Viewing a channel's live broadcast stream

Applies to: Pearl-2, Pearl Mini, Pearl Nexus, Pearl Nano

When you set up a channel, the system automatically generates and displays a list of available live broadcast streams. You can share the channel's stream URLs with people on the same local network as the device so they can watch a live broadcast of the channel. All you need to do is provide them the channel's stream URL and log in credentials if you've set one for viewers.

To stream video outside your LAN using the channel's live broadcast streams, you must configure port forwarding on your router. Consult with your Network Administrator.

The live broadcast stream URLs for a channel are available from the Channel menu in the Admin panel when you select Status. The audio and video codecs configured for the channel affect which live broadcast formats are listed.

Just copy the live broadcast URL and share that with viewers so they can watch the channel stream using a web browser, or choose one of the other channel stream URLs if your viewers prefer to watch using a media player.

If the channel is configured with 48 kHz audio, some web browsers may not work. In this case, we recommend using one of the channel's other URL formats and viewing the channel steam using a media player instead.

View the live broadcast URL using a web browser

You can share a channel's live broadcast URL with viewers so they can watch your live stream using their favorite web browser. Your viewers must be on the same network as the device to watch a live broadcast using the channel's live broadcast URL.

If the channel you're streaming is configured with 48 kHz audio, some web browsers may not work. In this case, we recommend viewing the channel steam using a media player instead.

The live broadcast URL appears in two places in the Admin panel:

• On the channel's status page.
• On the Info page from the Configuration menu.

If a viewer password is configured, provide participants with the password to log in, along with the URL of the stream.

If HTTPS is enabled on the device, replace http with https in the URL of the stream.

Share the live broadcast URL with viewers

• Log in to the Admin panel as admin or operator.
• From the Channel(s) menu, select the channel and click Status. The Live broadcast link is listed under Stream info. You can copy the Live broadcast URL and share that with your viewers.
• Alternatively, open the Info page to get the live broadcast URL. From the Configuration menu, click Info and then click View on the far right of the channel you want to share the broadcast URL.

A page opens displaying the live broadcast and the broadcast URL. Copy the URL and share that with your viewers.

Watch a stream using a web browser and the live broadcast URL

• From your web browser, enter the IP address of the live broadcast stream. If the IP address of the broadcast is 172.20.1.33, then browse to: http://172.20.1.33/preview.cgi?channel=<channel number>
• Enter viewer as the user name and the password when prompted and press Enter. The stream plays in a new tab in your web browser.

View the streaming URL using a media player

You can share a channel's streaming URL with viewers so they can watch your live stream using their favorite media player, like VLC. Your viewers must be on the same network as the device to watch a channel stream using a stream URL. The type of stream URL you provide to your viewers can affect their choice of media player needed to watch the stream. This procedure assumes that the VLC media player is used.

The different stream types available for channels include: RTSP, MPEG-TS, and Flash streams. The URL contains either the IP address of the device or the serial number.

If a viewer password is configured, provide participants with the password to log in, along with the URL of the stream.

Share the channel's stream URL with viewers

• Log in to the Admin panel as admin or operator.
• From the Channel(s) menu, select the channel and click Status. You can copy the Live broadcast URL and share that with your viewers.

View the channel's stream URL using a VLC

• Launch a media player.
• Click the Media tab and select Open Network Stream from the drop-down menu.
• Enter the stream URL.
• Press Play to watch the stream in the media player window.

Device differences

• Pearl Nano: Uses "Channel" (singular) instead of "channels"/"Channel(s)" in menu names and in the "different stream types available for..." sentence, reflecting its single-channel design.