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

Video Capture SDK .Net Media Blocks SDK .Net

Brand Overview

Reolink (Reolink Digital Technology Co., Ltd.) is a consumer and prosumer IP camera manufacturer headquartered in Hong Kong. Founded in 2009, Reolink has grown rapidly through direct-to-consumer sales on Amazon and their own website, offering competitively priced cameras with straightforward RTSP access. Reolink is notable for clear documentation of RTSP URLs and easy integration with third-party software.

Key facts:

  • Product lines: RLC series (PoE wired), RLN series (NVRs), E1 series (Wi-Fi pan/tilt), Argus series (battery/solar), CX series (ColorX night vision), Duo series (dual-lens), TrackMix (auto-tracking)
  • Protocol support: RTSP, ONVIF, HTTP/HTTPS, proprietary Reolink protocol
  • Default RTSP port: 554
  • Default credentials: admin / (blank password or set during setup)
  • ONVIF support: Yes (most current models, may require enabling in camera settings)
  • Video codecs: H.264 (all models), H.265 (most current models)

RTSP URL Patterns

Reolink uses a consistent URL pattern across most models. The main difference is between cameras and NVRs (which use channel numbers).

Camera RTSP URLs

Stream RTSP URL Resolution Notes
Main (clear) rtsp://IP:554/h264Preview_01_main Full (up to 4K/8MP) H.264 main stream
Sub (fluent) rtsp://IP:554/h264Preview_01_sub Reduced (640x360) Lower bandwidth

H.265 streams

For cameras with H.265 enabled, the URL remains the same (h264Preview_01_main). The h264 in the URL path is not codec-specific -- it works for both H.264 and H.265 streams.

NVR Channel URLs

For Reolink NVRs (RLN8-410, RLN16-410, RLN36, etc.), append the channel number:

Channel Main Stream URL Sub Stream URL
Channel 1 rtsp://IP:554/h264Preview_01_main rtsp://IP:554/h264Preview_01_sub
Channel 2 rtsp://IP:554/h264Preview_02_main rtsp://IP:554/h264Preview_02_sub
Channel 3 rtsp://IP:554/h264Preview_03_main rtsp://IP:554/h264Preview_03_sub
Channel N rtsp://IP:554/h264Preview_0N_main rtsp://IP:554/h264Preview_0N_sub

Models and Resolutions

Model Resolution Codec Wi-Fi RTSP
RLC-410 2560x1440 (4MP) H.264/H.265 No (PoE) Yes
RLC-510A 2560x1920 (5MP) H.264/H.265 No (PoE) Yes
RLC-520A 2560x1920 (5MP) H.264/H.265 No (PoE) Yes
RLC-810A 3840x2160 (8MP) H.264/H.265 No (PoE) Yes
RLC-811A 3840x2160 (8MP) H.264/H.265 No (PoE) Yes
RLC-820A 3840x2160 (8MP) H.264/H.265 No (PoE) Yes
RLC-1212A 4512x2512 (12MP) H.264/H.265 No (PoE) Yes
E1 Zoom 2560x1920 (5MP) H.264/H.265 Yes Yes
E1 Pro 2560x1440 (4MP) H.264 Yes Yes
E1 Outdoor 2560x1920 (5MP) H.264/H.265 Yes Yes
CX410 2560x1440 (4MP) H.264/H.265 No (PoE) Yes
CX810 3840x2160 (8MP) H.264/H.265 No (PoE) Yes
TrackMix PoE 3840x2160 (8MP) H.264/H.265 No (PoE) Yes
Duo 2 PoE 4608x1728 (8MP) H.264/H.265 No (PoE) Yes
Argus 3 Pro 2560x1440 (4MP) H.264 Yes (battery) Yes

Argus battery cameras

Argus series battery-powered cameras support RTSP but drain the battery quickly when streaming continuously. Use RTSP only for testing or event-triggered recording, not 24/7 monitoring.

Connecting with VisioForge SDK

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

// Reolink RLC-810A, main stream
var uri = new Uri("rtsp://192.168.1.88:554/h264Preview_01_main");
var username = "admin";
var password = "YourPassword";

For sub-stream access, use h264Preview_01_sub instead of h264Preview_01_main. For NVR channels, change the channel number (e.g., h264Preview_03_main for channel 3).

Snapshot URLs

Type URL Pattern Notes
JPEG Snapshot http://IP/cgi-bin/api.cgi?cmd=Snap&channel=0&rs=abc123&user=USER&password=PASS API-based snapshot

Troubleshooting

RTSP not working -- "Connection refused"

RTSP may need to be enabled on some Reolink models:

  1. Open the Reolink app or web interface
  2. Go to Settings > Network > Advanced > Port Settings
  3. Ensure RTSP port is enabled and set to 554
  4. Some older firmware versions have RTSP disabled by default

H.265 stream not decoding

If your Reolink camera is configured for H.265 and the stream fails to decode:

  • The SDK supports H.265 natively, but ensure you're using a recent SDK version
  • Try switching the camera to H.264 in Settings > Display > Encode as a workaround
  • The RTSP URL path (h264Preview) remains the same regardless of the actual codec

Sub stream shows low quality

The sub stream (h264Preview_01_sub) is intentionally lower resolution (typically 640x360) to reduce bandwidth. Use h264Preview_01_main for full resolution. You can adjust sub stream quality in the Reolink app under Display settings.

NVR channel numbering

Reolink NVR channels are 1-indexed with zero-padded two-digit format: 01, 02, 03... 16. Channel 0 does not exist.

FAQ

What is the default RTSP URL for Reolink cameras?

The URL is rtsp://admin:password@CAMERA_IP:554/h264Preview_01_main for the main stream and h264Preview_01_sub for the sub stream. The password is whatever you set during camera setup.

Does the RTSP URL change when using H.265?

No. The URL path h264Preview_01_main is used for both H.264 and H.265 streams. The h264 in the path is a legacy naming convention, not a codec selector.

Can I access Reolink cameras remotely via RTSP?

RTSP is designed for local network access. For remote access, you would need to set up port forwarding on your router (forward port 554 to the camera's IP) or use a VPN. Reolink's cloud/P2P access uses a proprietary protocol, not RTSP.

Do Reolink Duo cameras have separate RTSP streams for each lens?

Yes. Reolink Duo cameras expose the wide-angle lens on the standard channel and may provide additional streams. Check your specific model's documentation for dual-lens stream access.