Can AI Analytics Use Old Analogue CCTV on a DVR? RTSP Paths and Stream Limits

Yes, if the DVR is on the network: the AI reads the DVR's stream, not the camera. Hikvision documents rtsp://user:pass@dvr-ip:554/Streaming/channels/101 for channel 1 main on its DVRs. Dahua documents /cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0 for its cameras; it also works on Dahua and CP Plus XVRs. Use the main stream: an 8-channel Hikvision DVR's sub-stream is only CIF or QVGA.

Verified against

• Hikvision, RTSP et HTTP URLs (how-to for NVR/DVR/IPC/encoder), Wayback copy of the official PDF.
• Hikvision, Datasheet of DS-7200HGHI-K1 Turbo HD DVR, V4.30.200, 29 Oct 2021 (distributor-hosted copy).
• Hikvision, DS-6700HUHI Series Turbo HD Encoder datasheet, Japanese edition (distributor-hosted copy).
• Dahua, XVR5108HS-I3 (hardware V3) product page (marked discontinued).
• Dahua Wiki, RTSP via VLC (written for IP cameras; last modified 24 Jul 2019).
• CP Plus, Digital Video Recorder User Manual, generic DVR manual on cpplusworld.com (PDF).
• BIS Registration Department, circular of 01 Apr 2025, "Non-applicability of Security ER to Analog CCTV Cameras".
• Checked 14 Oct 2026.

DVR RTSP paths and stream limits by model

The patterns, from the vendor documents above:

Hikvision / Prama DVR:  rtsp://user:pass@dvr-ip:554/Streaming/channels/<channel><stream>
                        101 = ch 1 main, 102 = ch 1 sub, 1701 = ch 17 main
Dahua XVR:              rtsp://user:pass@dvr-ip:554/cam/realmonitor?channel=1&subtype=0
                        subtype 0 = main, 1 = extra stream 1, 2 = extra stream 2

Hikvision's how-to writes <RTSP port> (its example uses 10554). Port 554 is the default stated by Dahua's wiki and the CP Plus manual. Check the DVR's network menu.

Two details from Dahua's RTSP wiki page: the channel number starts from 1, and the password cannot contain #. Hikvision's one pattern covers NVRs, DVRs, IP cameras and encoders; see the Prama and Hikvision RTSP guide. To prove a channel answers, open its URL in VLC first.

Where brands differ

• Hikvision vs Prama. Hikvision publishes the /Streaming/channels/ pattern for DVRs; Prama publishes no RTSP path. Read it from your unit's web page or ask Prama support.
• Dahua vs CP Plus. Dahua documents realmonitor with subtype for its IP cameras; its XVR page lists RTSP but no path. The CP Plus DVR manual gives the RTSP port (554) but no URL. A CP Plus DVR uses the same /cam/realmonitor?channel=N pattern (Home Assistant forum). Confirm it on your firmware.
• The frame-rate trade. Hikvision's 8-channel model drops 720p to 15 fps per channel. Dahua's XVR gives 25 fps at 5M-N or 1080p only on channels 1–2; at 720p all channels can run 25 fps. Put the camera that matters most for analytics on a full-rate channel.
• Built-in AI vs export. On the Dahua XVR, turning on Encode Enhancement disables the recorder's own analytics, including Face Recognition and Perimeter Protection. Check this before raising stream quality.

Analogue and BIS in 2026

BIS's 01 Apr 2025 circular cites MeitY's 12 Mar 2025 notification. It says the Security Essential Requirements order "is not applicable on Analog CCTV Cameras". Analogue models need only the IS 13252 (Part 1) safety test report. DVRs need BIS safety registration; the ER applies to IP cameras (do NVRs and DVRs need STQC/BIS?). Government tenders under PPP-MII are different: S.O. 1119(E) names analogue cameras (STQC ER vs BIS CRS vs PPO). Nothing in these documents requires removing installed equipment. A new IP camera, however, must meet the ER (BIS/STQC 2026 for factories).

Steps: get one analogue channel into analytics

1. Find the DVR's LAN port and IP. The CP Plus default is 192.168.1.240. Many factory DVRs were never put on a LAN; cable it to the analytics box's switch.
2. Confirm the RTSP port in the DVR menu. On CP Plus it is Manage > Network > Connection, default 554.
3. Pull channel 1 main with the brand's pattern (101 or subtype=0) and check resolution and fps in the player.
4. Set the main stream in the DVR's encoding menu: the highest resolution and fps the channel allows.
5. If the DVR cannot serve RTSP, fit a video encoder between the coax and the network, such as Hikvision's DS-6704HUHI with ONVIF Profile S. It records locally to a microSD card of up to 128 GB, per its datasheet.

Decode and frame-rate sizing for the analytics box: general retrofit guide.

What analogue cannot do

• Detail is capped by the channel, not the lens. At 720p and 15 fps, an analytics box can tell whether a machine is running or a bay is occupied. A dial reading or a small part count is a different matter.
• No camera-side intelligence. An analogue camera has no ONVIF, no on-board AI events and no per-camera stream settings. Everything goes through the DVR.
• One stream type per channel at a time. Per Hikvision's note, once one client views a channel's main stream, other clients can view only the main stream of that channel. Give analytics the main stream and plan for viewers to share it.

What breaks in a factory

• Long coax runs. Hikvision rates HDTVI at up to 1200 m for 720p on this DVR. CP Plus asks for high-quality shielded BNC. Suspect old coax first when one channel looks noisy.
• Heat. Hikvision and Dahua rate these recorders at −10 to +55 °C operating. A closed steel cabinet above a press shop in May can get close.
• 50 Hz mains. These DVRs run PAL at 25 fps; LED lighting can still cause banding.
• Power cuts. The RTSP session drops when the DVR reboots; analytics must reconnect on its own. Put the DVR and camera power supply on a UPS.
• A 10/100 Mbps port. The Hikvision and Dahua recorders above have one. Eight main streams plus viewers can saturate it.

When to call the installer / what to ask the vendor

Get the DVR model, firmware and admin access from the installer. Ask the vendor: the exact RTSP path for a DVR channel; how the DVR numbers IP channels if it is hybrid; and whether its sub-stream can be raised above CIF. Replace with IP cameras when a channel cannot give the detail a task needs, when the DVR has no network port, or when the model is discontinued. Dahua lists the XVR5108HS-I3 as discontinued.

Mama reads existing cameras over RTSP or ONVIF, analogue ones through the DVR, to tell the owner each morning where machine hours went idle. Mama can draw a camera plan marking which channels are good enough and where an IP camera is needed. Leave an email or phone in the form below.

FAQ

Can I get an RTSP stream from a Hikvision DVR? Yes. Hikvision's how-to covers DVRs: rtsp://user:pass@dvr-ip:554/Streaming/channels/101 for channel 1 main, 102 for its sub-stream.

Can I convert my analogue cameras to IP without replacing them? Yes, with an encoder. Hikvision's DS-6704HUHI takes four HDTVI, AHD, HDCVI or CVBS cameras and outputs network streams with ONVIF Profile S.

Do analogue CCTV cameras need BIS or STQC certification? BIS safety registration (IS 13252), yes. The Security ER test, no: BIS's 01 Apr 2025 circular says it does not apply to analogue cameras. Government tenders under PPP-MII may still ask.

Is the DVR sub-stream good enough for AI? Often not: CIF/QVGA on the DS-7208HGHI-K1, D1/CIF at up to 15 fps on the XVR5108HS-I3. Use the main stream.