Do you want to display your IMOU cameras on your laptop or computer? Besides using an NVR, DVR, mobile app, and IMOU Life camera software for PC, you can display live IMOU camera feeds on your laptop or computer using an RTSP URL. You can access this RTSP URL directly using VLC Media Player, which is already installed on your laptop or computer.
In this article I will show you how to enable IMOU camera RTSP URL and access it using VLC Media Player.
What is IMOU Camera RTSP URL and How it Works?
From what I’ve learned, RTSP stands for Real-Time Streaming Protocol, and many WiFi and IP cameras typically have it. NVRs and DVRs also have this URL. Analog CCTV cameras don’t have it, as they aren’t network cameras.
By using an RTSP URL, you can directly display the camera to a media player such as VLC. You can also use the RTSP URL to:
- NVR
- CCTV camera software
In my practice, I only use RTSP URLs for NVR and CCTV camera software. The RTSP URL is already enabled by default on IMOU cameras; you don’t need to manually activate it like you do on Hikvision IP cameras.
How Do I Get the RTSP URL From an IMOU Camera?
RTSP URLs contain IP addresses and other parameters.
Obtaining the RTSP URL for an IMOU camera isn’t difficult, as the manufacturer has already provided it in the manual. However, the IP address is the key difference. You and I may have connected our IMOU cameras to different networks, and the IP addresses we obtain will, of course, be different.
Generally the IMOU camera RTSP URL is written like this:
rtsp://Username:Safety_Code@IP_Camera_Address:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0
How to Use IMOU Camera RTSP URL in VLC Media Player?
To use the RTSP URL above, some parameters you have to change are the security code and the camera IP address.
For example, my IMOU camera, after connecting to the internet, receives the IP address 192.168.0.100. I’ll enter this IP address into the IMOU camera’s RTSP URL. To find the IMOU camera’s IP address, you can use the ConfigTool software. ConfigTool is available for free download from this link.
Then the RTSP URL becomes like this:
rtsp://admin:L2AC937D@192.168.0.100:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0
I will access the link above via VLC.
First of all I opened the VLC Media Player software installed on my MacBook. Then I selected File > Open Network. The shortcut is to press Command + N on my keyboard. Then a display will appear as below.
Then I entered the RTSP URL above into the column provided. Click the Open button.
Wait a few moments for the URL opening process and if the RTSP URL is correct, a live view of the IMOU camera will appear on the monitor screen. An example is the image below.
Explained:
- rtsp: These are URL prefixes such as http/https
- Username: The username used to access the camera
- Safety Code: IMOU camera security code
- @: Parameter separator
- IP Camera Address: IP address of IMOU camera
- 554: Stream Port
- /cam/realmonitor?channel=1&: Parameters that describe the camera streaming
- subtype=0: Streaming mode Main Stream
I’ve Followed the Guide Above, Why Doesn’t It Work?
This usually occurs due to an error in the RTSP URL.
Please note that the RTSP URL above contains important parameters: a username, a security code, and an IP address. The IP address must match your IMOU camera’s current IP address. The username doesn’t matter much, as the default IMOU camera username is admin.
Many users fail to access the RTSP URL due to incorrect security code input.
The IMOU camera’s security code is printed on the label by default. However, users often unknowingly change the security code when activating the camera for the first time. If you don’t remember the security code, you can reset the IMOU camera.
Can RTSP URLs Be Opened Through Different Networks?
From my experience, it can’t.
To access the RTSP URL, your laptop, computer, and the IMOU camera you’re using must be on the same network, or technically, the camera’s IP address must be on the same segment.
For example:
The camera IP address is 192.168.0.100.
Therefore, your laptop and computer must be assigned the IP address 192.168.0.xxx. If your laptop and computer are assigned the IP address 192.168.1.xxx, the RTSP URL will definitely not be accessible through VLC.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the IMOU Camera RTSP URL?
URL RTSP kamera IMOU adalah rtsp://Username:Safety_Code@IP_Camera_Address:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0
How to Enable IMOU Camera RTSP URL?
By default, the IMOU camera RTSP URL is already active and can be used immediately.
How to Use IMOU Camera RTSP URL?
You can use the RTSP URL on VLC, NVR and CCTV camera software that supports RTSP.
Is RTSP URL Accessible Through DVR?
No, you can’t. Many DVR systems don’t support accessing RTSP URLs. You can use an NVR.
Can NVR Access Multiple RTSP URLs?
Yes. If you have multiple cameras and want to stream them to your NVR using an RTSP URL, it’s possible.
Can RTSP URLs Be Directly Accessed Using a Web Browser?
No, this is because the web browser does not support RTSP URLs.
Conclusion
Using an RTSP URL allows you to access the camera view directly using a media player such as VLC.
RTSP URLs are very beneficial for me as a CCTV camera technician. One of the advantages is that I no longer need to carry a monitor to adjust the position or direction of the IMOU camera, especially for outdoor cameras like the IMOU Bullet. Please note, the RTSP URL is only for displaying the camera’s display. If the camera has PTZ capability, it cannot be used in VLC.
I hope this guide has been helpful. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below.