Monitors allow you to view the cameras live. But the more, the merrier, right? This article will teach you how to connect multiple monitors to your security system.
It is possible to place monitors in different parts of your home or business—for instance, one in your office and one in the break room.
The connection
Recorders (DVR/NVR) have different connection points, including VGA and HDMI. If you want to use two monitors, you can simply connect one through HDMI and one through VGA.
You can also purchase an HDMI splitter or VGA splitter. Which, as the name suggests, splits, so you can connect both into one. When purchasing a splitter, try finding a Splitter-Amplifier, which helps boost the connection and won’t compromise your footage’s quality.
Furthermore, splitters can be powered or non-powered. The main difference is that non-powered also referred to as passive, can lower your footage’s quality. So buying a powered splitter is more worth your time.
Connect multiple monitors to your security system
Connecting multiple monitors can be highly beneficial to users. This gives you the opportunity to place monitors spread out and monitor the cameras from various places.
You may choose to connect two monitors or even more than eight at once, which will display all the camera’s live feed simultaneously. This might not be ideal for homes. You might benefit from two, but maybe not six or eight monitors.
You can install monitors in the most helpful places of your home, such as your bedroom, the living room, the basement, and the home office. These spots are the best to keep you alert and give you access to see if an intruder is outside.
On the other hand, having various monitors in a business can be incredibly helpful. For instance, you can monitor the cameras whether you are on the sale floor, office, loading dock, or other vital locations.The sky is the limit, as you can connect multiple monitors to watch your security camera closely wherever you are.
The process
The process of connecting multiple monitors to your security system is straightforward and should not give you any issues. Below we will provide an example of connecting numerous monitors using HDMI.
If you follow the instructions below, you will need to have an HDMI splitter. If you wish, you can also follow the same steps using a CVBS or VGS output.
HDMI tends to be the best for image quality and connection. Also, remember that if your system has audio, then using VGA will only transmit the image and not the sound.
Below, we have included a diagram so you can better visualize what it will look like to connect multiple monitors. Furthermore, you should understand that you will clone the main HDMI footage to the other four.
There are various kinds of splitters, including 1 to 2, 1 to 4, 1 to 6, etc. In the example used in this article, pretend you want to connect multiple monitors, four to be exact, using an HDMI splitter.
To do so, you will first start by connecting the recorder’s HDMI output to the HDMI splitter input. Then connect each individual splitter to the monitor of your choice.
Once all is connected, you can power on your recorder, and you should be able to view your camera’s footage live on every single monitor you are connected to.
Furthermore, quality will downgrade depending on how far away the monitor is from the recorder. The better the splitter’s quality is, for instance, an HDMI 4K Splitter, the better your image will look.
Lastly, if you decide to invest in a powered HDMI splitter, make sure you have a power outlet nearby as it will need to be plugged in.
HDMI Splitter Troubleshooting
If you followed the above instructions, and your monitor is not displaying your live footage, then you might use one of the following to address the problem.
Ensure the splitter is plugged in correctly and the power outlet is working just fine. There are usually a couple of indicating lights on the device to show it is on.
Connect the devices properly; no cables should be half plugged in or left dangling; if you continue to have issues when trying to connect multiple monitors, attempt to restart the entire recorder.
In addition, try placing all the monitors into a single set resolution; for instance, if one of them is 1080p, then make them all 1080p. If there continues to be trouble, you can take a look at the manual for the HDMI splitter, as there might be something off.
Yet, if the image shows but continuously goes in and out, then the recorder and monitor might be too far away from each other to function. Let’s go over that.
How far is too far?
To connect multiple monitors, you need a splitter, specifically an HDMI splitter. But distance can have an impact on the connection between both your devices.
The distance that it can reach may differ from brand to brand, some can go up to 100ft, and others won’t make it past 50ft. It’s a question of quality and the splitter itself.
For instance, don’t buy a 100ft splitter if your monitor is less than 20-30ft away; you can instead opt for the 50ft one. To check how far your HDMI splitter can reach, look at the specification or “specs” sheet.
The farthest the recorder and monitor are from each other, the more prone to flickering it will be. So by checking the distance between your devices, you can purchase the correct splitter and save some bucks.
Moreover, your cables should be high-end if you are planning to run them to a monitor more than 50ft away or so. Longer distances require more high-quality cables than shorter distances.
Final Thoughts
To connect multiple monitors, you might have to do some shopping, but it is worth the hassle. Having all your monitors display your cameras adds to your safety regardless of where you are.
You can split the image into two or even sixteen monitors. Everything in between is fair play too! The possibilities are endless, so use them as you wish. For more help, read the “How to connect a DVR to TV (using HDMI extender)” article up on our website