CCTV buying guide: answers before you ask
Recording days, Wi-Fi or wired, 2MP or 5MP, colour at night, load-shedding: the questions every customer asks us, answered with quick tools you can try yourself.
Recording calculator
The question we hear most. Pick your setup and see roughly how many days your hard disk will keep before it overwrites the oldest video.
Estimate using H.265 compression on Hikvision / Dahua recorders. Busy scenes, night-time and audio use more space; we set the best balance for you at installation.
Find the right system in 3 taps
Answer three quick questions and we'll tell you what we would install at your place.
Drag to compare 2MP and 5MP
Both cameras see the same scene. The difference shows when you zoom into the recording to read a face or a number plate.
Simulation from our own installation footage. 2MP is perfect for close areas like a porch or counter. Choose 5MP for wide areas, gates and parking where you need detail at a distance.
Normal night vision or colour night vision
Normal IR cameras show black and white after dark. Colour-night cameras (Hikvision ColorVu, Dahua Full-color) keep the colours, so you can tell the colour of a car or a shirt.
Same plaza at night from one of our installations. Colour-night cameras cost a little more; we recommend them for gates, porches and parking.
Keep recording when the light goes
Without backup, cameras stop when the power goes, and that's often when thieves try. A small CCTV UPS or battery keeps everything recording.
Rough guide: each camera uses about 4–5 W and a recorder about 10–15 W. Run time depends on battery size and age.
Things people believe about CCTV
Tap a card to see the answer.
Quick answers
Do I need internet for CCTV?
No. Wired CCTV records to the hard disk without internet. You only need internet to watch on your phone away from home.
How much mobile data does live view use?
Roughly 0.5–1 GB per hour watching in HD, much less in the app's standard quality. Most people check for a few minutes at a time.
Can I record sound?
Yes, audio cameras record voice. Useful at counters and reception desks.
Can more than one person watch on their phone?
Yes. We add the app to every family member's or partner's phone.
Can I see old recordings on my phone?
Yes. Playback works on the phone app as well as on the screen.
Still have a question?
Send it on WhatsApp. Our team answers every message, and the site survey is free.