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

Video Capture SDK .Net Media Blocks SDK .Net

Brand Overview

MOBOTIX (MOBOTIX AG) is a German IP camera manufacturer headquartered in Langmeil, Germany, founded in 1999. MOBOTIX pioneered the concept of decentralized IP video systems where intelligent processing, recording, and analytics happen directly inside the camera rather than on a central server. The company was acquired by Konica Minolta in 2016. MOBOTIX cameras are known for their rugged construction, long operational lifespan, and suitability for industrial, outdoor, and critical infrastructure environments.

Key facts:

  • Product lines: M-series (outdoor), D-series (dome), S-series (hemispheric), Q-series (panoramic), T-series (door station), MOVE (newer ONVIF line)
  • Protocol support: RTSP, HTTP/CGI, MxPEG (proprietary); ONVIF (MOVE series only)
  • Default RTSP port: 554
  • Default credentials: admin / meinsm
  • ONVIF support: MOVE series only (classic Mx cameras do not support ONVIF)
  • Video codecs: MxPEG (proprietary), MJPEG, H.264 (newer models)
  • Architecture: Decentralized, in-camera recording and processing

Classic vs MOVE Series

Classic Mobotix cameras (M/D/S/Q series) primarily use the proprietary MxPEG codec and do not support ONVIF. For ONVIF and standard H.264/H.265 RTSP, use the newer MOBOTIX MOVE series.

About MxPEG

MxPEG is a proprietary video codec developed by MOBOTIX for efficient bandwidth usage with their decentralized architecture. If your application cannot decode MxPEG natively, use the MJPEG fallback stream via HTTP (/cgi-bin/faststream.jpg) or configure the camera to output standard MJPEG or H.264 where supported. VisioForge SDK can connect to MOBOTIX cameras using the MJPEG HTTP stream or the H.264 RTSP stream on supported models.

RTSP URL Patterns

Standard URL Format

MOBOTIX cameras use branded path-based RTSP URLs:

rtsp://[USERNAME]:[PASSWORD]@[IP]:554/mobotix.h264
Stream URL Pattern Description
H.264 main stream rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.h264 Primary H.264 stream (newer models)
MJPEG stream rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.mjpeg MJPEG over RTSP

Camera Series and URLs

Series Type Recommended URL Codec
MOVE Bullet IP bullet rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.h264 H.264
MOVE Dome IP dome rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.h264 H.264
MOVE Vandal Dome IP vandal-proof rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.h264 H.264
M-series (M73, M16) Outdoor rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.mjpeg MJPEG
D-series (D16, D26) Dome rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.mjpeg MJPEG
S-series (S16, S26) Hemispheric rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.mjpeg MJPEG
Q-series (Q26) Panoramic 360 rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.mjpeg MJPEG
T-series (T26) Door station rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.mjpeg MJPEG

MOVE Series ONVIF URLs

MOBOTIX MOVE cameras support standard ONVIF and provide conventional RTSP streams:

Stream URL Pattern Notes
Main stream rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.h264 H.264 primary stream
Sub stream rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.mjpeg MJPEG secondary stream

Connecting with VisioForge SDK

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

// MOBOTIX MOVE or classic Mx camera, H.264 stream
var uri = new Uri("rtsp://192.168.1.90:554/mobotix.h264");
var username = "admin";
var password = "meinsm";

For classic Mx cameras that only support MxPEG, use the MJPEG HTTP stream URL instead (see below).

Snapshot and MJPEG URLs

Type URL Pattern Notes
MJPEG Full Resolution http://IP/cgi-bin/faststream.jpg?stream=full Full resolution continuous MJPEG
MxPEG Stream http://IP/cgi-bin/faststream.jpg?stream=MxPEG&needlength&fps=6 Proprietary MxPEG at 6 fps
Controlled FPS MJPEG http://IP/control/faststream.jpg?stream=full&fps=10 MJPEG capped at 10 fps
Current Snapshot http://IP/record/current.jpg Single JPEG snapshot

Troubleshooting

Classic Mx camera not connecting via RTSP

Classic MOBOTIX cameras (M, D, S, Q, T series) primarily use the proprietary MxPEG codec. If the RTSP stream fails:

  1. Try the MJPEG RTSP URL: rtsp://IP:554/mobotix.mjpeg
  2. If RTSP is not available, use the HTTP MJPEG stream: http://IP/cgi-bin/faststream.jpg?stream=full
  3. Check that RTSP is enabled in the camera's web interface under Admin Menu > Network Setup > RTSP Server

"401 Unauthorized" error

MOBOTIX cameras use the default credentials admin / meinsm. If authentication fails:

  1. Access the camera web interface at http://CAMERA_IP
  2. Log in with the default or configured credentials
  3. Verify the user account has streaming access permissions
  4. Use the correct credentials in your RTSP URL

MxPEG stream not decoding

MxPEG is a proprietary codec that standard media players and libraries may not support. Workarounds:

  • Use the MJPEG fallback stream via http://IP/cgi-bin/faststream.jpg?stream=full
  • Configure the camera to output H.264 if the model and firmware support it
  • For MOVE series cameras, H.264 RTSP is natively supported

ONVIF discovery not finding the camera

Only MOBOTIX MOVE series cameras support ONVIF. Classic Mx cameras (M, D, S, Q, T series) do not implement the ONVIF protocol. For classic cameras, connect directly using the RTSP or HTTP URLs listed above.

Low frame rate on MJPEG streams

MOBOTIX classic cameras may default to low frame rates to conserve bandwidth. To adjust:

  1. Open the camera web interface
  2. Navigate to Admin Menu > Image Control > Frame Rate
  3. Increase the maximum frame rate
  4. For HTTP streams, specify the desired fps in the URL: http://IP/control/faststream.jpg?stream=full&fps=15

FAQ

What is the default RTSP URL for MOBOTIX cameras?

For newer MOBOTIX MOVE cameras, the default URL is rtsp://admin:meinsm@CAMERA_IP:554/mobotix.h264. For classic Mx cameras, use rtsp://admin:meinsm@CAMERA_IP:554/mobotix.mjpeg or the HTTP MJPEG stream at http://CAMERA_IP/cgi-bin/faststream.jpg?stream=full.

What is MxPEG and do I need it?

MxPEG is a proprietary video codec developed by MOBOTIX for bandwidth-efficient streaming in their decentralized camera architecture. You do not need MxPEG support to use MOBOTIX cameras with VisioForge SDK. Instead, use the standard MJPEG HTTP stream or H.264 RTSP stream (on supported models) as described on this page.

Do MOBOTIX cameras support ONVIF?

Only the MOBOTIX MOVE series supports ONVIF. Classic MOBOTIX cameras (M, D, S, Q, T series) use a proprietary web interface and do not support ONVIF discovery or profiles.

What is the difference between MOBOTIX classic and MOVE cameras?

Classic MOBOTIX cameras (M, D, S, Q, T series) use a decentralized architecture with in-camera recording and the proprietary MxPEG codec. MOVE series cameras are MOBOTIX's newer product line that follows industry-standard protocols including ONVIF, H.264, and H.265, making them easier to integrate with third-party VMS and SDK solutions.

Can I connect to MOBOTIX cameras without ONVIF?

Yes. All MOBOTIX cameras support direct RTSP or HTTP connections using the URLs listed on this page. ONVIF is not required for basic video streaming.