CCTV Security Cameras

CCTV Security Cameras

There are two type of CCTV Security Cameras, IP and Analogue HD (TVI CVI AHD CVBS). Most people, including us, promote IP based security cameras. This is because it saves them time on the install and is better for commercial areas. Analogue HD is still a great option for home security though and shouldn’t be discarded as irrelevant. In fact only around 20% of our service calls are analogue HD systems as they are simply more reliable.

The basic differences are that IP uses Cat5/6 cable and is a network system, so you need to be confident with networking if you are going to fault find an IP camera system. Analogue HD CCTV security cameras use coax and if something goes wrong, usually just a restart or replacing the power supply fixes it.

If you have an old security camera system that runs on coax cable or DIY cable, then a TVI system should just plug straight in for an easy upgrade.

Whatever security system you go with, make sure it is done properly. Many jobs we take over from our competitors as they cannot solve the problems are cable related. Cat5/6 comes in many brands and quality, so make sure the cable is the best quality so your system will last years and years, not just months.

Our Brands

We mainly install Hikvision, VIP, Dahua and OzSpy cameras, although we don’t advertise these on this page due to the constantly changing range. If you are after Hikvision, VIP or Dahua, give us a call.

Resolution

There are many resolutions to choose from and the higher you go the better the picture. There are some drawbacks of using the highest resolution. The first is that your storage space gets chewed up quickly. If this is happening to you, try dropping the frame rate down to 12fps and setting the recorder to H265. The second is remote view will always be smoother on lower resolutions.

Motion Detection

Motion detection is a standard feature in all security systems. Basically motion detection works by comparing frames and looking for a % change. If the change meets the criteria, then the system records, otherwise it doesn’t. This can cause issues where you miss events due to the target being too far away or at the side of the screen. How we resolve this is to set all of our systems up with constant recording and motion detection to flag areas. Setting up your system this way is the gold standard and guarantees nothing gets lost.

Night Vision

All of our CCTV systems have night vision. You can see the distance the work on in the specs of each product. Here is a blog article on Night Vision.

Remote View

All of our security cameras and recorders support remote view. Using the required app, you can log in and watch, as well as playback recordings.

Push Notifications

Some IP cameras support push notifications direclty, but most of the time it is handled by the recorder. Push notifications are when the Camera or Recorder detects movement it will notify you via the app. It is important to note that some phones and Telcos don’t handle push notifications well. This means push notifications are not always 100% reliable.

Audio

Many CCTV Security cameras have audio. They are available in two types. The first being built in microphone which is a lot easier, but not as clear as the next option. The second choice is IO enabled cameras. IO ports are audio plugs on the camera leads allowing you to add high sensitivity microphones. These generally cost more to set up, but out perform built in mics.

Two-Way Talk

Some cameras have two way talk. This means you can not only listen remotely, but talk back. If you wish to have this feature we recommend you don’t use CCTV cameras with the built in speaker as they are poor performers. If you really want two way talk, then select a camera with Audio IO (In/Out) and connect an external microphone and speaker. This way to can add an amplifier to the speaker and really get your message out.

Wide Angle Lens

Most of our security cameras have a 2.8mm lens. We choose this style as they give a nice wide image. If you want a narrower image you can use 3.6mm or even 6mm for very narrow areas.

Power Requirements

All of our cameras are 12v DC , and our IP range has PoE as well. PoE is Power Over Ethernet, meaning the IP cameras get the power from a single network cable. If your NVR doesn’t support PoE you can add a PoE switch or injector.

Warranty

Our standard warranty for Security Cameras and Recorders is 3 years from date of purchase. Please check the information tab to see what the exact warranty period is for a particular device.