Many of you know you can view your IP security cameras on your mobile devices, computer, monitor, Mac or web browsers. ”But how about viewing IP cameras or CCTV cameras on HDMI TV or smart TV? Can I stream IP camera on my TV wirelessly? Can I view my CCTV cameras on TV?” Here we give you the answers.
Table of Contents:
Is It Possible to View My IP Cameras on TV
How to View & Stream IP Cameras on TV
Other Alternatives to View/Stream IP Cameras
How to Connect CCTV Cameras to TV Without a DVR
The following parameters are helpful when viewing & streaming IP cameras on TV:
| Protocols | RSTP/RTP/RTSP |
| Ports | HDMI/VGA port |
| Tool | IP-camera-to-HDMI converter |
| Devices | TV/smartphone/computer |
Is It Possible or Easy to View My IP Cameras on TV
Yes, it's possible. If your camera system consists of an NVR, it's fairly easy to hook the NVR to your TV via an HDMI port or VGA port. While it might not be easy to stream IP camera on TV without the NVR.
One enthusiast shares his saga of viewing IP camera on TV, which might shed light on how seemingly easy-to-get job can entail so much work.
How to View & Stream IP Cameras on TV or Smart TV
Today we consult many professionals and experts and gather some insights on how to stream IP camera live feeds on a TV or smart TV without an NVR easily or view IP camera video feeds on TV wirelessly.
- Solution 1: IP-Camera-to-HDMI Converter/Decoder
- Solution 2: DLNA Method
- Solution 3: Google Chromecast or Apple TV
- Solution 4: Streaming Apps on Smart TVs
Solution 1: IP-Camera-to-HDMI Converter/Decoder
There is a device so-called NetcamViewer Monitor, which claimed to be able to live feed any IP security camera to your TV or monitor easily.
Users can just plug IP cameras into this device via Ethernet cable and connect to the TV HDMI port, you can switch the channel to watch TV or check out IP camera video feeds.
Or some users choose IP-camera-to-HDMI converter to convert videos streams, commonly seen as MPEG, MJPEG or H.264 into the format that can be broadcasted on TV, for example, Geovision decoder.
Solution 2: DLNA Method
Setting up Digital Living Network Alliance DLNA (what's DLNA) server on a desktop computer PC and streaming IP videos on a DLNA-compliant TV is a way to go.
In order to have IP cameras stream accessible to be monitored on a standard modern television, IP video camera needs to be capable of data transfer over RSTP/RTP and the PC is acting as a bridge connecting IP cameras and DLHA-enabled TV.
Here is a detailed guide on how to stream an IP camera to a TV shared by IP camera users.
Solution 3: Google Chromecast or Apple TV
When you don't want to run cables directly to your TV, Google Chromecast or Apple TV is a great alternative as long as the viewing apps support casting.
For example, some users suggest using Google Chromecast to mirror what you are watching on our Android phone to your home TV, or using Apple TV to mirror video feeds from surveillance camera mobile apps to display IP camera videos on a TV.
One user found a way to cast IP camera stream to TV with Chromecast via FFMPEG, converting RTSP stream into an HLS (HTTP Live Streaming).
It works by starting up the IP camera monitoring apps, enabling mirroring or screencast and displaying the video feeds. The setup might require a few steps along the road.
Solution 4: Streaming Apps on Smart TV
Of course, there are other feasible solutions, for example, you can download IP camera viewing apps on your Android TV, Smart TVs such as Samsung Smart TV, LG Smart TV.
For example, one Reolink user downloads Reolink Android APK file on LeTV and successfully views Reolink IP cameras on TV.
Users can download IP Cam Viewer or tinyCam Monitor to the TV together with Mini Android PC like UG802 Mini PC, which support TV (Android TV, Amazon Fire TV) viewing, however, the apps could be slow to load or respond or a bit frustrating to navigate.
Other Alternatives to View/Stream IP Cameras Videos Locally or Remotely
1. View & Stream IP Camera Videos on a Smartphone
Nowadays, thanks to surveillance technologies, such as P2P, users can easily tap into their Smartphone app, such as Reolink apps, Blue Iris, iSpy, IPcam Viewer, to view live video feeds at anytime anywhere as long as IP cameras and mobile devices are connected to the Internet.
