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

Video Capture SDK .Net Media Blocks SDK .Net

Brand Overview

Zmodo Technology is a consumer security camera brand headquartered in Shenzhen, China. Zmodo is known for affordable Wi-Fi and wired IP cameras, DVR/NVR systems, and smart home security products. The brand targets the budget consumer market and is widely available through online retailers.

Key facts:

  • Product lines: ZH-IXx (Wi-Fi cameras), ZP-IBH/IBI (PoE cameras), CM-I (legacy IP cameras), ZMD-ISV (DVR systems), Greet (smart doorbell)
  • Protocol support: RTSP, HTTP/MJPEG (legacy), Zmodo Zink (proprietary), ONVIF (limited, some ZP models)
  • Default RTSP port: 10554 (Wi-Fi cameras), 554 (standard/DVR models)
  • Default credentials: admin / admin or admin / (empty password)
  • ONVIF support: Limited (some newer ZP-series PoE models only)
  • Video codecs: H.264, MPEG-4 (legacy DVR)

Zmodo Zink cameras

Zmodo cameras that use the proprietary Zink protocol do not support RTSP at all. These cameras can only be accessed through the Zmodo app. Check your camera's specifications before attempting RTSP connections.

RTSP URL Patterns

Zmodo cameras use different RTSP ports and URL formats depending on the product line.

Wi-Fi Cameras (ZH-Series) -- Port 10554

rtsp://[USERNAME]:[PASSWORD]@[IP]:10554//tcp/av0_0

Non-standard port 10554

Zmodo Wi-Fi cameras (ZH-series) use port 10554, not the standard 554. This is the most common connection issue with Zmodo cameras.

Stream RTSP URL Notes
Main stream rtsp://IP:10554//tcp/av0_0 Full resolution
Sub stream rtsp://IP:10554//tcp/av0_1 Lower resolution

Model-Specific URLs (Wi-Fi / PoE)

Model RTSP URL Type
ZH-IXA15-WC rtsp://IP:10554//tcp/av0_0 Wi-Fi indoor
ZH-IXB15-WC rtsp://IP:10554//tcp/av0_0 Wi-Fi indoor
ZH-IXC15-WC rtsp://IP:10554//tcp/av0_0 Wi-Fi indoor
ZH-IXD15-WC rtsp://IP:10554//tcp/av0_0 Wi-Fi indoor
ZH-IBH13-W rtsp://IP:10554//tcp/av0_0 Wi-Fi bullet
ZP-IBH13-P rtsp://IP:10554//tcp/av0_0 PoE bullet
ZP-IBI13-W rtsp://IP:10554//tcp/av0_0 PoE indoor

Standard H.264 Cameras -- Port 554

Some Zmodo cameras use the standard RTSP port:

Stream RTSP URL Notes
H.264 direct rtsp://IP:554/h264 Standard port
Channel stream rtsp://IP:554/VideoInput/1/h264/1 Channel-based
Channel number rtsp://IP:554/[CHANNEL] Direct channel

Legacy CM-I Series

Model RTSP URL Alt URL Notes
CM-I11123BK rtsp://IP:554/VideoInput/1/h264/1 http://IP/videostream.asf HTTP fallback
CM-I12316GY rtsp://IP:554/VideoInput/1/h264/1 http://IP/videostream.asf HTTP fallback

DVR/NVR Systems

Model RTSP URL Notes
ZMD-ISV-BFS23NM rtsp://IP:554/VideoInput/1/h264/1 Channel 1
DVR (MPEG-4) rtsp://IP:554/mpeg4 Legacy format
DVR (auth in URL) rtsp://IP:554/0/USERNAME:PASSWORD/main Auth in path

Connecting with VisioForge SDK

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

// Zmodo ZH-series Wi-Fi camera, main stream -- note port 10554!
var uri = new Uri("rtsp://192.168.1.60:10554//tcp/av0_0");
var username = "admin";
var password = "admin";

For sub-stream access, use //tcp/av0_1 instead of //tcp/av0_0.

Snapshot and MJPEG URLs

Type URL Pattern Notes
Snapshot http://IP/snapshot.cgi?user=USER&pwd=PASS Standard models
Snapshot (camera) http://IP/snapshot.cgi?camera=1 Camera selection
DVR Snapshot http://IP/cgi-bin/snapshot.cgi?loginuse=USER&loginpas=PASS DVR systems
ASF Stream http://IP/videostream.asf?user=USER&pwd=PASS&resolution=64&rate=0 Legacy CM-I
MJPEG Stream http://IP/videostream.cgi?rate=11 Legacy models

Troubleshooting

Must use port 10554 for Wi-Fi cameras

The most common Zmodo connection issue is using port 554 when the camera requires port 10554. All ZH-series Wi-Fi cameras and many ZP-series PoE cameras use port 10554. If your connection times out on port 554, switch to 10554.

TCP transport in URL path

The //tcp/av0_0 path explicitly specifies TCP transport. This is built into the Zmodo URL format and is not optional. Do not remove the //tcp/ prefix from the path.

Zmodo app required for initial setup

Some Zmodo cameras require the Zmodo mobile app for initial Wi-Fi setup and activation. RTSP access may not be available until the camera has been set up through the app at least once. Complete the initial setup before attempting RTSP connections.

Zink protocol cameras do not support RTSP

Zmodo cameras that use the proprietary Zink protocol are designed exclusively for the Zmodo ecosystem and do not support RTSP, ONVIF, or any third-party streaming protocol. Check the camera specifications or packaging for "Zink" branding. If your camera uses Zink, it cannot be accessed via RTSP.

Legacy CM-I cameras use HTTP streaming

Older CM-I series cameras may have limited or unreliable RTSP support. If RTSP fails on a CM-I model, fall back to the HTTP ASF or MJPEG streaming URLs: http://IP/videostream.asf?user=USER&pwd=PASS.

DVR authentication format

Some Zmodo DVRs embed credentials in the RTSP path rather than using standard RTSP authentication: rtsp://IP:554/0/USERNAME:PASSWORD/main. If standard authentication fails, try this URL format.

FAQ

What is the default RTSP URL for Zmodo Wi-Fi cameras?

For ZH-series Wi-Fi cameras, the URL is rtsp://admin:admin@CAMERA_IP:10554//tcp/av0_0. Note the non-standard port 10554 and the //tcp/ prefix in the path.

Why does my Zmodo camera use port 10554 instead of 554?

Zmodo chose port 10554 for their Wi-Fi camera line. This is a fixed port in the camera firmware. Some standard (non-Wi-Fi) Zmodo cameras and DVR systems use the standard port 554.

Do all Zmodo cameras support RTSP?

No. Zmodo cameras that use the proprietary Zink protocol do not support RTSP. These cameras are limited to the Zmodo app and cloud service. Most ZH-series, ZP-series, and CM-I series cameras do support RTSP.

Does Zmodo support ONVIF?

ONVIF support on Zmodo cameras is limited. Some newer ZP-series PoE models include ONVIF support, but most consumer Wi-Fi models (ZH-series) do not. Check your specific model's specifications for ONVIF compatibility.

What is the difference between av0_0 and av0_1?

In the Zmodo RTSP URL, av0_0 is the main (highest quality) stream and av0_1 is the sub (lower resolution) stream. Use av0_1 when you need lower bandwidth consumption for remote viewing.