OpenTAK ICU
OpenTAK ICU is a video streaming app based on RootEncoder that can stream audio and video to RTSP(S), RTMP(S), and SRT servers such as MediaMTX. Its primary focus is to work with the TAK ecosystem.
Why?
While ATAK already has the TAK ICU plugin, it doesn't seem to support a few features. Specifically it doesn't support streaming audio or using authentication and encryption (RTSPS) at the same time.
Download
Get the APK from this repo's latest release
Features
- Video Codecs
- H264
- H265
- AV1
- Audio Codecs
- AAC
- G711
- OPUS
- Streaming protocols
- RTSP
- RTSPS
- RTMP
- RTMPS
- SRT (SRT does not yet support authentication)
- Multicast UDP
- Authentication
- Servers with self-signed certificates
- Background streaming and recording - Continue streaming and recording audio and video even if the app is minimized or the screen is off.
- Record video to the device while streaming
- Take photos while recording or streaming
- Change between front and back cameras during stream
- Adaptive bitrate
Planned features
- KLV
- Stream your device's screen instead of camera
- USB camera support
Servers
This app has been developed using MediaMTX as the streaming server but any RTSP/RTMP server should work.
Viewing OpenTAK ICU streams from MediaMTX in ATAK
In the video tool, tap the + symbol to add a new stream and use the following settings: - Type: rtsp - Address: Your server's IP address or domain name - Port: The defaults are 8554 for RTSP and 8322 for RTSPS - Path: The stream's path that is set in OpenTAK ICU's settings - Username/Password: Required only if your server enforces authentication - Reliable P2P Connection: Enables a TCP connection and is required if there is a NAT/firewall between your EUD and the server.
Viewing the stream in a browser
When using MediaMTX and streaming with H264, you can watch the live stream in a browser by going to
http://your_server_ip:8888/stream_path
for an HLS stream or
http://your_server_ip:8889/stream_path
for a WebRTC stream. Note that most browsers don't yet support H265. See CanIUse for details. Also note that WebRTC does not support AAC audio so you will need to use OPUS or G711 if you're viewing the stream via WebRTC.
Viewing streams in VLC
- Click on Media -> Open Network Stream
- In the URL field enter
rtsp://your_server_address:8554/your_path - Click Play
Adaptive Bitrate
When adaptive bitrate is enabled, the video bitrate will change based on your network/internet connection. If the connection can't send packets fast enough, the bitrate will lower. If the connection is good the bitrate will max out at what the bitrate setting's value is.
Servers with self-signed certificates
If your server is using self signed certificates and you wish to stream encrypted audio and video, you'll need your server's trust store certificate in PKCS12 (.p12 file extension) format. If your RTSP server is using the same certificates as your TAK server, you can use the same trust store certificate and certificate password in OpenTAK ICU. After selecting the certificate and providing the certificate password, press the Test Certificate button. This simply validates that the certificate is the correct format and that the password is correct.
Feature Comparison
Streaming Protocols
| TAK ICU | OpenTAK ICU | |
|---|---|---|
| RTSP | Yes | Yes |
| RTSPS | No | Yes |
| RTMP | No | Yes |
| RTMPS | No | Yes |
| SRT | No | Yes |
| Multicast UDP | Yes | Yes |
Video Codecs
| TAK ICU | OpenTAK ICU | |
|---|---|---|
| H264 | Yes | Yes |
| H265 | No | Yes |
| AV1 | No | Yes |
Audio Codecs
| TAK ICU | OpenTAK ICU | |
|---|---|---|
| AAC | No | Yes |
| G711 | No | Yes |
| OPUS | No | Yes |
Other Features
| TAK ICU | OpenTAK ICU | |
|---|---|---|
| Broadcast CoT on local network | Yes | Yes |
| Send CoT to TAK server | No | Yes |
| Show video on map (KLV) | Yes | No |
| View video in ATAK/WinTAK video tool | Yes | Yes |
| Stream to Wowza | Yes | No |
| Stream in background | Yes | Yes |
| Take a photo while streaming | Yes | Yes |
| Switch camera while streaming | No | Yes |
| Turn on flashlight while streaming | No | Yes |
| Record to device while streaming | Yes | Yes |
| Change Video/Audio bitrate | No | Yes |
| Adaptive Bitrate | No | Yes |
| 1080p | No | Yes |
| 4K | Yes | Yes |
| Change FPS | No | Yes |
| Compass Display | Yes | No |
| Server Authentication | Yes (only when using RTSP) | Yes (RTSP(S) and RTMP(S) |