Testing Cameras with VLC

VLC is an industry-standard video player used to test camera streams independently of your TetherBox. If a camera works in VLC, the issue is with how it's configured in TetherX. If it doesn't work in VLC, the problem is with the camera itself.

Why Test with VLC?

VLC eliminates variables:

• Tests the camera stream directly without TetherX processing
• Confirms the stream URL and credentials are correct
• Verifies the camera is producing valid video
• Diagnoses codec and streaming protocol issues

Step 1: Get Stream URL and Credentials

1. Go to Admin → Cameras on the TetherX Platform
2. Click your camera name to open the details page
3. Copy the Analytics URL from the URLs section
4. Note the camera's username and password (shown in the Credentials section)

Step 2: Download and Install VLC

If you don't already have VLC installed:

1. Visit videolan.org/vlc
2. Download VLC for your operating system (Windows, Mac, or Linux)
3. Install and launch VLC

Step 3: Open Network Stream

In VLC:

1. Click Media → Open Network Stream (Windows/Linux)
   • Or File → Open Network (Mac)
2. Paste the Analytics URL into the network URL field
3. Click Play

If credentials are required:

1. VLC will prompt for username and password
2. Enter the camera credentials from step 1
3. Click OK

Understanding the Results

VLC Plays Correctly

Common TetherX configuration issues:

• Wrong stream URL in TetherX (using substream instead of mainstream)
• Incorrect codec settings
• TetherBox CPU overload preventing recording
• Network bandwidth limitations

VLC Shows an Error

Common camera errors in VLC:

"VLC is unable to open the MRL"

• URL is incorrect or malformed
• Camera is offline or unreachable
• Firewall blocking the connection

"401 Unauthorized" or Authentication Failed

• Credentials are incorrect
• Camera requires special characters to be URL-encoded
• Camera has multiple user accounts with different permissions

"Connection timed out"

• Camera is not responding on the network
• IP address is wrong or has changed
• Network routing issue between your computer and camera

Black screen or frozen frame

• Camera is online but not producing video
• Camera lens cover is on
• Camera is in a failed state and needs rebooting

"Codec not supported" or garbled video

• Camera is using an incompatible codec (e.g., proprietary formats)
• Stream is corrupted
• Camera firmware is outdated or buggy

Testing Both Streams

Most cameras provide multiple streams (mainstream and substream). Test both:

Mainstream (high quality):

• Used for recording
• Higher resolution (1080p, 4K)
• Higher bitrate
• Usually on channel 101 or path /Streaming/Channels/101

Substream (low quality):

• Used for live view and analytics
• Lower resolution (720p, D1)
• Lower bitrate
• Usually on channel 102 or path /Streaming/Channels/102

How to find stream URLs:

• Check the camera's web interface (Network → Streaming)
• Refer to manufacturer documentation
• Common formats: rtsp://IP:554/Streaming/Channels/101

Advanced Testing

Check Stream Information

In VLC, while playing the stream:

1. Click Tools → Codec Information (Windows/Linux)
   • Or Window → Media Information (Mac)
2. Review the codec details:
   • Codec: Should be H.264 or H.265
   • Resolution: Check it matches camera settings
   • Frame rate: Should be 15-30 fps for most cameras
   • Bitrate: Higher = better quality but more bandwidth

Save Stream for Analysis

If you need to send a sample to support:

1. While stream is playing in VLC, click Media → Convert/Save
2. Add the network stream URL
3. Click Convert/Save (not just Play)
4. Choose a destination file and format (MP4 recommended)
5. Click Start to record 10-20 seconds of video

This captures exactly what VLC receives, helping diagnose issues.

Common Manufacturer Stream Formats

Hikvision:

rtsp://IP:554/Streaming/Channels/101  (mainstream)
rtsp://IP:554/Streaming/Channels/102  (substream)

Dahua:

rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0  (mainstream)
rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=1  (substream)

Axis:

rtsp://IP/axis-media/media.amp?videocodec=h264

Uniview:

rtsp://IP:554/media/video1  (mainstream)
rtsp://IP:554/media/video2  (substream)

Troubleshooting VLC Issues

VLC crashes or freezes:

• Update to the latest VLC version
• Try a different computer to rule out local issues
• Camera may be sending malformed data (camera firmware issue)

Stream works initially then stops:

• Camera may have connection limits (max 5 simultaneous streams, etc.)
• Disconnect other viewers and try again
• Some cameras drop RTSP connections after timeout - normal behaviour

Audio issues:

• Many cameras don't support audio or have it disabled
• Check camera settings to enable audio streaming
• VLC may show video but no audio if codec is unsupported

Next Steps

If VLC works:

• Check TetherBox configuration matches the working URL
• Verify stream type (mainstream vs substream) is correct
• Review TetherBox CPU usage and available bandwidth
• Submit support request with VLC success screenshot

If VLC doesn't work:

• Try accessing camera web interface directly (http://camera-ip)
• Update camera firmware to latest version
• Factory reset camera and reconfigure
• Contact camera manufacturer support with error details