Adding a Camera Unknown to SecuritySpy

We have an extensive list of cameras that are known to be compatible with SecuritySpy. All these cameras have profiles built into SecuritySpy, making for a quick and easy setup in most cases.

However, it’s a fast-changing market and new cameras are continuously being released. While we do our best to release frequent updates that support these new cameras, it’s a difficult task. You may find yourself intending to use a particular camera that is not yet on our list – this blog post will show you how.

The main requirement for a camera to be compatible with SecuritySpy is that the camera is capable of sending data in any of these formats:

  • JPEG over HTTP (sometimes called MJPEG or “server-push”)
  • JPEG, MPEG-4, H.264, or H.265 over RTSP

This blog post will concentrate on RTSP, because this is the standard format for all modern network cameras.

The first thing to do is to check that your camera supports the RTSP protocol. Most do, and certainly all ONVIF-compatible cameras do. For some cameras, you will need to navigate through its settings pages with a web browser in order to find an option to enable RTSP, however for most cameras it will be enabled by default.

Next, you will need to find out the “request” that the camera understands for sending its RTSP data. This is a short string of text, and might be described in documentation as an “RTSP request” or “RTSP URI”.

There are a few different ways you might be able to discover what this request is:

  • Via the camera’s web interface. Many cameras show the RTSP request string in the section of the settings where the video streams are configured.
  • In the camera’s documentation. Check the camera’s user manual for information about the RTSP requests that the camera understands.
  • On a third-party web site such as SoleraTec or iSpy, both of which host databases of common cameras and their RTSP requests.
  • By contacting the camera’s manufacturer directly. The better companies will readily supply this information.

Example

The setup procedure in SecuritySpy is best shown by an example:

  • You have a camera on your network at the IP address 192.168.1.50 (cameras can be set up on your network like this)
  • Its username and password are both “admin”
  • You have discovered that the RTSP URI for your camera is rtsp://192.168.1.50/video_h264

Here’s how you would set this up in SecuritySpy:

Caveats

In our experience, here are some things that might go wrong:

  • The standard network port for RTSP is 554, and this is what SecuritySpy uses if you leave the port boxes empty. However, a minority of cameras (most notably from ACTi and Foscam) use different ports for their RTSP communication. This information should be shown in the camera’s web interface and documentation.
  • In rare cases, some cameras send MPEG-4 or H.264 video that is incompatible with QuickTime (QuickTime is used by SecuritySpy for video decompression). If you get a green or distorted video feed, this is probably the case.
  • In rare cases, a camera might send a non-standard RTSP stream which SecuritySpy cannot decode. In this case you will get a blue screen with a cross in the middle. In this case, please email us and attach SecuritySpy’s log file (located in your ~/Documents/SecuritySpy/ folder) so that we can look into it.
  • Make sure that you do not have Perian installed on your computer, as this could cause the decompression of H.264 video to fail.
  • Sometimes cameras don’t use a request string, in which case you would need to leave the Request box empty in the above window.

Let us know!

If you have had success with a camera that is not on our list, please email us and let us know the details, so that we can add the camera to our list.

[Update: 2 December 2013]

SecuritySpy 3.2 now supports the ONVIF protocol, so any ONVIF-compliant camera should work with SecuritySpy with minimal setup, even if it’s not yet on our official list of compatible cameras. For such cameras, simply select the ONVIF profile from the device list and enter the camera’s IP address and username/password, and SecuritySpy will do the rest.

71 thoughts on “Adding a Camera Unknown to SecuritySpy

  1. John Spiller

    Trying to connect my X10 cameras to security spy, got blue screen with X in it.

    What is the setup for X10 cameras (i have several different models)?

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi John, I believe if you select the “Foscam” profile in SecuritySpy, this will make these cameras work.

      Reply
      1. Sven Ljungholm

        I just got an X10 Airsight HD cam and cannot get it to connect. Tried the foscam setting and the manual setting. Any help would be appreciated. I can open a port to allow you to take a look.

