Introduction
Starting with Blueye App v5.4, you can stream live video from your Blueye drone directly to an RTMP or RTMPS server. This enables real-time sharing of your underwater footage with remote stakeholders, incident command systems, or online streaming platforms — without relying on screen sharing.
RTMP (Real-Time Messaging Protocol) is a widely supported streaming protocol used by platforms such as YouTube Live, Twitch, Vimeo, and enterprise systems like Incidentshare by Bliksund used by first responders. Most platforms that accept a “Stream URL” and “Stream Key” for live ingestion use RTMP.
Beta Feature: This feature is currently in Beta. We encourage you to experiment with it and share your feedback, but we recommend not relying on it for mission-critical operations until it has been fully validated in your environment.
How it works
The Blueye App forwards the H.264 video stream from the drone directly to the RTMP server without re-encoding. This means the stream uses the same resolution and bitrate as your current camera settings on the drone. There is no additional processing or quality loss — the video is passed through as-is.
Because there is no transcoding, the upload bandwidth required matches the drone’s camera bitrate. If you experience dropped frames or connection issues during a live stream, try reducing the camera resolution or bitrate in the camera settings.
The stream does not currently include audio. Audio support may be added in a future update.
Both rtmp:// and rtmps:// (TLS-encrypted) URLs are supported.
Network requirements
To use RTMP live streaming, your mobile device must be connected to the drone’s Wi-Fi network and have Internet access simultaneously. This typically means using a 4G or 5G cellular connection for the Internet uplink while connected to the drone Wi-Fi.
The required upload bandwidth depends on your camera settings. For example, a 1080p stream at 5 Mbit/s requires a stable 5 Mbit/s upload speed. We recommend testing your cellular upload speed at your operating location before relying on the live stream.
Setting up a live stream
You can configure the RTMP settings in two places:
- Before a dive: Go to Settings > App Settings > Live Streaming
- During a dive: Open the Live Streaming menu item in the dive menu
Steps
- Enter the RTMP URL provided by your streaming platform (e.g.
rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2orrtmps://live.example.com/app). - Enter the Stream Key if required by the platform. This field is optional — some servers include the key in the URL.
- Tap Start Streaming to begin the live stream.
- Tap Stop Streaming to end the session.
The URL and stream key are saved between sessions, so you only need to enter them once.
Diagnostics
While a live stream is active, the Live Streaming page displays real-time diagnostics to help you monitor the stream quality:
| Indicator | Description |
|---|---|
| Status | Current connection state (Connecting, Publishing, Disconnected, Failed) with a color-coded indicator |
| FPS | Frames per second being sent to the RTMP server |
| Bitrate | Current stream bitrate in Mbit/s — matches your drone camera settings |
| Resolution | Video resolution being streamed (e.g. 1280x720) |
| Backlog | Amount of data sent but not yet acknowledged by the server. A rising backlog indicates your upload speed cannot keep up with the stream bitrate |
| RTT | Round-trip time to the RTMP server in milliseconds. Lower values indicate a better connection |
If the backlog grows steadily or the FPS drops, consider reducing the camera bitrate or resolution in the camera settings.
Adaptive bitrate
If you have Adaptive Streaming enabled in the camera settings (the default), the app will automatically cap the bitrate at 3 Mbit/s while RTMP streaming is active. This helps ensure the live stream remains stable over typical cellular connections.
If you need higher quality for the live stream and have verified that your upload speed can support it, you can switch to manual bitrate in the camera settings and set a higher value.
Auto-reconnect
If the connection to the RTMP server is lost (for example, due to a brief network interruption), the app will automatically attempt to reconnect with a gradual backoff. Once the connection is re-established, the stream resumes from the next available keyframe.
Tips for a smooth live stream
- Test your connection first. Run a speed test at your location to confirm your cellular upload bandwidth before starting a mission.
- Start with 720p. A 720p stream at 2–3 Mbit/s is a good starting point for most cellular connections.
- Monitor the diagnostics. Keep an eye on the backlog and RTT indicators during the stream. If the backlog keeps growing, reduce the bitrate.
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Use RTMPS when possible. If your platform supports
rtmps://, use it for an encrypted connection.
Compatible platforms
RTMP live streaming works with any platform that accepts an RTMP or RTMPS ingestion URL. Examples include:
- Incidentshare — Incident management platform used by emergency services in Norway
- YouTube Live — Create a live event in YouTube Studio to get your stream URL and key
- Twitch — Use your Twitch stream key from the Creator Dashboard
- Vimeo Livestream — Available on Vimeo Premium and Enterprise plans
- Restream — Multistream to multiple platforms simultaneously
- MediaMTX — Open-source RTMP/RTSP server you can self-host for private use
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