SmartTiles: Video Camera Compatibility

I have a similar issue with my camera stream. i added something like this in smart tiles http://USERNAME:PASSWORD@IPADDRESS:PORT/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi?&subtype=1
but smart tiles never picks up the stream until i open another tab in chrome and log into the camera once but after i do that the stream stays active even if i close the second tab i used to log into the camera.

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i would try something like this for the foscam. i have those saved for one of my foscams. notice port in 2nd link
http://admin:password@192.168.1.20/videostream.cgi
rtsp://admin:password@192.168.1.20:88/videoMain
http://admin:password@192.168.1.20/cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?cmd=snapPicture2&usr=admin&pwd=password

Thanks for the replies guys! I have to be missing something easy, I am using the latest version of Chrome and still can’t get it to work. I use the formatting suggested for example if my username was DALE and password of 12345 and the local IP of 192.168.0.100 in port 80 this is what I am typing in the SmartTiles URL box:

http://DALE:12345@192.168.0.100:80/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi?&subtype=1

Then what I did what @cino suggested [quote=“Cino, post:347, topic:11633”]
have a similar issue with my camera stream. i added something like this in smart tiles http://USERNAME:PASSWORD@IPADDRESS:PORT/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi?&subtype=1but smart tiles never picks up the stream until i open another tab in chrome and log into the camera once but after i do that the stream stays active even if i close the second tab i used to log into the camera.
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And I used my same Chrome browser that has SmartTiles running and open a new tab and actually log into the camera in question. So the camera is working when I log into directly but not into the SmartTiles app.

im not sure i can be of much help but i had similar issues ill list what i have done.in tiles

  1. i added something like this
    http://admin:password@192.168.1.20:5687/videostream.cgi (i have a different camera so the link will be different)
    2 I have a port forwarding in my router set to forward a specific port internally on my lan (5678)
  2. i have to open that second tab no idea why but it works once i log in.
    4 I have a text file with a few samples i was trying
    http://admin:admin@192.168.1.20/videostream.asf?user=admin&pwd=admin&resolution=320x240

http://admin:admin@192.168.1.20/cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?cmd=snapPicture2&usr=admin&pwd=admin

http://admin:admin@192.168.1.20/videostream.cgi

rtsp://admin:admin@192.168.1.20:88/videoMain

rtsp://admin:admin@192.168.1.20/videoMain

rtsp://admin:admin@192.168.1.20/videoMain

http://admin:admin@192.168.1.20/cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?cmd=snapPicture2&usr=admin&pwd=admin

http://admin:admin@192.168.1.20/cgi-bin/CGIProxy.fcgi?cmd=snapPicture2&usr=admin&pwd=admin&

rtsp://admin:admin@192.168.1.20/videoMain

i dont have that camera anymore it finally died but if you try any of this don’t forget port will always follow ip if you have port forwarding set up. 192.168.1.23:1234
i forgot i changed the camera settings to forward the port also. and for a test set it so the camera doesnt have to have authentication (i think i remember that it can do NO authentication)

@Cino Just so I understand, if I get the right url and put it in the browser (after I have logged into the camera from a tab of the browser) then that browser window should bring up the video stream right? And if it works in the browser FIRST then use that string in the SmartTiles.

i just looked at what I have working and its a bit odd
http://USERNAME:PASSWORD@IPADDRESS:PORT/mjpg/video.mjpg is exactly what i have in smart tiles under generic mjpeg video stream.
then
i open up smart tiles in chrome i see all the tiles but the video stream tile is grey with little broken picture in the corner.
then
I open a new tab and type this in the new tab http://192.168.1.21:5368. it instantly prompts me for a user and password i type in my user name and pass wait for it to load so i can see the stream.
then
i switch back to the tab with smarttiles and i can see the stream working
keep in mind i have a different camera model.

so if you open smarttiles do you see the video stream tile that is broken ?
then you open another tab and load the camera webpage and see a working video stream?
you go back to the smarttiles tab and video stream is still broken?

I also was wondering if you need to enable a different stream in foscam camera settings. if it tries to load the main stream vs say the mobile stream i am not sure what would happen. im going to go look at the manual for your camera because i cant remember what the settings are

I would go get the ipcam tool from foscam and see if it shows a port you dont know about since it looks like it defaults to 443 or 88

@dalec @Cino my apologies for not communicating that more clearly. I have the same issue with the stream not initially working in smarttiles.