        On a side not I also got an Edimax camera that works like a charm.

        Reply
  2. Simon Harrison

    Having difficulty in connecting an ANRAN Model S-C755RV H264 MegaPixel IP Camera with an IP 192.168.1.10 – (an e-bay purchase to test Mac, Security Spy and a security camera at home).
    I can see it in a browser with an excellent picture, but the software seems to be win doze and in Chinese.
    Please can you help
    With Thanks

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Simon,

      Try this request in manual mode in SecuritySpy with the format set to RTSP:

      user=xxx&password=xxx&channel=1&stream=0.sdp?

      (Insert the correct username and password above instead of the xxx marks)

      Does that work?

      Reply
  3. Simon Harrison

    Whoopee!

    Yes it works perfectly, when I enter it correctly.

    Thank you very much.

    Security Spy also recognises my USB 2.0 UVC PC Camera Handheld Digital Microscope, so I can look at the hills in the distance, and the inside of a model railway engine on the same screen.

    Reply
  4. Anatoly

    Tried to add 3 new cameras with no success. I guess buying from China via AliExpress was a stupid decision since they simply won’t take it back even though they admitted their description is wrong (they don’t support MAC). Anyway, they insist that their product support ONVIF 2.1 so maybe it can work with SS?

    I will appreciate your help.

    Camera description link: http://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot/237130757.html

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Any camera that supports ONVIF does implement the required streaming formats that allows it to work with SecuritySpy, so it should just be a question of discovering what RTSP commands the camera uses. Unfortunately this information might be quite difficult to find – the page you linked to has no clues, and this camera seems to be sold under many different names and model numbers, so I can’t tell who the original manufacturer is. Firstly I would suggest trying all the Foscam profiles in SecuritySpy. If that doesn’t work, please email us and if you can put the camera online for us to test that would be very helpful.

      Reply
      1. Anatoly

        Hello,

        I’ve checked Foscam website and found camera that looks exactly identical to what I have: Foscam FI8919W Wireless Outdoor Pan/Tilt IP Camera

        But I couldn’t find it in the list of Foscam cameras in SS. Can you please help?

        Reply
        1. bensoftware Post author

          Hi Anatoly,

          This camera will work in SecuritySpy with the existing Foscam JPEG profile already built into the software. I’ll make sure to add the camera to our online list of compatible cameras.

          Reply
          1. Anatoly

            Hi,

            I’ve tried that. Didn’t work. Looks like it won’t even try to connect/authenticate, it tries for a fraction of a second and gives me ‘no video’ right away…

          2. Anatoly

            Hello!

            Is there anything I can try to request from manufacturer? I’m not sure but I can try to get RTSP commands or something like that. Please let me know.

            Thanks
            Anatoly

          3. bensoftware Post author

            Hi Anatoly,

            As a JPEG-only camera, I don’t believe this one supports RTSP. Please can you email us SecuritySpy’s log file (you’ll find it in the SecuritySpy folder within your Documents folder) and we’ll look into it further.

  5. Christophe

    Hello,
    I have a TRENDnet TV_IP851WC camera and I can’t configure it on my security spy 8 camera software. I tried a lots of different solutions but i did’nt get through

    Could you help me ?

    Thank in advance.

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Christophe,

      We haven’t come across this particular camera before. The first thing to try would be all the existing TRENDnet profiles in SecuritySpy.

      Alternatively, set it up with Manual configuration with RTSP as the Format and play1.sdp as the Request.

      If you get stuck please email us and we’ll look into it further – please provide your log file from ~/Documents/SecuritySpy/ and if you can put the camera online temporarily for us to test that would be very useful (we can send you instructions on how to do this).

      Reply
  6. antonio pasini

    I have to try to connect an Allnet ALL2296V2 to securityspy 3.0.4 as manual configuration.
    Request URI is rtsp://IPcam/h264
    or rtsp://IPcam:554/cam/h264
    these URI work with VLC.
    I set Video Device setting:
    Format: RTSP (video and audio)
    Request: cam/h264 or h264
    but I get no video in Camera status and blue screen in main video window.
    I tried with allnet ALL2298 and ALL2205 presetting config but I get same result: no video.
    Could You help me ?
    Thanks
    a.