Many IP cameras are 3rd-party compatible such as Reolink PoE cameras and non-battery powered WiFi security cameras, which make them compatible with third-party software such as Blue Iris, Milestone, iSpy, Synology, or IP Cam Viewer.
2. View & Stream IP Camera Videos on a Computer
Besides, users can use the computer like Window PC or Mac to get access to cameras remotely or locally via desktop software like Reolink Client, Milestone, Synology etc.
3. View & Stream IP Camera Videos on a Web Browser
Or users can live streaming videos on multiple web browsers without downloading apps or software such as on Google Chrome, IE Explorer, FireFox or Safari via logging in with IP address.
How to Connect CCTV Cameras to TV Without a DVR
Many users don't need to record video footage to a DVR/NVR and just want to display the IP camera live videos on a TV or monitor. So how can you view video feeds on your TV, say, Smart TV, Samsung Smart TV or LG Smart TV?
It's rather easy to connect CCTV camera to a TV because analog CCTV cameras transmit an analog/composite video signal, which is compatible with TVs that have a composite RCA video input.
Therefore, CCTV cameras can be hooked up directly with pre-made Siamese cable and then be connected to BNC-to-RCA adapter.
Why doesn't Reolink just develop apps for devices like Amazon Fire, Xbox One, Roku, etc.? That would make viewing on a TV very, very easy.
That's awesome advice! That's certainly what we will be working on in the future. Thank you so much for your feedback! If there is anything that might help us improve, feel free to share 🙂
It would be great if you could speed up this feature. Many clients I install your NVR systems for, heavily desire a TV app for viewing. It makes life much more simple. And in general, the trend of TV's is either a ROKU device (ROKU is by far what I come across most), Amazon device, or a Samsung/LG television. Lots of people do not want their NVR monitor located in the television room, and with that in mind, who wants to leave from their TV to another room. People like the app's on the phones and tablets, but many people want LARGE screen viewing made simple.
Hi, Ronnie, our R&D team is testing on the TV App for live viewing and we will let you know asap if there are any updates. Thank you for sharing customers' needs with us 🙂
Is there an update on this? This isn't the first Reolink forum where I've seen this type of response from Reolink before and never be followed up on nor answered. This is something that Reolink customers believe would be of great value and enhance their Reolink camera system. From a company point of view this may even enhance your market area to sell even MORE of your cameras to those that may be sitting on the fence deciding whether to buy Reolink or a competitor that already has this type of compatibility.
Hi, there, we always attach great importance to our customers’ advice and suggestions. A year or so ago, many Reolink customers told us that if it would be much convenient if Reolink products could work with other smart home devices via voice control systems. Of course, we have taken that suggestion into consideration and now we are going to make Reolink Argus®2 to work with Google Home at Q2. And, we will continue being open to your suggestions and dedicate to improving our products and service.
Bonjour Olivia,
Toujours pas d'application Reolink pour Android TV??
Hello Arnaud, Reolink has not released official software for Android TV now. Please subscribe to us or follow @ReolinkTech on Facebook to stay tuned. 🙂
Hi Olivia we are waiting for it :). It can`t be so hard to adjust android app just to be in landscape mode;)
Use Raspberry pi. I'm the pi 3b+ to run 6 cameras locally. I have no experience using linux these instructions walk you through it. I have one in every room that has a TV.
It has been 3 years since this post. Still waiting to see if there will be an app for the apple tv or even the roku.
If only, it would make them so much more useful.
I will buy your argus products as soon as you have a app i can use to view my camera feeds on my amazon fire tv.
We have forwarded your message and feedback to our R&D team. Hopefully, we could view the camera feeds on Amazon Fire TV soon 🙂
We are installed HIKVISION IP cameras at factory, Client need to Access live cameras his home through internet and I have an client 4K LED Samsung android TV, But IVMS 4500 App not showing in the play store...
LED Brand : Samsung – UA55KS8500R
Can you suggest me for this solutions... lakshman.cg@gmail.com
Why on earth would Reolink show you how to set up a competitor's equipment?
Hello, George, thank you for your kind suggestion and we'll definitely forward your ideas to our R&D team. 🙂
Therefore, CCTV cameras can be hooked up directly with pre-made Siamese cable and then be connected to BNC-to-RCA adapter???
