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How to Connect to Amcrest IP Camera in C# .NET

Video Capture SDK .Net Media Blocks SDK .Net

Brand Overview

Amcrest (Amcrest Technologies LLC) is an American consumer security camera brand based in Houston, Texas. Amcrest cameras are manufactured by Dahua Technology and use Dahua firmware and protocols. This means Amcrest cameras share identical RTSP URL patterns, web interfaces, and API endpoints with Dahua cameras. Amcrest has become one of the best-selling IP camera brands on Amazon in North America.

Key facts:

  • Product lines: IP2M (1080p), IP4M (4MP), IP5M (5MP), IP8M (4K/8MP), ASH (smart home), NV (NVRs)
  • Protocol support: RTSP, ONVIF, HTTP/CGI, Amcrest Cloud, RTMP
  • Default RTSP port: 554
  • Default credentials: admin / admin (must be changed on first login with newer firmware)
  • ONVIF support: Yes (all current models)
  • Video codecs: H.264 (all models), H.265 (IP4M and newer)
  • OEM base: Dahua (identical RTSP URL format)

Amcrest = Dahua

Amcrest cameras use Dahua firmware and the exact same RTSP URL format as Dahua cameras. If you're familiar with Dahua integration, Amcrest works identically. See our Dahua connection guide for additional details.

RTSP URL Patterns

Standard URL Format

Amcrest uses the Dahua cam/realmonitor URL pattern:

rtsp://[USERNAME]:[PASSWORD]@[IP]:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0
Parameter Value Description
channel 1, 2, 3... Camera channel (1 for standalone cameras)
subtype 0 Main stream (highest resolution)
subtype 1 Sub stream (lower resolution, less bandwidth)
subtype 2 Third stream (if supported, mobile-optimized)

Camera Models

Model Resolution Main Stream URL Audio
IP2M-841 (1080p bullet) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 Yes
IP2M-844 (1080p dome) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 Yes
IP4M-1051 (4MP bullet) 2688x1520 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 Yes
IP5M-T1179E (5MP turret) 2592x1944 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 Yes
IP8M-2493E (4K bullet) 3840x2160 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 Yes
IP8M-T2599E (4K turret) 3840x2160 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 Yes
ASH-41 (pan/tilt) 2560x1440 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 Yes
ASH-42 (indoor) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 Yes

NVR Channel URLs

For Amcrest NVRs (NV4108E, NV4216E, NV5216E, etc.):

Channel Main Stream Sub Stream
Camera 1 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=1
Camera 2 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=2&subtype=0 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=2&subtype=1
Camera N rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=N&subtype=0 rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=N&subtype=1

Alternative URL Formats

Some older Amcrest models or firmware versions support these alternative URLs:

URL Pattern Notes
rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 Standard (recommended)
rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0&unicast=true Force unicast
rtsp://IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0&proto=Onvif ONVIF-compatible

Connecting with VisioForge SDK

Use your Amcrest camera's RTSP URL with any of the three SDK approaches shown in the Quick Start Guide:

// Amcrest IP4M-1051, main stream
var uri = new Uri("rtsp://192.168.1.90:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0");
var username = "admin";
var password = "YourPassword";

For sub-stream access, use subtype=1 instead of subtype=0.

Snapshot and MJPEG URLs

Type URL Pattern Notes
JPEG Snapshot http://IP/cgi-bin/snapshot.cgi?channel=1 Requires basic auth
JPEG Snapshot (legacy) http://IP/cgi-bin/snapshot.cgi?loginuse=USER&loginpas=PASS URL-based auth
MJPEG Stream http://IP/cgi-bin/mjpg/video.cgi?channel=1&subtype=1 Continuous MJPEG
Current image http://IP/onvif-http/snapshot?channel=1 ONVIF HTTP snapshot

Troubleshooting

"401 Unauthorized" error

Amcrest cameras with newer firmware require the password to be changed from the default on first login. If you haven't set up the camera via the web interface or Amcrest app yet:

  1. Access the camera at http://CAMERA_IP in a browser
  2. Complete the initial setup wizard
  3. Set a strong password
  4. Use those credentials in your RTSP URL

Port 554 vs custom port

Some Amcrest firmware versions allow changing the RTSP port. Check the port setting at:

  • Web interface: Setup > Network > Port > RTSP Port
  • Default is 554

Stream type confusion

  • subtype=0 = Main stream (full resolution, higher bandwidth)
  • subtype=1 = Sub stream (reduced resolution, lower bandwidth)
  • subtype=2 = Third stream (if available, typically for mobile)

Amcrest SmartHome (ASH) cameras

The ASH series cameras (like ASH-41, ASH-42) use the same RTSP URL format but some models require enabling RTSP in the Amcrest Smart Home app first.

FAQ

Are Amcrest and Dahua cameras the same?

Amcrest cameras are manufactured by Dahua and use Dahua firmware. The RTSP URL format (cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0) is identical. Any code written for Dahua cameras works with Amcrest and vice versa. The main differences are branding, warranty, and North American support.

What is the default RTSP URL for Amcrest cameras?

The URL is rtsp://admin:password@CAMERA_IP:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 for the main stream. Replace channel=1 with the appropriate channel for NVR setups and subtype=0 with subtype=1 for the sub stream.

Do Amcrest cameras support ONVIF?

Yes. All current Amcrest cameras support ONVIF Profile S and Profile T. ONVIF is enabled by default on most models.

Can I use Amcrest cameras without the Amcrest cloud?

Yes. RTSP, ONVIF, and the web interface all work locally without any cloud dependency. The Amcrest cloud service is optional and only needed for remote viewing through Amcrest's apps.