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How To Connect CCTV to TV: Wireless and Wired

CCTVs act as an extra pair of eyes. With their help, you can better monitor the activity near your home and business. Many things have changed since they were first introduced as a public safety measure in the 1970s-1980s. In fact, not much remains the same. The video quality has come along way since the days of vague figures and pixelated images. You can now make out identifiable features and colours. They are also not just limited to recording footage. Now they come with a slew of additional services like night vision, motion detection, audio recording, among many others. 

With the development and progress of the camera as a unit, the system is bound to change. Now, you don’t have to sit in a small room with a series of TV screens to get a live video feed. You can do away with the constraints of a wired connection. You can sit anywhere else, like in your office, bedroom, and even in the toilet and access your CCTV wirelessly!

How Can I Connect My CCTV Camera To My TV Wirelessly?

There are two ways you can connect your CCTV camera to your TV, and both require an IP camera. The first is by connecting your network video recorder (NVR) to an internet modem or wifi router and transferring the footage via the internet. While this is considered a wireless solution, it isn’t 100% there yet. You still have your fair share of wires and cables to connect your cameras to your NVR and wire for your power supply. However, it is a significant jump from the tangled mess of a completely wired system. 

The second is by investing in a wireless security camera. Unlike the first option, you do not need internet access at all to be able to get your video feed. A wireless camera transmits video using an interference-free signal. It uses a radio transmitter to send files in digital multiplexes. It may seem complicated, but the tech isn’t new. It works similarly to getting Freeview on your TV or listening to music from your radio.

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Now a wireless security camera system may seem like the ultimate solution. It is just so convenient! But it has many weaknesses as well. They do not have the same security as a wired camera and do not have a steady power supply, and this limits its application. 

If you are looking into getting CCTV for a large warehouse or secure your building, a wireless security camera may not be the solution. They can better serve you in remote locations. If you have a large plot of land, you can invest in a wireless security camera system. You can also use them as a home security camera in parts of the home that typically do not get internet connection like the garden or the tool shed. 

With the many wireless options available, think about the possibilities! It can become a game-changer in your home or business security set up!

How Do I Connect My CCTV To The Internet?

If you are selecting the first option, then having an internet connection is a significant component. You can achieve it by acquiring the materials and following the instructions listed below: 

Materials

IP cameras

Network cables 

NVR

Power adapter

Internet modem

Step-By-Step Instructions

  1. Connect your IP cameras to your NVR using network cables. You can take your pick from Cat 5 up to Cat 7, depending on the speed and video quality you want to get. 
  2. Connect your internet modem to your NVR with an ethernet cable. 
  3. Attach your power adapter to your NVR and plug it in, and do the same for your modem.

* Besides having a direct connection to your internet modem, you can also use your wifi router if your NVR is apart of your wireless network setup. 

When you follow these instructions, you now know how to connect CCTV to TV wireless. You should be able to access CCTV footage on your laptop, smartphone, or smart TV. With this system in place, you don’t have to be confined to monitoring your home or business from the surveillance room. You now have the convenience to have eyes and ears on the ground wherever you are. 

If you find it too troublesome to set up a wireless connection on your own, Aerialforce has a team of professional CCTV engineers who can easily take over.

Can My CCTV Camera Be Used Without The Internet?

If you don’t want to use the internet for your CCTV camera, it should be fine. People have managed to use the security system from the 1960s to the 1990s without it. A wired connection may be an old school method, but it is still used today. Some companies prefer using wires to ensure that there is no signal interference. It also minimises the risk of security breaches like having a visible IP address. 

Materials

CCTV camera

Coaxial cable

DVR/ NVR

Power adapter

HDMI cable/ RCA connector & BNC connector

Step-By-Step Instructions

  1. Directly connecting your CCTV camera to your TV is fairly straightforward. However, you need to pay attention to the compatibility of each device. If you have a CRT TV, then you use an analogue camera. If you have a digital or smart TV, use an IP camera. By doing so, you don’t have to look into additional converters or demodulators. 
  2. Connect your camera to your CCTV DVR or NVR. While you can use any of the two, it is best to pair your DVR with an analogue camera and an RG59 coaxial cable, and your NVR with an IP camera with a Cat 5-Cat 6 network cable.
  3. After you connect your camera to your recorder, connect your recorder to your TV. If you have a digital TV, you can use your HDMI cable to connect to your recording device. If you have an old CRT TV, you need to use a coaxial cable with a BNC connector and an RCA connector.
  4. Attach the power adapter to your DVR/ NVR and turn on your TV.

*There are exemptions. Some TVs have HDMI and analogue features, so you don’t have to worry about the type of security camera.

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How Do I Display CCTV On My TV? 

There are several ways you can display your CCTV footage on your TV, but, again, it depends on your setup. If you are connecting to your CCTV via the internet, some models have a built-in system with a real-time streaming protocol (RTSP) that connects to the model’s app. All you have to do is set up your account, and you can watch your CCTV live video on your phone. Most companies create apps for popular mobile devices, so you should be able to watch from your iPad, iPhone, or Android phone. If you want to view the footage on your TV, you can try to open the app on your smart TV or use Google’s Chromecast.

If you have a wired setup, you can pull up your CCTV display by connecting one end of the RCA connector to the camera’s video output and the other for the video input of the TV. Then you can switch your TV channel to video to stream your footage for old CRT TVs. It is very similar to connecting to an old VCR or CD player. 

Or you simply have to connect the HDMI output of your NVR and your TV’s HDMI input if you have a digital or smart TV. If you want to have a sleek and polished setup in your study or office, you can also have your TV mounted on the wall for better visibility. 

Both wired and wireless systems each have their own strengths and weaknesses. When you are deciding on which one to pick, remember to consider how it will fit into your daily life and cater to your needs.

If you need any help with figuring out how to go about CCTV cameras and systems, you can call us here at Aerialforce! We have experienced engineers who can help you get a customised plan up and running in no time. We offer same-day installations, repairs, and maintenance so you can keep your home or business safe and secure. You can book us online or call us at 0330 173 2785 for more details!