Users of a video surveillance system don't always need a video file recorded on a DVR. Sometimes it's enough to send the camera image to a monitor and watch it live. These users need to know the ways of getting a quality picture on a monitor — and those methods need to allow for displaying images from several cameras. That's what this article is about.

Real-time viewing. 4 methods

To watch video from the site you're monitoring in real time, use the following solutions:

  1. A camera with a monitor.
  2. A BNC-to-HDMI converter.
  3. A DVR with a port for connecting a monitor.
  4. A video multiplexer. It can also show several images on a single screen.

Let's look at each option in more detail.

A useful article: "What You Shouldn't Expect from Outdated Video Monitoring Systems"

A camera with a monitor

A camera supplied with a monitor is an automatic system and the simplest option for watching video live. A BNC coaxial cable is used for the camera and the monitor.

The connection process works like this:

  • The cable with BNC connectors supplies power to the equipment and keeps the camera running.
  • The power cable is connected to the surveillance camera's video input, and the other end of the coaxial cable goes to its output, where the BNC connector is.
  • The coaxial video cable is connected to the monitor through the BNC video input. The monitor is compatible with the high-definition (HD) format. The camera's power supply is plugged into the socket, and the kit's power cable then goes into it.

A BNC-to-HDMI converter

With a BNC-to-HDMI converter, it becomes possible to use an ordinary television with an HDMI input as your monitor. Any HD BNC camera can be connected to an HDMI monitor or TV.

The process works like this:

  • The converter and the TV (monitor) are joined with an HDMI cable, using the converter's HDMI output and the monitor's HDMI input.
  • The surveillance camera is connected through the converter's input using a coaxial cable with a BNC connector.
  • This kind of setup suits any type of camera: dome, outdoor, with or without IR illumination.

Detailed information and a 7-step tutorial are available at the link.

A video multiplexer

A video multiplexer makes it possible to watch live video from several monitored locations on a single screen. Working with HD cameras is supported. Video multiplexers are produced in 4-, 9- and 16-channel models. An HDMI output allows a connection to any television.

The connection process and the available features are as follows:

  • The TV's HDMI input is connected to the video multiplexer's HDMI output.
  • The user can switch between the picture from a single camera and images from several.
  • Output to the screen is controlled with a wireless remote or with a button on the equipment.
  • RG59 cable is used to connect the cameras to the multiplexer.

Output via a DVR

If your camera doesn't send an image to a monitor, use a DVR. Mobile apps let you watch the video remotely.

HDMI and VGA output ports for the monitor let you configure the recorder independently. Models are also produced with 4, 9 and 16 channels. The signal can be configured for one camera or for several.

The Faceter alternative

There's an excellent alternative to all of the methods listed above — video surveillance over the internet with Faceter. The company employs a team that keeps surveillance systems running professionally for business owners, for home use, and for security in public spaces.

The Faceter cloud surveillance service (website: https://faceter.cam/ru) incorporates the latest developments on the surveillance market, continually expanding the system's available functionality. Using any smartphone as the hardware makes installing and running the whole surveillance system significantly cheaper and simpler.

Conclusion

Modern surveillance systems are pushing out old analog installations and cutting down the number of components in the equipment. Installation is getting simpler, and the list of features is getting longer. It's now possible to store your video archive in the cloud and have constant access to it. Faceter is here to help!