What You Need Before You Start
Before the setup begins, make sure you have:
- An IP camera, RTSP stream, or webcam already connected to the internet
- The camera's stream URL or web address (check your camera's settings panel)
- A free Duskguard account (takes 30 seconds to create)
That's it. If your camera is broadcasting a video feed, you can connect it to AI monitoring. No additional hardware, no software downloads, no monthly fees for the free tier.
Already have an IP camera? Most RTSP streams follow the format rtsp://camera-ip:554/stream. Find your camera's IP address in its settings app, then check the manufacturer's docs for the exact path. Most $30–$100 cameras follow this pattern.
Step 1: Create Your Free Account
Sign up at duskguard.polsia.app/register
Click "Start free" in the top right corner. Enter your email, set a password, and confirm. That's the entire registration process — no credit card, no phone number, no company verification.
Your free account includes 1 camera, continuous AI monitoring, and instant email alerts. It doesn't expire.
Step 2: Add Your First Camera
Point it at your camera's stream URL
Once logged in, click "Add Camera." You'll need:
- Camera name — anything that helps you identify it (e.g., "Front Entrance" or "Parking Lot")
- Stream URL — the address your camera broadcasts at. Common formats:
RTSP streams: rtsp://192.168.1.50:554/live
HTTP image feeds: http://camera-ip/snapshot.jpg
Duskguard will attempt to connect and pull a test frame. If the stream URL is correct, you'll see a live preview within seconds.
Step 3: AI Monitoring Starts Automatically
No configuration required — it begins immediately
Once your camera is connected, Duskguard begins continuous AI analysis of the feed. There's no "enable monitoring" toggle to flip — it's on by default.
The AI monitors for:
- People — detected in real time, regardless of lighting conditions
- Vehicles — cars, trucks, bikes entering your property perimeter
- Anomalies — unusual activity patterns that don't match your baseline
False positives from wind, animals, and headlights are filtered out before any alert is sent. You'll only get notified for events that actually matter.
Step 4: Configure Your Alert Delivery
Set where and when you want to be notified
Navigate to your camera settings and scroll to "Alert Settings." You can:
- Choose which threat types trigger an alert (people, vehicles, anomalies, or all)
- Set quiet hours — e.g., no alerts between 11pm and 7am
- Add multiple email recipients (property manager + tenant, for example)
When a real threat is detected, you'll receive an email with the threat classification, a snapshot of the detected event, and the camera name — within seconds of the event.
What Happens After Setup
After the initial configuration, Duskguard runs continuously in the background. You don't need to open the app for monitoring to work — that's the point. The AI watches, and you get a message when something happens.
On the free tier, you get 1 camera, real-time AI monitoring, and instant email alerts. If you want to add more cameras or access 90-day alert history, the Cloud plan is $2.99/month — unlimited cameras, no per-camera pricing.
Your setup is complete. The monitoring is already running.
Camera Compatibility Notes
Most cameras that support RTSP or serve a web-accessible image stream work with Duskguard out of the box. Common brands that work:
- Reolink — RTSP URL format is well-documented
- Hikvision — requires enabling RTSP in camera settings
- Amcrest — standard RTSP streams
- TP-Link Tapo — local stream accessible via app settings
- Generic ONVIF cameras — most compatible with ONVIF profile S
If your camera is accessible via a web URL or RTSP stream, it will connect. If you hit a snag during setup, the Duskguard team responds to emails at duskguard@polsia.app.