RTSP Stream from Camect

[EnhanceEnhanceEnhance]

I'm wondering if Camect has the ability to re-stream an added camera's video feed. I have a Savant automation system that I'd like to add my cameras to in order to view our cameras from the in-wall touchscreen. However, most cameras (hikvision) only allow one active client on the camera's RTSP stream. Thanks!

[lor...@redlefsen.com]

+1

This would be awesome. I have the exact same use case: a Savant home automation system I've "inherited" in a smart home that a relative bought, and which currently uses an NVR from Visualint to stream video from 6 cameras. I'd like to decommission the Visualint and leave only the Camect running, but it's really nice to see the video streams in the Savant.

Side note/rant on Savant: they are *so* closed that there is no way for system "owners" to make configuration changes, because they will only release their proprietary admin/config software to "authorized partners". Those, of course, require you to sign up for a monthly service contract and/or will charge you an exorbitant hourly rate to send out a technician to make changes. WTF?!?

STAY AWAY from Savant home automation systems!!

[R Spivack]

Very amusing!

Will all due respect, your "STAY AWAY" warning isn't really specific to Savant.  It could apply equally to all luxury, professional smart home automation systems including Crestron, Control 4, ELAN, Savant, and a few others.

Having said that, I agree with most of what you said and your frustration, from your perspective; especially inheriting and not being the original purchaser of the system.

I started my current business www. DoItForMe.Solutions as a response to this exact scenario - overpriced, locked-down, legacy systems that don't trust or value their own customers.

Along the way, I discovered it is not so simple.  There is a place for these systems and their value is not the (overpriced) cost.  There are a class of customers, truly the "luxury class", that find them excellent (when installed and supported properly).  Of course, you and I don't own $1 million to $25 million dollar vacation homes with 20 tv's and 100 in-ceiling audio speakers throughout the home.

Just as a Pinto, a BMW, and a Lamborghini are all transportation, different strokes for different folks, as they say.  You don't knock a Lamborghini as an overpriced car pool vehicle that costs a fortune for even an oil change.

The problem is that these high-end systems are often sold by pushy salespeople and builders to customers that don't understand what they are buying and probably aren't the best fit.

That's why there are only a handful of really good installers and custom integrators that know how to sell and support these systems and their clients, while there are tons of "B-Team" hacks selling the gear for a quick profit and unable to even set them up properly in the first place.

DISCLAIMER: I am not soliciting business or trying to self-promote, just educate on this issue as it is not as simple as a "classic rip-off" scenario.

In the case of Savant, they don't build and sell their own IP Cameras or NVR system (at least not yet), but unfortunately their integration with 3rd party systems is not very good.  They primarily assume clients use classic legacy security camera systems like Hikvision, Dahua, or similar and only recently upgraded from MJPEG streaming to H.264. Their "generic camera" profiles (aka "drivers") only work with a few 3rd party devices and often require tweaks or adjustments to use.

So yeah, your ability to connect into Savant will be very limited.

[Lorenz Redlefsen]

My dissatisfaction with Savant is not their level of integration with third party products.

My dissatisfaction is with their complete and total lockdown of their system to the **owner** and/or third parties who are not "authorized resellers". There is no way to get a hold of their proprietary admin software unless you are an "authorized reseller", and there does not appear to be a way to reliably change the configuration without their proprietary admin software. (Hand-editing undocumented generated config files seems sketchy at best.)

I understand the argument that "These are high-end luxury systems, and they require knowledgeable people to configure and support them."

But as the owner of the system, I should be able to configure it myself. If necessary, we can talk about the manufacturer denying support, and possibly even voiding warranties, etc., etc.

Come to think of it, this is what "Right to Repair" laws are all about...