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

Video Capture SDK .Net Media Blocks SDK .Net

Brand Overview

INSTAR (INSTAR Deutschland GmbH) is a German IP camera manufacturer headquartered in Hanau, Germany. INSTAR specializes in affordable indoor and outdoor IP cameras for the consumer and small business market, with a strong presence in Europe, particularly Germany. INSTAR cameras are known for local storage options, MQTT smart home integration (Home Assistant, ioBroker, Node-RED), and straightforward setup.

Key facts:

  • Product lines: IN-2xxx/3xxx/4xxx (legacy VGA), IN-5xxx (720p), IN-6xxx (720p HD), IN-7xxx (1080p Full HD), IN-8xxx (current 1080p+), IN-9xxx (current 4K/WQHD)
  • Protocol support: RTSP, HTTP, ONVIF (IN-6xxx and newer), MQTT
  • Default RTSP port: 554
  • Default credentials: admin / instar (varies by model)
  • ONVIF support: Yes (IN-6xxx, IN-7xxx, IN-8xxx, IN-9xxx series)
  • Video codecs: H.265 (IN-9xxx), H.264 (IN-6xxx/7xxx/8xxx), MPEG-4 (IN-5xxx), MJPEG (legacy IN-2xxx/3xxx/4xxx)

RTSP URL Patterns

INSTAR cameras use a distinctive URL format with a double forward slash before the stream number.

URL Format (HD Models)

rtsp://[USERNAME]:[PASSWORD]@[IP]:554//11

Double forward slash

INSTAR HD cameras use a double forward slash (//) before the stream number. Using a single slash will result in a connection failure.

HD Models (IN-6xxx / IN-7xxx / IN-8xxx / IN-9xxx)

Stream RTSP URL Resolution Notes
Main stream rtsp://IP:554//11 Full resolution H.264 / H.265
Sub stream rtsp://IP:554//12 Lower resolution Bandwidth-friendly
Third stream rtsp://IP:554//13 Mobile optimized Lowest resolution

Model-Specific URLs

Model RTSP URL Resolution Type
IN-6012 HD rtsp://IP:554//11 720p Indoor pan/tilt
IN-6014 HD rtsp://IP:554//11 720p Indoor
IN-7011 HD rtsp://IP:554//11 1080p Indoor pan/tilt
IN-8015 Full HD rtsp://IP:554//11 1080p Indoor/Outdoor
IN-9008 Full HD rtsp://IP:554//11 1080p+ Outdoor PoE
IN-9020 Full HD rtsp://IP:554//11 WQHD/4K Outdoor PoE

Older 720p Models (IN-5xxx -- MPEG-4)

IN-5xxx cameras use a different RTSP path with MPEG-4 encoding:

Model RTSP URL Resolution Notes
IN-5905 HD rtsp://IP:554/MediaInput/mpeg4 720p Outdoor
IN-5907 HD rtsp://IP:554/MediaInput/mpeg4 720p Outdoor

Legacy Models (IN-2xxx / IN-3xxx / IN-4xxx -- HTTP Only)

Legacy VGA-resolution INSTAR cameras do not support RTSP. They use HTTP-based streaming only:

Model Series HTTP URL Type Notes
IN-2xxx/3xxx/4xxx http://IP/videostream.asf?user=USER&pwd=PASS&resolution=32&rate=0 ASF stream VGA resolution
IN-2xxx/3xxx/4xxx http://IP/videostream.cgi?rate=11 MJPEG No audio
IN-2xxx/3xxx/4xxx http://IP//iphone/11?USER:PASS& Mobile stream iPhone-compatible

Connecting with VisioForge SDK

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

// INSTAR IN-8015 Full HD, main stream -- note the double forward slash!
var uri = new Uri("rtsp://192.168.1.50:554//11");
var username = "admin";
var password = "instar";

For sub-stream access, use //12 instead of //11.

Snapshot and MJPEG URLs

Type URL Pattern Notes
Snapshot (HD) http://IP/tmpfs/auto.jpg IN-6xxx/7xxx/8xxx/9xxx
Snapshot (HD, auth) http://IP/snap.jpg?usr=USER&pwd=PASS With credentials
Snapshot (legacy) http://IP/snapshot.cgi IN-2xxx/3xxx/4xxx
Snapshot (legacy, auth) http://IP/snapshot.jpg?user=USER&pwd=PASS Legacy with credentials
ASF Stream (legacy) http://IP/videostream.asf?user=USER&pwd=PASS&resolution=32&rate=0 VGA ASF
MJPEG Stream (legacy) http://IP/videostream.cgi?rate=11 Legacy MJPEG

Troubleshooting

Double forward slash is required

The most common INSTAR connection issue is forgetting the double forward slash before the stream number. The correct URL is rtsp://IP:554//11 (two slashes), not rtsp://IP:554/11 (one slash).

Legacy cameras have no RTSP support

IN-2xxx, IN-3xxx, and IN-4xxx cameras are HTTP-only. They do not support RTSP at all. Use the ASF or MJPEG HTTP streaming URLs for these models.

IN-5xxx uses a different RTSP path

IN-5xxx cameras use rtsp://IP:554/MediaInput/mpeg4 instead of the //11 path used by newer HD models. If the //11 URL fails on a 720p INSTAR camera, check whether your model is from the IN-5xxx series.

MQTT and smart home integration

INSTAR cameras support MQTT for integration with Home Assistant, ioBroker, and Node-RED. MQTT is used for camera control and event notifications, not for video streaming. For video integration with smart home platforms, use the RTSP URL.

PoE availability

IN-8xxx and IN-9xxx outdoor models support Power over Ethernet (PoE), allowing a single cable for both power and data. Indoor models typically require a separate power adapter.

Credentials vary by model

While the common default credentials are admin / instar, some models may use different defaults. Check the camera's documentation or label for the factory credentials. INSTAR cameras typically require changing the default password during initial setup.

FAQ

What is the default RTSP URL for INSTAR cameras?

For current HD models (IN-6xxx, IN-7xxx, IN-8xxx, IN-9xxx), the URL is rtsp://admin:instar@CAMERA_IP:554//11. Note the double forward slash before 11. For IN-5xxx models, use rtsp://admin:instar@CAMERA_IP:554/MediaInput/mpeg4.

Do all INSTAR cameras support RTSP?

No. Legacy models (IN-2xxx, IN-3xxx, IN-4xxx) are VGA-resolution cameras that only support HTTP-based streaming in ASF or MJPEG format. All IN-5xxx and newer cameras support RTSP.

What is the difference between stream //11, //12, and //13?

Stream //11 is the main (highest quality) stream, //12 is a lower-resolution sub stream suitable for remote viewing over limited bandwidth, and //13 is a mobile-optimized third stream with the lowest resolution.

Do INSTAR cameras support ONVIF?

Yes. ONVIF is supported on IN-6xxx, IN-7xxx, IN-8xxx, and IN-9xxx series cameras. Legacy models do not support ONVIF. You can use the VisioForge SDK's ONVIF features for camera discovery and PTZ control on supported models.

Can I integrate INSTAR cameras with Home Assistant?

Yes. INSTAR cameras support MQTT, making them easy to integrate with Home Assistant, ioBroker, and Node-RED for automation and event-driven actions. For video streaming in Home Assistant, use the RTSP URL in a generic camera integration.