[Config Support]: HTTP-FLV vs RTSP for newer Reolink cameras

[dlarkinsPonderosa]

Describe the problem you are having

Is the HTTP-FLV recommendation for Reolink cameras still applicable for newer cameras?

I have an RLC-1212a that seems to crash go2rtc after about 12 hours (stream still works in the Reolink app, and audio still coming through on the streams in Frigate). I do have some errors that I can share, but I didn't want to waste time if the solution is to not use RTSP at all.

Version

0.13.2-6476F8A

Frigate config file

mqtt:
  enabled: true
  host: 192.168.1.104
  port: 1883
  user: xx
  password: yy
birdseye:

    # Optional: Enable birdseye view (default: shown below)
  enabled: true
        # Optional: Width of the output resolution (default: shown below)
  height: 1080
  width: 1920
                # Optional: Encoding quality of the mpeg1 feed (default: shown below)
                  # 1 is the highest quality, and 31 is the lowest. Lower quality feeds utilize less CPU resources.
  quality: 5
                      # Optional: Mode of the view. Available options are: objects, motion, and continuous
                        #   objects - cameras are included if they have had a tracked object within the last 30 seconds
                          #   motion - cameras are included if motion was detected in the last 30 seconds
                            #   continuous - all cameras are included always
  mode: motion


detectors:
  coral:
    type: edgetpu
    device: usb


ffmpeg:
  output_args: # record audio
    record: preset-record-generic-audio-aac
model:
  path: plus://4aec12efe72d22ab1c5ab99a0867ae29

go2rtc:
  streams:
    garden_cam:
    - rtsp://admin:pw@192.168.1.a:554/h265Preview_01_main
    garden_cam_sub:
    - ffmpeg:garden_cam#video=h264#width=1920#height=1080#audio=aac#raw=-fpsmax 10#hardware=vaapi
    valley_cam:
    - rtsp://admin:pw@192.168.1.b:554/h264Preview_01_main
    valley_cam_sub:
    - ffmpeg:valley_cam#video=h264#width=1920#height=1080#audio=aac#raw=-fpsmax 10#hardware=vaapi
  webrtc:
    candidates:
    - 192.168.1.104:8555

cameras:
  #RECORD ONLY CAMERAS
  garden_record_only:
    record:
      enabled: true
      retain:
        days: 14
      export:
        timelapse_args: -vf setpts=0.00005*PTS -r 30
    ffmpeg:
      inputs:
      - path: /dev/zero
        input_args: -re -s 640x480 -f rawvideo -pix_fmt rgb24 -r 1
        roles:
        - detect
      - path: rtsp://127.0.0.1:8554/garden_cam_sub
        input_args: preset-rtsp-restream
        roles:
        - record
        hwaccel_args: preset-vaapi
    detect:
      enabled: false
      height: 480
      width: 640
      fps: 1

  valley_record_only:
    record:
      enabled: true
      retain:
        days: 14
      export:
        timelapse_args: -vf setpts=0.00005*PTS -r 30
    ffmpeg:
      inputs:
      - path: /dev/zero
        input_args: -re -s 640x480 -f rawvideo -pix_fmt rgb24 -r 1
        roles:
        - detect
      - path: rtsp://127.0.0.1:8554/valley_cam_sub
        input_args: preset-rtsp-restream
        roles:
        - record
        hwaccel_args: preset-vaapi
    detect:
      enabled: false
      height: 480
      width: 640
      fps: 1


# MAIN CAMERAS
  garden_cam:
    zones:
      garden:
        coordinates: 
          654,605,1020,377,1111,303,1268,169,1548,148,1718,187,1750,223,1920,287,1920,719,1920,1080,305,1080,215,908
      road:
        coordinates: 1920,0,1920,295,1765,228,1697,184,1576,80,1549,0
    record:
      enabled: true
      retain:
        days: 0
      events:
        pre_capture: 2
        post_capture: 2
        retain:
          default: 5
          mode: active_objects
          objects:
            person: 3
        objects:
        - person
        - face
        - license_plate
        - dog
        - cat
        - car
        - amazon
        - fedex
        - ups
        - package
        - deer

      export:
        timelapse_args: -vf setpts=0.00005*PTS -r 30
    snapshots:
      enabled: true
      quality: 100

    mqtt:
      # Optional: height to resize the snapshot to (default: shown below)
      height: 640
      # Optional: jpeg encode quality (default: shown below)
      quality: 100

    objects:
      track:
      - person
      - face
      - license_plate
      - dog
      - cat
      - car
      - amazon
      - fedex
      - ups
      - package
      - deer
      filters:
        person:
          min_score: 0.8
          threshold: 0.93
          min_area: 700
        car:
          min_score: 0.8
          threshold: 0.92
          min_area: 800
          max_area: 60000
        cat:
          min_score: 0.65
          threshold: 0.85
        dog:
          min_score: 0.65
          threshold: 0.85
        deer:
          min_score: 0.65
          threshold: 0.85

    ffmpeg:
      inputs:
      - path: rtsp://127.0.0.1:8554/garden_cam
        input_args: preset-rtsp-restream
        roles:
        - record
        hwaccel_args: preset-vaapi
      - path: rtsp://127.0.0.1:8554/garden_cam_sub
        input_args: preset-rtsp-restream
        roles:
        - detect
        hwaccel_args: preset-vaapi
    live:
      stream_name: garden_cam_sub

  valley_cam:
    record:
      enabled: true
      retain:
        days: 0
      events:
        pre_capture: 2
        post_capture: 2
        retain:
          default: 5
          mode: motion
          objects:
            person: 3
        objects:
        - person
        - face
        - dog
        - cat
        - deer

