Quick Start: From Box to First Stream in 10 Minutes

So you just got yourself a BZBGEAR camera or encoder, and you’re ready to get going on your first stream! Thankfully we can walk you through the quick steps so that it’s fast and easy to get up and running in no time, just keep in mind that this is a 1000 foot view so to speak and it’s just the basics. 

Step 1: Unbox and Connect Power

First things first, let’s get into that box and take everything out of it. Depending on the device (for example our cameras) it might support PoE, so if that is the case you won’t necessarily need to use the power connector as the power can be delivered through an ethernet cable from a PoE enabled switch! If it’s not PoE capable, then you will need to grab the power cable and plug it in.

Step 2: Connect Video and Network

Depending on your workflow and if using a camera, this is where you would connect the video output (if not using NDI or Dante) to your encoder, switcher or the computer. If you’re using an encoder, make sure that is hooked up to the network, and if using a switcher then make sure that is getting connected to a computer that is on the network. Next ensure that the network is active and it’s actually connected to the internet! Can’t stream without the internet!

Step 3: Access the Device Interface

Now we’ll go ahead and access the WebGUI. This is where you will be able to change settings and set the location you’d like to stream to with encoders. So just open up a web browser and enter in the device’s IP address into the address bar, of course make sure that your computer is on the same network otherwise you won’t be able to access it! You can also adjust the camera settings, color correction, and even control the camera through the WebGUI. 

Step 4: Set Video Basics

While inside the WebGUI you’re going to want to set your resolution and frame rate. This will largely depend on the camera you’re using and the network bandwidth available to you. Play around and see what is the most stable on your network, but leaving it at 30fps is a good place to start. For 1080p cameras if you’re having some issues try dropping it to 720p. For 4k you’re going to need a lot of bandwidth and special platforms to host your stream, so 1080p might be a good starting resolution. 

Step 5: Choose a Streaming Destination

There are plenty of destinations to stream to, so pick your preference and make sure to get the stream key for the destination. Copy that key and then paste it into the encoder or streaming software, 

Step 6: Start the Stream

Now is the easy part, just hit “start stream” or “go live”! 

Step 7: Test and Adjust

Open up the stream on another browser to check for video quality, audio sync, and stability. If you think it’s necessary then you can lower the bitrate or resolution to improve performance, especially on slower networks.

Final Notes

This is a quick down and dirty walk through, we’ve only just barely scratched the surface on this topic. We just want to help you get off the ground as soon as possible, that being said almost every single one of these steps has been expanded upon in other articles here in our Knowledge Base, so keep doing some research if you need advanced tips or contact our technical support!