Choosing which CCTV system is right for you will depend on what you want to monitor (your home or your office, for example), what you need to film (high resolution, black and white, colour), and how you want to connect your system (through a TV, a monitor, or record through a digital video recorder (DVR)). If you want a hand choosing the option that's best for you, try our CCTV Solution Finder.

Complete CCTV kits contain everything you need to set up 'DIY' security surveillance in and around your property, giving you peace of mind, whether you're looking to keep your home or commercial property safe from intruders. Home CCTV kits will typically contain the cameras themselves, a DVR to record any footage captured, plus all the cables and CCTV power supplies you need. Everything is in the one box and easy to install, taking the hassle out of purchasing CCTV. Plus, the Securix, Sentient and Swann CCTV kits we stock all offer free app downloads, allowing you to remotely monitor the safety of your loved ones from afar. In the 1TB Security Recording Kit with LCD Monitor, you will also find, as the name suggests, a 15" widescreen CCTV monitor to display anything the cameras pick up.

If you already have a CCTV kit and are looking to extend the network of security cameras for your home, we sell both wired and wireless CCTV systems. If you need to record what you are viewing, wired CCTV systems provide the best picture quality with zero interference. Wired CCTV cameras most commonly use BNC plugs, which can be connected to your TV using an adaptor, or directly into a DVR. However, wired cameras can be more difficult to install and cannot be easily moved to another location. Wireless security camera systems take away the worry of video cables running around your property - all you need is a power source. Using the latest digital technology, some wireless CCTV cameras offer an improved transmission range of up to 200m. Although these cameras are often easier to install and move around than wired ones, they can sometimes suffer interference from other wireless signals, like WiFi networks. Internet Protocol cameras, or IP cameras, work in a similar way to traditional webcams, by sending and receiving data via the internet. IP cameras offer as open or closed access to the footage as needed, while the images recorded can be viewed remotely using any PC. However, these cameras are often more expensive than wired and wireless cameras.

DVRs enable users to simultaneously monitor and record numerous cameras with motion detection triggers. Any recordings are saved onto the DVR hard drives and can be played back on the DVR itself, or transferred to alternative media. When choosing your DVR, it's important to consider how many cameras you need it to record. A 4 Channel DVR can be linked up to four CCTV cameras, an 8 Channel DVR to eight cameras, a 16 Channel DVR to 16, and so on. If you're looking to gain the benefits of a high-end CCTV system in minutes, consider a PCI or USB DVR, which plug directly into the back of your PC.

We offer a wide range of CCTV power supplies, connectors, tools, and other accessories, including CCTV test monitors, which allow you to check the positioning of your cameras. (The Xvision 2.5" CCTV Test Monitor even comes with a handy wrist-strap, leaving your hands free to adjust the camera.) If you would like to find out more about DIY CCTV solutions, take a look at our CCTV and Security How to guide in our help centre.