Use the sub-stream for live viewing and the main stream for recording to save bandwidth
Each camera stream uses upload bandwidth from your network. A 1080p camera at 4 Mbps needs 4 Mbps of upload speed. If you have 10 cameras, you’ll need ~40 Mbps upload.
6. Troubleshooting
For a layer-by-layer diagnostic flow and an error-code table, use the full RTSP troubleshooting guide.
Stream shows “Connection failed”
- Verify the camera is powered on and connected to the network
- Test the RTSP URL in VLC Media Player: Media → Open Network Stream and paste the URL
- Check that the camera’s RTSP port (usually 554) isn’t blocked by a local firewall
- Make sure the username/password in the URL are correct
Stream is choppy or freezing
- Lower the camera’s resolution or frame rate
- Check your upload bandwidth with a speed test
- Use H.264 instead of H.265 if CPU is limited
- Reduce the number of simultaneous streams if bandwidth is tight
Recording works but live view doesn’t
- Make sure your browser supports WebRTC (Chrome, Firefox, Edge all do)
- Try a different browser or clear your cache
- Check that port 443 (HTTPS) isn’t blocked by your corporate firewall