    Reply
  7. Alan

    trying to connect a Foscam 18918W with no luck. Just sent you the log file, so hopefully can get it working.

    Thanks!

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Thanks Alan. For anyone else reading, this camera does work in SecuritySpy: Alan and I got this working by a simple settings tweak in SecuritySpy.

      Reply
  8. Frank-Oliver Karutz

    I tried to get the same camera to work with no success. I have checked for the perian issue which is not the source of the problem in my case. In the error log, I see two different messages, depending on what I’ve tried:

    14-08-13 0011-00: Error communicating with the network device “Network camera 1” 3.0.4,80210,404

    OR

    14-08-13 0018-45: Error communicating with the network device “Network camera 1” 3.0.4,80259,801 Data from network device not as expected

    I get it to work in MJPEG mode, but no success with h264. Any ideas?

    Reply
    1. Frank-Oliver Karutz

      Hi,

      after I’ve updated the firmware on the Allnet 2296V2 it works as described by the previous poster. It would be great if you could also support the zoom function on this camera

      Reply
      1. bensoftware Post author

        Hi Frank-Oliver,

        Is this the same camera that you got the 80259,801 error from before? If so then they must have made some significant improvements to the firmware, that’s good.

        It’s not clear if the ALL2296V2 actually has an optical zoom feature. I’ve had a look at the data sheet and it says “motorized lens” but this could just be for focus, because there is no mention of optical zoom specifically. As you may know, SecuritySpy only supports optical zoom, not digital zoom because it isn’t very useful.

        Reply
        1. Frank-Oliver Karutz

          Hi,

          the camera has an optical zoom. However, if I use the zoom, I have to also either adjust the focus by pushing the AF button on the web or adjusting the focus by pushing buttons on the webinterface to manually move the focus motor stepwise. I know that another camera of the same manufacturer has a ZOOM AF mode, where the autofocus is activated whenever the zoom is used. With this mode, the zoom makes more sense, as SW like security spy only has to control the zoom and not has to send the AF request afterwards.

          Reply
    2. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Frank-Oliver,

      The 404 error is a “not found” error because the request used to ask the camera for the media stream was incorrect.

      The 80259,801 error is a problem with the media stream itself. This indicates that you have the correct RTSP request, however there is something about the stream that SecuritySpy cannot decode. Specifically in this case it’s the “packetization mode” of the H.264 units in the stream. SecuritySpy supports the main packetization modes but not the one that the camera wants to use unfortunately. This is the first time we’ve seen this particular error, so this mode is not at all common, and it’s not easy to implement. Unfortunately this means that you will be stuck with JPEG mode, I hope this is adequate for your needs for now.

      Hope this helps.

      Reply
      1. Frank-Oliver Karutz

        Hi,

        after the firmware upgrade, the camera now allows to select Baseline, Main or High Profile for H264. Perhaps that is why it now is compatible?

        Reply
  9. Oknanta

    Hello Support,
    Can you help me how to access URL for TP-Link SC3230, because on their website it say already can used H264 for compression.

    Thank

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Oknanta,

      This camera should certainly work as it supports RTSP. In SecuritySpy, create a new device type and fill in the usual information (IP address, username/password). Set the device type to “Manual” and the format to “RTSP”. Try the following two Requests in turn:

      mpeg4/media.3gp

      video.mp4

      Also try leaving the Request box empty.

      One of the above should work – can you confirm?

      Reply
      1. oknanta

        Hello Support,

        Here’s the result

        1. mpeg4/media3gp –> not work
        2. video.mp4 –> work
        3. leaving empty –> work

        but also need some changing directly on camera setting so it will using H264 compression ,because if u see on this link http://prntscr.com/1nn66j by default Security spy chosing frofile number 2 and i don’t have capable to change using another profile?

