How to Use a Computer Monitor for CCTV Security Cameras

Earlier, we taught you how to be more practical by using computers to monitor your home surveillance systems. Our previous post focused on wireless security cameras and it is amazing how technology makes everything so easy nowadays. With just a simple click, you can easily monitor your home using a wireless security camera.

If, however, you opt for CCTV security cameras, you will need a different configuration and you probably will have to purchase additional hardware to connect your camera to your computer. You may not use video baluns in this case because there are different cables that you need. It’s not that difficult. Find out how:

1. The first thing you have to do is to purchase a video-to-VGA converter box. Analog video data on computers are displayed using VGA inputs but with CCTV security systems, they use standard video ports similar to those used by television sets. Unfortunately, they do not have native compatibility so you have to buy a video-to-VGA converter box in order to use your CCTV security camera.

2. A VGA switch box is another thing that you have to buy. Because a monitor only has one video port, you will need a VGA switch box so you can easily switch between the camera and computer video feeds.

3. A CCTV security camera has a video feed cable which you should attach to the video-to-VGA converter box. Additionally, you should also attach a VGA cable between the converter box and VGA switch box.

4. Now, the computer’s monitor cable should also be plugged into the other port of the VGA switch box. Another VGA cable from the switch box should be attached to the computer monitor as well.

5. You can now monitor your home using your computer simply by switching the feed from the computer to the camera. This way, you can still multitask and do other things on your computer while switching to the camera feed from time to time.