Custom Cameras
HomeBe·at can stream cameras that aren't managed by Home Assistant. Add any RTSP, RTMP, or HLS stream directly in the app — or let HomeBe·at discover them automatically from go2rtc.
go2rtc Auto-Discovery
If your Home Assistant instance runs go2rtc (built-in since HA 2024.11), HomeBe·at automatically discovers all available streams on connect. Discovered streams are added as custom cameras with pre-filled RTSP and snapshot URLs.
How it works
- When HomeBe·at connects to Home Assistant, it probes the go2rtc API on port 11984 (HA-managed) or 1984 (standalone).
- Streams that match an existing Home Assistant camera entity get an RTSP URL override — this lets them stream via direct RTSP instead of going through HA's proxy.
- Streams that don't match any HA entity are added as custom cameras.
- Discovered cameras are added as disabled by default — enable the ones you want in Settings.
- All URLs use the local HA host, since RTSP streams are only accessible on the local network.
Snapshots
Discovered cameras get a snapshot URL via go2rtc's API (/api/frame.jpeg), so you'll see camera thumbnails even when not actively streaming.
Editing discovered cameras
Auto-discovered cameras are regular custom cameras — you can rename them, change the stream URL, update the snapshot URL, or delete them. If you delete a discovered camera and reconnect, it will be re-added on the next discovery.
When to use custom cameras
Custom cameras are useful when you have a stream URL that you want to monitor directly, without adding it to Home Assistant first. Common use cases:
- IP cameras with RTSP streams on your local network
- RTMP streams from NVRs like Blue Iris or Frigate
- HLS streams from third-party services
- Cameras that aren't supported by a HA integration
- Streams from go2rtc that aren't registered as HA camera entities (e.g., 3D printer cameras, baby monitors)
Supported protocols
| Protocol | URL Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| RTSP | rtsp://user:pass{'@'}ip:554/stream | Most common for IP cameras |
| RTMP | rtmp://ip:1935/live/stream | Common for NVR restreams |
| HLS | http://ip:8080/stream.m3u8 | HTTP-based, higher latency |
Adding a custom camera
Manually
In HomeBe·at, open the settings panel from the menu bar.
Navigate to the Custom Cameras section.
Enter a name for the camera and paste the stream URL. HomeBe·at will auto-detect the protocol.
Via go2rtc Discovery
Custom cameras discovered from go2rtc are added automatically on connect — see go2rtc Auto-Discovery above.
PTZ Control
If your custom camera supports PTZ (pan/tilt/zoom) via ONVIF or another protocol exposed through Home Assistant, HomeBe·at automatically detects and enables PTZ controls. The directional ring and zoom buttons work the same as with HA-managed cameras.