what is the best cctv system
Best CCTV System 2026: UK Buyer's Framework
For a commercial property, the best CCTV system is a specified combination of camera count, NVR channel capacity, PoE switch budget and retention period —…
12 min read
CCTV Master
Blog
Buying guides, side-by-side comparisons and straight answers from the CCTV Master team.
nvr vs dvr
NVR vs DVR: Key Differences & Pros
NVR (network video recorder) and DVR (digital video recorder) both capture and store footage, but the split that matters for a commercial installation is how…
10 min read
poe camera not powering
PoE Camera Not Powering: 2026 Fault Guide
A camera that won't power up usually comes down to one of four causes: an exhausted PoE budget on the switch, voltage lost over a long or thin cable run, a…
9 min read
cctv camera offline no video
CCTV Camera Offline: Fix No Video
A blank monitor doesn't always mean a broken camera.
10 min read
hik-connect setup
Hik-Connect Setup Guide 2026: iPhone & Android Steps
Getting a Hikvision DVR, NVR or intercom onto Hik-Connect takes about ten minutes if you follow the sequence in order: scan the QR code, enter the device…
9 min read
add camera to hikvision nvr
Add Camera to Hikvision NVR: Plug-and-Play Guide
Plug a camera into the NVR's PoE port for automatic Plug-and-Play if passwords match, or add it manually by entering its IP address, username and password with…
12 min read
hikvision nvr
Hikvision NVR: 4, 8, 16 & 32 Channel
Size the NVR to your camera count plus headroom, not to the size of the building — get it wrong and you'll either strangle a growing site's expansion or pay…
9 min read
hikvision nvr default password
Hikvision NVR Default Password 2026: Reset & Lockout Fix
There's no single "Hikvision NVR default password" — many Hikvision NVRs from the mid-2010s onwards ship in an Inactive state and force you to create your own…
9 min read
Cabling & Connectors
CCTV Cable Trunking & Wire Management 2026
Get the trunking cross-section wrong and you'll spend every callback fighting a lid that won't shut or cable clips snapping under load.
8 min read
Installation
CCTV Camera Bracket Fitting Guide 2026
Get the bracket wrong and you'll be back up a ladder within a year — chasing water ingress, camera droop or a thread that never fitted the housing in the first…
9 min read
PoE & Power
12V CCTV Power Supply: Sizing & Amps 2026
Size a 12V CCTV power supply by adding up each camera's real current draw (not just its "typical" figure), adding roughly 20-25% headroom for inrush and IR-LED…
9 min read
Guides
CCTV Cabinet Buying Guide UK 2026
Choosing the right cabinet or enclosure comes down to three decisions, in this order: match the IP rating to where it's going (indoors, outdoors, exposed to…
8 min read