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

Video Capture SDK .Net Media Blocks SDK .Net

Brand Overview

JVC (JVCKENWOOD Corporation) is a Japanese electronics company headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. JVC's Professional Systems Division produced the VN-series IP cameras for surveillance applications. JVC exited the standalone IP camera market around 2015, but many VN-series cameras remain in active service across enterprise and government installations. These cameras are known for their robust PSIA protocol support and reliable performance.

Key facts:

  • Product lines: VN-H Series (VN-H37, VN-H137, VN-H237, VN-H657), VN-T Series (VN-T216U), VN-X Series (VN-X35U, VN-X235U), VN-C Series (VN-C20U)
  • Protocol support: RTSP, ONVIF (VN-H/VN-T series), PSIA, HTTP/CGI
  • Default RTSP port: 554
  • Default credentials: admin / jvc (varies by model)
  • ONVIF support: Yes (VN-H and VN-T series)
  • Video codecs: H.264 (VN-H/VN-T series), MPEG-4 (older VN-C models)

Discontinued Product Line

JVC exited the IP camera market around 2015. While VN-series cameras remain widely deployed, firmware updates are no longer available. Consider network segmentation and firewall rules to protect these cameras, as they will not receive security patches.

RTSP URL Patterns

Standard URL Formats

JVC cameras support multiple RTSP URL patterns depending on the model series:

rtsp://[USERNAME]:[PASSWORD]@[IP]:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/0?videoCodecType=H.264
URL Pattern Protocol Description
rtsp://IP:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/0?videoCodecType=H.264 PSIA Primary H.264 stream (most VN-H models)
rtsp://IP:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/CHANNEL PSIA PSIA stream by channel number
rtsp://IP:554/video.h264 H.264 Direct H.264 stream (VN Series general)
rtsp://IP:554/1/stream1 H.264 Alternative stream URL (VN-T216U)
rtsp://IP:554//livestream H.264 Live stream URL (VN-H57)

PSIA Channel Numbering

JVC cameras use zero-based channel numbering for PSIA URLs. Channel 0 is the first (and usually only) video channel. This differs from most other brands that start channel numbering at 1.

PSIA Channel URLs

Channel URL Description
Channel 0 (primary) rtsp://IP:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/0?videoCodecType=H.264 First video channel (main stream)
Channel 1 rtsp://IP:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/1?videoCodecType=H.264 Second video channel (sub stream, if available)

Camera Models

Model Series Resolution Main Stream URL Codec
VN-H37 (HD dome) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/0?videoCodecType=H.264 H.264
VN-H137 (HD bullet) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/0?videoCodecType=H.264 H.264
VN-H237 (HD dome) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/0?videoCodecType=H.264 H.264
VN-H657 (HD PTZ) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/0?videoCodecType=H.264 H.264
VN-T216U (HD box) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/1/stream1 H.264
VN-X35U (network camera) 1280x960 rtsp://IP:554/video.h264 H.264
VN-X235U (network camera) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/video.h264 H.264
VN-C20U (legacy network) 640x480 N/A (HTTP snapshot only) MJPEG

Connecting with VisioForge SDK

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

// JVC VN-H Series, PSIA H.264 main stream
var uri = new Uri("rtsp://192.168.1.90:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/0?videoCodecType=H.264");
var username = "admin";
var password = "jvc";

For VN-T series cameras using the alternative URL format:

// JVC VN-T216U, alternative stream URL
var uri = new Uri("rtsp://192.168.1.90:554/1/stream1");

Snapshot and MJPEG URLs

Type URL Pattern Notes
JPEG Snapshot http://IP/cgi-bin/video.jpg Standard snapshot (most models)
Java Applet Snapshot http://IP/java.jpg Java-based snapshot (legacy)
API Snapshot http://IP/api/video?encode=jpeg API-based JPEG capture (VN-X series)
MJPEG Stream http://IP/api/video?encode=jpeg&framerate=15&boundary=on Continuous MJPEG via API

Model-Specific Snapshot URLs

Model Series Snapshot URL Notes
VN-H Series http://IP/cgi-bin/video.jpg CGI-based snapshot
VN-T Series http://IP/cgi-bin/video.jpg CGI-based snapshot
VN-C Series (VN-C20U) http://IP/cgi-bin/video.jpg CGI-based snapshot
VN-X Series (VN-X35U/X235U) http://IP/api/video?encode=jpeg API-based snapshot

Troubleshooting

PSIA channel numbering starts at 0

Unlike most camera brands where channel numbering starts at 1, JVC uses zero-based PSIA channel numbering. If you are porting code from another brand:

  • Channel 0 = First video channel (equivalent to Channel 1 on other brands)
  • Channel 1 = Second video channel (sub stream or secondary sensor)

Default credentials not working

JVC cameras ship with different default credentials depending on the model and firmware version:

  1. Try admin / jvc (most common)
  2. Try admin / admin
  3. Try accessing the web interface at http://CAMERA_IP to reset or verify credentials
  4. Some models ship with no default password - access the web interface first to set one

Firmware updates unavailable

Since JVC discontinued its IP camera line around 2015, firmware updates are no longer available. To mitigate security risks:

  • Place cameras on an isolated VLAN or network segment
  • Use firewall rules to restrict access to camera ports
  • Disable UPnP and any cloud connectivity features
  • Consider replacing end-of-life cameras with currently supported models

VN-C series HTTP-only access

The older VN-C series cameras (such as VN-C20U) do not support RTSP streaming and only provide HTTP-based MJPEG access. Use the HTTP snapshot or MJPEG stream URLs for these models instead of RTSP.

Multiple URL formats on VN-T series

The VN-T216U supports multiple RTSP URL formats. If one does not work, try alternatives:

  1. rtsp://IP:554/1/stream1 (preferred)
  2. rtsp://IP:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/0?videoCodecType=H.264 (PSIA)
  3. rtsp://IP:554/video.h264 (direct H.264)

FAQ

What is the default RTSP URL for JVC cameras?

For most VN-H series cameras, the primary RTSP URL is rtsp://admin:jvc@CAMERA_IP:554/PSIA/Streaming/channels/0?videoCodecType=H.264. The VN-T series uses rtsp://IP:554/1/stream1 as an alternative. VN-X series models use rtsp://IP:554/video.h264.

Are JVC IP cameras still supported?

JVC exited the standalone IP camera market around 2015. The cameras remain functional but no longer receive firmware updates or official support. Many VN-series cameras are still actively deployed in surveillance systems worldwide.

Do JVC cameras support ONVIF?

The VN-H and VN-T series cameras support ONVIF Profile S. Older VN-C and some VN-X models do not support ONVIF and rely on PSIA or proprietary CGI interfaces instead.

Why does PSIA channel numbering start at 0?

JVC implements zero-based PSIA channel numbering, meaning the first video channel is channel 0 rather than channel 1. This is specific to JVC's PSIA implementation and differs from most other camera manufacturers. When migrating from another brand, adjust your channel numbers accordingly.