What is BNC?
Hello, there, BNC cables can be used as power cables and video transmission cables for analog CCTV cameras. You may connect your security camera to a BNC cable before adding a BNC-to-RCA adapter to the other end of the cable. Then, by plugging the adapter to a TV with RCA video input, you are connecting your security camera to a TV successfully. Hope this helps.
can i connect reolink nvr systems to google nest hub ?
Hello Simon, while we are happy to hear about your interest, we are sorry that our security systems with NVRs don't work with Google Assistant due to Google's limitation. Google Assistant cannot recognize a voice command that requires it to show multiple channels of videos as of now. We will keep you updated if there is any other news. 🙂
Hello Martin, while we are happy to hear about your interest in the TV app, we are sorry that we may not launch it this year. If there are any updates, we will announce it on our social media. Follow us on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/ReolinkTech/, to stay tuned with us!
”For example, one Reolink user downloads Reolink Android APK file on LeTV and successfully views Reolink IP cameras on TV.
Users can download IP Cam Viewer or tinyCam Monitor to the TV together with Mini Android PC like UG802 Mini PC, which support TV (Android TV, Amazon Fire TV) viewing, however, the apps could be slow to load or respond or a bit frustrating to navigate.”
Why are you showing me 3rd party, untrusted workarounds for viewing your cameras? Why isn't there an android TV/Shield app made by YOU?!?
Hi there, we are sorry that we don't have an official software for TV as of now. If there are any updates, we will announce it on our social media. Follow us on social media to stay tuned,https://www.facebook.com/ReolinkTech/.
Dear Olivia, Reolink,
I'm looking for such solution too. Your product are well balanced between quality and price, I've bought several for me first and famiy after. Now I'm beginning to regret there is no Android TV solution yet. That a main point to be managed by your team I guess. I tried workaround like .apk install on androidTV, but that's no relevant for older people that me ;o) Please we trust on reolink brand and products. Nicolas
Olivia, please provide a more in-depth response. I've sifted through your responses and they appear to be canned answers providing no insight to the question asked. If you are keen to respond and obtain or keep customers, please provide a quality reply other than ”its not available, we'll provide updates”. People have been asking for two years. Clearly you can answer better than this by now.
I have a apple TV, google home and LG TV's. I have an argus 2, which works with none of these unless I find an alternative workaround. I have yet to figure this out. Why doesn't Reolink provide a means of viewing their cameras through TV's or google home directly through their apps?
Thank you for sharing your ideas with us, fruz. At present, we'll focus on updating our products and improving current software, including the phone app and the PC Client. Note that we have released a brand-new desktop software recently, https://reolink.com/software-and-manual/ (click Download for PC/Mac and download V8.0.5).
In terms of the TV app, our R&D has added it to the to-do list team but this program is suspended now because our team is working on other urgent programs. We will keep forwarding feedback from our users to our team and see if we can work on the smart TV app asap. Hope this clarifies.
LOL @ ”we have released a brand-new desktop software recently”... when you click on the link, it's still the same old 7.2.2.33 from April 2019
Hi there, the beta version of the new desktop software is removed from our site temporarily. Please write to support@reolink.com or submit a request here, https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/requests/new. Our team will send you the new PC Client asap. 🙂
Makes you wonder, that's for sure.
So I guess the only way of watching your IP cameras on your smart TV is by casting it from your phone or computer, is that correct?
I bought 6 top of the line reolink cameras and your AVR for 8 cameras. I have a 2021 samsung Q90 smart TV on the same Network. Can I stream with an AP to my TV? Thank you
Need a Roku App for my RLC-520a camera. Roku's IP Camera viewer does not connect to the Reolink.
I have an NVR installed on a site. But I want to access the display on another site. Is it possible?
Hi Syed. Yes, remote viewing is available via Reolink Client or Reolink App.
What if relink isn't available on tv's app store?
Hi Kevin, thanks for reaching out. At present almost all Reolink cameras can work with Google Home. If you have a TV with Chromecast and your country supports Google Home, the setup can be very easy. Please follow this guide(https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/articles/360020644034-How-to-Add-Reolink-Cameras-to-Google-Home) to add Reolink cameras to Google Home and then you can view it on TV. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the support team (https://support.reolink.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=4461044255641).