GeoVision NVR text alerts: email-to-SMS setup

GeoVision systems (GV-System / GV-VMS and standalone recorders) can email alerts over SMTP. Point the recipient at NVRtxt to get texts.

What you’ll need

  • An NVRtxt account and an endpoint (created in step 1).
  • A mailbox for the recorder to send from — a free Gmail/Outlook account with an app password works.
  • Access to your GeoVision recorder’s settings (web interface or local monitor).
  • The phone number(s) that should receive the texts.
  1. 1

    Create your NVRtxt endpoint

    In your NVRtxt dashboard, add an endpoint and choose the generic template. NVRtxt generates a unique inbound address for it, like front-door-a1b2c@alerts.nvrtxt.com.

  2. 2

    Set up an email account to send from

    NVRtxt receives your alert emails, but your recorder still needs a mailbox to send from. The simplest option is a free, dedicated Gmail or Outlook account with an app password — most NVRs can’t do modern sign-in, and an app password works around that. You only set this up once and can reuse the same sending account across every recorder and endpoint.

    ProviderSMTP serverSSL portSTARTTLS port
    Gmailsmtp.gmail.com465587
    Outlook.comsmtp-mail.outlook.com587
    Microsoft 365smtp.office365.com587
    Yahoo Mailsmtp.mail.yahoo.com465587
    Tip: turn on 2-Step Verification for the account, then generate an app password and use that 16-character value as the SMTP password — typed without the spaces Google shows (they’re display-only, and some recorders reject them). Use the account’s full email address as the user name.
  3. 3

    Configure GeoVision email (SMTP) settings

    GV-System / GV-VMS: Configure → Notification / E-Mail (SMTP) settings. Standalone GV recorders: Network → Email.

    • Enter your sending mailbox’s SMTP server and credentials (app password), and set the recipient to your NVRtxt endpoint.
  4. 4

    Turn on email for the events you want texted

    Enable the motion/alarm notification and select E-mail as the output, then set the schedule. In GV-VMS this is configured per camera/event in the notification settings.

  5. 5

    Set the recipient to your NVRtxt address and send a test

    Set the recorder’s recipient/receiver to your NVRtxt endpoint address, then use the built-in Test button. A test email should reach NVRtxt within seconds — you’ll see it appear in your Activity log.

  6. 6

    Add phone numbers and confirm delivery

    In NVRtxt, open the endpoint and add the phone numbers that should receive alerts in E.164 format (for example +15555550123). Trigger a real event and watch the Activity tab — each alert is logged as received → parsed → sent. Recipients can reply STOP to opt out anytime.

Tips for GeoVision

  • GeoVision software offers detailed email templates — keep the subject/body concise for the cleanest text.

Optional: include a snapshot image

Want the camera image in the text too? In your GeoVision email or event-linkage settings, turn on “Attach picture” (sometimes labeled “Attach JPEG” or “Image”). Then set this endpoint’s Snapshot option in NVRtxt to Link — a tap-to-view image link that keeps it a low-cost SMS — or Image, which sends the picture inline as an MMS. NVRtxt attaches the snapshot to each alert automatically.

What the text looks like

NVRtxt reads the alert GeoVision emails and pulls out the event, camera, and time, so your phone gets a single clean line instead of a full email.

The alert email

Subject: GeoVision Motion Alert

Event: Motion
Camera: CAM2 Stockroom
Time: 2026-06-29 15:27:49

The text you receive

NVRtxt

Motion: CAM2 Stockroom Jun 29 3:27 PM

Delivered · now

GeoVision text alerts: FAQ

Which template for GeoVision?
Use "generic" — NVRtxt parses GeoVision’s event/camera/time fields by structure.

Ready to text your GeoVision alerts?

Create an endpoint, paste the address into your recorder, add your number.