Synology camera RTSP and ONVIF setup

Choose between a camera and a NAS endpoint

If the device label says BC500, TC500 or another Synology camera model, consult that camera documentation. If your video is managed by Surveillance Station on a NAS, decide whether you need a direct camera connection or a stream made available by the recording system. The NAS address, camera address and their account permissions should not be substituted for one another.

Synology publishes a platform compatibility table because supported destinations differ between camera models. The current setup article describes a Third-Party ONVIF operating mode. Review the existing recording arrangement before changing that mode, especially when the camera is already used by another Synology application.

Initialize and select the documented third-party mode

1. Locate the camera IP address and complete its initialization using the model manual. Keep the configured device credentials available for an authorized local connection.
2. Read the installed firmware version and the model entry in Synology platform documentation. Update through the supported process if required options are unavailable.
3. For the supported third-party workflow, open the camera web interface and follow General > Advanced to select Third-Party (ONVIF), as documented by Synology.
4. Discover the camera from the same LAN with an authorized account, select a returned media profile, and test that URI in SmartRTSP before adjusting quality.

Use the camera URI rather than a guessed NAS address

The BC500 product manual documents a direct camera RTSP workflow after initialization. Use the path and authentication requirements for the firmware you run, or retrieve the profile URI through ONVIF. A browser link used to share a Surveillance Station live view is not automatically an RTSP URI. Request the appropriate documented sharing method from the NAS administrator if the recorder must remain the stream source.

Firmware can change the available ONVIF features

BC500 release notes record the addition of ONVIF Profile S and later additional configuration through Profile T. This makes firmware part of the compatibility check rather than an incidental detail. Do not interpret the presence of video as proof that every imaging, event or recording function is available to every viewer. Verify the specific feature required by your deployment and preserve a known working video profile.

Diagnose account, mode and media separately

If the camera is not discovered, check its selected mode and the permitted network route before changing passwords. If login fails, use the camera account for direct access and the NAS account only for a NAS endpoint. If video connects but does not render, test a supported H.264 profile and review the configured resolution. Keep camera administration private. Reviewed on 2026-10-18 against Synology camera setup, BC500 documentation and release notes; this guide does not claim physical testing of the camera range.

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.

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.

• Set up Synology Camera on different platforms
• BC500 product manual
• BC500 firmware release notes