Help setting up an IP Camera

Configuration
1

I’m trying to setup an IP camera, and I’m having some trouble with it.

As far as i understand i should probably use this component: Generic IP Camera, however, my problem is that, as far as i know, my ip camera does not support a generic still image url. I can ONLY get it to work with a rtsp stream, and thats my problem, because even though the component has a stream_source variable, to place such a url in, the still_image_url seems to be required, and i don’t have such a thing.

Does anyone have any suggestions? The camera i have is Sricam SP012, and from the various guides I’ve found around the web, my camera only seem to support the rtsp protocol, all the suggested Urls i’ve found using http, to get either MJPEG or JPEG doesn’t work for me

2

https://www.ispyconnect.com/man.aspx?n=sricam&page=2

The snapshot URL from iSpy says this:
http://192.168.1.xxx/snapshot.cgi?usr=[USERNAME]&pwd=[PASSWORD]

or

http://192.168.1.xxx/snapshot.cgi?camera=[CHANNEL]

or

http://192.168.1.xxx/tmpfs/auto.jpg

You should substitute your camera username and password values for the bracketed and capitalized values. Do not include the brackets in your URL. If you can use this in your browser, it should work in your configuration.yaml file.

1 Like
3

Yeah as i stated, I’ve already tried all those URLs, but to no avail. Of course substituting the USERNAME and PASSWORD with mine. CHANNEL is, as far as i can tell, supposed to be 0, but not of them work. I simply get a “refused to connect” message. I’ve tried loads of other URLs too, but none work. I can only get rtsp to work through VLC.

4

Even though i can get the rtsp url to work through VLC i cannot get the same url to work in Home assistant. It just buffers forever in Home assistant. My configuration.yaml looks like so:

# IP cameras
camera:
  - platform: generic
    name: "Stald cam"
    still_image_url: http://random-web-url-to-jpg.jpg
    username: "USER"
    password: "PASS"
    stream_source: "rtsp://192.168.1.76/onvif1"

The above stream_source url works in VLC even without username and password, which i have also tried without in the configuration.yaml. Also tried with the quotation marks

5

As it’s generic camera, we are in the same boat I presume - here’s my story.
Have you added stream: in your configuration.yaml?

6

Try ffmpeg component instead

It takes RTSP and displays still in frontend that’s updated every 10s

Video shows when click on still

Generic is OK but video loading was slower for me when compared to ffmpeg but is best if stream to Chromecast is needed. Using both ffmpeg and generic is possible in that case

1 Like
7

This actually works in the preview. However when i try to open the card it just loads forever. The miniature card (before i click it) is also updated every 10 seconds as you say. Wonder why it wont show when opening the card hmm…

8

thanks for the hint, ffmpeg camera works form me as it initially worked for generic_camera.
maybe a tad slower, but still better than nothing and I have proper still picture in frontend.

9

Hardware?

On RasPi I almost never got this to load.
Old Synology was same.

I move to beefier server and this loaded faster. Basically never load to loads within 2seconds. This is on 2010 Intel chip so still slow image processing but infinitely better.

Recent HA updates (about time Stream component was added) I notice load time increase but not sure if it is HA related or several related server side changes I made

10

Using a Raspberry Pi 3 with a fast sd card. Everything else is actually running quite fast and smooth, so it is rather wierd if this would be an issue

11

I have the same config as the TS, Hass.io @ RPi3 & 32GB sd card

12

Did you ever find a resolution to this issue? I have the same problem…

13

Nope still not working. I live with the preview being updated every 10 seconds for now, and open an app on my phone to view it realtime if need be.

I’m lucky enough that the camera is non critical

14

Got it. Thanks!

15

is that still image url necessary?

16

For some unknown reason, yes

1 Like
17

It works, thanks.
Next, I want to configure my USB webcam through motion eye. Do you know how? I am running on home assistant OS in raspberry pi 3. I can’t find any walkthrough. Thanks before.

18

I think i have same problem with my camera , but one day i try this still and work like a charm:

curl “http://[user]:[passw]@192.168.x.x/webcapture.jpg?command=snap&channel=1” >> image.jpg

still_image_url: http://[user]:[passw]@192.168.x.x/webcapture.jpg?command=snap&channel=1

good luck

19

For anyone stumbling upon this, that is using the brand andowl, or “HD IPC” software, the snapshot seems to be located at http://IP:6688/snapshot.jpg

1 Like
20

Thanks. I have one of these. Can work on it via mobile CareCam app but not from browser. Prompts for user id and password which I do not have and manual is lost.

1 Like