I'chiliad going to bear witness yous today how to use a GoPro every bit a security camera/CCTV. Yes, you lot heard that right, a security cam.

I accept received a couple of requests to create this small guide post-obit my other guides on using a GoPro as a webcam and dash cam.

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I hold that it's unusual to use a GoPro for CCTV but many people would like to know how to make that possible.

Is it the high quality video or the wide angle they're aiming for? well maybe both.

The below guide will show you:

  1. Pre-requisites (What yous need to complete the ready up)
  2. Where to ready your GoPro for a perfect angle
  3. How to connect the GoPro to a reckoner
  4. Tape the videos to the reckoner's hard bulldoze
  5. Lookout man the live feed from your reckoner

If you have an old GoPro that you lot would like to make use of instead of keeping it stored in your drawer, or you lot're merely curious, then you might want to keep reading.

Important: GoPro Hero 8 Black doesn't have an HDMI port. GoPro released the Media Modern which adds an HDMI port to the camera.

how to use a gopro as a security cam

What Exercise You Demand to Make it Happen?

  • Your GoPro, I use my GoPro Hero half dozen Black
    • Whatever GoPro with a micro HDMI port volition work here
  • GoPro frame (for indoors) or GoPro case with side ports access (for outdoors)
    • If you're planning to use the GoPro indoors then the GoPro frame is more than than enough. However, if using it outside, y'all demand to keep information technology protected using the instance. (this case will accept minimum protection from wet conditions so it's not appropriate to use the GoPro under the rain). I can't guide you on which case to use here since the model differs depending on which GoPro you're using.
  • Long Micro HDMI to HDMI cable
    • Volition be used to connect the photographic camera to the capture card
  • MiniUSB to USB cablevision
    • Will exist used to power the GoPro since using the battery is not at all efficient for this method. The USB cable length depends on how far the electric wall outlet is from your GoPro.
  • 5V charger for GoPro, I use this one
    • Will exist used to feed the GoPro with ability, output should be 5V 1A.
  • Wall mount for GoPro, I utilise the Arkon mount
    • This is needed just if you lot would like to mount the camera to a wall.
  • Capture card, I apply Digitnow
    • A capture card is required to tape videos from GoPro to the computer's hard bulldoze in high-quality resolution. I know it's an extra cost, but this is the only solution for recording full Hard disk drive videos from a GoPro. The Digitnow is one of the bestcapture devices available in the market at an adequate price.
  • OBS Software (freeware)
    • Will be used to record the picket the live feed and record videos to the computer

Information technology's a long list I know, but if you lot're really want to make it happen then y'all know what y'all need 🙂

What Resolution to Employ?

Since GoPro offers a wide range of super high-quality video resolutions dissimilar the resolutions on the usual CCTV cameras, we tin take the flexibility of choosing whatever resolution we like.

Of course, in our example here, choosing a resolution college than 1080p is really not necessary or even 720p. Information technology'south more enough and I will tell you why.

The higher the resolution, the more than space the videos will take from your difficult drive.

Then yeah no need to have a 4K videos for case. I would stick to 720p or 1080p if I were you, information technology's Hd and doesn't use as much space as higher resolutions.

And so before jumping to the adjacent department, go ahead and change your settings to 720p or 1080p at 30 frames per 2nd.

If you're shooting at depression light, make sure to plough the Low-lite role ON likewise as Protune and set a college ISO for the videos.

<<Bank check out my detailed GoPro comparison chart> >

Prepare Up the Connections

Now that the kit is there, information technology's time to put everything together. Let me go through this in detail:

  1. Get the perfect angle. This is a very crucial footstep hither, y'all demand to take the perfect angle before permanently fixing your GoPro to the wall. That'south why testing outset is useful in this situation. Become alee, connect your GoPro through WiFi to your GoPro app on your phone and check where would exist the about ideal location. If you don't know your GoPro WiFi password, follow the steps here to reset it.
  2. One time y'all know the location, it's time to fix the wall mount. I would suggest to have a wall outlet nearby to power the GoPro.
  3. Put on the GoPro frame or case and attach information technology to the wall mount
  4. Plug the GoPro USB cable to the nearest wall outlet using the 5V charger.
  5. Plug the micro HDMI cablevision from GoPro to your capture menu. It's ameliorate to have the computer near the GoPro to avoid having to buy a very long HDMI cable.

