CCTV & Surveillance

Choosing the right CCTV hardware

1. IP or analog/HDCVI

Almost all new installs are IP: the camera encodes video itself and sends it over the network to an NVR, which is what most of this range is built around. Analog and HDCVI cameras still have a place - they run over the coax already in the wall from an older system, paired with a matching DVR, so replacing a camera does not mean re-cabling the site.

2. NVR or DVR

An NVR records IP cameras over the network and, on models with built-in PoE like Hikvision's DS-7732NI-I4-24P, powers them too - no separate switch needed. A DVR records analog or HDCVI cameras over coax instead. The two are not interchangeable: buy the recorder that matches the cameras, not the other way around.

3. Dome, bullet or PTZ

A dome camera sits flush to the ceiling and its tinted housing hides which way the lens is pointed - a deterrent in itself. A bullet camera is more visible and easier to aim precisely at one spot, like a doorway or till. A PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) camera covers a wide area from one mount and can be programmed to patrol preset views, at a higher cost than a fixed camera.

4. Channels and storage

Channel count is simply how many cameras a recorder supports - a 4-channel NVR cannot be expanded to 8 later, so it pays to size for growth, not just the cameras going in on day one. Storage is the other sizing question: more channels, higher resolution and longer retention all multiply the hard drive capacity needed, and it is easier to specify correctly before the system is installed than to add a drive afterwards.