Let’s say you want to display live video from an HD security camera directly to a TV via an HDMI input (cable). How can you connect a single security HD-CVI or HD-TVI or AHD camera to a TV? Many users have no interest in recording any video surveillance footage. All they want is just a live view of their HD security camera to a TV using an HDMI converter.
When we refer to HD security cameras in this guide, we are talking about HD over coax security cameras or HD CCTV cameras (HD-CVI, HD-TVI, or AHD). These cameras use the same type of coax cable as traditional analog, except they can support 1080P resolution and higher.
In this article, we will demonstrate how to connect an HD security camera to a TV HDMI input. It applies whether you want only a live video view or if you also want to record the video on a recorder.
The main challenge in connecting these cameras directly to television is two-fold. First, they use BNC video connectors and a coax cable to transmit the video. Second, they most likely use one of the following video standards: AHD, HD-CVI, or HD-TVI.
Because of this, you can’t simply connect the video outputs of the cameras to the HDMI input of the TV. You can use an HDMI video converter, though, to transform the HD security camera video signal to HDMI signals.
How to use an HDMI converter?
Display the live view of a camera to a TV without recording
The video output of the HD security camera (HD-TVI, HD-CVI, AHD) connects to the HDMI converter using RG59 coax cable. HD-TVI, AHD, and HDCVI cameras can be converted to the HDMI video signal using one of the converters. The HDMI output at the converter is connected to the HDMI input of the TV monitor using a standard HDMI cable.
Display the live view of a camera to a TV and to DVR (for recording)
If you would like to record video to a DVR while also having a live video feed on a TV, you may be able to use the same converter because most HDMI converters have a video loop output while also having an HDMI output.
The setup is almost the same as only connecting the camera straight to the TV. In an example, the HD camera is connected to the HDMI converter. The converter has a BNC video output that lets out the same video format and resolution as the input. You need an additional RG59 cable to connect the output to a DVR.
Display the live view of a camera to multiple TVs
You can display the same camera to multiple HDMI monitors by using multiple HDMI converters. As you can see from the picture below the HD camera connects to the HDMI converter and from the video loop out you can connect to the second HDMI converter (which connects to the second TV).
Which HDMI converter to purchase
We recommend purchasing this 4K HDMI to BNC converter which supports HD resolutions such as 720P, 1080P, 3MP, 4MP, 5MP, and 8MP. It features an auto-recognition resolution meaning the converter will detect the resolution automatically.
This HDMI to BNC converter supports a long transmission distance up to 500-700 meters over coax cable. The HD CCTV cameras that work with this device: HD-CVI to HDMI, HD-TVI to HDMI, AHD to HDMI, CVBS to HDMI.
