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Alarm.com Video for Android TV - Installation and User Guide

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Overview

The Alarm.com for Android TV app brings a video-focused user experience to the TV. Users can view all of the cameras on the high-definition screens on a user interface optimized for use from the couch.

Up to four simultaneous streams can be viewed on the screen at one time, and if a user has more than four streams, the feeds rotate out every 10, 20, 30, or 60 seconds, depending on the user's preferences.

Note: Google TVs use Android OS, which allows it to provide the same features and functionalities as an Android TV.

Compatibility​​​​​ requirements

  • All hardware and software versions of the Android TV are compatible with Alarm.com.
  • The Android TV app supports streaming live video directly from compatible cameras.
  • All Alarm.com cameras, with the exception of doorbell cameras, can be viewed using the Android TV app.
     
    Note: The ADC-VDB755P is the exception to this and is the only Alarm.com doorbell camera compatible with Android TV.
     
  • Third-party cameras can be viewed on the Android TV app with firmware version 1.2.3+. The live stream will time out after 10 minutes, regardless of the settings used.
  • The Alarm.com for Android TV app can be installed on multiple Android TVs.
  • Android TV does not support Two-Way Audio. For more information about Two-Way Audio compatibility, see Two-Way Audio Installation and User Guide.
     
    Note: When port forwarding a device that has Two-Way Audio while using an Android TV, disable the microphone and speaker for the camera. If the cameras are port-forwarded, they do not need to be on the same Wi-Fi network. If they are not port-forwarded, the cameras and the TV must be on the same Wi-Fi network.

Continuous streaming through the Android TV app

Things to note:

  • The Android TV must be connected to the same network as the camera to bypass the 10-minute time-out and view a continuous stream through the Android TV app.
  • Third-party cameras will always time out at 10 minutes regardless of the settings used.
  • Alarm.com cameras that are connected directly to the PoE ports of a CSVR will always time out at 10 minutes, regardless of the settings used.
     
    Note: If the cameras are connected to the router upstream from the CSVR (on the same network), they will be capable of continuous streaming.
     
  • The Speed up remote connection initiation setting must be disabled for each Alarm.com camera to allow for continuous streaming through the Android TV app.
To disable the Speed up remote connection initiation setting:
  1. Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
  2. Click Video.
  3. Click Settings.
  4. Select the desired camera.
  5. Click Video.
  6. Click the Speed up remote connection initiation toggle switch to disable the setting.

    Speed up remote connection initiation toggle switch
     
  7. Click Save.

Installing the app

  1. From the Android TV home screen, use the remote to press to select Apps.
  2. Press to select Google Play Store.
  3. Press to select Search.
  4. Enter Alarm.com to search for the Alarm.com Video app.
  5. Press to select Alarm.com Video.
  6. Press to select Install.
  7. When the download is complete, press to select Open.
  8. Follow the on-screen instructions to log in.
  1. Open an internet browser.
  2. Navigate to the Google Play Store website.
  3. In the search bar, enter Alarm.com.
  4. Click to select Alarm.com Video from the Google Play Store.
  5. Click Install.
  6. Open the app using the Android TV interface.
  7. Follow the on-screen instructions to log in.

Login screen

Activate TV Android Fire.png

Changing app settings

  1. Using the supplied remote, long-press the middle button.
  2. Press to select Refresh streams. The grid view will appear and all camera feeds will refresh.
  1. Using the supplied remote, long-press the middle button.
  2. Press to select Settings.
  3. Press to select the desired camera rotation frequency.
  1. Using the supplied remote, long-press the middle button.
  2. Press to select Select account.
  3. Press to select the desired account. 
  1. Using the supplied remote, navigate to the camera feed to be locked.
  2. Long-press the middle button on the remote.
  3. Press to select Lock frame. To unlock, follow the same steps, but press to select Unlock frame.
  1. Using the supplied remote, long-press the middle button.
  2. Press to select Log out.

TV stream timeout

Disabling the Speed up remote connection initiation setting may help prevent stream timeouts. 

To disable the Speed up remote connection setting
  1. Log in to the Alarm.com customer website.
  2. Click Video.
  3. Click Settings.
  4. Select the desired camera.
  5. Click Video.
  6. Click the Speed up remote connection initiation toggle switch to disable the setting.

    Speed up remote connection initiation toggle switch
     
  7. Click Save.

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