My work around is to have web link tile (in addition to the video time) that is the same URL that I use for the video tile. I call the tile “Amcrest fix”. When I open that link, the the video stream works properly both on that page that it opens, and it will begin working in the video tile that is part of the dashboard. @tgauchat Explained the reason for this earlier in the thread. Unfortunately this is what we have to live with because of the login being in front of the URL instead of as an argument after it.

I’ve found that it’ll “remember” that authentication for a good bit of time on my home wifi, a whole day at times (this is without using a device that has the dashboard up 24/7). But on my cellphone when I’m out and about–maybe 30 min max.

Fyi: When I tried that url, it’d change my primary stream coming from the camera to MJPEG-- and I’d lose the h264 stream I manually set for better HD video.

oddly I have never tried it on my phone outside of my network. I find that smart tiles is only useful for me when I am at home. I have a link straight to my cameras on my phone when I am outside of my network so i can view my cameras. I have 8 set up and use one android app to load all 8 at the same times.

@thmstec @Cino Thanks for working me on this and putting out the detail on how you get it to work in SmartTiles. FYI: My application is to get SmartTiles working on a permanently mounted tablet that is on 24/7 for the user interface at home. I think my issue is with the Amcrest plug-in (see my steps below)[quote=“Cino, post:352, topic:11633”]
i just looked at what I have working and its a bit oddhttp://USERNAME:PASSWORD@IPADDRESS:PORT/mjpg/video.mjpg is exactly what i have in smart tiles under generic mjpeg video stream. theni open up smart tiles in chrome i see all the tiles but the video stream tile is grey with little broken picture in the corner.thenI open a new tab and type this in the new tab http://192.168.1.21:5368. it instantly prompts me for a user and password i type in my user name and pass wait for it to load so i can see the stream.
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So I followed your steps exactly and setup SmartTiles with two Generic MJPEG Video Stream Tiles for testing. (I have the Amcrest IP2M-842B ) In one tile I use yours http://USERNAME:PASSWORD@IPADDRESS:PORT/mjpg/video.mjpg and in the other tile I use William’s version of http://USERNAME:PASSWORD@IPADDRESS:PORT/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi?&subtype=1 then

I open up a browser with SmartTiles dashboard. I see three MJPG streams. The first one is an older Foscam and it has worked just fine in it’s SmartTile. The second and third are for the newer Amcrest and they show broken streams then

I open up a new browser Tab to log into the Amcrest camera directly using its http://IPADDRESS:PORT which brings up the Amcrest login screen for USERNAME and PASSWORD. I enter the credentials and my first error. I get “Please click here to download and install the plug-in”. Not sure why it asks me this since I have installed it twice before but I click again anyway and it downloads the file which I do another reinstall of the plugin. I am still not able to see the direct live stream on Chrome so there is no way SmartTiles can get it. Then

I switched to Internet Explorer and start over and the plugin works on it so I do get the live stream! Then

I open a new tab in IE for SmartTiles and do a refresh and I still have broken Amcrest streams for both tiles AND the Foscam is now a broken stream tile on IE? FYI; back in my Chrome SmartTiles page I can still see the Foscam stream tile fine and two broken Amcrest tiles. It seems I am having issues with this plug in by Amcrest?
broken Amcrest streams.[quote=“thmstec, post:353, topic:11633”]
My work around is to have web link tile (in addition to the video time) that is the same URL that I use for the video tile. I call the tile “Amcrest fix”. When I open that link, the the video stream works properly both on that page that it opens, and it will begin working in the video tile that is part of the dashboard.
[/quote] Sorry for my confusion but you say “web link tile” are you meaning a browser shortcut? If I get you right, in this “Amcrest fix” web link tile you said you use the same URL meaning the http://USERNAME:PASSWORD@IPADDRESS:PORT/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi?&subtype=1 you are putting in the browser address that you say this all to a shortcut so that when you click it , it will load that browser address above? This is different than just using only the direct IPADDRESS:PORT as Cino does so I was just trying to make sure.

I apologize, was typing from my phone when I was sleepless and being lazy.