If you lot're using a GoPro Hero5, 6, seven or 8 Black, make sure to do the below too:

Disable OSD On-Screen Brandish: Get to "Preferences", find "OSD" so plough that off.

Change HDMI output settings:Yous need to change the HDMI out settings on your Hero5 Black to "Live" in order to preclude the GoPro screen from going black. Hither's how you lot tin exercise it: Go to "Preferences",  scroll down to find "HDMI Output" and so choose "Alive".

Set Your Capture Carte and Estimator

Nosotros now have generally everything connected.

  1. Plug the capture card to your computer via the USB cable (make sure the USB port on the PC is 3.0)
  2. Install the drivers(if required) depends on the model of the capture card
  3. Download OBS and install it
  4. Open OBS, go down and right-click on "Sources" then Add -> Video Capture Device, You tin put the device name "GoPro". A new window will open up, select the device which is the video capture card, then under Video tick "Custom Resolution" and select 1280×720 then for FPS select 30.
  5. For audio, you lot also have to choose the capture carte du jour unless you're using an external mic for your GoPro. Press OK and at present you should exist able to come across the camera preview or the live feed in our case.
  6. To set up recording, go to settings and click on "broadcast settings", nether "mode", select "file output only" (for recording videos to your estimator) and select the path where you lot want your videos to be saved.

That'due south a screenshot from my GoPro Hero6 Black stock-still on a wall mountain facing the chief house door: (I should lower it a flake, but just for you to get the idea)

how to use a gopro as a dash cam

Are In that location Disadvantages For Using a GoPro as CCTV?

Price: Unless you have a photographic camera that you're not using, buying a GoPro specifically to be used for CCTV can exist quite expensive.

But think of it this fashion, even with a CCTV camera, a video recorder is needed. In our case, we used a capture card.

I can simply think of one disadvantage which is the extra toll. I remember the GoPro has more advantages since it offers high-quality videos and a broad-bending lens that covers more than than a normal CCTV cam would.

At the finish of the mean solar day, the choice is yours. If you would like to set up your GoPro for CCTV then simply follow the in a higher place steps. You won't be disappointed with the quality and output.

This guy uses his GoPro as a babe monitor surveillance system! Cheque it out:

Frequently Asked Questions

i- Question: is information technology possible to view the live feed on my figurer, not stream it or record it?

Answer:Y'all tin can try to preview your video on Quik or GoPro Studio by connecting to your GoPro using WiFi. The videos volition be compressed so low quality and you won't be able to hear whatever sound since the audio is non transmitted during the alive preview in Quik/GoPro Studio.

You tin can too use VLC with WiFi, simply of course, there are disadvantages of using the WiFi method:
1- The videos are compressed and volition lag
ii- Your laptop/PC WiFi will exist continued to the GoPro so you won't exist able to use the internet at the same time
3- GoPro goes to sleep when non recording and disconnects the WiFi

ii- Question: Practice I need a capture device in order to tape the videos from my GoPro?

Respond:Yes, you will need a capture device if you would like to record the videos to your computer. Connecting the GoPro directly to your HDMI port on your PC will only give you a preview, the recording won't be possible without a capture device like the Digitnow.

3- Question: Why when I connect my GoPro Hero 5/half dozen/vii/8 to the Digitnow capture card the GoPro screen goes blackness?

Answer:This doesn't happen to everyone but if information technology happens to y'all then you would need to change the following on your GoPro: Become to "Preferences" and then under "I/O", select "HDMI Output". Set up it to "Alive".

You besides need to make certain that the GoPro is being powered by an external 5 Volt charger.

4- Question: What capture devices other than Digitnow I can employ?

Answer:I have personally tested the Digitnow, it is compatible with all operating systems besides. I take also used devices from other brands similar Elgato, Mirabox, and Avermedia.

There you have it folks! You at present know how to apply a GoPro as a security camera.

What practise you think of the above setup? Please let me know if you lot have whatsoever questions and I will be more happy to help 🙂