An Android phone as an RTMP-to-SRTLA bridge
pocketSRT runs its own RTMP input on the Android device. A compatible camera, OBS, or another RTMP source supplies the picture, and the app then sends it to the destination server over SRT or SRTLA.
That's especially interesting if you want to fit existing RTMP cameras into a more dependable SRTLA workflow. The project is under active development, so test it thoroughly on your own device before any important stream.
1. pocketSRT features
The left side lists what the project description claims. The right side lists what you should check yourself.
| Area | Feature | Field check |
|---|---|---|
| Input | Native RTMP server for a camera, OBS, and other sources | Test the address and reconnecting |
| Output | SRT and SRTLA with adaptive bitrate | Match latency and destination server |
| Bonding | Cellular, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and additional phones through pocketBond | Check each path on its own |
| Production | PiP with a second RTMP source and four switchable scenes | Watch that picture and sound stay in sync |
| Hardware | Automatic Bluetooth connection for supported DJI models; cooler control | Judge it only with your specific model |
| Diagnostics | Local REST API, status values, and exportable logs | Secure access on your network |
Cooler note: The project description lists several Black Shark coolers. Support for the MagCooler 5 Pro is still described as not conclusively verified on real hardware in the current project state.
2. Setup: RTMP in, SRT or SRTLA out
- Enter an SRT or SRTLA destination in pocketSRT.
- Put the local RTMP address shown in the app into your camera or OBS.
- Start the RTMP source and check picture and sound.
- Enable the SRT/SRTLA output and check the input on the relay server.
- With SRTLA, test the additional network paths one by one first, then together.
The official device list includes several DJI Osmo Action models, the Osmo 360, and the Pocket 3, among others. Supported models and behavior can change with new project versions.
3. Requirements
- Android 8 or newer on a 64-bit ARM device
- an RTMP-capable source and a reachable SRT/SRTLA receiver
- enough power, and sensible cooling for longer sessions
- a genuinely usable internet connection for every bonding path
Check the version: The repository already describes a newer development state, while the linked release APK can lag behind for a while. Before you install, read the README, releases, and change notes together.
How to handle power on the road is covered on the Power supply for IRL streaming page. You'll find suitable devices in the overview of streaming phones.
4. Installation and a sensible field test
pocketSRT isn't distributed through Google Play. Download the APK only from the official GitHub releases, and allow installation from unknown sources only temporarily for the browser or file manager you use.
| Stage | What you test | How you can tell |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | One RTMP source over a single, stable SRT connection | Picture and sound arrive at the receiver |
| 2 | Let it run for at least 30 minutes straight | Phone and battery stay within reason, picture and sound run cleanly |
| 3 | SRTLA, cutting individual network paths along the way | The stream keeps running over the remaining paths |
| 4 | DJI connection, PiP, scenes, pocketBond, cooler control | Add each extra on its own and see what happens |
Stick to this order. If even the simple chain has problems, an extra path only makes troubleshooting harder.
5. Privacy and security
pocketSRT is open source and, according to the project description, works mostly as a local bridge. Even so, the app handles stream destinations, passphrases, keys, network status, and diagnostic information.
- Get the APK only from the official project page.
- Don't publish stream keys or passphrases in screenshots or logs.
- Use the REST API only on a network you control, and don't expose it to the internet unprotected.
- Check exported diagnostic logs for addresses, device names, and keys before you share them.
6. Common questions
What is pocketSRT used for?
The app runs on an Android device, accepts an RTMP stream there, and forwards it over SRT or SRTLA to a suitable receiver.
Is pocketSRT in the Play Store?
No. You install an APK from the project's official GitHub releases. Read the README, releases, and change notes first. The repository and the release APK are sometimes at different versions.
Does pocketSRT work with pocketBond?
Yes. pocketBond can bring in more Android phones and their cellular connections as extra SRTLA paths. You don't have to use it, though. pocketSRT runs fine without it. More on that under pocketBond.
Does pocketSRT replace a relay server?
No. The app is the mobile bridge from RTMP to SRT or SRTLA, nothing more. You still need a suitable receiver at the destination, for SRTLA for example an SRTLA relay server.
Is pocketSRT a finished, standard solution?
It's an active community project. For important productions, you still need your own long-term test with exactly the hardware you'll use.