      export:
        timelapse_args: -vf setpts=0.00005*PTS -r 30
    snapshots:
      enabled: true
      quality: 100
    motion:
      contour_area: 4
      threshold: 23
      mask:
        - 976,727,1042,674,1077,570,1012,415,932,362,828,353,674,392,614,519,653,605,727,706,867,712
        - 0,0,493,0,1597,0,1783,0,1920,0,1920,404,1801,389,1694,368,1638,347,1519,341,1427,332,1246,344,1104,323,976,329,813,344,730,368,659,362,466,368,472,490,356,487,261,493,163,516,0,632
        - 1920,451,1742,522,1629,573,1635,742,1920,718
    onvif:
      # Required: host of the camera being connected to.
      host: 192.168.1.201
      # Optional: ONVIF port for device (default: shown below).
      port: 8000
      user: admin
      # Optional: password for login.
      password: acd
    mqtt:
      # Optional: height to resize the snapshot to (default: shown below)
      height: 640
      # Optional: jpeg encode quality (default: shown below)
      quality: 100

    objects:
      track:
      - person
      - face
      - dog
      - cat
      - deer
      filters:
        person:
          min_score: 0.8
          threshold: 0.93
          min_area: 700
        cat:
          min_score: 0.65
          threshold: 0.85
        dog:
          min_score: 0.65
          threshold: 0.85
        deer:
          min_score: 0.65
          threshold: 0.85

    ffmpeg:
      inputs:
      - path: rtsp://127.0.0.1:8554/valley_cam
        input_args: preset-rtsp-restream
        roles:
        - record
        hwaccel_args: preset-vaapi
      - path: rtsp://127.0.0.1:8554/valley_cam_sub
        input_args: preset-rtsp-restream
        roles:
        - detect
        hwaccel_args: preset-vaapi
    live:
      stream_name: valley_cam_sub

Relevant log output

2024-05-20 10:01:30.278734673  [2024-05-20 10:01:30] frigate.video                  ERROR   : garden_cam: Unable to read frames from ffmpeg process.
2024-05-20 10:01:30.278788247  [2024-05-20 10:01:30] frigate.video                  ERROR   : garden_cam: ffmpeg process is not running. exiting capture thread...
2024-05-20 10:01:35.075847504  [2024-05-20 10:01:35] watchdog.garden_cam            ERROR   : Ffmpeg process crashed unexpectedly for garden_cam.
2024-05-20 10:01:35.075860814  [2024-05-20 10:01:35] watchdog.garden_cam            ERROR   : The following ffmpeg logs include the last 100 lines prior to exit.
2024-05-20 10:01:35.075977023  [2024-05-20 10:01:35] ffmpeg.garden_cam.detect       ERROR   : [rtsp @ 0x641b62ffee40] Could not find codec parameters for stream 0 (Video: h264, none): unspecified size
2024-05-20 10:01:35.075979151  [2024-05-20 10:01:35] ffmpeg.garden_cam.detect       ERROR   : Consider increasing the value for the 'analyzeduration' (0) and 'probesize' (5000000) options
2024-05-20 10:01:35.075980290  [2024-05-20 10:01:35] ffmpeg.garden_cam.detect       ERROR   : Output file #0 does not contain any stream
2024-05-20 10:01:39.781659063  [2024-05-20 10:01:39] frigate.record.maintainer      WARNING : Unable to keep up with recording segments in cache for garden_cam. Keeping the 6 most recent segments out of 7 and discarding the rest...
2024-05-20 10:01:39.788164466  [ERROR:0@3256.514] global cap.cpp:164 open VIDEOIO(CV_IMAGES): raised OpenCV exception:
2024-05-20 10:01:39.788167044  
2024-05-20 10:01:39.788168237  OpenCV(4.7.0) /io/opencv/modules/videoio/src/cap_images.cpp:267: error: (-215:Assertion failed) number < max_number in function 'icvExtractPattern'

Frigate stats

No response

Operating system

Proxmox

Install method

Docker Compose

Coral version

USB

Any other information that may be helpful

No response

[NickM-27]

cameras with resolution > 5MP do not support http-flv. In my experience http-flv is still recommended for those cameras as, on the latest firmware, users have seen i-frame hitching. Other users do not so it seems YMMV with rtsp but http-flv for supported cameras is the optimal configuration.

For higher MP cameras, rtsp is the only option and if there are issues then maybe just ask support for firmware that isn't broken, unfortunately reolink can't seem to get their RTSP implementation straight

[dlarkinsPonderosa]

@NickM-27 Thanks for the quick reply and details on http-flv (I have no experience with it). I am in a support chat to see if they'll provide a later firmware already so we'll see if that helps. UPDATE: It looks like my firmware from last June 2023 is the "latest".

I will also (if that doesn't work) simplify by removing the extra re-encode from H265 to H264 etc... (I have the resources to spare and do want the 12MP stream if I can - but working is better than not working)

[dlarkinsPonderosa]

For those interested I did receive a newer firmware from Reolink support for my RLC-1212a. I have applied it and will see how it goes.
The first tier of support told me I had the latest already (and it was the latest on the website). I had to push to see if there was an internal firmware that might be better and was elevated to the 'senior' support team.

[RichFoley]

I just updated to the firmware released in Feb-2023. It seems like http-flv is now supported for higher MP cameras! My RLC-811A did not work over http-flv, but does after upgrading to firmware version v3.1.0.1643_2402219117.

[NickM-27]

can you get the stream info for this camera, what is the resolution

[RichFoley]

8.3MP or 3840 x 2160