Troubleshooting: Bridge Script Won't Connect

Overview

If the bridge script starts but your camera does not appear as Live in AegisGates, this guide will help you identify and fix the problem.

Step 1 — Check the Terminal for Error Messages

When the bridge script fails, it prints an error message. Common errors and fixes:

Error Message	Likely Cause	Fix
`Connection refused` or `timed out`	Wrong camera IP or RTSP port	Check your RTSP URL and camera IP address
`401 Unauthorized`	Wrong RTSP username or password	Re-enter credentials — check camera admin panel
`Invalid API key`	Wrong or expired AegisGates API key	Copy API key again from the Cameras page
`No module named cv2`	Missing Python package	Run `pip install opencv-python`
`Failed to connect to aegisgates.com`	No internet access	Check outbound internet on port 443

Step 2 — Test Your RTSP Stream First

Before troubleshooting the bridge script, confirm your camera's RTSP stream works by opening it in VLC Media Player:

Open VLC

Go to Media → Open Network Stream

Enter your RTSP URL, e.g.: rtsp://admin:[email protected]:554/stream

Click Play

If VLC shows your camera's video, the RTSP stream is working. If VLC cannot connect, the problem is with the camera or network — not the bridge script.

Step 3 — Check Your RTSP URL Format

RTSP URLs follow this pattern:

rtsp://username:password@camera-ip:port/path

Common mistakes:

Wrong port — most cameras use 554, but some use 8554 or 1935

Missing stream path — check your camera's manual for the correct path (e.g. /stream1, /ch0/stream0, /live)

Special characters in password — if your password contains @ or /, it may break the URL. Try changing your camera password to letters and numbers only.

Step 4 — Firewall and Network Issues

Make sure no firewall is blocking the camera's RTSP port on your local network
The bridge script connects outbound to aegisgates.com on port 443 — ensure this is not blocked
If you are on a corporate or managed network, ask your IT team to allow outbound HTTPS traffic

Step 5 — Re-run Setup with a Fresh Config

If you are not sure what is saved in your current config.json, the simplest fix is to delete it and re-run setup:

Stop the bridge script

Delete config.json from the script folder

Run python bridge_script.py again

Enter your settings carefully when prompted

Still Not Working?

Email us at [email protected] with:

The exact error message from the terminal
Your operating system
Your camera make and model