This guide is written for people who have never used RTSP, ONVIF, or Home Assistant before. It explains what each piece does, lists everything you need, and walks you through the full setup one step at a time. By the end, you will be able to watch your Abode Cam 3 inside Home Assistant alongside your other smart home devices, and optionally record it to your own storage.
! | NOTE Local streaming is an optional, advanced feature. Your Abode Cam 3 keeps working in the Abode app exactly as before, and Abode cloud recording is not affected. Home Assistant and other third-party software are made and supported by their own developers. Menu names in those apps can change between versions. If you are not confident with the terms and steps within this Help Guide, use the Abode Cam 3 from within the Abode app only. |
✓ | TIP Plan for about 1 to 2 hours if you are starting from nothing. Most of that time is installing Home Assistant. Adding the camera itself takes around 10 minutes. |
Part 1. Understanding the basics
What is local streaming?
Normally, your Abode Cam 3 sends video to the Abode cloud, and you watch it in the Abode app. Local streaming adds a second path: the camera also makes its video available directly on your home network, so other software in your home can pick it up without going through the internet.
Key terms explained
Term | What it means in plain English |
RTSP | Real Time Streaming Protocol. A common language cameras use to send live video and audio to a player or recorder. Think of it as the camera's local video feed. |
ONVIF | An industry standard that lets software find a camera on the network and talk to it, for example to read motion events or switch day and night mode. Home Assistant uses ONVIF to add the Abode Cam 3. |
Home Assistant | Free, open-source software that runs on a small computer in your home and brings smart home devices from many brands together into one app and dashboard. |
NVR | Network Video Recorder. A device or app that records camera video to your own hard drive instead of the cloud. |
Local network | All the devices connected to your home router, by Wi-Fi or cable. |
IP address | The number your router gives each device so other devices can find it, for example 192.168.1.50. The Abode app shows the camera's local address as a name instead (see below), which most software can use in place of the number. |
DHCP reservation | A router setting that makes sure a device always gets the same IP address. Recommended if you connect to the camera using its IP address, so the address does not change. |
Port | A numbered door on a device for a specific service. The Abode Cam 3 uses port 8554 for RTSP video and port 8080 for ONVIF. |
Local credentials | A username and password generated by the Abode Cam 3 for local streaming only, shown in the Abode app under Advanced Settings > RTSP / ONVIF Login. They are not your Abode account login. The same screen shows the camera's Local Address (mDNS), a name ending in .local, such as abode-cam3-001122aabbcc.local, that your network automatically matches to the camera. |
H.264 | The video format the Abode Cam 3 uses for local streaming. Almost every player and recorder supports it. |
TCP | A reliable way to send data over a network. The Abode Cam 3 local stream must be set to use TCP. |
VLC | A free media player for Windows, Mac, and Linux. We use it to test the camera's video feed before setting up Home Assistant. |
How the pieces fit together
The Abode Cam 3 connects to your home Wi-Fi and gets an IP address from your router.
The camera publishes a local RTSP video feed and an ONVIF service on your network, protected by its local username and password.
Home Assistant, running on a small computer plugged into your router, connects to the camera using its local address and those credentials.
You watch the camera on your Home Assistant dashboard and can use it in automations. If you add a recorder, it saves the video to your own storage.
