ONVIF discovery and services · 23/30

ONVIF Port 3702 vs Camera Service Port: Do Not Mix Them Up

Separate WS-Discovery traffic from the HTTP or HTTPS endpoint used for ONVIF device and media calls.

Target question: ONVIF port 3702 vs service portResearch checked: 2026-09-11

Direct answer

UDP 3702 is associated with WS-Discovery, but the camera’s ONVIF device service can listen on a different HTTP or HTTPS port chosen by the vendor. Use discovery to learn the service address, then connect to that returned endpoint.

Why this happens

Calling every ONVIF operation on port 3702 fails because discovery is not the same as the device-management or media service. Vendor FAQs may also name a model-specific ONVIF service port.

Discovery only locates a device service; media profiles, credentials and routing still require their own checks.

A controlled test

Capture the discovery response and read the xaddr rather than guessing a service port.

Change one variable at a time. Keep the camera model, firmware, endpoint and account recorded; then test network reachability, protocol response, media transport and decoding as separate layers.

Use a dedicated view-only account and a trusted local diagnostic tool. Redact credentials, private addresses and identifying data before sharing output.

Diagnostic sequence

CheckActionEvidence of progress
ProbeRun discovery on the local camera network.A response identifies the device and xaddr.
AddressParse the xaddr scheme, host, port and path.The service endpoint is explicit.
CallAuthenticate to the returned device service.Capabilities and profiles are available.
StreamRequest and test the media URI separately.RTSP playback is verified on its own port.

Evidence to keep

Document three fields separately: discovery transport, ONVIF service endpoint and RTSP stream endpoint.

Boundary and safety note

Model-specific service ports are not universal defaults; confirm them in official documentation or the discovery response.

For remote viewing, use a managed VPN instead of exposing RTSP or camera administration ports directly to the public internet.

SmartRTSP

SmartRTSP is a camera-focused RTSP and ONVIF viewer for Apple devices, Windows and Android. It fits direct viewing, discovery and multi-camera checks; keep a dedicated NVR or VMS when continuous recording, evidence export or centralized enterprise controls are required.

Frequently asked questions

Is 3702 the ONVIF video port?

No. It is used for WS-Discovery; video normally uses a separate RTSP or HTTPS media path.

Why does my camera use another ONVIF port?

The vendor can expose the ONVIF HTTP or HTTPS service on a model-specific port.

Should I scan many ports to find ONVIF?

Prefer local discovery, current vendor documentation or the camera configuration instead of broad scanning.

Primary references

Related SmartRTSP guide

Open related guide

Separate WS-Discovery traffic from the HTTP or HTTPS endpoint used for ONVIF device and media calls.