        Reply
      2. oknanta

        Hello Support,

        Finally i found correct URL request for TP-Link SC3230:
        So inside request box just put:
        media.amp?streamprofile=Profile3

        you can change Profile3 to any frofile number you want.

        Reply
          1. Oknanta

            Hi Support,

            Do you have experince with Golbong Ip Cam http://www.golbong.com? I must make sure first
            this Ip cam will work with SS before i’m buying , I have question about RTSP request for this Ip cam, i try my self looking on their web site about rtsp request but i only found clue like this:
            on their website they say they can embed QuickTime player into an HTML web page for live video of IP cameras using this below script :
            ========================================================

            GOLBONG H.264 Demo Page

            document.writeln(”);
            document.writeln(”);
            document.writeln(”);
            //H.264 over RTSP over 554 port
            document.writeln(”);

            ==============================================================
            so what do you think about that script, witch script i can put in Security Spy request box?

          2. bensoftware Post author

            From my research, this should do the trick:

            – In the Video Device Settings window in SecuritySpy, create a new network device.
            – Set the device type to “Manual”.
            – Enter the camera’s IP address but leave the Port field empty.
            – Select “RTSP” from the Format menu.
            – Enter “user=admin&password=xxx&channel=1&stream=0.sdp?real_stream” (without quotes) as the Request

            Make sure to put the actual password instead of xxx above. If you don’t have this camera already, then it may be best to stick to cameras already on our list.

            Does that work?

    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Matt, thanks for posting this, it’s very useful. This is not a camera we’ve come across or been able to test yet. To clarify, do you actually use the string “CAM_ID.password”, or do you need to substitute your actual password instead of the word “password”? Also I’ve seen some sources suggesting the correct RTSP request for Lorex is actually “video.mp4” – does this work?

      Thanks!

      Reply
      1. Larry

        “video.mp4” doesn’t work on the LNC200 series Lorex. I didn’t try any other permutations, though.

        Reply
    2. Matthew

      Oh thank you so much for posting the RTSP url for a Lorex Camera. I created a ticket with Lorex asking them what the RTSP url was of the LNC204 and they told me that they could not find the url.

      COULD NOT FIND THE URL??? You make the CAMERA how could you not know!! I shake my head. Thank you for posting this information!

      Reply
      1. Larry

        The LNC200 series Lorex works just like the LNC100. Use L-view downloadable from the Apple Store to set up the IP and required passwords. Then use Manual config in Security Spy. Select RSTP (video and audio) as the format and enter /CAM_ID.password into request. CAM_ID is a 9 digit number (on the back of camera) and password is the one you create in the admin section of L-View.

        Reply
  10. Miguel

    Hi..
    we have 23 cams AOP- IP6C11-P1 but i dont know the link acess to rtsp
    please help me. support of aop not response

    tnks!

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi, I’ve done some research and cannot find much information about these cameras anywhere. The manufacturer’s web site is not very useful and doesn’t show the RTSP requests. I found some live demo cameras provided by the manufacturer, but the camera’s web interface doesn’t appear to work on any Mac web browser (it requires ActiveX). So I’m afraid that it’s not looking good. I have emailed the company to ask for more information so if I hear back I will post the response here.

      Reply
        1. bensoftware Post author

          We haven’t been able to find out any further information about these particular cameras, and as the web interface doesn’t seem to work on Mac web browsers, I would recommend avoiding these cameras. I’m sure you’ll be able to find an alternative camera from our list of compatible cameras.

          Reply
  11. Michael Schneider

    Hi, first contact again after a long while!
    Hope You are doing well.
    Q: Is the TV-IP851 supported by sec spy?

    Thanks for info,
    very best regards, Michael Schneider

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Michael, hope you are doing well too! This camera isn’t yet on our list as we haven’t tested it yet, however I would say that it’s highly likely to work in SecuritySpy with one of the existing TRENDnet profiles. If you go for this camera please report back so that we can add it to our list. Thanks.