Part 2. What you need
Required
Item | Why you need it | Notes |
Abode Cam 3 | The camera you are streaming from | Already set up in the Abode app, online, and on the latest firmware |
Smartphone with the Abode app | To find the camera's local username, password, and local address | The same account that owns the camera |
Home Wi-Fi router | Connects everything together | You need access to the router's admin app or web page to find and reserve IP addresses |
A device to run Home Assistant | Home Assistant runs 24/7 on its own small computer | See the hardware options below |
Ethernet (network) cable | Connects the Home Assistant device to your router | A wired connection is strongly recommended over Wi-Fi |
A computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux) | To test the stream in VLC and to open Home Assistant in a web browser | Must be on the same home network as the camera |
VLC media player (free) | To confirm the video feed works before involving Home Assistant | Download from videolan.org |
Choosing hardware for Home Assistant
Option | Best for | What to buy |
Home Assistant Green (recommended for beginners) | The easiest option. Arrives with Home Assistant pre-installed, so you just plug it in | Home Assistant Green. The power supply and Ethernet cable are included |
Raspberry Pi | People comfortable assembling a small computer | Raspberry Pi 5 or 4 (4GB memory or more), official power supply, case, and a 32GB or larger high-endurance microSD card or a USB SSD. An SSD is more reliable for 24/7 use |
Existing mini PC or spare computer | People who already own a spare computer | A 64-bit PC that can be wiped and dedicated to Home Assistant, plus a USB stick (8GB or more) for the installer |
Optional
Home Assistant Companion app (free, iPhone and Android) to view your dashboard and receive notifications on your phone
USB SSD or network storage (NAS) if you want to record the camera locally with Frigate (see Part 10)
iPhone or iPad with the Apple Home app if you want to add the camera to Apple HomeKit (see Part 13)
Apple home hub (Apple TV or HomePod) if you want to view the camera in Apple Home away from home and receive HomeKit motion notifications
Before you begin: checklist
The Abode Cam 3 shows as online in the Abode app
The camera is on your main Wi-Fi network, not a guest network
You can log in to your router's admin app or web page
Your Home Assistant device and your computer are connected to the same router as the camera
Part 3. Prepare your Abode Cam 3
Open the Abode app and confirm the Abode Cam 3 is online and live view works.
Check for and install any firmware update offered for the camera. Keep the camera powered until the update finishes.
Confirm the camera is connected to your main Wi-Fi network. Guest networks usually stop devices from seeing each other, which blocks local streaming.
Part 4. Find and reserve the camera's IP address (recommended)
The Abode app gives the camera a Local Address (mDNS), a name ending in .local, such as abode-cam3-001122aabbcc.local (see Part 5). Most software, including VLC and Home Assistant, can connect using this name, so you do not need the IP address to get started. Finding and reserving the IP address is still recommended as a backup, because some software and networks, such as recorders running in Docker or networks split into VLANs, cannot look up .local names.
Find the IP address
Log in to your router's app or web page and open the list of connected devices (often called Clients, Connected Devices, or DHCP Clients).
Look for the Abode Cam 3. Its name may start with abode-cam3. If you are unsure which device it is, unplug the camera, refresh the list, and see which device disappears.
Write the IP address down, for example 192.168.1.50.
Reserve the IP address
Every router is different, but the setting is usually called DHCP Reservation, Address Reservation, Static Lease, or Fixed IP.
In your router's settings, find the DHCP or LAN section.
Select the Abode Cam 3 from the list of connected devices, or add it using its MAC address shown in the same list.
Reserve its current IP address and save.
Restart the camera by unplugging it for 10 seconds, then confirm it comes back with the same address.
✓ | TIP Do the same for your Home Assistant device once it is installed, so you can always reach it at the same address. |
Part 5. Get the camera's login and connection details
Open the Abode app and select your Abode Cam 3.
Open the camera settings and tap Advanced Settings.
Scroll down to Local Streaming and tap RTSP / ONVIF Login.
Under Login Details, note the Username and Password. Tap Copy next to each one and save them somewhere safe, such as a password manager.
Under Connection Details, note the Local Address (mDNS), for example abode-cam3-001122aabbcc.local, and the RTSP URL. Tap Copy next to either one to use it in other apps. In this guide, the local address is shown as LOCAL_ADDRESS.
The Setup Instructions at the bottom of the screen give a short summary of how to connect Home Assistant or an RTSP player.
! | NOTE These local credentials are created by the camera and only work on your home network. Never enter your Abode account password into Home Assistant, VLC, or any other third-party software. |
Part 6. Test the stream with VLC
Testing in VLC first proves the camera, network, and credentials are all working. If VLC can play the video, Home Assistant will be able to as well.
Install VLC
On your computer, go to videolan.org and download VLC media player for your operating system.
Install it using the default options.
Set VLC to use TCP
Open VLC and go to Tools > Preferences (Windows) or VLC > Settings (Mac).
Select Input / Codecs.
Find Live555 stream transport and select RTP over RTSP (TCP).
Click Save and restart VLC.
Open the stream
In VLC, go to Media > Open Network Stream (Windows) or File > Open Network (Mac).
