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How to Connect to Uniview (UNV) IP Camera in C# .NET

Video Capture SDK .Net Media Blocks SDK .Net

Brand Overview

Uniview (Zhejiang Uniview Technologies Co., Ltd.), also known as UNV, is the world's third-largest video surveillance manufacturer by market share, behind Hikvision and Dahua. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Hangzhou, China, Uniview pioneered IP video surveillance in China and offers a full range of IP cameras, NVRs, VMS software, and access control products for enterprise and government markets.

Key facts:

  • Product lines: IPC-B (bullet), IPC-T (turret), IPC-D (dome), IPC-E (eyeball), IPC-P (PTZ), NVR30x/50x (NVRs)
  • Protocol support: RTSP, ONVIF Profile S/G/T, HTTP/CGI, SDK (EZStation)
  • Default RTSP port: 554
  • Default credentials: admin / 123456 (must be changed on first login with newer firmware)
  • ONVIF support: Yes (all current models)
  • Video codecs: H.264, H.265 (U-Code Smart Codec), MJPEG
  • Market position: #3 globally in video surveillance

Uniview vs UNV Branding

Uniview markets under both the Uniview and UNV brand names depending on the region. The RTSP URL patterns and firmware are identical regardless of branding. Some OEM partners rebrand Uniview hardware under their own labels.

RTSP URL Patterns

Standard URL Format

Uniview cameras use a media profile-based URL structure:

rtsp://[USERNAME]:[PASSWORD]@[IP]:554/media/video[STREAM]
Parameter Value Description
video1 Main stream Highest resolution (4K/5MP/4MP/2MP)
video2 Sub stream Lower resolution, reduced bandwidth
video3 Third stream Mobile-optimized (if supported)

Alternative URL Formats

Uniview cameras support multiple RTSP URL patterns:

URL Pattern Description
rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 Main stream (recommended)
rtsp://IP:554/media/video2 Sub stream
rtsp://IP:554/media/video3 Third stream
rtsp://IP:554/unicast/c1/s0/live Unicast main stream (alternative)
rtsp://IP:554/unicast/c1/s1/live Unicast sub stream (alternative)
rtsp://IP:554/live/ch00_0 Legacy format (older firmware)
rtsp://IP:554/live/ch00_1 Legacy sub stream

IP Camera Models

Model Series Resolution Main Stream URL Audio
IPC-B112-PF28 (2MP bullet) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 No
IPC-B314-APKZ (4MP bullet) 2688x1520 rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 Yes
IPC-B315-APKZ (5MP bullet) 2880x1620 rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 Yes
IPC-T112-PF28 (2MP turret) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 No
IPC-T314-APKZ (4MP turret) 2688x1520 rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 Yes
IPC-D312-APKZ (4MP dome) 2688x1520 rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 Yes
IPC-D314-APKZ (4MP dome) 2688x1520 rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 Yes
IPC-E312-APKZ (4MP eyeball) 2688x1520 rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 Yes
IPC-P1E2-I (2MP PTZ) 1920x1080 rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 Yes
IPC-B182-PF28 (4K bullet) 3840x2160 rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 Yes

NVR Channel URLs

For Uniview NVRs (NVR301, NVR302, NVR304, NVR501, NVR516):

Channel Main Stream Sub Stream
Camera 1 rtsp://IP:554/media/video1 rtsp://IP:554/media/video2
Camera 2 rtsp://IP:554/media/video3 rtsp://IP:554/media/video4
Camera 3 rtsp://IP:554/media/video5 rtsp://IP:554/media/video6
Camera N rtsp://IP:554/media/video[2N-1] rtsp://IP:554/media/video[2N]

NVR Channel Numbering

On Uniview NVRs, the video stream number encodes both the channel and stream type. Each channel uses two consecutive numbers: odd for main stream, even for sub stream. Camera 1 = video1/video2, Camera 2 = video3/video4, and so on.

Connecting with VisioForge SDK

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

// Uniview IPC-B314-APKZ, main stream
var uri = new Uri("rtsp://192.168.1.90:554/media/video1");
var username = "admin";
var password = "YourPassword";

For sub-stream access, use /media/video2 instead of /media/video1.

Snapshot and MJPEG URLs

Type URL Pattern Notes
JPEG Snapshot http://IP/cgi-bin/snapshot.cgi Requires digest authentication
ONVIF Snapshot http://IP/onvif-http/snapshot?channel=1 ONVIF HTTP snapshot

Troubleshooting

Default password must be changed

Uniview cameras with current firmware require the default password (123456) to be changed during initial setup. If you haven't configured the camera yet:

  1. Access the camera at http://CAMERA_IP in a browser
  2. Complete the activation wizard
  3. Set a strong password
  4. Use those credentials in your RTSP URL

"unicast" vs "media" URL format

If /media/video1 does not work on your camera, try the unicast format: rtsp://IP:554/unicast/c1/s0/live. Older Uniview firmware versions may only support the unicast path. Newer firmware supports both formats.

H.265 stream not playing

Uniview's U-Code smart codec produces standard H.265/HEVC streams. If H.265 playback fails:

  1. Install the HEVC decoder redistributable
  2. Or switch the camera to H.264 encoding in the web interface: Setup > Video > Video
  3. Use rtspSettings.UseGPUDecoder = true for hardware-accelerated H.265 decoding

ONVIF discovery issues

ONVIF is enabled by default on Uniview cameras but may require a separate ONVIF password. Check Setup > Network > ONVIF in the web interface and ensure the ONVIF user account is configured.

FAQ

What is the default RTSP URL for Uniview cameras?

The standard URL is rtsp://admin:password@CAMERA_IP:554/media/video1 for the main stream. Use /media/video2 for the sub stream. Some older models use rtsp://IP:554/unicast/c1/s0/live instead.

Is Uniview the same as UNV?

Yes. Uniview and UNV are the same company (Zhejiang Uniview Technologies). The branding varies by region. All cameras use identical firmware, RTSP URL formats, and web interfaces regardless of whether they carry the Uniview or UNV label.

Do Uniview cameras support ONVIF?

Yes. All current Uniview cameras support ONVIF Profile S and Profile T. ONVIF allows automatic camera discovery and standardized stream access without using brand-specific RTSP URLs.

How do I access multiple channels on a Uniview NVR?

Uniview NVRs use sequential video stream numbers: Camera 1 = video1 (main) / video2 (sub), Camera 2 = video3 (main) / video4 (sub), and so on. The formula is: main stream = video[2N-1], sub stream = video[2N] where N is the camera channel number.