The Closed Circuit TeleVision or CCTV Video Monitor is one of the most vital components of a CCTV digital video security system. Interestingly however, today’s systems can actually run without one. What’s more, the technology for monitors is constantly improving which means that at today’s changing technological improvements, a monitor bought today could be obsolete a year from now. Read on to find out some more interesting facts about the CCTV video monitor.
Based on how a CCTV video monitor is used we can categorize them into three major groups. The first is the installation or set-up monitor. This monitor is often only 2 to 6 inches big and is used when the system is first installed and needs to be set up. Generally, digital video cameras may be mounted far away from the Digital Video Recorder or DVR unit and the system monitor.
Using this monitor eliminates the need to run back and forth to the DVR to aim cameras, and run general setup and diagnostics procedures. This type of monitor is incredibly handy–especially if you have a 32 camera system and each camera needs to be adjusted. After setup is complete, this monitor is removed from the system. Security Camera King sells a 2.5 inch LCD setup monitor that includes a wrist strap. For more information, see our product number#VX-WLCDM.
Another type of CCTV video monitor is known as a “spot monitor.” Sometimes it may be necessary to constantly monitor a specific camera in a multi-channel system. For example, a retail store may have an 8 camera system, with one camera aimed specifically at the cash register area.
A spot monitor is connected to this cash register camera but can be located away from the area that all the other cameras terminate (usually the DVR). Using this method for example, a store manager could have the spot monitor placed in his/her office located far away from the camera and/or DVR.
If the spot monitor is used on a “non-wireless” or “cabled” system, an additional cable must be run to the spot monitor in addition to the DVR. This is usually accomplished by adding a splitter to the cable at some point to create one feed to the spot monitor and another to the DVR input.
The third type of security camera monitor is the system or main monitor. This monitor is generally connected to the DVR by one or more cables and displays the on-screen information of all the system cameras and the DVR. Usually this monitor is bigger in size than a spot monitor so that it can accommodate the simultaneous displaying of all or groups of cameras in the system at the same time.
CCTV video monitors are like televisions (or perhaps more like personal computer monitors) in composition. There are basically two types of monitors that are used today, but generally there is only one type that is used the most often. The two types based on composition are the CRT and LCD (and now LCD/LED) monitors.
The CRT or Cathode Ray Tube monitor is the oldest type. As its name implies it works by shooting a beam of electrons in a horizontal fashion on the back of the monitor’s screen. The CRT monitor is bulkier, heavier, and generally produces a lower resolution picture than the LCD monitor; basically, its equivalent to the older models of televisions that also used a CRT. These monitors are still used today, but are being edged out of the market by lighter more efficient and less bulky LCD monitors.
The LCD or Liquid Crystal Display security camera monitor is probably the single most popular monitor type in use today. It is much lighter than the CRT, it uses less energy, and displays at a much higher resolution and color, capable of providing quality high definition displays. These monitors were once limited in size, but as technology advances so do the available sizes. Security Camera King offers monitors as large as 42 inches.
One last note; if you are considering purchasing a CCTV video monitor, regardless of the type, make sure the monitor has the proper connection input type available. Our DVRs have HDMI, VGA, and BNC connections to make connecting the monitor an easy process for you. However, many monitors, especially those once used for computers, only have a VGA connection for example. So be certain to make sure your monitors, camera and DVR display types, and connectors match.