ESP32CAM-RTSP

Simple RTSP server. Easy configuration through the web interface. Stable.

Flashing this software on a esp32cam module will make it a RTSP streaming camera server. This allows CCTV systems and applications like VLC to connect directly to the ESP32CAM camera stream. The RTSP protocol also allows to stream directly to a server using ffmpeg. This makes the module a camera server allowing recording and so the stream can be stored on a disk and replayed later.

This software supports the following ESP32-CAM modules:

• ESP32CAM
• AI THINKER
• TTGO T-CAM

This software provides a configuration web server, that can be used to:

• Set the WiFi parameters,
• Set the timeout for connecting to the Access point,
• Set an access password,
• Select the board type,
• Select the image size,
• Select the frame rate,
• Select the JPEG quality

The software provides contains also a mDNS server to be easily discoverable on the local network.

Required

• ESP32-CAM module
• USB to Serial (TTL level) converter or the piggyback board ESP32-CAM-MB
• PlatformIO software (free download)

Installing and running PlatformIO

More information can be found at: https://docs.platformio.org/en/latest/installation.html below the basics.

Debian based systems command-line

Install platformIO

 sudo apt-get install python-pip
 sudo pip install platformio
 pio upgrade

Windows / Linux and Mac

Install Visual Studio code and install the PlatformIO plugin. For command line usage Python and PlatformIO-Core is sufficient.

Putting the ESP32-CAM in download mode

ESP32-CAM-MB

When using the ESP32-CAM-MB board, press and hold the GP0 button on the ESP32-CAM-MB board. Then press short the reset button (on the inside) on the ESP32-CAM board and release the GP0 button. This will put the ESP32-CAM board in download mode.

FTDI adapter

When using an FTDI adapter, make sure the adapter is set to 3.3 volt before connecting. Use the wiring schema below.

After programming remove the wire to tge GPIO00 pin to exit the download mode.

Compiling and deploying the software

Open a command line or terminal window and clone this repository from GitHub.

git clone https://github.com/rzeldent/esp32cam-rtsp.git

go into the folder

cd esp32cam-rtsp

Next, the firmware has to be build and deployed to the ESP32. There are to flavours to do this; using the command line or the graphical interface of Visual Studio Code. I recommend to use VIsual Studio Code as it is free to use and offers more insight.

Using the command line

First the source code and SPIFF partition (data) has to be compiled. Type:

pio run
pio run buildfs 

When finished, the SPIFF partition and software have to be uploaded. Make sure the ESP32-CAM is in download mode (see previous section) and type:

 pio run -t upload
 pio run -t uploadfs

When done remove the jumper when using a FTDI adapter or press the reset button on the ESP32-CAM. To monitor the output, start a terminal using:

 pio device monitor

Using Visual studio

Open the project in a new window. Run the following tasks using the Terminal -> Run Task or CTRL+ALT+T command in the menu. Make sure the ESP32-CAM is in download mode during the uploads.

• PlatformIO: Build Filesystem Image (esp32cam)
• PlatformIO: Build (esp32cam)
• PlatformIO: Upload Filesystem Image (esp32cam)
• PlatformIO: Upload (esp32cam)

To monitor the behavior run the task, run:

• PlatformIO: Monitor (esp32cam)

Setting up the ESP32CAM-RTSP

After the programming of the ESP32, there is no configuration present. This needs to be added. To connect initially to the device open the WiFi connections and select the WiFi network / accesspoint called ESP32CAM-RTSP. Initially there is no password present.

After connecting, the browser should automatically open the status page. In case this does not happens automatically, connect to http://192.168.4.1. This page will display the current settings and status. On the bottom, there is a link to the config. Click on this link.

This link brings up the configuration screen when connecting fot the first time.

Configure at least:

• The access point to connect to. No dropdown is present to show available networks!
• A password for accessing the Access point (AP) when starting. (required)
• Type of the ESP32-CAM board

When finished press Apply to save the configuration. The screen will redirect to the status screen. Here it is possible to reboot the device so the settings take effect. It is also possible to restart manually by pressing the reset button.

Connecting to the configuration

After the initial configuration and the device is connected to an Access point, the device can be configured over http.

When a connection is made to http://esp32cam-rtsp the status screen is shown.

In case changes have been made to the configuration, this is shown and the possibility to restart is given.

Clicking on the change configuration button will open the configuration. It is possible that a password dialog is shown before entering. If this happens, for the user enter 'admin' and for the password the value that has been configured as the Access Point password.

Connecting to the RTSP stream

RTSP stream is available at: rtsp://esp32cam-rtsp.local:554/mjpeg/1. This link can be opened with for example VLC.

⚠️ Please be aware that there is no password present on the stream!

Credits

esp32cam-ready depends on PlatformIO, Bootstap5 and Micro-RTSP by Kevin Hester.