The short answer
Direct access uses camera settings; recorder access uses its channel map and account. Compare reachability, available profiles and session limits rather than mixing the two endpoints.
Work through the checks
Identify the camera by model, hardware revision, firmware and MAC address. Keep this inventory separate from passwords; two devices with similar names may expose different protocols.
Put the computer and camera on a network that permits local communication. A guest SSID, client isolation or a separate recorder PoE network can block access even when both devices have internet.
Decide whether the source is the camera itself or an NVR channel. Use the recorder address and recorder account for a recorder-provided stream, and check its channel numbering separately.
Match the requested channel or lens to the manufacturer’s numbering. A valid stream from the wrong channel can look like success while showing another camera.
What to verify
Close duplicate viewers and unused recorder previews during a controlled test. Some cameras limit simultaneous sessions; add each client back separately to find the constraint.
Sources and scope
AeoCam is available for Windows. Camera settings below describe protocol preparation, not a certification of a particular camera or a promise of every feature in every app version. Check the installed build and the Microsoft Store listing for current availability.
Vendor documents describe the camera or protocol. No physical-camera compatibility test is claimed here. Menus and capabilities can change with model and firmware.