Camera compatibility guide

Connect a PTZOptics RTSP video feed

PTZOptics production cameras can offer several network protocols, but their stream names and web interfaces vary. Select the guide for your model and generation before adding the camera to SmartRTSP. RTSP viewing and camera movement are separate capabilities.

Check model and web UI generation

The examples below are limited to the named PTZOptics documentation. Manufacturer sources were reviewed on 2026-10-18; the page does not represent an independent hardware test or a certification of every PTZOptics model.

Documentation checked: 2026-10-18. This guide is not a physical-camera test or model certification.

Rise 4K: enable the RTSP pull service

The Rise 4K streaming documentation describes an RTSP setting and a stream1 address. RTSP is a client-requested feed: the viewer connects to the camera. An RTMP server destination or a successful live broadcast is a different configuration and does not prove that the RTSP service is enabled.

Confirm the actual address in the camera web interface and use the port configured there. If authentication is available, keep it enabled and supply the device account rather than assuming that an unauthenticated demonstration URL is the recommended setup.

rtsp://CAMERA_IP:RTSP_PORT/stream1

Do not mix stream names across generations

The manufacturer also publishes Link 4K examples ending in /1 and /2 in its Hive documentation. These differ from the Rise 4K example above. A Hive compatibility listing describes that manufacturer service; it is not a SmartRTSP device certification.

Generation-three encoding settings also differ by product. Check the main and secondary stream options shown on your own Move, Link or other model. Choose a codec, resolution and frame rate that the receiving platform can decode; a camera advertising H.265 does not guarantee identical H.265 behavior on every viewer device.

A practical local-network checklist

  1. Read the complete model label and identify the matching PTZOptics web UI generation.
  2. Power and connect the camera according to its hardware guide, then find its local address.
  3. Sign in to the camera web interface and configure a unique device password.
  4. Enable RTSP in the relevant streaming settings and note the actual RTSP port and authentication setting.
  5. Select an enabled video stream and copy the path documented for that model, preserving its spelling and numbering.
  6. Add the address in SmartRTSP and verify local video. Repeat with the configured secondary stream if a lighter feed is needed.

Separate viewing, movement and production workflows

A moving PTZ camera may be controlled by a joystick, VISCA connection or another supported control interface while its video is delivered over RTSP. Do not treat a visible picture as proof that presets, zoom, tally, tracking or remote production controls are supported by the viewing app.

If the camera web page works but RTSP fails, compare protocol enablement, port, exact path and account permissions first. If playback starts but becomes unstable, try a lower-bandwidth profile and fewer simultaneous clients. Keep production control and viewing access limited to trusted users on the local network.

Check each feature independently

Start on the same local network with the exact model, firmware and account permissions. A working video stream does not prove support for ONVIF discovery, pan or tilt, two-way audio, events, or every recording feature. Test the features you need in your installed SmartRTSP app.

Keep camera credentials private. Do not expose camera ports to the public internet just to test local viewing. Manufacturer cloud accounts, device accounts and generated sharing links are not interchangeable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use /stream1 or /1?

Use the path for the exact camera and firmware. Rise 4K documentation uses /stream1; other manufacturer examples use /1 and /2. They are not interchangeable brand-wide defaults.

Will SmartRTSP replace my PTZOptics joystick?

An RTSP video connection does not establish joystick, VISCA, preset or tracking compatibility. Verify the control capability separately.

Why does my RTMP broadcast work while RTSP does not?

RTMP publishing and RTSP viewing use different settings. Check that the RTSP service and chosen stream are enabled and that the viewer can reach the configured port.

Official sources and scope

Read the documentation for the exact model before changing settings. Manufacturer menus, firmware and service availability can change. These sources explain the published connection conditions, not independently verified SmartRTSP hardware compatibility.