Paste the RTSP URL you copied from the Abode app in Part 5. It uses the format below, where LOCAL_ADDRESS is the camera's Local Address (mDNS).
Click Play. When VLC asks for a username and password, enter the camera's local credentials.
After a few seconds, live video from your Abode Cam 3 should appear, with audio.
✓ | TIP If the video does not appear, check the local address, the port (8554), the path (/live), and the credentials. Also make sure no more than one other app is connected to the camera. The Abode Cam 3 allows 2 local RTSP connections at a time. |
Close VLC once the test works, so it does not use one of the 2 available connections.
Part 7. Install Home Assistant
Follow Option A, B, or C depending on the hardware you chose.
Option A. Home Assistant Green
Plug the included Ethernet cable into the Home Assistant Green and into a spare port on your router.
Connect the power supply to the Home Assistant Green and plug it into a power outlet.
Wait for the yellow LED to blink in a slow heartbeat pattern. This means it is ready. The first start can take up to 20 minutes.
On your computer, open a web browser and go to http://homeassistant.local:8123.
Continue to Complete onboarding below.
Option B. Raspberry Pi
On your computer, download and install Raspberry Pi Imager from raspberrypi.com/software.
Insert your microSD card or USB SSD into your computer.
Open Raspberry Pi Imager and choose your Raspberry Pi model.
For the operating system, select Other specific-purpose OS > Home assistants and home automation > Home Assistant, then select the Home Assistant OS version for your model.
Select your microSD card or SSD as the storage and click Write. Wait for writing and verification to finish.
Insert the card or connect the SSD to the Raspberry Pi, connect it to your router with an Ethernet cable, then connect the power supply.
Wait about 20 minutes, then open http://homeassistant.local:8123 in a web browser.
Continue to Complete onboarding below.
Option C. Mini PC or spare computer
Follow the official Generic x86-64 installation guide at home-assistant.io/installation. This involves writing Home Assistant OS to the computer's internal drive, which erases everything on it.
Connect the computer to your router with an Ethernet cable and start it.
Open http://homeassistant.local:8123 in a web browser and continue below.
✓ | TIP If homeassistant.local:8123 does not open, find the Home Assistant device in your router's list of connected devices and go to http://ITS_IP_ADDRESS:8123 instead. |
Complete onboarding
When the welcome screen appears, select Create my smart home.
Enter your name, a username, and a strong password. This becomes the owner account for Home Assistant.
Set your home location. This is used for time zone, weather, and sunrise and sunset times.
Choose your analytics preferences.
Home Assistant shows any devices it has already found on your network. Click Finish.
Go to Settings > System > Updates and install any available updates before continuing.
Part 8. Add the Abode Cam 3 to Home Assistant
Home Assistant adds the Abode Cam 3 using its built-in ONVIF integration. The video player it needs (FFmpeg) is included in standard Home Assistant installations, so there is nothing extra to install.
Add the ONVIF integration
In Home Assistant, go to Settings > Devices & services.
If the Abode Cam 3 appears under Discovered, select Add on it and skip to step 5.
Otherwise, click Add Integration in the bottom corner, search for ONVIF, and select it.
If asked, choose to set the camera up manually.
Enter the details from the table below and click Submit.
When asked, assign the camera to an area, such as Front Door, and click Finish.
Field | What to enter |
Name | A friendly name, for example Front Door Abode Cam 3 |
Host | The camera's Local Address (mDNS) from the Abode app. If it does not connect, use the camera's IP address (Part 4) |
Port | 8080 |
Username | The camera's local username from the Abode app |
Password | The camera's local password from the Abode app |
Set the stream to TCP
On the Settings > Devices & services page, open the ONVIF integration.
Click the cogwheel or Configure next to the Abode Cam 3.
Set RTSP transport mechanism to tcp.
Turn on Use wallclock as timestamps. This helps Wi-Fi cameras play back smoothly.
Click Submit.
Check what was created
Open the ONVIF integration and select the Abode Cam 3 device. You will see the entities Home Assistant created, which can include:
A camera entity for the 1080p video stream, named after the Abode Cam 3 Main profile
Motion binary sensors, which turn on when the camera reports motion, if supported by your firmware
An IR lamp switch, which forces day or night mode (see Part 11)
Walk in front of the camera and watch which sensors change. Make a note of the motion sensor's name for use in automations.
