# RTSP Live Streaming for Amcrest & Reolink POE Cameras in Homey **URL:** \ **Category:** Devices\ **Tags:** dashboard, camera, virtual-device\ **Created:** [December 21, 2025, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/rtsp-live-streaming-for-amcrest-reolink-poe-cameras-in-homey/147521 "2025-12-21T14:45:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bud\_M](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/bud_m/32/97809_2.png) [@Bud\_M](https://community.homey.app/u/Bud_M)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2025, 2:45pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/rtsp-live-streaming-for-amcrest-reolink-poe-cameras-in-homey/147521/1 "2025-12-21T14:45:14Z")
I have created a [video](https://youtu.be/ZQXybGTrxr0) that walks through the steps for [enabling the Virtual Devices Experiment](https://tinyurl.com/2df8f7rm) and setting up live camera streaming in Homey using RTSP. The [video](https://youtu.be/ZQXybGTrxr0) demonstrates live streaming for both Amcrest and Reolink cameras inside the Homey app. Below, I have included the RTSP URL formats that I am currently using for my Amcrest and Reolink cameras. If you are using a different camera brand, you can typically find the correct RTSP URL format by searching the manufacturer’s RTSP documentation or support pages. Please note that you must replace the values for `username`, `password`, `cameraIP`, and `channel `with your own camera credentials and network details. The remaining URL syntax should remain unchanged. **Amcrest RTSP URLs** Main Stream rtsp://username:password@cameraIP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 Sub Stream _\*\*_ rtsp://username:password@cameraIP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=1 **Reolink RTSP URLs** Main Stream rtsp://username:password@cameraIP:554/h264Preview\_01\_main Sub Stream _\*\*_ rtsp://username:password@cameraIP:554/h264Preview\_01\_sub _\*\* The sub stream is lower resolution and lower bitrate. This is the version most Homey users report as most stable when used with Virtual Devices._ ---
**Author:** ![Bubiai\_2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@Bubiai\_2](https://community.homey.app/u/Bubiai_2)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2026, 7:42pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/rtsp-live-streaming-for-amcrest-reolink-poe-cameras-in-homey/147521/2 "2026-01-03T19:42:02Z")
I connected the ezviz cameras. played in the dashboards… rtsp://user:psw@192.168…:554/Streaming/Channels/101?transportmode=unicast&profile=Profile\_1 ---
**Author:** ![Anoniemand](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/anoniemand/32/120697_2.png) [@Anoniemand](https://community.homey.app/u/Anoniemand)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2026, 9:59am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/rtsp-live-streaming-for-amcrest-reolink-poe-cameras-in-homey/147521/3 "2026-01-04T09:59:07Z")
Thanks. Got it working. If you use special characters in your password you can use url encoding to fix it. Some examples: 1. `@` → `%40` 2. `:` → `%3A` 3. `/` → `%2F` 4. `?` → `%3F` 5. `#` → `%23` 6. `&` → `%26` 7. `=` → `%3D` ---
**Author:** ![SoundandCo\_Warehouse](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/soundandco_warehouse/32/120719_2.png) [@SoundandCo\_Warehouse](https://community.homey.app/u/SoundandCo_Warehouse)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/rtsp-live-streaming-for-amcrest-reolink-poe-cameras-in-homey/147521/4 "2026-02-20T20:34:11Z")
Hi There, i’m using a Ajax doorbel to stream an RTSP link. If i open the widget the video plays, but if i want to show the video live in my dashboard, it says that the player coult not identify the audio or video codec. ![IMG_0045](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/7/4/742b4d85d6d8187c74679357db820aa85d70e996.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![SoundandCo\_Warehouse](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/soundandco_warehouse/32/120719_2.png) [@SoundandCo\_Warehouse](https://community.homey.app/u/SoundandCo_Warehouse)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/rtsp-live-streaming-for-amcrest-reolink-poe-cameras-in-homey/147521/5 "2026-02-20T20:34:57Z")
![EC83AC44-0647-4690-BCE2-11F6B2EB153B_1_102_o](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/1/b/1b4d8ce9ff48e4bc2b8290d44c419f021e5ff9af.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Bud\_M](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/bud_m/32/97809_2.png) [@Bud\_M](https://community.homey.app/u/Bud_M)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/rtsp-live-streaming-for-amcrest-reolink-poe-cameras-in-homey/147521/6 "2026-02-20T21:01:38Z")
Homey’s dashboard video tile is a bit more restrictive than the widget. The dashboard typically expects H.264 video (and AAC audio). If your Ajax doorbell is using H.265 or a different audio codec, that can trigger the “could not identify codec” error. If your doorbell allows it, try switching the stream to H.264 and AAC in the camera settings, or create a secondary substream using H.264 specifically for Homey.