Can I Connect a Security Camera or Surveillance DVR System Directly to a TV?

I would like to view my security cameras on a LED HDTV. Can I wire a security camera or multiple cameras from a surveillance DVR system to a regular TV? For example, I have my cable TV setup on video input 1 of the TV. My gaming system on video input 2.

Can I connect my security cameras to video input 3, so that I can just switch the video input using my remote to video 3 when I want to view my surveillance system live?

CCTV Camera Pros received the above question this morning. Here is the information that we provided.

Yes, you can connect a CCTV camera directly to the an analog video input of a TV. You can also connect the spot monitor output of a surveillance DVR to an analog video input on a TV. A third option is that you can connect an HD-SDI CCTV camera (1080p resolution) to the HDMI video input of a TV by using a BNC to HDMI converter.

How to connect a CCTV camera directly to a TV

CCTV cameras use a analog video signal that is transmitted over RG59 or RG6 coax cable. Most TVs have an analog video input that CCTV cameras can be directly connected to. Typically, you just need to convert the a BNC connector to RCA because the video input on most TVs is RCA female.
Learn more about connecting CCTV cameras to a TV here.

How to connect BNC Spot Monitor Output of a DVR to a TV

If you want to view multiple cameras from a surveillance DVR, check to see if your DVR has a spot monitor output. This is an analog / BNC video output on the back of your DVR (if it has one). Some DVRs, like the iDVR-PRO, allow you to configure the output of the spot monitor to be a single camera, or a grid of multiple cameras. The iDVR-PRO event lets you configure mutliple views and switch between them.

Learn more about setting up CCTV DVR spot monitor outputs here.

Here is a video that demonstrates how to set the spot monitor outputs on an iDVR-PRO surveillance DVR. These DVRs have one of the most flexible spot monitor output configurations available.

How to connect an HD-SDI camera to an HDMI Input on TV

Learn more about connecting HD-SDI CCTV cameras to a TV here.

Ask a Question

Do you have a question related to this topic or anything related to security camera systems? You can email me here: mike@cctvcamerapros.net.

• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by Mike Haldas.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by Mike Haldas.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by Mike Haldas.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by Mike Haldas.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by Mike Haldas.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by Mike Haldas.
• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by Mike Haldas.