How to Connect a Security Camera to a TV: Quick Ways with Steps

If you want a better way to keep an eye on your home and deter potential troublemakers, connecting a security camera to your TV is a smart choice. This setup allows you to access real-time video feeds, enhancing your security by providing a larger screen for monitoring areas of concern.

In this article, we’ll show you easy ways to connect security camera to TV with or without a DVR, so you can view security footage directly on your TV.

 

Before Connecting Security to TV: Know About Your Security Camera and TV

Before connecting the camera to your TV, make sure you know what kind of camera you have and whether your TV is compatible with it. This will help you figure out the best way to connect them.

What Type is Your Security Camera?

Different security cameras require different methods for connecting to your TV due to their unique technical features. Understanding these differences is crucial for a successful connection. Here are some popular types:

1. CCTV Cameras (Analog Cameras):These are traditional surveillance devices that rely on video cable connections to television screens. They usually have relatively low image resolutions such as 960H, D1, and CIF, and connecting them to TV requires using a coaxial or RCA cable.
2. HD-over-Coax Security Cameras:These cameras are a type of analog camera optimized for high-definition video transmission. Despite using coaxial cables like traditional CCTV cameras, they offer higher image resolution and quality by utilizing specialized BNC connectors, and you usually need to connect them to TV via BNC.
3. IP Security Cameras:These are digital cameras that transmit video data through IP networks. They connect to the internet via Ethernet cables, which allows for seamless data transfer.
4. Wireless Cameras:These security cameras rely on Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to send video feeds to connected devices. Their distinctive feature is the cable-free setup, allowing it to be connected to your TV using software on your mobile phone or computer to stream video directly to the TV.

 Is Your TV Compatible with the Camera?

When connecting your security camera to TV, it is essential to ensure that your TV is compatible with the camera. Here is what you need to check for:

• Supported TV Input: Make sure your TV is equipped with the input you need to connect the security camera, like HDMI, AV, or BNC. If your TV lacks the necessary input, you can consider using a converter.
• Video Resolution:Given the specificity of high-resolution video, it's essential to confirm whether your TV can display the security camera's video quality. For instance, some older TV models may not support high-definition video feeds from HD-over-Coax security cameras. Checking your TV's compatibility ensures you get the best video quality.
• Smart TV Integration:If have got a smart TV which offers built-in apps for receiving and displaying camera feeds, consider connecting your security camera to your TV wirelessly. This integration can provide a great viewing experience and convenient access to your camera's feed through your smart TV's interface.

After exploring the types of security cameras and the necessary preparations, we will delve into 3 specific methods for connections of different security cameras.

How to Connect Security Camera to TV with DVR

For most of common security cameras, DVR is a good solution to connect multiple security cameras to your TV, which has the capability of handling both analog and digital camera video feeds. To achieve this, you need to connect your security camera to the DVR and then connect the DVR to your TV. Here's a simple guide for connecting your security camera to TV with DVR.

Step 1. Connect your security camera to DVR with Eternal cables (for digital cameras) or BNC cables (for analog cameras).

Step 2. Use an HDMI or VGA cable to connect the DVR to your TV. Most modern DVRs support HDMI for better image quality.

Step 3. Power on the DVR and TV. Then, configure the proper input source on your TV.

Step 4. Once the setup is complete, view the camera feeds on your TV through the DVR's interface.

 

By the way, the steps of using NVR to connect your security camera to TV are basically the same as the DVR's. The main distinction between these two methods is that DVRs and NVRs support different types of security cameras.

How to Connect Security Camera to TV Without DVR

If you just want to view the live camera feed from your security camera on a larger screen and don't have a DVR, you can connect the security camera to TV directly with the appropriate cable. Here we list some wired connections for security cameras and TV.

Using HDMI Cables

If both your camera and TV feature HDMI ports, then connecting your security camera to your TV using an HDMI cable is so simple. This simple process only takes a few steps:

Step 1. Find the HDMI port on your security cameras and TV.

Step 2. Connect them with HDMI cables and turn on your TV to switch to HDMI input.

Step 3. Now you can view and monitor live feeds from security cameras on your TV.

 

Using Ethernet Cables

Nowadays, many new TV models have an Ethernet port. If that’s the case, you can try to connect your security camera to TV directly through an Ethernet cable. When this doesn’t work, you can also consider using an adapter to connect your cam to TV, for example, an Ethernet to HDMI adapter:

Step 1. Connect your security camera to Ethernet cables and connect the other end to an Ethernet to HDMI adapter.

Step 2. Connect the adapter's HDMI output to the HDMI input on your TV.

Step 3. Turn on your TV and switch it to the HDMI input.

How to Connect Security Camera to TV Wirelessly

You may want to seek a way to connect security camera to TV wirelessly for convenient surveillance. Usually, you can do it in 2 ways. One is to use a dedicated mobile app of your security camera service to transmit your video footage wirelessly. Alternatively, if you own a smart TV, you can download and use an app directly on the TV itself to view the live camera feed.

Using Wi-Fi and Mobile Apps

If your wireless security camera comes with its own application, you can easily use the security camera app to stream the camera's video feed onto your television with a Wi-Fi connection. Here are the simple steps on how to connect wireless security camera to TV:

Step 1. Download and launch the security camera app on your phone.

Step 2. Connect your security camera to Wi-Fi and use an app like Google Home to stream the video from your phone to your TV.

Using Smart TV

If you have smart devices at home, you can conveniently watch your camera's video feed directly on your TV using their built-in applications. With the integration of these smart devices and their dedicated apps, you can easily access and stream the live video from your security camera onto your television screen. Here's what to do:

Step 1. Connect your security camera to Wi-Fi and turn on your TV.

Step 2. Open the app store on TV and download the camera brand’s app.

Step 3. Then, launch the app and just follow the on-screen instructions to add your camera.

It's noted that make sure your security camera works with the Smart TV together. Here recommends a highly compatible camera system - eufyCam S221 Wireless Security Camera System to achieve smooth connection for your wireless security camera and TV.

Conclusion

This article has shown 3 quick and simple methods to connect security camera to TV. You can apply one based on the type of your security camera and the TV you have got. Connecting your camera to TV will be helpful for you to better monitor your property or enjoy the convenience, empowering you to have greater control over your security.