Public View Displays for Ubiquiti UniFi Cameras
Put your security cameras up on a screen where people can see them — a TV in the lobby, a monitor at the front desk, or a display by the front door. We set these up for Tucson businesses, and no matter which approach you prefer, we can make it work for you.
See It In Action
Modern Ubiquiti UniFi cameras do more than record — they make footage easy to scrub through, search, and play back. Here's a short clip of UniFi camera playback and license plate recognition in action.
Why Put Cameras on a Public Display?
A live camera view on a screen near your entrance does a lot of quiet work. Here are the most common reasons our customers ask for one:
- Deterrence. When people see themselves on camera as they walk in, it discourages theft and bad behavior before it starts. A visible screen is one of the simplest, most effective deterrents there is.
- Customer reassurance. In shops, lobbies, and waiting rooms, a public display tells customers the space is monitored and looked after.
- At-a-glance awareness. Your front-desk or reception staff can keep an eye on the parking lot, entrances, and back areas without logging into anything.
- Loss prevention in retail. A screen pointed at the registers or aisles is a well-known way to cut down on shrinkage.
- Liability and disputes. Having the live view right there makes it easy to confirm what happened — a slip, a delivery, a disagreement — in the moment.
The Different Ways to Do It
There's no single “right” way to put your Ubiquiti cameras on a screen — it depends on what you already own, where the display is going, and how hands-off you want it to be. Here are the main options, in plain terms.
UniFi Viewport
Ubiquiti's own little plug-in device made for exactly this job. It connects to your network with a single PoE cable and streams a live wall of cameras straight to a TV.
Pros
- Made by Ubiquiti specifically for UniFi cameras — everything just works together.
- One cable does it all (power and video over a single Ethernet run).
- No computer to log into, no account to keep signed in. It turns on and shows the cameras.
- Set-and-forget: if the power blips, it comes right back to the camera view on its own.
Cons
- It only does one thing — live camera views. You can't also use the screen for menus, signage, or a website.
- It's an extra piece of hardware to purchase.
Apple TV
The same little box a lot of people already use for streaming at home. With the UniFi Protect app installed, it can display your cameras on any TV with an HDMI port.
Pros
- Familiar, inexpensive, and easy to find.
- Can double as a signage or streaming device when it's not showing cameras.
- Clean, polished app experience on the screen.
Cons
- It's really meant for streaming, so it can occasionally need a nudge — re-opening the app or signing back in after an update or power loss.
- Needs both power and Wi-Fi (or Ethernet) at the TV, rather than the single cable the Viewport uses.
- Not designed to run 24/7 on a wall forever, so it may need the occasional restart.
Dedicated Mini PC or Smart Display
A small computer (or a capable smart TV) that loads your camera view in a web browser and keeps it on screen all day. The flexible, do-anything option.
Pros
- Most flexible — the same screen can show cameras, a website, a dashboard, or rotating signage.
- Works no matter what brand of TV or monitor you already own.
- Great when you want one display to do several jobs at the front of the house.
Cons
- More moving parts to set up and keep tidy, since it's a full little computer.
- Usually the most involved option to get configured correctly the first time.
Which One Is Right for You?
The short version: if you want something dead-simple that turns on and just shows the cameras, the Viewport is hard to beat. If you already have an Apple TV or want the screen to do double duty, that's a great fit. And if you want one display to handle cameras plus signage or a dashboard, a small dedicated computer gives you the most freedom.
You don't have to figure this out on your own. Tell us where the screen is going and what you want it to do, and we'll recommend the right setup and install it for you — whichever way you prefer.
Want a camera display set up at your Tucson business? Call us at 520-301-4144 or reach out through our Contact page. You can also learn more about our business security and camera systems.