      Reply
  12. Hendrik van Eeden

    Hello,

    I have been trying to get a Foscam F19805W to work on SecuritySpy. I have not been successful. I have tried just about every perturbation of settings to no avail. I also have three other Foscam cameras that do work. I have followed all suggestions on this blog. No luck!! What can I do, other than returning the camera?

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Hendrik, this could be due to an authentication problem introduced in new versions of the Foscam firmware – please try the latest version of SecuritySpy (3.1.3) as it may fix your problem. Otherwise, please email us the Log file that you will find in your SecuritySpy folder within your Documents folder so that I we can look further into what is happening.

      Reply
  13. Hendrik van Eeden

    Thanks for your reply. I was using the SS 3.1.3 version. I returned the camera, because I had other trouble with it.

    Reply
  14. Mark

    Hi!
    Just bought off eBay an IP camera Empire Security ESC-IPC1 2.0 / 1080p.
    Web site:
    http://empiresecuritycameras.com/products/ip-cameras/item/115-empire-security-esc-ipc1-2-0-1080p

    Set-up the camera with success and it shows nice picture on Windows software.
    Although connecting it to SecuritySpy gives me error:
    02-21-14 1811-41: Error communicating with the network device “Network camera 1” 3.0.4,80210,451

    Do you by any chance have error codes data somewhere?
    Regards,
    Mark

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Mark,

      Please download the latest 3.3. version of SecuritySpy from the SecuritySpy download page. It has ONVIF support, and the specs of the camera also mention ONVIF support, so this is the setting that is most likely to lead to success.

      Hope this helps!
      Ben

      Reply
  15. Ken Dewey

    I am trying to setup a Foscam 9821, any hints? Can’t seem to get the manual config to work.
    Thanks
    ken

    Reply
  16. Joachim Steffen

    I just bought three IPCC-B22 cameras and I can not connect them to my Security Spy.
    Could you please help?
    Thanks

    Joachim

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Joachim,

      I haven’t come across this particular one before, but it looks like a Hikvision camera, so firstly try the Hikvision profile that is already built into SecuritySpy. The camera also apparently supports ONVIF, so also try the ONVIF profile in SecuritySpy.

      Hope this helps,
      Ben

      Reply
  17. Richard

    Hi Ben
    Any idea how to connect to a SunLuxy 4 camera H.264 network dvr? I can’t figure it out yet! I don’t even know what the cameras are, I’m renting the property and have no control over the camera type!!
    RTSP port appears to be 6002. Manual says 6001 for CMD, 6002 for TCP, 6003 for Mobile.
    Thanks
    Richard

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Andreas, we have no experience of these cameras yet, however from the information you provide they should either work in SecuritySpy using the ONVIF profile, or like this:

      – In the Video Device Settings window, create a new network device.
      – Set the device type to “Manual configuration”.
      – Enter the camera’s IP address but leave the Port field empty.
      – Enter the camera’s username and password
      – Select “RTSP TCP” from the Format menu.
      – Enter h264 as the Request

      Does this work? If not, check SecuritySpy’s log file (~/Documents/SecuritySpy/Log.txt) for clues as to why.

      Reply
  18. Andreas V

    Without log/pass :
    12-21-2014 2050-30: Error communicating with the network device “AV-Sala” 3.4.3,80259,801 Data from network device not as expected

    Reply
    1. bensoftware Post author

      Hi Andreas, as mentioned above: “The 80259,801 error is a problem with the media stream itself. This indicates that you have the correct RTSP request, however there is something about the stream that SecuritySpy cannot decode. Specifically in this case it’s the “packetization mode” of the H.264 units in the stream. SecuritySpy supports the main packetization modes but not the one that the camera wants to use unfortunately.”

      It’s possible that changing the H.264 encoder settings may help. Alternatively, does the camera support any other codecs, such as JPEG or MPEG-4?

