Home Security CCTV Camera Systems - DIY - Tips - Hints - Advice - Instructions - Help

Welcome to Home Security CCTV. This website has been created as a hub of information for :

• Small Businesses planning on installing a low budget Surveillance System

• Tom, Dick and Harry, being interested in a low cost CCTV solution for their home

Please find below the Top Eight collection of CCTV INstallation Advice from Surveillance Specialists as well as customers:

1. Know what you need, find the equipment that satisfies these requirements, do not spend money on high specification cameras, offering powerful features not needed in your environment.

2. In order to inform yourself on Security Camera specifications, you need to be able to understand them. The linked article on CCTV Specifications will explain every parameter from the important ones like AGC, TVL and LUX over to absolutely unnecessary features which are only listed in order to justify a higher price.

3. Compare prices of several CCTV suppliers. We have listed a few recommended suppliers at the bottom of this page, which were the best value at the time of our last test, being 25th March 2008. In order to compare properly you need to make sure that they are all offering the exact same product. You might get an offer of 10 wireless cameras for £450.00 and think: wow - even wireless and still cheaper than the hard wired cameras I got quoted for. Please understand that 95% of wireless cameras available in online auction places etc.. are cheap - low quality imports, which leave unsatisfied buyers on a daily basis. We have not yet come across a buyer who was happy with the results of those products. The average 100m line of sight wireless reception distance easily turns out to be 5m at bat picture and interferences as soon as a single wall comes in-between.

4. If you need a professionally installed system, fulfilling all requirements of council and legislation and you plan on using evidence before a court - Do not even think about installing a low cost solution yourself. To get your cctv video recording accepted by the judge you need to keep all aspects of the Data Protection Act and a high quality recording. The recording resolution of your DVR should be D1 (around 700X500) and the cameras used should then provide high resolution of a minimum of 480TVL - recomended would be 520TVL +. In normal home security system applications a minimum of 420TVL (Tele Vision Lines horizontal) could be sufficient.

5. If you came to the conclusion that you need a fully professionally installed system you should consider leasing or renting a CCTV System. Leasing a CCTV Surveillance System has major advantages: Keep the cash in your business = have more investing power rather than struggeling with cash-flow problems. Lease payments are 100% TAX deductable. At first one might think that leasing wastes a lot of money into interest paying, but upon considering the tax situation everything changes. Direct purchases are only deductable by 50% in the first year and then value loss calculation sets in, only allowing deduction of 25% in the following year etc.. A complete four Security Camera System installation can easily be leased from £7.00 per week and will be yours after 3-5 years. Lease contracts which go over 6 Years or longer are not recommended. % years give you a good low cash strain solution to finance your Professional Security System.

6. Only buy from suppliers who can be reached via phone - not e-mail only! Before deciding on a purchase call their sales team and ensure that somebody takes time to answer a few questions. The measure of service you receive when asking these questions, gives you an indication of the service you will receive if there are questions or problems AFTERWARDS. Highly recommendable are suppliers who give professional telephone installation support as part of their packages.

7. If you are very tight - Consider buying a system with AV converter, which allows your DVR (the Digital Video Recorder, no more VHS Tapes but a in-build hard drive) to be connected to an existing TV with SCAT input.

8. When purchasing a DIY system, make sure to be supplied with fully pre-terminated cctv cables. Attaching the special connectors to the cable yourself is not recommended, as you would also need to buy a special tool in order to be able to do that.