! | NOTE Home Assistant may show controls the Abode Cam 3 does not support, such as autofocus, a wiper, or pan and tilt. These will not do anything and can be disabled in the device page. |
If the ONVIF integration does not work: use Generic Camera instead
The Generic Camera integration connects straight to the RTSP feed. It does not provide motion sensors, but it is a reliable fallback for video only.
Go to Settings > Devices & services > Add Integration and select Generic Camera.
Leave Still image URL blank.
In Stream source URL, paste the RTSP URL from the Abode app. It uses the format below.
Set RTSP transport protocol to TCP.
Enter the local username and password, leave the other options at their defaults, and click Submit.
Check the preview image and confirm.
Part 9. Add the camera to your dashboard
In Home Assistant, open Overview (your main dashboard).
Click the pencil icon or the three-dot menu, then Edit dashboard. If asked, choose to take control of the dashboard.
Click Add card and select Picture glance.
Set Camera entity to your Abode Cam 3 camera entity.
Set Camera view to Live if you want moving video on the dashboard, or Auto to show still images that refresh, which uses fewer resources.
Click Save, then Done.
Tap the card at any time to open the full live view. Install the Home Assistant Companion app on your phone to see the same dashboard away from your computer.
Part 10. Optional: record the camera locally
Home Assistant on its own displays the camera but does not continuously record it. If you want your own local recordings, add a recorder. The most popular option for Home Assistant users is Frigate, a free NVR that can run alongside Home Assistant.
Install Frigate (overview)
Add a USB SSD or network storage (NAS) to Home Assistant for recordings. Video uses a lot of space, so avoid recording to a microSD card.
In Home Assistant, go to Settings > Apps (called Add-ons in older versions) and open the app store.
Add the Frigate repository by following the instructions at docs.frigate.video, then install the Frigate app.
Configure Frigate using the Abode Cam 3 RTSP address, local credentials, and TCP transport, following the Frigate documentation for your version.
Install the Frigate integration in Home Assistant to show Frigate's recordings and events on your dashboard.
! | NOTE The Abode Cam 3 allows only 2 local RTSP connections at a time. Home Assistant uses one and Frigate uses another, which leaves no room for VLC or anything else. To avoid this, use Frigate's built-in restreaming (go2rtc). Frigate connects to the camera once and shares the video with Home Assistant, so only one camera connection is used. |
Other recorders, such as Synology Surveillance Station or Blue Iris, can also record the Abode Cam 3. Add it as an ONVIF camera using port 8080 and the local credentials, or as an RTSP camera using the address below.
Part 11. Day and night mode
The Abode Cam 3 normally switches between day and night mode automatically. Home Assistant's IR lamp switch overrides this:
IR lamp switch | What happens |
On | Forces the camera into night mode |
Off | Forces the camera into day mode |
Neither setting returns the camera to automatic switching. If you want automatic day and night switching, avoid using this switch, or set the camera back to Auto using a supported control.
The spotlight's automatic mode responds to motion and to live view in the Abode app. Watching the camera in Home Assistant does not turn on the spotlight.
Part 12. Example automation: motion alert to your phone
This example sends a notification to your phone when the Abode Cam 3 reports motion. It needs the Home Assistant Companion app installed and signed in on your phone, and a motion binary sensor from the ONVIF integration.
Go to Settings > Automations & scenes and click Create automation, then Create new automation.
Under When, add a trigger and choose Entity > State.
Select the Abode Cam 3 motion sensor and set To to Detected (on).
Under Then do, add an action and choose Notifications, then select Send a notification via mobile_app_your_phone.
Enter a message, for example: Motion detected at the front door.
Click Save and give the automation a name.
Walk in front of the camera to test it.
✓ | TIP You can also use the motion sensor to turn on lights, start a recording in Frigate, or show the camera on a tablet dashboard when someone approaches. |
Part 13. Optional: add the camera to Apple HomeKit
The Abode Cam 3 does not connect to Apple HomeKit directly. Once it is in Home Assistant, you can use Home Assistant's built-in HomeKit Bridge integration to share it with the Apple Home app on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple TV.
