Overview
Many BirdDog cameras support NDI HX – this is something that can be configured in the BirdUI (for device support, visit our Tech Specs page for your device at birddog.tv > Products). It's important to understand that, while HX is a selection in the BirdUI, some additional configuration may be needed.
When HX is enabled as your streaming protocol, your camera is outputting HX2 by default. However, HX3 is not a selectable mode in the BirdUI. To achieve HX3, you need to manually configure a specific combination of settings that meet the HX3 protocol specification, in addition to enabling HX as your streaming protocol.
There is no "HX3" label or dropdown in the BirdUI – this is by design. NDI HX3 is defined by a set of encoding parameters (codec, GOP size, bitrate, etc.), not a named preset. Once your settings meet those requirements, your camera will be configured for HX3.
This article walks you through exactly which settings to change, and other things to consider regarding the HX3 protocol.
Before You Start
- Ensure your camera is running the latest available firmware. You can find firmware for each product at birddog.tv/downloads.
- It is important to confirm that your device supports HX. Our P-Series and A-Series cameras do not support HX on older firmware, but do on version 5.5.114 and above. For further information on configuring HX on your P or A-Series unit, please refer to the following article: Configuring HX on Legacy Cameras
- Please note that the P400 and P4K do not support HX at this time.
- Access the BirdUI by typing your camera's IP address into your internet browser (our team relies on Google Chrome in testing).
- The default BirdUI password is 'birddog' (one word, lowercase).
Part 1: BirdUI Settings
STEP 1 – Set the NDI Protocol to HX
1. Log in to your camera's BirdUI.
2. Navigate to AV Setup.
3. Under Streaming Protocol, select NDI HX.
This enables NDI HX streaming. At this point, your camera is outputting HX2. Continue below to configure your camera to output HX3.
STEP 2 — Select Your Codec
1. Under Video Compression, select either H.264 or H.265.
Recommendation: Use H.265 wherever possible. It delivers significantly lower bitrates at the same resolution and frame rate – particularly beneficial at 4K.
- H.265 (HEVC) is best for 4K streams and bandwidth-constrained networks
- H.264 offers maximum compatibility with older receivers
STEP 3 – Set the GOP Size to 20
This is the most critical setting for HX3 compliance.
1. Locate the GOP Size field in the AV Setup panel.
2. Set the value to exactly `20`.
⚠️ A GOP size of anything other than 20 means your stream does not meet the HX3 specification, regardless of any other settings.
STEP 4 — Select Your Video Format
Set your desired output resolution and frame rate. The following combinations are supported under HX3:
Supported Frame Rates:
- 3840×2160 (4K UHD): 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p
- 1080p: 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p
- 720p: 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p
- 480p: 30p, 25p
STEP 5 – Apply and Verify
1. Click Apply to save your settings.
2. After the camera applies the changes, re-open the AV Setup panel and confirm your settings haven't reverted – particularly the resolution and GOP size.
Some cameras may revert certain parameters when switching between protocol modes. Always verify after applying.
Part 2: Requirements Outside the BirdUI
Once you've configured the BirdUI settings above, there are a few additional requirements to be aware of that live outside the camera itself.
Network Requirements
NDI HX3 is significantly more bandwidth-efficient than High Bandwidth NDI, but you still need a network that can handle the stream reliably. Use the following as a planning guide:
H.265 (Recommended)
Resolution | Framerate | Max Bandwidth |
1080p
| 50p | ~41 Mb/s |
1080p | 60p | ~50 Mb/s |
3840x2160 | 50p | ~70 Mb/s |
3840x2160 | 60p | ~ 84 Mb/s |
H.264
Resolution | Framerate | Max Bandwidth |
1080p | 50p | ~52 Mb/s |
1080p | 60p | ~62 Mb/s |
3480x2160 | 50p | ~92 Mb/s |
Tip: Even on a gigabit network, bandwidth adds up quickly in multi-camera deployments. Plan for headroom – a network running at peak capacity will cause instability.
General best practices:
- Use Gigabit Ethernet switches with proper QoS configuration.
- Avoid consumer-grade switches — use managed switches that support proper multicast/unicast handling.
- Keep NDI traffic on a dedicated VLAN where possible, separated from general IT traffic.
Receiver Compatibility
Your receiving device or software must support NDI HX3 decoding. Most modern NDI-capable software (NewTek TriCaster, vMix, OBS with NDI plugin, Resolume, etc.) supports HX3, but it's worth confirming:
- Check that your receiving software is on a current version — HX3 support was added progressively across applications.
- If a receiver only supports HX2, it may still decode the stream, but you won't benefit from the HX3 efficiency improvements end-to-end.
- NDI Tools' Studio Monitor (Windows) or Video Monitor (macOS) can be used to verify the stream is being received correctly.
Summary: HX2 vs. HX3 at a Glance
| HX2 | HX3 |
Selectable in BirdUI | ✅Automatic on HX enable | ❌Requires manual config |
GOP Size | Variable | Fixed at 20 |
Codec | h.264 or h.265 | h.264 or h.265 |
Proxy Stream | ✅ | ✅ |
4K 60p Support | ✅ | ✅ |
Latency | Low | Lower |
Bandwidth Efficiency | Good | Better |
Our Team is Here to Help!
If you have further questions regarding your setup or configuring settings, please reach out to our team by emailing
help@birddog.tv – we have a team of people ready to help you get up and running quickly!