I finally figured out the format of the RTSP URL for HiLook cameras. I’ll use this RTSP URL to stream live video from HiLook cameras on media players like VLC. This allows me to view the live feed without having to use an NVR or DVR. Each camera manufacturer sets its own RTSP URL, so the RTSP URLs will vary by camera brand.
In this post, I’ll provide the RTSP URLs for HiLook cameras and explain how to access them using VLC Media Player.
What Is a HiLook RTSP URL?
The HiLook RTSP URL is a network protocol used to control access to streaming media. It is not exclusive to HiLook cameras; RTSP URLs are generally available on cameras from other brands as well.
This RTSP URL can be opened directly in a media player.
Once the RTSP URL has been successfully accessed in the media player by entering the appropriate credentials, the camera feed will appear on the screen.
RTSP URL for HiLook NVRs, DVRs, and IP Cameras
As far as I know, RTSP URLs aren’t just found on IP cameras, but also on HiLook NVRs and DVRs.
Generally, HiLook RTSP URLs look like this:
rtsp://username:password@ip_address:554/streaming/channels/101 – If you look closely, the HiLook RTSP URL is the same as the Hikvision RTSP URL and EZVIZ Camera RTSP URL.
Explanation:
- rtsp: a prefix that indicates an RTSP URL
- Username: username for camera devices (NVRs, DVRs, and IP cameras)
- Password: device password
- @: hyphen
- IP Address: device IP address
- 554: port RTSP
- Streaming/Channels/101: Displays the camera parameter 101 (main stream) on the NVR and DVR; the number 1 at the beginning of 101 indicates the camera channel. If you open camera channel two, change it to 201, and so on.
How I Access HiLook RTSP URLs Using VLC Media Player?
In this guide, I’ll show you how to access the HiLook DVR’s RTSP URL.
Of course, there are many cameras connected to the DVR. Can all of them be displayed using just one RTSP URL? Of course not. A single RTSP URL can only display one camera feed. And VLC can also only display one camera at a time. Therefore, you must access the RTSP URLs for each camera connected to the DVR one at a time.
Here’s how to access the HiLook DVR’s RTSP URL.
I already have a HiLook DVR with the IP address 192.168.1.4. The username is “admin” and I’ve set the password to “Pasitive13.” With these settings, the RTSP URL for my HiLook DVR is as follows.
rtsp://admin:Pasitive13@192.168.1.4:554/streaming/channels/101
I opened VLC Media Player. I use VLC on my Mac. If you’re using VLC on Windows, the menu might look different.
In VLC, tap the File menu > Open Network.
I then pasted the URL above into the field provided and clicked the ‘Open’ button. If successful, the camera will appear on the screen, as shown below. This is the camera view on channel 1 of the DVR. To change channels, you can replace the number 1 with the number 2 at the start of the number 101 in the RTSP URL.
Can HiLook RTSP URLs Be Opened Using a Web Browser?
The RTSP URL cannot be opened in a web browser.
Currently, no web browsers support RTSP URLs. If you want to open an RTSP URL in a web browser, you must first convert it using a service like RTSPtoWeb or HLS (HTTP Live Stream).
Final Thoughts
Bagaimana cukup mudah bukan?
With an RTSP URL, you can watch live streams from the camera using a media player. The drawback of an RTSP URL is that you cannot replay the recordings. As its name implies, an RTSP URL is limited to live streaming, playback, and time-shifted viewing. You still need an NVR or DVR to save and replay the video from the camera.
We hope this guide is helpful. If you have any questions about HiLook RTSP URLs, please feel free to leave a comment below.