Before you start
The Abode Cam 3 is added to Home Assistant and its video plays on your dashboard (Parts 8 and 9)
Your iPhone or iPad is on the same home network as Home Assistant, not a guest network or mobile data
Your iPhone or iPad is signed in to iCloud and the Apple Home app is set up with a home
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are turned on on your iPhone or iPad
! | NOTE Cameras must be added to HomeKit in accessory mode, with one HomeKit Bridge entry per camera. Adding a camera inside a bridge with other devices can slow down HomeKit or stop the video from working. HomeKit Secure Video recording is not available for cameras shared from Home Assistant. Use the Abode app or a local recorder for recordings. |
Step 1. Create a HomeKit Bridge entry for the camera
In Home Assistant, go to Settings > Devices & services and click Add Integration.
Search for and select HomeKit Bridge.
When asked which domains to include, select Camera only, then click Submit.
Home Assistant creates the HomeKit entry. Because cameras need accessory mode, it may create a separate entry for each camera automatically.
Step 2. Set the entry to accessory mode and choose the camera
Do this before pairing. Changing these settings after pairing means you have to remove and re-add the camera in the Apple Home app.
On the Settings > Devices & services page, open the HomeKit Bridge integration.
Click Configure (or the cogwheel) on the entry you just created.
Set Mode to accessory and click Submit.
Select your Abode Cam 3 camera entity and click Submit.
On the camera options screen, select the Abode Cam 3 under Cameras that support native H.264 streams. This passes the camera's H.264 video straight through instead of converting it, which reduces the load on your Home Assistant device and improves video quality.
Select the Abode Cam 3 under Cameras that support audio if you want to hear audio in the Apple Home app.
Click Submit to finish.
Step 3. Find the HomeKit pairing code
In Home Assistant, click the Notifications bell icon in the sidebar.
Open the HomeKit Bridge notification. It shows a QR code and an 8-digit setup code for the camera.
Keep this notification open on your computer screen for the next step.
✓ | TIP If you cannot find the notification, restart Home Assistant from Settings > System (power icon, then Restart Home Assistant). A new pairing notification appears once it starts up. |
Step 4. Add the camera in the Apple Home app
On your iPhone or iPad, open the Home app.
Tap the + button, then Add Accessory.
Scan the QR code shown in the Home Assistant notification. If scanning does not work, tap More options and select the camera from the list.
When warned that this is an uncertified accessory, tap Add Anyway. This is expected for accessories shared from Home Assistant.
If asked, enter the 8-digit setup code from the notification.
Choose a room, confirm the camera name, and set the camera's notification and streaming options.
Tap Done. The camera appears in the Apple Home app with a live snapshot. Tap it to watch live video.
Motion notifications in Apple Home
If Home Assistant created a motion sensor for the Abode Cam 3 (Part 8), it usually links it to the camera automatically, because both belong to the same device. Apple Home can then show motion notifications with a snapshot.
In the Apple Home app, press and hold the camera, then tap the settings icon.
Tap Status & Notifications and turn on Activity Notifications.
Walk in front of the camera to test.
Remote viewing and notifications away from home need an Apple home hub (an Apple TV or HomePod) set up in the Apple Home app.
Avoid running out of camera connections
The Abode Cam 3 allows only 2 local RTSP connections at a time. Apple Home opens its own connection through Home Assistant each time someone watches the camera, and Home Assistant itself may already be using one.
Close VLC and any other local players before testing in Apple Home
If you also use Frigate (Part 10), point Home Assistant and HomeKit at Frigate's restreamed feed instead of the camera, so the camera only ever has one connection. This requires editing the HomeKit Bridge YAML configuration and is covered in the Home Assistant and Frigate documentation
Avoid having several people watch the camera in Apple Home at the same time
Changing settings after pairing
If you change the camera's HomeKit options after it has been added to Apple Home, the change may not apply until the accessory is reset. In Home Assistant, open the HomeKit Bridge entry for the camera and use Reset accessory, or remove the camera from the Apple Home app and pair it again using Steps 3 and 4.
