The 8 Best CCTV Testers
This wiki has been updated 25 times since it was first published in March of 2017. A CCTV tester, also known as a field monitor, is one of the most valuable tools a professional technician can have when installing or maintaining a video surveillance system. These devices allow you to quickly change the angle, image quality and focus of a camera, as well as perform cable and ping tests, saving you time and effort on the job. Our selections range from basic to high-end models. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Koolertron GH-IPCT98
2. WSDcam X9
3. Eversecu 5-in-1 Monitor
Editor's Notes
February 02, 2021:
I’ve trimmed this list down and also removed some of the options which only served HD analog formats like TV-HDI, TV-CVI, and AHD - in addition to CVBS and also SDI, which is another HD analog format - but didn’t support IP(Internet Protocol) cameras. A couple of options towards the lower end of this list still do not support IP cameras, like the EverTech 4.3 Inch TFT and Electop IV7W, while the WSDcam 8600-Plus, which I eventually decided to remove, did support IP cameras, but didn't support HD analog formats. I’ve also updated the Eversecu 4-in-1 monitor with the Eversecu 5-in-1. The ‘4’ and ‘5’ stand for the number of formats supported, with 5 meaning the 3 previously mentioned HD analog formats, plus CVBS and IP. All models supporting IP cameras may have both a LAN port for a switch or DVR/NVR, and a PoE port and those that don’t should provide UTP cable tests for those analog models using an RJ45.
August 16, 2019:
Functionality was a key factor in compiling this list and in the latest refresh we added models that go above and beyond just being field monitors. For example, take the Koolertron GH-IPCT98, which is hard to beat for under 300 bucks. It can run Android apps, meaning you can download and install a word processor or calculator program on it, reducing the number of devices a technician has to take into the field.
Another aspect of functionality that should not be overlooked is a CCTV tester's ability to work with both analog and IP cameras. This is important because digital security cameras are becoming increasingly popular. The Koolertron GH-IPCT98, WSDcam X9 and WSDcam 8600-Plus all have this dual compatibility. Even if the clients you service are strictly using analog systems, it might not be a bad idea to future-proof your equipment.
4. Electop ET5900ATC
5. WSDcam Four-Inch
6. Electop HVT-2601 6th Generation
7. Electop IV7W
8. EverTech 4.3 Inch TFT
Kaivaan grew up in a little town called York in the north of England, though he was whisked off to sunny Jamaica at the age of 14, where he attended high school. After graduating, he returned to the UK to study electronic engineering at the University of Warwick, where he became the chief editor for the engineering society’s flagship magazine. A couple of uninspiring internships in engineering later however, and after some time spent soul-searching and traveling across Asia and East Africa, he he now lives and works in in Dubai.