Uniview: RTSP URL and website streaming

The RTSP URL format

In Uniview's main format, c is the channel and s the stream: s0 main, s1 sub, s2 third (if the model has one). IP cameras also accept a short format: /media/video1 is the main stream, /media/video2 the sub stream.

rtsp://user:password@203.0.113.10:554/unicast/c1/s0/live   # main stream
rtsp://user:password@203.0.113.10:554/unicast/c1/s1/live   # sub stream
rtsp://user:password@203.0.113.10:554/media/video1         # main (IP camera)

The RTSP port

RTSP is on by default on Uniview. The port is on the Setup → Network → Port page, field RTSP Port (554). Some firmware nests it differently under Network, but the name is the same. Forward only this port on the router — see port forwarding. Don't expose HTTP (80) or HTTPS (443) to the internet.

A view-only user

1. Setup → System → User → Add.
2. Pick the lowest level (usually User; the name varies by firmware) and keep only the live view permission.
3. On an NVR, choose which channels this user can access.
4. Set a strong password. Never enter admin credentials in our form.

Encoder settings for the web

Open Setup → Video & Audio → Video (on some versions, Video Encoding). Do Main Stream first, then Sub Stream.

If you can choose an H.264 profile, pick Main or Baseline. If the recorder needs the main stream in H.265, set the sub stream (s1) to H.264 720p for streaming. More in camera settings.

Common pitfalls

• U-Code. Uniview's smart encoding saves space but sends I-frames rarely. In a browser the video starts late and can break up. Turn it off for streaming.
• H.265. We detect H.265 cameras and convert to H.264 while someone watches, but H.264 is still the simple route. See H.265 in the browser.
• `s0` and `s1` swapped. If the test passes but the picture is small and soft, the path points at the sub stream.
• Lock-out. After several wrong passwords the camera blocks logins for a while. On an auth error, check the details before retrying.
• EZView / EZCloud. Uniview's cloud connection does not provide RTSP — you need a public IP and a forwarded port.
• Firmware and passwords. Install official firmware and change the default password. Special characters in the password are fine in our form — the server encodes them correctly.

Adding the camera to VIDEOCAMERA LIVE

1. Create an account or log in and click Add camera.
2. Fill in a name, an optional location, RTSP host, port, username, password and the path /unicast/c1/s0/live. Sub-stream path: /unicast/c1/s1/live.
3. Click Test connection. Our server connects to the camera itself and reports success, auth error, unreachable, wrong path, unsupported codec or timeout.
4. After a successful test, activate the camera and copy the embed code — see embedding a camera on a website.