CCTV Monitor Facts – Get It Right
CCTV monitors have come a long way in the past few years, and it is a good idea to know how your surveillance video needs to be viewed before purchasing one. To help you make this decision we will explore a few of the basics about security monitors.
Dedicated CCTV Monitor Vs. Your TV
The ability to use your TV in your surveillance system can be of benefit for smaller applications as it has the composite video (RCA) connections necessary to connect to your security cameras or DVR. The downside in using your TV has to do with the resolution. In general an older TV won’t have as good a resolution as a dedicated cctv monitor would. This is one reason that CCTV monitors can cost more than normal TV’s because they come with a higher quality picture tube for better video display.
High definition televisions are rapidly changing the game for surveillance systems; at least when it comes to resolution. Some of the higher grade LCD televisions can easily keep pace with the best cctv monitors and sometimes even surpass their capabilities. The main downside that still exists in televisions however is their inability to handle consistent use. If you have a HD TV that you want to hook your surveillance system up to from time to time; that is perfectly acceptable. If you plan on having a constant stream of surveillance video however, it is recommended you use a cctv monitor that won’t quickly degrade from prolonged use.
CRT Vs. LCD
This is a topic that can be expanded onto many pages, but we will address some simple facts. CRT’s used to be extremely more affordable compared to their LCD counterparts, but this difference has almost entirely disappeared in the last few years. In fact CRTs are now pretty much an obsolete technology, and as the next few years come and go it will become near impossible to find a CRT cctv monitor as LCDs take their place.
The main advantage left to CRTs is their ability to be used in more hazardous environments as seen in the manufacturing sectors. So if you are in the marketplace for a CRT cctv monitor you should probably act fast as they are almost completely phased out as it is.
Portable Test Monitors
If you are a surveillance installer or have a mobile surveillance system these are perfect for you. Portable test monitors are very handy tools that can be quickly hooked into a surveillance system and used to troubleshoot video signals or adjust camera angles on the fly. These monitors are generally handheld and great for short periods of use, but they are not very good solutions for standard surveillance systems. These monitors are generally lower in resolution and picture quality than a standard cctv monitor and are not the best options for large surveillance applications.
Know Your Connections
As a last note before you pick out your cctv monitor you want to make sure you have the right connections available to hook it into your system. If you’re using coax, BNC, RCA, HDMI, VGA, etc…; you want to make sure your monitor will accept this type of connection or at least get an adapter to make it usable.
About the Author
Christian M Gillman has worked in the surveillance industry for over 6 years. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter, learn more about surveillance, and find great products at http://www.cu1.com
- CU1 – Your CCTV Products and Surveillance Equipment Source
Samsung HDTV Troubleshooting: 2011 LED TV – Stand Assembly
|
|
Scosche IPAV SneakPEAK Audio/Video Cable for iPad,iPod and iPhone – Synchronization Software – Retail Packaging – Black $39.99 Easily connect your iPad, iPhone, or video iPod to the RCA inputs on any TV or stereo with this handy cable from Scosche. Easily connect your iPad, iPhone, or video iPod to the RCA inputs on any TV or stereo with this handy cable from Scosche. Six-foot braided copper shielded cable. Mini USB port for connecting charger. Works With iPad, iPad, and iPod Th… |
|
|
Satechi Cyclone Micro 2+ HDMI 1080p Portable Media (MKV, AVI, MOV) Player Adapter with SD/SDHC Memory, USB Slot and Remote Control $39.99 Satechi Cyclone Micro 2+ is a USB2.0 1080p HDMI Media Player Adapter with qualitative performance and advanced technology. With the Cyclone Micro 2+ Adapter you can just plug and play with any USB storage device and play your favorite media files directly to a TV via HDMI or composite (yellow / red / white phono) port. The player adapter also has a card reader which supports SD/MS/MMC and SDHC car… |
|
|
VIZIO XWR100 Dual-Band HD Wireless Internet Router $34.95 Wirelessly stream HD movies, TV episodes, music and more right to your Internet HDTV with the VIZIO XWR100 Dual-Band HD Wireless Internet Router. Optimized for VIZIO Internet Apps and ideal for online HD video and audio, the XWR100 helps prevent loading delays while watching your favorite online movie or TV show. Also connects other Internet devices like Blu-ray players, smart phones, laptops and … |
|
|
Scosche sneakPEAK HD Component Audio/Video Cable for iPad, iPhone & iPod $49.99 COMPATIBLE WITH ANY IPOD OR IPHONE THAT PLAYS VIDEO INCLUDING IPHONE 3G/3GS IPOD TOUCH 1G/2G IPOD NANO 3G/4G IPOD CLASSIC & IPOD VIDEOEASILY CONNECTS IPOD OR IPHONE DIRECTLY TO ANY TV OR DISPLAY WITH RGB/COMPONENT INPUTSTAPERED METAL BARRELS PROVIDE SUPERIOR CONNECTION WITH NO SIGNAL LOSSINCLUDES MINI USB CABLE THAT ALLOWS USER TO CHARGE IPHONE/IPOD WHILE PLAYINGUPC : 033991019584Shipping Dimensio… |
|
|
Video Conferencing over IP: Configure, Secure, and Troubleshoot $29.36 Until recently, the reality of video conferencing didn’t live up to the marketing hype. That’s all changed. The network infrastructure and broadband capacity is now in place to deliver clear, real time video and voice feeds between multiple points of contacts, with market leaders such as Cisco and Microsoft continuing to invest heavily in development. In addition, newcomers Skype and Google are po… |
|
|
HDTV and Video Systems Repair $49.99 HDTV and Video System Repair is a comprehensive reference for technicians and engineers on theoretical design and troubleshooting techniques for video system electronics including: HDTV (High Definition Television), LCD display technology, MP3 technology, projection television, satellite receivers, computer monitor technology and much more! The approach of this reference moves from basic theory to… |
|
|
LG BD670 3D Wireless Network Blu-ray Disc Player with Smart TV $199.99 (March 2011) Internet-Ready Devices Internet-ready devices use your broadband connection to deliver dynamic content to your television, whether it’s streaming video from Netflix or a quick glance at today’s weather forecast. |
|
|
RCA Basic Indoor Antenna $4.99 Basic Indoor Antenna, This high-performance indoor antenna reduces static and increases the beauty of the TV you receive over the air, including HDTV signals…. |
|
|
LG 42LS5700 42-Inch 1080p 120 Hz LED-LCD HDTV with Smart TV $1,099.99 Want limitless entertainment access to movies, shows and apps from the Internet, straight to your TV without a computer? With LG Smart TV access on the LS5700, you can. Or you could view sports and fast action like you were actually there, in stunning detail? With its 1080p Full HD and TruMotion 120Hz refresh rate, you can have that too. Easy way to access limitless content An intuitive, easy way … |