How to choose the right CCTV system for your home
Buying CCTV can feel confusing. Resolutions, recorders, wired or wireless, cloud or hard drive. Here is the plain English version we give our own customers.
Start with what you want to see
Think about the moments that matter. The front door, the driveway, the back gate. Most homes are covered properly with 3 or 4 cameras in the right places, not 8 in the wrong ones.
Resolution: 4K or HD?
- HD (2MP) is fine for small gardens and tight spaces
- 2K (4MP) is the sweet spot for most homes
- 4K (8MP) is worth it for driveways and number plates
Higher resolution needs more storage, so balance quality against how many days of footage you want to keep.
Wired or wireless?
Wired systems are more reliable and record 24/7. Wireless cameras are quicker to fit and fine for a single spot, but they depend on your WiFi and batteries. For whole home coverage we almost always recommend wired.
The app matters more than you think
You will use the app every day. Every system we fit includes free remote viewing on your phone, with motion alerts that can tell a person from a cat.
Get a survey before you spend
Every property is different. A free survey means the system is designed around your home, not a box off a shelf. If you are in Greater Manchester, we will do that for free.