Part 14. Keeping your setup secure
Only use local streaming on your own trusted home network
The local video stream is not encrypted. Never forward ports 8554 or 8080 to the internet in your router settings
To view the camera away from home, use Home Assistant's secure remote access options or the Abode app, not open ports on your router
Keep the camera's local username and password private. Remove them from screenshots and logs you share online
Use a strong, unique password for your Home Assistant account
Keep the Abode Cam 3 firmware and Home Assistant up to date
If the camera's local credentials change, update them in Home Assistant and any recorder that uses them
Part 15. Troubleshooting
Problem | Likely cause | What to do |
VLC or Home Assistant says it cannot connect | Wrong local address, port, path, or credentials | Copy the Local Address (mDNS) and RTSP URL from Advanced Settings > RTSP / ONVIF Login in the Abode app again. Use port 8554 and /live for RTSP, and port 8080 for ONVIF. Re-enter the local username and password |
It worked before but stopped after a restart | You connected using the camera's IP address and it changed | Use the camera's Local Address (mDNS) instead, or update the IP address and set a DHCP reservation (Part 4) |
Connection refused or busy, but credentials are correct | Both local RTSP connections are in use | Close VLC and any other players or recorders. Use Frigate restreaming if you run Frigate and Home Assistant together |
Home Assistant does not discover the camera | Discovery is blocked on your network | Add the camera manually with its Local Address (mDNS) and port 8080. If the .local address does not work, use its IP address (Part 4). Make sure both devices are on the same network, not a guest network |
Video freezes, stutters, or shows grey smearing | Stream is using UDP or Wi-Fi signal is weak | Set RTSP transport to TCP and turn on Use wallclock as timestamps. Check the camera's Wi-Fi signal |
Video plays but there is no sound | Audio not supported or muted in the player | Make sure your player supports AAC audio and that audio is enabled |
ONVIF says no usable cameras found | Profile could not be read | Check the credentials and firmware version, then try again. Use the Generic Camera integration as a fallback (Part 8) |
Picture is stuck in black and white or in color at night | The IR lamp switch has forced day or night mode | Set the camera back to Auto (Part 11) |
Works on the main network but not across VLANs | Firewall rules or discovery blocked between networks | Allow TCP 8554 and TCP 8080 between the camera and Home Assistant. For discovery, also allow UDP 3702 (WS-Discovery) and UDP 5353 (mDNS), or add the camera manually |
homeassistant.local:8123 does not open | Name lookup not supported on your network | Use the Home Assistant device's IP address instead, for example http://192.168.1.20:8123 |
Apple Home cannot find the camera to pair | iPhone not on the same network, or mDNS blocked | Connect the iPhone to the same Wi-Fi as Home Assistant. If you use VLANs or a firewall, allow UDP 5353 (mDNS) and TCP 21063 between them |
Camera in Apple Home shows a snapshot but live video will not load | Both local RTSP connections are in use, or the stream format is not passed through | Close other players, select the camera under Cameras that support native H.264 streams, then reset the accessory |
Apple Home says No Response | Home Assistant restarted or the camera is offline | Check the camera plays in Home Assistant. Wait for Home Assistant to finish starting, then reopen the Apple Home app |
No audio in Apple Home | Audio not enabled for the camera in HomeKit Bridge | Select the camera under Cameras that support audio, then reset the accessory |
If the Abode Cam 3 works in the Abode app but not in local software, contact support@goabode.com with the name and version of the software you are using. Do not include your local username, password, or full RTSP address in your message. For help with Home Assistant itself, visit the Home Assistant community forum at community.home-assistant.io.
Quick reference
Setting | Value |
RTSP address | |
RTSP address with credentials | |
RTSP port | 8554 |
ONVIF port | 8080 |
ONVIF device service address | |
Transport | TCP |
Video | 1080p (1920 x 1080), H.264 |
Audio | AAC-LC, 8 kHz, mono |
Maximum local RTSP connections | 2 |
Stream profile name | Abode Cam 3 Main |
Credentials location | Abode app > Abode Cam 3 settings > Advanced Settings > RTSP / ONVIF Login |
Home Assistant address | |
HomeKit Bridge mode for cameras | Accessory mode, one entry per camera |