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How to Connect to Grandstream IP Camera in C# .NET

Video Capture SDK .Net Media Blocks SDK .Net

Brand Overview

Grandstream Networks is an American company headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, known for VoIP phones and IP surveillance products. Grandstream offers IP cameras and video encoders under the GXV (legacy) and GSC (current generation) product lines, targeting SMB and professional markets. Their cameras are often deployed alongside Grandstream VoIP and UCM (Unified Communications Manager) systems.

Key facts:

  • Product lines: GXV (IP cameras and video encoders, legacy), GSC (current generation smart cameras)
  • Protocol support: RTSP, ONVIF (GXV36xx and newer GSC series), HTTP/CGI, SIP (video calling)
  • Default RTSP port: 554
  • Default credentials: admin / admin
  • ONVIF support: Yes (GXV36xx and newer GSC models)
  • Video codecs: H.264, H.265 (current GSC models), MPEG-4 (legacy GXV models)

RTSP URL Patterns

Current GSC-Series Cameras

Current generation Grandstream GSC cameras use a channel-based URL format:

Stream RTSP URL Notes
Primary stream rtsp://IP:554/live/ch00_0 Main stream, channel 0
Secondary stream rtsp://IP:554/live/ch00_1 Sub stream

GXV-Series (Legacy)

Older GXV cameras support multiple URL formats depending on the model:

Stream RTSP URL Notes
Primary stream rtsp://IP:554//0 Main stream (channel 0)
Secondary stream rtsp://IP:554//4 Sub stream (channel 4)
H.264 SDP rtsp://IP:554/ipcam_h264.sdp SDP file-based access
Live H.264 rtsp://IP:554/live/h264 Named stream
Channel-based rtsp://IP:554/[CHANNEL] Direct channel number
Auth stream rtsp://IP:554//0/888888:888888/main With embedded credentials
MPEG-4 (legacy) rtsp://IP:554/cam1/mpeg4?user=USER&pwd=PASS Legacy MPEG-4 stream

Unusual channel numbering

Grandstream uses a non-standard channel numbering scheme. For single-channel cameras, channel 0 is the primary stream and channel 4 is the secondary stream. This differs from most other brands that use sequential numbering.

Model-Specific URLs

Model Primary Stream Secondary Stream Type
GXV3500 rtsp://IP:554/0 rtsp://IP:554/4 Video encoder
GXV3504 (ch 1) rtsp://IP:554/0 rtsp://IP:554/4 4-channel encoder
GXV3504 (ch 2) rtsp://IP:554/1 rtsp://IP:554/5 4-channel encoder
GXV3504 (ch 3) rtsp://IP:554/2 rtsp://IP:554/6 4-channel encoder
GXV3504 (ch 4) rtsp://IP:554/3 rtsp://IP:554/7 4-channel encoder
GXV3601 / GXV3611 rtsp://IP:554//4 -- Dome camera
GXV3601 (alt) rtsp://IP:554/ipcam_h264.sdp -- SDP-based
GXV3610 rtsp://IP:554/0 rtsp://IP:554/4 Dome HD
GXV3651 / GXV3661 / GXV3662 rtsp://IP:554/0 rtsp://IP:554/4 FHD cameras
GXV3672 rtsp://IP:554//0 rtsp://IP:554/live/ch00_0 HD/FHD outdoor
GSC3610 / GSC3615 rtsp://IP:554/live/ch00_0 rtsp://IP:554/live/ch00_1 Current dome
GSC3620 rtsp://IP:554/live/ch00_0 rtsp://IP:554/live/ch00_1 Current outdoor

Multi-Channel Encoder (GXV3504) Channel Map

The GXV3504 is a 4-channel video encoder with the following channel numbering:

Input Primary Channel Secondary Channel
Input 1 0 4
Input 2 1 5
Input 3 2 6
Input 4 3 7

Connecting with VisioForge SDK

Use your Grandstream camera's RTSP URL with any of the three SDK approaches shown in the Quick Start Guide:

// Grandstream GSC-series camera, main stream
var uri = new Uri("rtsp://192.168.1.60:554/live/ch00_0");
var username = "admin";
var password = "YourPassword";

For legacy GXV models, use rtsp://IP:554//0 for the primary stream or rtsp://IP:554//4 for the secondary stream.

Snapshot and MJPEG URLs

Type URL Pattern Notes
JPEG Snapshot http://IP/snapshot/view0.jpg Channel 0 snapshot
JPEG Snapshot (ch 1) http://IP/snapshot/view1.jpg Channel 1 (multi-channel)
HTTP Stream http://IP/goform/stream?cmd=get&channel=0 Channel-based HTTP stream

Troubleshooting

Channel numbering confusion

Grandstream channel numbering is unconventional:

  • Single-channel cameras: Channel 0 = primary stream, Channel 4 = secondary stream
  • GXV3504 (4-channel encoder): Channels 0-3 are primary streams for inputs 1-4; Channels 4-7 are secondary streams for inputs 1-4

If you get a blank stream or error, double-check you are using the correct channel number for your desired stream quality.

Factory default credential 888888

Some older Grandstream GXV models use 888888 as the default password (or embedded in the RTSP URL as 888888:888888). If admin / admin does not work, try 888888 as the password.

RTSP not enabled

On some older GXV models, RTSP streaming must be explicitly enabled in the camera's web interface. Navigate to the streaming or media settings page and confirm that RTSP is turned on and set to port 554.

Multiple URL formats per model

Many GXV cameras support several RTSP URL formats simultaneously. If one format does not work, try the alternatives:

  1. rtsp://IP:554//0 (channel number with double slash)
  2. rtsp://IP:554/live/ch00_0 (named channel)
  3. rtsp://IP:554/ipcam_h264.sdp (SDP file)
  4. rtsp://IP:554/live/h264 (named stream)

Codec compatibility

Current GSC-series cameras support H.265 and H.264. Legacy GXV models may default to MPEG-4. If you experience decoding issues with a legacy model, check the camera's web interface and switch the codec to H.264 if available.

FAQ

What is the default RTSP URL for Grandstream cameras?

For current GSC-series cameras, use rtsp://admin:password@CAMERA_IP:554/live/ch00_0. For older GXV-series cameras, try rtsp://admin:password@CAMERA_IP:554//0 for the primary stream.

Do Grandstream cameras support ONVIF?

Yes, the GXV36xx series and current GSC-series cameras support ONVIF. Older GXV35xx models and video encoders generally do not support ONVIF.

What is the difference between channel 0 and channel 4?

On single-channel Grandstream cameras, channel 0 is the primary (high quality) stream and channel 4 is the secondary (lower quality) stream. This is a Grandstream-specific convention that differs from most other camera brands.

Can I use Grandstream cameras with a UCM system?

Yes. Grandstream cameras integrate natively with Grandstream UCM (Unified Communications Manager) systems. However, RTSP access works independently of the UCM and can be used with any third-party software including VisioForge SDKs.