Introduction to Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP)

Explore viewing Reolink cameras through 3rd party software via RTMP protocol, delving into how to configure RTMP URLs for achieving your goals.

1. Reolink Camera compatibility

Browse Reolink's product lineup to identify which cameras support RTMP protocol, as detailed in the following table of supported requirement.

2. Introduction

Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) is a widely-used technology for video-on-demand and real-time video streaming. It ensures a stable connection between a media server and Flash Player by utilizing TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) for packet transfer.

RTMP has become the standard protocol for transmitting multimedia data over the internet. It offers low latency for on-demand and live video streaming. RTMP operates on top of TCP, sending data in smaller segments to maintain order. Despite the decreasing usage of Flash Player, RTMP is still essential for streaming applications. Platforms like YouTube and Facebook rely on it for low-latency streaming and stable connections.

3. Request for RTMP URL

The RTMP streaming process consists of three main components: an encoder, a streaming server, and a media player. Here’s how it works:

1. Encoder: This component takes audio and video content, converts it into a streamable format, and then sends the encoded data to the streaming server. 

2. Streaming Server: The server acts as an intermediary, distributing content to connected viewers.

3. Media Player: When a viewer wants to watch a live stream or video on demand, the media player sends a request to the streaming server. The server establishes a direct connection with the media player using the RTMP protocol, and the encoded multimedia data is transmitted to the media player for decoding and playback.

4. RTMP URL Formats for Different Stream Modes

• Camera Standalone Usage

  1. Main Stream URL:
  rtmp://(ip address)/bcs/channel0_main.bcs?channel=(channel id)&stream=0&user=(user name)&password=(user password)
  2. Ext Stream URL:
  rtmp://(ip address)/bcs/channel0_ext.bcs?channel=(channel id)&stream=0&user=(user name)&password=(user password)
  3. Sub Stream URL:
  rtmp://(ip address)/bcs/channel0_sub.bcs?channel=(channel id)&stream=1&user=(user name)&password=(user password)

• Usage with Reolink NVR/Home Hub

  To view cameras connected to the Reolink NVRs and Reolink Home Hubs, the username and password in the URL should be the ones for NVR and Home Hub. The “channel id” starts from 0. You can change the channel number to view different cameras.

  For example, if your NVR/Home Hub has the following information:
  IP address: 192.168.10.23 / username: admin / password: 111111

  Preview the third channel of the NVR
  rtmp://192.168.0.206/bcs/channel2_main.bcs?channel=2&stream=0&user=admin&password=111111

  Preview the third channel of the Home Hub
  rtmp://192.168.0.206/bcs/channel2_main.bcs?channel=2&stream=0&user=admin&password=111111

  For checking the channel under Home Hub, there are 2 ways.

  • Use http(s): http://192.168.10.92/api.cgi?cmd=GetChannelstatus&user=admin&password=111111 
  • Login to Home Hub via web browser locally: How to Access Reolink Cameras/NVRs/Home Hub Locally via Web Browsers
    

  💡 On Reolink NVR and Reolink Home Hub, each preview session of battery-powered WiFi cameras can only last up to 5 minutes.

• Special Usage with Reolink TrackMix/TrackFlex Series, Duo PoE/Duo WiFi (1st generation) and RLC-81MA

  For the above-mentioned models that feature dual lenses, special attention is required when using the second lens URL. When accessing the second lens feed, you must use the following URL format. Additionally, when these cameras are added to a Reolink NVR or Home Hub series, you’ll also need to use the following URL for the second lens. After that, modify the channel ID based on the camera’s channel in the Reolink NVR or Home Hub series.

  For Reolink TrackMix/TrackFlex Series Tracking lens, the URL will be:

  1. Main Stream URL: 
     rtmp://(ip address)/bcs/channel0_autotrack_main.bcs?channel=(channel id)&stream=0&user=(user name)&password=(user password)
  2. Sub Stream URL: 
     rtmp://(ip address)/bcs/channel0_autotrack_sub.bcs?channel=(channel id)&stream=0&user=(user name)&password=(user password)

  For Reolink Duo PoE/Duo WiFi (1st generation, exclude Duo 2/Duo 3 series), this model has two separate camera feeds, each associated with a different lens. The URL for the second lens feed is as follows:

  1. Main Stream URL:
     rtmp://(ip address)/bcs/channel1_main.bcs?channel=(channel id)&stream=0&user=(user name)&password=(user password)
  2. Ext Stream URL:
     rtmp://(ip address)/bcs/channel1_ext.bcs?channel=(channel id)&stream=0&user=(user name)&password=(user password)
  3. Sub Stream URL:
     rtmp://(ip address)/bcs/channel1_sub.bcs?channel=(channel id)&stream=1&user=(user name)&password=(user password)

  For Reolink RLC-81MA Telephoto lens, the URL will be:

  1. Main Stream URL: 
     rtmp://(ip address)/bcs/channel0_telephoto_main.bcs?channel=(channel id)&stream=0&user=(user name)&password=(user password)
  2. Sub Stream URL: 
     rtmp://(ip address)/bcs/channel0_telephoto_sub.bcs?channel=(channel id)&stream=0&user=(user name)&password=(user password)

Notes:

RTMP only supports videos encoded in H.264 format. Since the highest resolution of Reolink 8MP/12MP cameras is encoded in H.265 format, they cannot be displayed via RTMP. If you want to view 8MP/12MP cameras using clear stream mode, you can lower their resolution to under 4K.