RTSP Setup Guide

Geovision RTSP Setup

Enable RTSP on your Geovision IP camera or NVR and stream live video to SmartRTSP on iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Note: Geovision uses port 8554 by default — not the standard port 554 used by most other brands.

RTSP Stream URL (NVR)
rtsp://<username>:<password>@<IP>:8554/CH001.sdp
Port
8554
Protocol
RTSP
ONVIF
Some models
Codec
H.264

Important: Geovision Uses Port 8554

Unlike most IP cameras that use port 554, Geovision NVRs and cameras use port 8554 as their default RTSP port. If you enter port 554 in SmartRTSP, the stream will fail to connect. Always use port 8554 unless you have explicitly changed the RTSP server port in the Geovision system settings.

How to Enable RTSP on Geovision Cameras

1

Log in to the camera or NVR web interface

Open a browser and navigate to http://<camera-IP>. Log in with your admin credentials. For Geovision NVR systems (GV-NVR, GV-VMS), the default username is admin and the default password is admin. You should change this immediately if it has not already been changed. To find the device IP, check your router's DHCP client list or the Geovision IP Device Utility.

2

Remember: Geovision uses port 8554 by default

This is the most important thing to know about Geovision RTSP. While most IP camera brands use port 554, Geovision NVRs and IP cameras use port 8554 as their default RTSP server port. This applies to the GV-NVR software, GV-IP cameras, and GV-VMS systems. When configuring SmartRTSP, always enter 8554 as the port unless you have manually changed it in the Geovision settings.

3

Verify the RTSP server is enabled in system settings

In the web interface or GV-NVR software, navigate to System → RTSP Server (or Configure → Network Service → RTSP Server depending on the interface version). Confirm that the RTSP server is running and the port shows 8554. If the RTSP server is not listed as active, enable it and apply the changes. You may need to restart the NVR service or the device for the change to take effect.

4

Enter the RTSP URL in SmartRTSP

Tap + → Manual in SmartRTSP. For NVR channel 1 (the first connected camera), enter:

rtsp://admin:YourPassword@192.168.1.100:8554/CH001.sdp

For a single standalone Geovision IP camera (not an NVR), use the alternative URL format:

rtsp://admin:YourPassword@192.168.1.100:8554/video1

Geovision RTSP URL Reference

Geovision NVRs use a channel-based SDP URL scheme on port 8554. The channel number is always three digits, zero-padded (CH001, CH002, etc.). Standalone cameras may also use the video1 path.

Stream / Device RTSP URL
Channel 1 — Main rtsp://user:pass@IP:8554/CH001.sdp
Channel 1 — Substream rtsp://user:pass@IP:8554/CH001b.sdp
Channel 2 — Main rtsp://user:pass@IP:8554/CH002.sdp
Channel 2 — Substream rtsp://user:pass@IP:8554/CH002b.sdp
Standalone IP Camera rtsp://user:pass@IP:8554/video1
NVR — Channel 16 rtsp://user:pass@IP:8554/CH016.sdp

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Geovision use port 8554 instead of 554?
Port 554 is the IANA-assigned standard port for RTSP. However, port 554 is a well-known port (below 1024) that requires administrator/root privileges to bind on many operating systems. Geovision historically chose port 8554 as their default to avoid privilege requirements and potential conflicts with other services. Port 8554 is widely recognized as an alternate RTSP port. If needed, you can change the port in the Geovision system settings, but 8554 is recommended to leave as-is.
What is the RTSP URL format for Geovision NVR channels?
Geovision NVRs use a channel path format of CH[number].sdp where the channel number is always padded to three digits. Channel 1 = CH001.sdp, Channel 2 = CH002.sdp, Channel 10 = CH010.sdp, and so on up to CH016 for a 16-channel NVR. Always use the NVR's IP address, not the individual camera's IP.
Does Geovision support ONVIF?
ONVIF support varies by Geovision product line and firmware version. Newer Geovision IP cameras (GV-EBD, GV-TBL series and newer) do support ONVIF Profile S. However, many older Geovision NVR systems and DVRs do not support ONVIF discovery. If your Geovision device supports ONVIF, SmartRTSP's scan will find it; otherwise, use the manual RTSP URL entry with port 8554. Check your product's datasheet on geovision.com.tw for ONVIF compliance information.
What is the difference between a single-camera URL and an NVR URL?
For a standalone Geovision IP camera (e.g., GV-EBD4813, GV-TBL4810), use the camera's own IP address with the path /video1 or /CH001.sdp. For a Geovision NVR (e.g., GV-NVR, GV-VMS), use the NVR's IP address and specify the channel with /CH001.sdp through /CH016.sdp. The NVR acts as a proxy, serving each connected camera's stream under a numbered channel path.
Where can I find official Geovision documentation?
Official product manuals, firmware, and software downloads are available at geovision.com.tw. The GeoVision IP Device Utility is a free Windows application that can scan your local network and identify all Geovision devices with their IP addresses, model numbers, and firmware versions — highly recommended for initial setup.