      Reply
  19. John M

    Hi there. I’m trying to connect a dvr on my network made by this crowd to Securityspy. myeye or xmeye.net but it can’t seem to detect the cameras. I have them on a monitor so they are all working and can pick them up using their in house app which is shocking. Any tips on the setting or where I’m going wrong? It does use standard http and rtsp ports

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Hi John, if the DVR supports RTSP, then it should be able to stream video to SecuritySpy. What you’d need to know is the “RTSP request” string that the DVR supports. Have a look at the user manual to see if this is mentioned, alternatively you could try contacting the manufacturer to ask them. If you let us know the exact make/model of the DVR unit we can have a look for this ourselves.

      Reply
  20. Jim

    I hunted around for the information on how to connect to a Lorex LHV1008. I assume this would also work for other LHV1000 series boxes. I tried this successfully in VNC so I assume it works in SecuritySpy as well.

    rtsp:///cam/realmonitor?channel=&subtype=

    A basic authentication prompt should accept the same credentials you use at the console of the box.

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      This is not one we’ve come across before. Try using the “Auto-Detect Profiles” button in SecuritySpy under Preferences – Cameras – Device. Make sure to enter the correct address and username/password for the camera before you run this. Does this return any working profiles?

      Reply
  21. A

    Hi,

    Picked up a couple of these https://www.grouponnz.co.nz/deals/wowwhatwho-18 no named but use Eyeplus portal for web log in and the YCC365 app on ios. Keen to use with Security spy and have tried autodetect, the eyeplus ch0_0.h264 path etc and get bad parameter after it look like its trying to connect. Would be grateful for any advice! Thanks

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      These kinds of cameras aren’t typically designed to work with standard streaming protocols (e.g. RTSP) that NVR software like SecuritySpy uses to connect to IP cameras, so unfortunately you might be out of luck here. What (if anything) comes back from the Auto-Detect Profiles procedure in SecuritySpy? What iOS app is used to manage the cameras?

      Reply
  22. Scott

    Hey.

    First off, thanks for taking the time to reply to so many comments! I’ve read through most of them trying to get my smart camera to work with Security Spy with no luck.

    The camera I got is https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07XNSHN7W/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    I can access the RTSP stream by putting the url into VLC or my web browser and I get a live video feed. Doesn’t ask for a password or anything. However I can not find how to set this up in security spy. It uses the Tuya/Smart Life app to setup the camera if that helps at all? Http port is 80 and RTSP is 554.

    Security Spy automatically detects the camera, appears under “Auto Discovered ONVIF Devices”, but when I try to auto detect a profile it doesn’t find any. Hopefully you have some tips for me to try and get this working!

    Thanks again.

    Reply
    1. Ben Software Post author

      Hi Scott,

      Have you tried using the ONVIF profile to set up the camera in SecuritySpy? You’ll most likely need to enter the camera’s username and password too.

      If not, then you should be able to use the information from the VLC URL in order to set up the camera in SecuritySpy. The anatomy of an RTSP URL is this:

      rtsp://address:port/request

      So in SecuritySpy:

      – Select “Manual configuration” as the Profile
      – Enter the address
      – Select RTSP as the Format
      – Enter the request (i.e. the bit after the last forward slash character)
      – Leave the Port boxes empty (554 is the standard RTSP port so will be used automatically).

      Does that work?

      Reply
      1. Scott

        Doesn’t seem to be working. The ONVIF profile doesn’t work – however I am not sure if there is a username password combo, and I don’t need to enter any username or password in VLC or on a web browser (which in turns opens VLC) to see the stream. I literally just put in rtsp://xx.xx.xx.xx into either a web browser or on the open URL part of VLC and the stream appears.

        Reply
          1. Ben Software Post author

            Hi Scott,

            0/video0 would be the correct Request to use, according to that URL. Are you sure everything else is entered correctly? If you want us to have a look at this for you, please email support@bensoftware.com and provide screenshots of your setup, and also the log file (File menu in SecuritySpy -> Open Log).

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