How to enable ONVIF and use the RTSP URL on an iCSee camera — iCSee is a WiFi camera that connects directly to your WiFi network, allowing you to view the live video feed through the iCSee app on your phone. However, some users want to connect their iCSee camera directly to other devices, such as an NVR, and display the camera feed on a monitor. Others may also want to view the live feed from their iCSee camera on a PC or laptop using the camera’s RTSP URL.
In this article, I’ll show you step by step how to view your iCSee camera’s live video feed on your laptop or PC.
What Is an RTSP URL on an iCSee Camera?
RTSP is a network protocol used to stream video. It is commonly supported by IP security cameras, although some IP cameras do not support RTSP.
RTSP is very useful if you want to view your camera’s live feed using other apps or devices.
For example, EZVIZ cameras RTSP and V380 Pro cameras RTSP use their own RTSP URL formats. Each camera manufacturer usually has its own RTSP URL standard, so the RTSP URL used by an iCSee camera generally won’t work with cameras from other brands.
What Is the RTSP URL for an iCSee Camera, and How Can I Find It?
The RTSP URL for an iCSee camera is:
rtsp://username:password@IP-address:port/Streaming/Channels/101
Explanation:
- username: the camera’s username
- password: the camera’s password
- IP-address: the camera’s IP address on the local network
- port: the RTSP port, which is usually 554
- Streaming/Channels/101: the channel/stream being used – You can change 101 to 102 to view the video at a lower resolution.
The format of this RTSP URL cannot be changed.
So, if you want to use your iCSee camera’s RTSP URL to view the video on another device or app, you need to use the RTSP URL format shown above.
How to View Your iCSee Camera on a Laptop Using VLC Media Player
First, I need to find the IP address of my iCSee camera.
Since the iCSee app doesn’t show the camera’s IP address, I need to log in to my internet router’s settings to find it. Generally, the IP address of any WiFi camera connected to the router can be found in the router’s device list.
For example:
I found that my iCSee camera’s IP address is 11.11.11.8. The RTSP port is usually set by the camera system and is typically 554.
So, the RTSP URL would be:
rtsp://admin:@11.11.11.8:554/Streaming/Channels/101
Once the RTSP URL is ready, I open VLC Media Player, which I’ve already installed on my laptop. If you haven’t installed it yet, you can download VLC from its official website. As you can see, I didn’t include a password in the RTSP URL. That’s because I haven’t set a password for my camera, so I can open the RTSP stream directly without one.
Then, I go to Media > Open Network Stream.
Next, I enter the RTSP URL into the provided field and click the Play button to start the video stream. Make sure you enter the correct URL to avoid getting an error message.
And this is what the iCSee camera’s video feed looks like.
iCSee cameras support ONVIF, which means you can connect them to other devices, such as NVRs and DVRs from different brands. ONVIF is enabled automatically on iCSee cameras, so you don’t need to turn it on manually.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Is the RTSP URL for an iCSee Camera?
The RTSP URL format for an iCSee camera is:
rtsp://username:password@IP-address:port/Streaming/Channels/101
How to Access the RTSP URL of an iCSee Camera?
The RTSP URL of an iCSee camera can be accessed using VLC Media Player, third-party camera applications such as VibeNVR, or third-party devices such as NVRs.
iCSee Camera Software for PC
If you don’t want to go through all those steps, you can use the iCSee camera app, which is available for both Windows PCs and Mac. You can click the link below to download it. The link I’ve provided is a direct download link from the official website.
Choose the version that matches the device you’re using:
The iCSee app for PC is free to use, so you don’t need to purchase a license or pay for a monthly subscription.
Conclusion
By using the RTSP URL available on your iCSee camera, you can connect the camera to various devices and applications. For example, you can connect your iCSee camera to an NVR or DVR. You can also use the camera with other applications, such as VibeNVR, a self-hosted NVR solution. VibeNVR is an application that you can host on your own computer or laptop.
I hope you find this article helpful. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.