Do-It-Yourself CCTV Securityback to top
What is DIY CCTV security?
18% of people have been the victim of crime in the last 12 months. DIY or "plug ‘n’ play" CCTV (Closed-Circuit Television) security empowers users to take control of their home and business, simply and affordably protecting their family and assets.
Why "do it myself"?
Traditionally, security companies have been relied upon to install and monitor systems for homes and businesses. For a fraction of the cost of professional surveillance, DIY CCTV security puts the user in control and offers ease of use, convenience and a range of simple solutions.
What can I use DIY CCTV security solutions for?
Research shows the most common reasons for using CCTV in the home and business are:
| Safety |
To safeguard and monitor loved ones |
| Cost Saving |
As an investment to protect valuable property, without the expense of professional monitoring |
| Deterrent |
To deter thieves, graffiti and prevent unwanted behaviour |
| Convenience |
To create a ‘smart home’, integrating cameras with your TV, PC and more |
What to consider when selecting the right CCTV solution for you
- Do you want to monitor your home, office, family, retail store, warehouse or building site?
- Do you need day filming, night vision or both, sound, high-resolution, mono, colour, water-proofing, wired or wireless from your camera?
- Do you want to view with one, two or more cameras?
- Do you want to connect through a TV, monitor or handheld viewer or record through a digital video recorder (DVR) or VCR?
Understand the legalities of CCTV monitoring
Before using any camera for any purpose, it is the buyer’s responsibility to be aware of all applicable laws and regulations that prohibit or limit the use of cameras and to comply with the applicable laws and regulations on the positioning of your camera(s) and signage.
How do I connect a camera to my TV?back to top
Chip says...
Using a 5.8Ghz camera can minimise the potential for interference which can occur in 2.4Ghz frequency cameras.
Wired Cameras
Wired cameras mainly use BNC plugs which can be connected into your TV’s AV sockets (using adaptor - Code FE88V) or directly into a DVR. As these cameras are wired to your TV/recording device you get a perfect quality picture with no interference, making them the preferred choice if you need to record the video you are viewing.
Wireless Cameras
Wireless surveillance offers users the easy convenience of video security monitoring without having to worry about camera cables. There’s no need to have video cables running from your camera to your TV, you only need a power source. Wireless cameras come with a receiver that connects to your TV or recording device to wirelessly receive the picture and audio from the camera. The maximum rangefor analogue wireless is 100m but this decreases when there is interference like walls, metal doors and other wireless signals like Wi-Fi networks, 2.4Ghz telephones and microwave ovens when in use.
Using the latest digital wireless technology gives, an improved transmission range up to a maximum of 200m with more secure transmissions and perfect picture quality with no static making it ideal for use with motion activated DVR’s.
Wired Outdoor CCTV Camera with Audio
This colour camera is designed with features that make it ideal for security use around the home and small business and can still record accurate video surveillance in low light or night time conditions. The camera is supplied with a SCART adaptor which allows you to connect to a TV for viewing, or direct to a DVR for recording.
click for more information on N94FY
Smart-i The Worlds Smallest Mini Wi-Fi Camera
Operates without wires, transmitting live video and audio directly to a Windows PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad or Android device. You can even add it to your existing Wi-Fi network and view the camera from across the world via the internet.
click for more information on N16KB
How do I record video from cameras?back to top
Digital Video Recording (DVR) technology
Digital video recording technology enables users to simultaneously monitor and record numerous cameras at one time with motion detection triggers. The video is saved on to a hard drive and can be played back on the DVR or transferred to alternative media.
How can I monitor CCTV remotely?back to top
Chip says...
Network capable DVRs are perfect for keeping an eye on your property when you’re on holiday or away from your home or business.
Many DVR's are now network capable, meaning using the Ethernet port on the rear of the DVR you can connect to the internet and using the appropriate software or App, view your CCTV footage streamed securely to your PC, laptop or smartphone.
Some systems can also email or Push Notify/Push Video to your PC or smartphone in the event of a camera detecting motion.
8-Channel H.264 Network DVR
This DVR kit will allow you to monitor and record up to 8 cameras located around your office, home or premises. Additionally the in-built DVD rewriter or USB allows easy backup of your security video recordings!
click for more information on N20JT
How long will my DVR record for?back to top
This is one of the most common questions people ask when they are comparing DVR products. The chart below shows approximately how long the DVR will record for, depending on the amount of channels and size of the hard disk drive (HDD). Another point to note is that once the HDD in a DVR is full it can be set to erase the existing footage incrementally, so the oldest footage will be replaced with new footage.
4-Channel
| Recording Quality |
Typical Recording Time with 160GB HDD |
Typical Recording Time with 250GB HDD |
Typical Recording Time with 500GB HDD |
| Best Quality (100FPS) |
6 days |
9.2 days |
18.4 days |
| Best Quality (50FPS) |
10.4 days |
16 days |
32 days |
| Basic Quality (100FPS) |
15.6 days |
24.4 days |
48.8 |
| Basic Quality (50FPS) |
27.6 days |
43 days |
86 days |
8-Channel
| Recording Quality |
Typical Recording Time with 160GB HDD |
Typical Recording Time with 250GB HDD |
Typical Recording Time with 500GB HDD |
| Best Quality (100FPS) |
6 days |
9.2 days |
18.4 days |
| Best Quality (50FPS) |
10.4 days |
16 days |
32 days |
| Basic Quality (100FPS) |
15.6 days |
24.4 days |
48.8 |
| Basic Quality (50FPS) |
27.6 days |
43 days |
86 days |
H.264 Compression Vs MPEG4back to top
H.264 video compression is by far superior to the older MPEG4.