For SmartTiles, I exclusively use the http://USERNAME:PASSWORD@IPADDRESS:PORT/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi?&subtype=1 link. I use it in a browser shortcut and in the video tile. Here is my process flow (complete with pictures)

  1. Open SmartTiles (this is on phone, but I use the same method on desktop)

    You can see the 2nd video tile “Living Room” (this is the amcrest camera) is blank.
  2. I click the “Amcrest Link?” browser shortcut (at the very bottom) and it loads a page that is just the video feed. (no picture to share here cause it has my url!)
  3. Tap back button and voila! I have my amcrest feed–for at least some amount of time.
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Gotcha! The screen captures and detail helped me understand much better! Now I know what the expected behavior SHOULD be when I find out whatever my problem is on my Windows 10 tablet. Thanks!

So I recreated what you do William and the interesting thing is the new URL link “Amcrest Fix?” tile when clicked on brings up the Chrome browser and I get a snapshot of the current camera image (not a live video feed) Do you get live stream feed ?

UPDATE: It is working! Thanks guys!. I didn’t change anything on my SmartTiles setup other than to add this “Amcrest Fix?” tile. I think my issue is a couple of things but for sure my wireless bandwidth and connectivity to my cameras is marginal and is making the problem harder to find. So right now I am only seeing snap shots but I will work on getting the bandwidth fixed. When I access my NVR the live feeds are OK so I am not sure why SmartTiles is having the issue but at least I know where to look next.
UPDATE: After a little experimenting I ended up removing the video live streaming from my SmartTiles. :frowning: I was having trouble with my NVR not getting good video streams for recording. As soon as I took out the SmartTiles video feed all my video feeds got back to normal on my NVR for recording. Apparently the bandwidth that SmartTiles was needing to run took more than Amcrest cameras could provide for the browser and simultaneously to the NVR. The spec on the cameras say they can provide up to a max of 20 users so SmartTiles must count for about 15 LOL

Thanks for all your help!

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lol this whole time i was looking for foscam stream links that I had saved. I use to be a big foscam fan but they just kept getting worse when the competition cameras were adding features for the same price as foscam i moved away from buying them.

Sorry i did not realize you had amcrest i must have missed that in the post some where. I am glad you got it working and if anyone stumbles on this post i do know that each brand of camera use a different HTTP links for streaming.

cut the smart tiles stream quality way way down and it might help. I only use smart tiles stream to see if someone pulls up to my driveway gate and i had to get away from wireless it just never worked well for me and any streaming of cameras I went to POE and wired only

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These are my settings if you want to try it out. I haven’t had an issue recording the HD stream and watching the sub-stream at the same time. The sub stream is what I use in smarttiles. My 2nd camera is admittedly SUPER low quality. Not sure if this would scale well to more cameras.

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I’ll give a whirl, how do I specify the stream I want is the substream from the camera in SmartTiles?

The url I use does that: http://USERNAME:PASSWORD@IPADDRESS:PORT/axis-cgi/mjpg/video.cgi?&subtype=1

The “&subtype=1” specifies to use the substream instead of the primary. If you use one of the urls that doesn’t specify subtype=1, then it’ll change the settings for the primary stream to be MJPEG.

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So, anyone solved the NestCam - Smarttiles integration?
Couldn’t find any around.
Would be great to have a working solution.

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Can someone please help me integrate my samsung smart cam with smart tiles i read a way on how to convert with vlc but i do NOT understand and someone provide a step by step process how to stream through my vlc converter to smart tiles?!!! I’m using a MAC

anyone know how to get the stream from SecuritySpy mac software into SmartTiles? or can suggest any other Mac camera software that can be used with the Samsung Outdoor Camera SNH-E6440BN. I have put the address from SecuritySpy into Generic MJPEG video streams as http://ipaddress:port/live?cameraNum=2&viewMethod=0&imageSize=scale0.25&windowWidth=1619&57384 this url works in a browser but I just get a grey tile in SmartTiles

i did have the http://admin:password@ipaddress/cgi-bin=video.cgi?msubmenu=mjpg working in a browser but now I get refused to connect error from the camera even though I know it’s working at that ip address. Anyone got SNH-E6440BN working with the tiles if so how you doing it? Thanks

I am 99% there doing this via VLC… How do I figure out what my Samsung HD Pro’s unique port number is?

Thanks!