CCTV Test Monitor
A CCTV test monitor is a device commonly used by CCTV installers and electricians during surveillance system installations when they need to mount, test, and focus a security camera. CCTV test monitors, also known as portable CCTV monitors are incredibly convenient because they enable one installer to perform the camera mount and focus. Typically, and without the use of a test monitor, mounting and focusing a surveillance camera requires two installers: one to adjust the camera and the other to be watching a monitor back at the location of the recorder. Furthermore, it is always a challenge for the two installers to communicate with each other because the DVR and the camera being mounted are typically not in the same room, so many installers rely on cell phone communication when mounting and back focusing cameras.
There are many test monitors available on the market and as with any electronic device, some are built better and perform better than others. Below are two models that we have tested and found to perform very well that are supplied by CCTV Camera Pros and range in price from $129.99 to $299.99. Both of these products are available for purchase on this page: Portable CCTV test & service monitors.
2.5″ Hand-Held CCTV Test Monitor
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4.2″ Hand-Held CCTV Service Monitor
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About the Author of this Product Review
This product review was written by Mike Haldas from CCTV Camera Pros. CCTV Camera Pros specializes in home, business, and government surveillance systems. Mike has over 13 years experience in the security and IT industry as hardware and software engineer and is available to help plan small and large scale surveillance installations such as them park surveillance systems. Please call 1-888-849-2288 or visit www.cctvcamerapros.com for additional information or to reach Mike Haldas.
BNC Video Baluns for Cat-5
BNC Video Baluns - $13.99 per pair
BNC video baluns allow a CCTV installer to use a twisted pair wire to run video to CCTV cameras. A pair from a cat-5 cable can be used. Other common wires and cables used with CCTV baluns are 18AWG, 20 AWG, 22 AWG and CAT-3.
Video baluns are very handy to use when a building is pre-wired with CAT-5. This connector allows you to leverage the existing cable that is already there. Many CCTV installers prefer using twisted pair instead of coax cable because it is cheaper and more flexible.
Passive video baluns (no power required) can typically be used to run CCTV video over cat-5 for a distance up to 1200 feet without video signal loss or interference.
The BNC baluns that appear in the image on the left are available from CCTV Camera Pros. Click here to view these and other CCTV video baluns available from CCTV Camera Pros.
BNC to VGA Converter
BNC to VGA Converter - $64.99
A BNC to VGA converter is typically used in surveillance installations to enable the use of inexpensive VGA computer monitors to connect to DVRs and security cameras that have BNC video output. The BNC to VGA converter pictured on the left has three different video inputs, labels 2, 3, and 4. The input types are BNC, S-Video, and VGA. The output, labeled (1), is VGA which is connected to a VGA computer monitor. This converter can have three different video inputs connected at the same time. The user can select which video input is used at any given time.
The BNC to VGA converter on this page is available from CCTV Camera Pros for $64.99 at the time of this writing. For more information on this product or to purchase it, please visit the CCTV Camera Pros BNC to VGA converter page.
Video Surveillance System – 4 Camera
Video Surveillance System
The following video surveillance system consists:
- 4 Weatherproof IR Security Cameras
- 4 Channel Digital Video Recorder
- 4 100 Foot BNC camera cables
- 4 Camera power supplies
- Optional 19″ or 22″ CCTV monitor
This system is featured from CCTV Camera Pros. Although CCTV Camera Pros advertises this system as a home surveillance system, it can also be used for commercial applications such as retail stores, churches, gas stations, and just about any commercial surveillance application you can think of.
This surveillance system also includes remote DVR viewer software that allows a business or homeowner to view their cameras remotely over the Internet. Below are some sample images taken using the remote viewing software. Please note that the quality of these images degraded as a result of screen capturing them and converting them to files that can be posted on this web page:
Retail Store Surveillance System
Home Surveillance System
If you are interested in learning more about video surveillance systems, please visit the CCTV Camera Pros website. You can jump directly to the product page for this system by clicking on the above image of the system.
CCTV Camera Cable – 100 Foot
These 100 foot CCTV camera cables make any security camera installation more simple. Each set of “plug and play” cables, runs both the video and the power for the security camera that you connect to them. These CCTV cables are pre-made with the connector ends already attached. Each end of the cable has a male BNC connector which is used to attach the camera’s video output to a DVR or monitors BNC video input. Each end also has a 2.1mm DC power connector that can be used to connect the camera to a individual DC transformer / power supply or to apigtail lead (PT-3) which can be used to connect to a power supply box.
These 100 foot CCTV Cables can be purchase from CCTV Camera Pros. For more information or to buy these cables, please visit CCTV Camera Pros website.
GV-800-4 Geovision DVR Card
Geovision GV-800 Card
The Geovision GV-800-4 DVR card is a powerful 4 channel security camera system that turns a computer into a digital video recorder. As of Geovision software version 8.12, these cards and software are compatible with Windows XP and Windows Vista. The card is capable of recording at 120 frames per second (FPS), which means 30 FPS per CCTV camera (up to 4).
Geovision Installation
The Geovision hardware and software is very easy to install. After installing the GV-800 into an available PCI slot on the computer’s motherboard, there are three components that must be installed from the CD that comes in the box. These components are convenient put in order for you on the system installation menu. They are: Geovision Drivers, Direct X 9, and the Geovision main system. For Windows Vista users, it is important to note that when installing the Geovision software, you will be asked if you want to disable the UAC in Windows. Geovision recommends saying yes and disabling the windows UAC (also known User Account Control and Windows Defender). If you would like to learn more about UAC, please click here: what is UAC?
The Geovision system includes a set of features that will likely meet the requirements of any surveillance project from the simple home surveillance system through a complex government installation including:
- Advanced Motion Detection: Advanced Motion Detection recording allows multiple sensitivities setup within multiple regions. It is suitable for large-scale security monitoring and recording.
- Timeline Search: Timeline search enables users to locate a specific video recorded on a time frame via an easy-to-browse graphical tool. Timelines can display minutes and seconds, search and playback videos.
- Password Expiration Management: Password expiration management provides better security practices in surveillance system. System administrators can set expiration or disable a user’s account. Features also include password edit, account edit and more.
- WebCam Server / DVR viewer: Geovision WebCam server allows you to access live video remotely over a network or the Internet. Single camera views can be directly viewed in Internet Explorer. Multiview will automatically launch the multi view application for up to 16 cameras.
- Center V2 Central Monitoring Software: Monitor up to 5 systems with the software that comes with Geovision or purchase the professional version to monitor up to 500 systems.
- Email Alerts: Send video or images to your email when a motion detected event occurs.
If you are interested in learning more about Geovision DVR cards, please visit a distributor like CCTV Camera Pros.