Maplin recommends H.264 because:
- It saves almost 50% of hard disk space
- It reduces storage cost
- It greatly improves remote monitoring and view over the web-applications
- It delivers faster internet streaming
Details on what the different IP (Ingress Protection) numbers meanback to top
Chip says...
IP rating lets you know your cameras various levels of protection from outside elements such as water and dust.
| 1st Digit |
Protection from solid objects |
2nd Digit |
Protection from moisture |
| 0 |
No protection |
0 |
No protection |
| 1 |
Protection against solid objects with diameter greater than 50mm |
1 |
Protection from dripping water |
| 2 |
Protection against solid objects with diameter greater than 12mm |
2 |
Protection from dripping water when tilted up to 15 degrees |
| 3 |
Protection against solid objects with diameter greater than 2,5mm |
3 |
Protection from spraying water (rain) |
| 4 |
Protection against solid objects with diameter greater than 1mm |
4 |
Protection from splashing water |
| 5 |
Dust protected |
5 |
Protection from water jets |
| 6 |
Dust tight |
6 |
Protection from heavy seas |
|
|
7 |
Protection from immersion in water |
|
|
8 |
Protection from continuous submersion in water |
CCTV Kitsback to top
These offer complete CCTV solutions, supplied with the DVR for recording, cameras and all cables and power supplies with everything in the box, taking the hassle out of purchasing CCTV - and it’s easy to install!
500GB 4-Channel H.264 Network DVR with 2 x CCD Cameras + Advanced Mobile Access
Quality CCTV solution, with its 2 high quality CCD weatherproof nightvision cameras and 500GB 4 channel H.264 network DVR, allowing easy expansion up to a 4 camera system if required. Plus it’s easy to view remotely on your phone, with high quality video and twice the amount of real–time recording.
click for more information on N60JN
Glossary of termsback to top
| Analogue Wireless |
Old 2.4GHz wireless technology, now suffering from increasing interference from other devices transmitting on the same frequency. |
| Digital Wireless |
A new technology that uses a point-to-point encrypted signal to produce superior video and sound for wireless surveillance. |
| App |
Software Application - can be downloaded to Smart Phones (from the Apple App Store, Google Marketplace etc) |
| BNC |
A bayonet style connector for coaxial cable that is most commonly used for CCD cameras. |
| CCD |
Charge Coupled Device - a type of image sensor. CCD sensors are high quality and commonly used in portable camcorders and similar video equipment. |
| CIF |
Common Interface Format - a recording resolution originally designed for video conferencing. It is one quarter the size of a standard definition TV picture (352x240 NTSC, 352x288 PAL). CIF offers the most recording time but may not provide the level of detail required. |
| CMOS |
Complimentary Metal Oxide Semiconductor used in another type of image sensor. CMOS sensors are medium quality sensors commonly used in digital cameras and many low- powered image devices such as USB webcams. |
| D1 |
A full size standard definition TV picture (704x480 NTSC, 704x576 PAL) - the highest recording resolution on most DVRs. D1 is 4 CIF frames arranged in a square, and therefore takesapprox. 4 times the recording space of a CIF picture, offering the best picture quality. |
| DVR |
Digital Video Recorder - a device that records video signal digitally, normally on a large hard drive in the machine. |
| Lux |
Unit of light measurement. 0.1 Lux (Full Moon) - 100,000 Lux (Direct Sunlight). The lower the number, the higher the sensitivity. |
| NTSC |
National Television Standards Committee - thetelevision standard used primarily in North America. NTSC defines a standard television picture as 704x480 pixels at approx. 30 frames per second. |
| PAL |
Phase Alternation Line - the television standard used primarily in the UK, EU and Australia. PAL defines a standard television picture as 704x576 pixels at approx. 25 frames per second. |
| UPnP |
Universal Plug and Play - a feature that makes connecting your DVR to your network faster and easier. If you enable UPnP, you won't have to manually configure your router for port forwarding. |
| VGA |
A video output port on a DVR which connects to a compatible computer monitor or high definition television. It supports significantly higher resolutions than the standard composite video outputs. |
Chip Recommends...CCTV and Securityback to top
Addonics Wide Angle CCTV Bullet Camera with 25m Nightvision
A versatile professional quality weatherproof security camera that includes Infra-red LED’s that gives the capability of viewing the images produced under most lighting conditions, even at night.
click for more information on N60JN
250GB 4-Channel H.264 Network DVR with 2 x CCD Cameras + Mobile Access
A high quality CCTV solution, with its 2 Sony CCD weatherproof nightvision cameras and 250GB 4 channel H.264 Network DVR, allowing easy expansion up to a 4 camera
system. With its H.264 compression, it gives you the high quality video and twice the amount of real–time recording.
click for more information on N09JJ
500GB Network Security System with Smartphone viewing with 4 x 480TVL Cameras
More than just a security system that offers peace of mind for protecting your home, your business or your family. Upgraded with the new PRO-560 480TVL camera with Sony CCD chipset for a clearer picture and improved 20m infra-red nightvision.
click for more information on N49JQ
