Amcrest IP cameras (RTSP, Dahua paths)

Before you start

• The device password set: recent Amcrest cameras ship "inactive", with no default password — the first-run wizard makes you choose one.
• The camera's local IP address, ideally reserved on your router.
• The camera's own credentials (user "admin" by default), not the Amcrest cloud account: the local stream needs no cloud account.
• Optional, but often required for ONVIF: a dedicated ONVIF user, created in the camera's web interface (Maintain > Account > ONVIF User > Add). Amcrest describes it as "a separate security layer specifically designed for third-party systems" and recommends reusing the main account's credentials.

Steps

1. In Noviscan's Sources screen, search for "Amcrest": the form is pre-filled (port 554, path /cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0, TCP transport).
2. Enter the camera's local IP address.
3. Fill in the user ("admin" by default) and the password set during initial setup.
4. Keep subtype=0 for the main stream; subtype=1 gives the lighter sub-stream.
5. Save: the source tests the connection.

If something goes wrong

• ⚠️ Do not confuse camera and recorder: Amcrest documents /cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 for IP CAMERAS, but /h264Preview_<channel>_<stream> for its NVRs and DVRs. The path pre-filled here is the camera one.
• Authentication refused although the password is right: if you go through ONVIF rather than plain RTSP, create the ONVIF user (see prerequisites) — the admin account is not always enough.
• No password works on a brand-new camera: it is still "inactive". Finish the first-run wizard, which makes you set the password.
• Black or stuttering stream: switch to the sub-stream (subtype=1) before suspecting the network.