How do I watch my security camera on my Smart TV?
With smart home security cameras, a key feature is the ability to stream live footage to a mobile device. However, with the introduction...
04/09/2021
With smart home security cameras, a key feature is the ability to stream live footage to a mobile device. However, with the introduction of smart TVs, we are no longer limited to just cell phones and tablets. Knowing this, I wanted to research how I could watch my security camera feed on my smart TV.
Most security cameras are compatible with smart TVs, so if users want to see their camera footage on the big screen, all you need is a stable Wi-Fi connection to connect the two devices.
Even if you don't have a smart TV, there are still alternatives for you to view your security camera on your TV. There is also the option of hard-wiring security cameras to your system; however, this article will focus on streaming video footage with Wi-Fi enabled devices.
Benefits of Watching Security Cameras on Smart TVs
Having the ability to view your security cameras on your mobile devices is undeniably beneficial for those looking to stay up to date on their surveillance. However, using your smart TV can provide an extra level of security and can even be controlled via voice activation.
Plus, you can even set up your smart TV to receive motion alerts and notifications from your security camera so you can be alerted to unauthorized movement or activity. However you decide to use your setup, let's look at some ways to start watching your footage on a smart TV.
Guide to Connecting Security Cameras to a Smart TV
Before you start connecting your security camera to your TV, you'll need a few things to set up:
Wi-Fi Enabled Security Camera:
Wyze Cam
,
Nest Cam
and
Ring Doorbell Pro
are all reputable Wi-Fi security cameras compatible with smart home devices (Alexa and Google Assistant).
A smart TV like
Samsung
or one
FireTV< /p>
:
Although not required, having a smart TV will allow for voice activation and easier onboarding. (If you don't have a smart TV, you can also use a
Fire TV Stick
Where
Google Chromecast
to connect your Wi-Fi enabled cameras, which we'll explore in more detail later in the article.)
Connecting using third-party apps
If you already have a Smart TV like the ones mentioned above, you're just a few steps away from streaming footage from your security camera. Since smart TVs have Wi-Fi capabilities, they can already interpret the data transmitted by your Wi-Fi enabled camera. However, to sync with your security cameras, you will need to install an app on your smart TV allowing them to to communicate.
Tiny Cam Pro
One of the most well-established apps for viewing security footage is
Tiny Cam Pro
. This is an Android app with features to help you customize your security feed. Plus, since it's a native Android app, it can be downloaded to most smart TVs (it can also be used with wired IP security cameras).
Here is an overview of some of the features Tiny Cam Pro offers:
Support over 12000 security camera models
(including smart cameras), making compatibility a non-issue
Enabling two-way audio
SSL and HTTPS protocols for secure monitoring
AI face and object detection
Background recording (including automatic deletion of old footage)
Once you've downloaded the app to your Wi-Fi enabled smart TV, syncing with your security camera is as simple as scanning your home network and connecting to the paired device. You can even add cameras manually (although you must provide the device vendor, model, username, and password).
It's worth noting that while Tiny Cam Pro isn't the only app compatible with smart TVs and security cameras, with over 100,000 users, it's a great place to start. Now that you've installed the app and are ready to use it, let's take a closer look at connecting to some well-known smart TVs.
Connecting to a Samsung Smart TV
In addition to Tiny Cam Pro, Samsung Smart TVs offer native app support."
SmartThings
". With this app, you can connect and control multiple devices, all of which can be monitored directly on the TV. Here are some steps to start watching your security camera on Samsung smart TV with SmartThings:
Check that the app
SmartThings
is installed.
Open the app and select the Plus (+) icon and “Device”.
Select your device name and “Camera” in the app.
Next, you will be asked to “allow” the connection to your camera.
After the initial setup steps, the app will ask you to enter your login details (if applicable). Once the camera is successfully added, select the camera you are accessing in the app, and you are good to go.
Connecting to Fire TV
Fire TVs use the Amazon Alexa ecosystem to communicate with smart devices in your home. As such, you'll first need to ensure the Alexa app is installed and synced with your Fire TV before connecting your camera.
Once Alexa is installed and configured on your Fire TV:
< p> Open the Alexa app and select “Menu”.Scroll down to “Smart Home”.
Next, select “Device” and search for the skill for your “Smart Home”. Camera."
Once you locate the Camera skill, click to activate it; this will prompt you to link your security camera account to Alexa.
You can manually link the camera by selecting "Devices" and "Discover" once the camera has been connected to Alexa. You can also use the “Alexa, discover devices” voice prompt to automatically search for the camera.
Once you've followed these steps, you're ready to mirror your security camera directly to your Fire TV. Additionally, you can use voice commands such as “Alexa, show me the front door camera” to automatically display corresponding images on your TV.
If you don't have a smart TV, don't worry. There are affordable solutions for viewing your security camera footage directly on your TV.
How to Watch Security Cameras with Standard TVs
Use of third-party devices is required if you do not have a comparable Wi-Fi enabled smart TV or TV. Luckily, both Google and Amazon have products specifically designed for this purpose.
Stream with Google Chromecast
Google Chromecast
lets you stream media from your mobile devices (or other platforms) directly to your TV. In this case, you can also use it to stream footage from your security camera. Here are some quick steps to start streaming with your Google Chromecast:
Note: You will also need a
goo
g
< p>theHomedevice serving as an intermediary between the two devices.
Connect your Chromecast to your GoogleHome device.
Next, you will need to connect your security camera to GoogleHome.
Open the GoogleHome app.
Tap Add > Configure Device > Configure New Devices.
Select your GoogleHome, which will attempt to pair with your camera.
Select your camera and tap to “Pair” the devices.
After that, your system is ready to go, including voice activation. You can issue voice commands such as "Hey Google, watch [camera]", which will start streaming content through your Google Chromecast to your TV.
Stream with Fire Stick
Now, let's find out how to stream your security camera using
Amazon Fire Stick
. The Fire Stick, like Chromecast, lets you stream media from a device directly to your TV (including security cameras).
First, download and install the Alexa app.
Next, open the Alexa app and enable the "Ring Skill" feature (this will enable voice command features).
Once the "Ring Skill" feature is enabled, the Alexa app will ask you to authorize your security camera.
(Source:
Learn CCTV
)
Once the device is authorized, your system is ready to stream footage from your security camera. Like the Chromecast, you can use voice commands such as "Alexa, show me the front door camera" and many more.
In summary
The ability to stream footage from your home security cameras to mobile devices is a common feature on most devices. However, with smart TVs and third-party streaming devices, options to view your cameras with a simple voice command are a selling point for many consumers. Luckily, connecting your security camera to a smart TV only requires a few extra steps and accessories to get you started.
Still can't connect to your smart TV? There may be a connectivity issue with your device; consult
This article
to find out how to solve the problem.