Lorex Camera ONVIF and RTSP URL — How I Use It to Connect a Lorex Camera to an NVR and VLC Media Player

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Lorex IP Cameras ONVIF and RTSP URLs

The Real-Time Streaming Protocol (RTSP) is a network protocol used to control streaming media between devices. It allows devices to establish and manage streaming sessions, making it possible to access live video feeds over a network. Some DVRs, NVRs, and IP camera models also support third-party RTSP streams. This means you can integrate compatible cameras or streaming sources from other manufacturers into your existing surveillance system.

In this article, I’ll explain how to find the RTSP URL for Lorex cameras and how to use it to connect your camera to an NVR or VLC Media Player.

What is the RTSP URL for the Lorex IP camera?

The RTSP URL format for Lorex cameras is:

  • rtsp://username:password@ip address:port/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0

Here’s what each part means:

  • Username: Your camera’s username.
  • Password: Your camera’s password.
  • IP Address: The IP address of your Lorex camera.
  • Port: The default RTSP port is usually 554.
  • /cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0: This part specifies the camera stream you want to access. The subtype=0 parameter typically selects the main stream, which offers higher resolution and better image quality.
  • /cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=1: You can replace the previous path with this one to access the substream, which typically uses a lower resolution and requires less bandwidth.

Keep in mind that the exact RTSP URL format and supported stream options may vary depending on your Lorex camera model.

You can use the RTSP URLs above to connect your Lorex camera to an NVR, VLC Media Player, or third-party software such as VibeNVR and iSpy Agent DVR. As long as the device or software supports RTSP, you should be able to use the URL to access your camera’s video stream.

How Do I Connect a Lorex IP Camera to an NVR from Another Brand?

In this guide, I’ll show you how to connect a Lorex camera to a third-party NVR. For this tutorial, I’m using an Amcrest NVR and a Lorex LNB8005 IP camera.

I access the Amcrest NVR’s menu through a web browser.

Then I chose Management.

I select Camera from the menu.

On the Camera page of my Amcrest NVR, I click Manual Add to manually add my Lorex IP camera to the NVR.

Here are the details I entered:

  • Channel: 6
  • Manufacturer: Private
  • IP Address: Enter the IP address of your Lorex camera.
  • TCP Port: 35000
  • Username: admin
  • Password: Enter your Lorex camera’s password.
  • Channel No.: 1
  • Remote Channel: 1
  • Decode Buffer: Default

Once everything is set up correctly, I click the Save button.

You can use NVRs from other brands, such as Hikvision, Dahua, HiLook, and TP-Link VIGI, as long as they support ONVIF or RTSP and are compatible with your Lorex camera.

How to Connect a Lorex Camera to VLC Media Player Using an RTSP URL?

One of the easiest ways to view your Lorex camera’s live feed using an RTSP URL is with VLC Media Player. Most built-in media players on laptops and PCs, such as Windows Media Player and QuickTime Player, don’t support RTSP streams as easily out of the box. That’s why VLC is a great option for viewing your camera’s live footage.

Now, let me walk you through how to connect your Lorex IP camera to VLC Media Player, step by step.

First, have your Lorex IP camera’s RTSP URL ready:

  • Here’s the RTSP URL for my Lorex IP cameraa rtsp://admin:cctvmanuals@192.168.1.88:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0

Note: The RTSP URL format for Lorex IP cameras is predefined by the manufacturer and generally can’t be changed. You only need to update the username, password, and IP address to match your camera’s settings.

Open VLC Media Player.

Go to Media > Open Network Stream in VLC Media Player.

Enter the RTSP URL you prepared for your Lorex camera in the provided field. Then, click Play to start viewing the live camera feed.

Conclusion

Lorex IP cameras may support RTSP streaming and ONVIF, depending on the model.

You can use this RTSP URL to connect your Lorex camera to third-party devices and software, including NVRs from other brands and applications like VibeNVR, iSpy Agent DVR, Blue Iris, and VLC Media Player. Of course, the software or device must support RTSP streaming. To check whether your Lorex camera supports RTSP, visit the product’s details page or check its official specifications. This will help you confirm compatibility before trying to connect it to a third-party system.

I hope you find this information helpful!

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