How to watch your CCTV cameras on a TV

Most DVRs and NVRs have an HDMI port for a monitor, and a TV is a display too. CP Plus's manuals describe the HDMI and VGA ports as the way to connect a monitor for live viewing, and say some series can send TV, VGA and HDMI output at the same time. Dahua's wiki says to connect a VGA or HDMI display, preferably 1080P or higher.

You are looking at the recorder's own screen, so you steer it with a mouse. CP Plus's AI DVR manual says its HDMI port supports mouse operation.

• 1. Plug one end of an HDMI cable into the recorder's HDMI port and the other end into a free HDMI port on the TV.
• 2. Plug a USB mouse into the recorder. CP Plus's DVR manual says to connect the monitor first, then the mouse, then the power cable.
• 3. Switch the TV on and choose the HDMI input you used. Dahua's wiki lists the TV's source setting among its checks for no picture.
• 4. Switch the recorder on and wait for it to start. You should see the live cameras.
• Keep the cable short. Dahua's wiki says an HDMI run under 50 feet (15 metres) is highly recommended, and 25 feet (about 7.5 metres) or less is preferred.

A common cause is that the recorder sends a picture size the TV does not accept. CP Plus recorders send 1280 by 1024 on HDMI and VGA by default, and CP Plus's manual expects that some displays will not match it.

• CP Plus: its NVR manual lists 1920 by 1080, 1280 by 1024 (the default) and 1280 by 720 under Main Menu, Display, Display, in the Resolution box. Its AI DVR manual says some options might not be supported on the HDMI port, and that after the startup wizard a box pops up if the HDMI display does not match the default.
• Hikvision: if the screen is black, Hikvision's US support site says to use a computer on the same network, log in to the recorder's web page and go to Configuration, System, Menu Output. Pick a resolution the screen supports. The recorder restarts after you apply it.
• Dahua: the picture size is under Main Menu, Setting, System, Display. The options are 1280 by 1024 (default), 1280 by 720, 1920 by 1080, 1024 by 768 and, on some series, 3840 by 2160. The recorder has to restart to apply a change. Dahua's wiki says changes made here do not affect the record file or playback.
• Cable and port: Dahua's wiki says to check that the display is in HDMI mode, that the cable is fully seated and not damaged, and that the TV is on the right source.
• Mouse will not move: Hikvision's US support site says the menu output may be set wrongly, and that the HDMI and resolution settings must be right for the mouse to respond. Fix it in the same web page setting.
• Picture does not fill the screen: Dahua's wiki recommends a 1080p screen for HDMI. If the recorder is set to 1920 by 1080, the TV needs to be set to 1920 by 1080 or be 1080p capable.

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If the recorder is far from the TV, put a small Windows PC next to the TV and run the brand's PC software. Each brand has its own: iVMS-4200 for Hikvision, SmartPSS Lite for Dahua and KVMS Pro Lite for CP Plus. They show all your cameras on one screen. CP Plus lists KVMS Pro Lite on its software page.

Our guides cover each one in plain steps. See our iVMS-4200 guide, our DMSS for PC guide and our gCMOB for PC guide.

Phone apps are built for a touch screen, and a TV has a remote. Here is what each brand says or lists.

• Hikvision: its own Hik-Connect Q&A says Hikvision has developed apps for Android phones but has no app for Android TV. It says you can try to install the app if your TV supports Android phone apps, but it cannot guarantee the performance.
• CP Plus: its software page lists KVMS Pro Lite, a player, a web plugin and an IP finder, and no TV app. Its FAQ names gCMOB for Android and iCMOB for iPhone and says nothing about TVs. The gCMOB listing on Google Play does not mention TVs. We could not find a gCMOB HD listing on Google Play or on CP Plus's own pages.
• Dahua: the DMSS listing on Google Play says it supports Android 5.0 or above and does not mention TVs. Dahua's wiki lists DMSS downloads for Android and iOS only.
• If a site tells you to download an APK file for your TV, that file is not from the brand. We do not link to any. If you try a phone app on a TV, install it from the TV's own store only, and remember that Hikvision itself warns it cannot promise good performance.

Casting copies your phone's screen to the TV. You open the camera app on your phone as usual, then cast. The phone still needs its own working connection to your recorder, because the TV only shows what the phone shows.

• Android with Chromecast or Google TV: Google's steps need Android 8.0 or later and a phone on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV device. Open the Google Home app, press and hold the device's tile, tap Cast, then Cast my screen, then Cast screen. To stop, press and hold the tile and tap Stop mirroring.
• If it stutters, Google says to put both devices on the same Wi-Fi network name, use a network with AP isolation turned off, and keep the phone within 15 feet (4 metres) of the TV device.
• iPhone with Apple TV or an AirPlay-compatible TV: put the phone on the same Wi-Fi network as the TV, open Control Center, tap Screen Mirroring and pick the TV. Enter the passcode if one shows on the TV. To stop, open Screen Mirroring again and tap Stop Mirroring.

Choose by where the recorder is.

• Recorder in the same room as the TV, or a cable run you can manage: HDMI.
• Recorder far from the TV: a PC with the brand's software.
• A quick look from the sofa: cast from your phone.