Knowledge Base
Our knowledge library includes both video guides and step-by-step written instructions.
All articles
- Device Online and Offline Status in the Portal NewLearn what the green and red status icons mean on the Devices and Streaming pages of the HDOnTap Portal, and what to do if a camera is offline.
- Dynamic DNS for Camera Sites NewHow HDOnTap uses dynamic DNS through DynDNS to keep reaching your cameras when your site doesn't have a static public IP address.
- How to Use the Eagle Activity Tracker NewSee if an eagle is at the nest right now, watch every visit from the past month and label what the eagles are doing with the Activity tab on our eagle cams.
- Setting Up Offline Alerts for Devices NewGet an email when a camera or device goes offline. Add alert contacts in your Portal profile, then set up monitoring for each device.
- X|Clear Enclosure Care and Maintenance NewKeep your X|Clear enclosure working well. Adjust the wiper blade, wash at least every 7 days, refill the fluid and know when to replace the blade.
- HDOnTap Share Rewards Program NewEarn points by sharing HDOnTap.com live streams and snapshots, track them in the Rewards Dashboard and redeem them for Premium Access and HDOnTap merchandise.
- How to Set Up Chrome Remote Desktop for HDOnTap Support NewInstall Google's free Chrome Remote Desktop and share a one-time access code so HDOnTap support can help set up port forwarding on your router.
- How to Use HDOnTap Studio Controls NewUse HDOnTap Studio Controls to stream and steer your cameras, run presets and patrol tours, take snapshots, chat with operators and book operator time.
- How to Use HDOnTap.com's New Chat System NewA complete guide to chat and comments on HDOnTap.com live cams, with replies, likes, notifications, appearance settings, pop-out chat, muting and reporting.
- Stream StatsThe Stream Stats feature in the HDOnTap Portal provides monthly analytics reports for your live streams.
- How to View and Download RecordingsLearn how to log in to the HDOnTap Recording System, start and stop recordings, adjust settings, review logs and view or download your recordings.
- RJ45 Panel Mount Connection How To UpdatedStep-by-step instructions for connecting and disconnecting an RJ45 cable on a panel mount jack while keeping the connection secure and waterproof.
- A Stream Is Down! UpdatedWe occasionally experience issues with live cams for a wide variety of reasons.
- Audio IssuesWhile we do provide audio where available, many of our live streams are video only.
- Network Setup for Live Streaming UpdatedTo set up your camera with the HDOnTap network, you need your router’s public IP address, mapped camera ports and a camera administrator login.
- Portal OverviewWelcome to the HDOnTap family of broadcasters! This five-minute video gives you a tour of the HDOnTap Portal and shows you how to get support.
- Stream Buffering UpdatedBuffering can occur for a number of reasons when viewing a live stream.
- HDOnTap Billing UpdatedWelcome to the HDOnTap family of broadcasters! Here is everything you need to know about billing for your HDOnTap service.
- HDOnTap Quickstart ChecklistWelcome to the HDOnTap family of broadcasters! This quickstart checklist will help you make the most of your live streaming video right out of the gate.
- How to Take a Snapshot of a Live Stream UpdatedCapture a still image of any HDOnTap.com live cam, then save it to the galleries, download it, post it to chat and share it to earn rewards.
- Letterboxing and PillarboxingLetterboxing occurs when the width is too large for the 16:9 aspect ratio; pillarboxing occurs when the height is too large.
- Watching on an Android Device UpdatedWatch HDOnTap live cams on an Android phone or tablet with no app needed, plus step-by-step fixes, including how to clear your browser cache in Chrome.
- Watching on an iPhone or iPad UpdatedWatch HDOnTap live cams on an iPhone or iPad with no app or download needed, plus step-by-step fixes, including how to clear your cache in Safari and Chrome.
- Port Forwarding UpdatedLearn what port forwarding is, why it is required and the basics of setting it up in your router so HDOnTap can reach your webcam.
- Add the Player to a Website UpdatedOnce your camera is online, add one line of HTML code to your website to display your live stream. Here is how to get the iFrame embed code and add it.
- Location and Sub-Location GroupsIf your webcams cover multiple geographic locations, organizing your devices into location and sub-location groups makes them easier to search and filter.
- Portal – Username & PasswordLearn how to log in to the Portal, recover a forgotten password, and change your Portal username or password.
- User Types and Managing UsersLearn about the HDOnTap Portal user types and how to add, edit, reset passwords for, disable and delete users.
- Customizing the Webcam Stream Embed UpdatedCustomize and brand your stream embed with social sharing, image overlays, stream security controls and more, and create unlimited embed configs.
- Downloading Time-Lapse Clips UpdatedThe HDOnTap Time-Lapse Service automatically generates time-lapse clips based on your custom time-lapse configs. Learn how to find and download them.
- Embed Security/Trusted Hosts UpdatedYou can control where your stream can be embedded by setting up Stream Security.
- Embedding the Time-Lapse Player UpdatedOnce your time-lapse is configured and generating, add one line of HTML code to your website to display the time-lapse player.
- Player Overlay OptionsAdd an image overlay or weather widget to your stream in the player window, and set its position, size and opacity.
- Setting Up Time-Lapse Tours UpdatedUse HDOnTap’s Time-Lapse Service to take control of your camera’s automated PTZ tours, including the order of presets, speed and schedule.
- Snapshot Proxy Portal Feature UpdatedThe HDOnTap Snapshot Config Tool is a quick and easy way to generate images of your live stream that update automatically at a regular interval.
- Stream ConnectivityA stream can be connected (turned on) and disconnected (turned off) from within the HDOnTap Portal.
- Streaming to Facebook LiveSet up a stream target in the Customer Portal to simultaneously publish your live stream to Facebook Live.
- Streaming to TwitchHDOnTap supports CDN (content delivery network) streaming to Twitch, so you can simultaneously stream directly to a Twitch channel.
- Streaming to YouTube LiveHDOnTap supports CDN (content delivery network) streaming to YouTube Live, so you can simultaneously stream directly to a YouTube channel.
- Updating Camera Information in the Time-Lapse System UpdatedThe HDOnTap Time-Lapse Service connects to your camera using its IP address information. Learn how to update it when your camera details change.
- Updating Your RTSP URLThe RTSP (Real-Time Streaming Protocol) URL connects your IP camera to the HDOnTap Streaming Network. Learn how to update it when your camera details change.
- Uploading Images to the PortalImages can be used in the HDOnTap Portal to create overlays or posters. Images of your equipment and installation can also be uploaded (Admin only).
- Creating Time-Lapse Configs UpdatedUse HDOnTap’s Time-Lapse Service to generate multiple time-lapses from a single tour, customized by preset, frames per second, resolution and bitrate.
- Sharing Legacy Studio Controls UpdatedLegacy Studio Controls in the HDOnTap Portal can be shared with individuals without needing to create a new user.