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CCTV help and guides
Help with choosing, sizing and fitting CCTV, sorted by topic. They're written around the kit we actually sell, and the free calculators do the sums for you.
Cabling & Connectors
- CCTV Cable Trunking & Wire Management 2026Get the trunking cross-section wrong and you'll spend every callback fighting a lid that won't shut or cable clips snapping under load.
- Wire Connectors for CCTV UK 2026: IP68 Gel & Push-InGet the splice wrong and it's rarely the camera that fails first — it's the joint, months later, once damp and thermal cycling have done their work.
- Cat6 Ethernet Cable for CCTV: 2026 Spec GuideChoosing the wrong Cat6 cable is how installers end up chasing intermittent PoE dropouts on a job that looked simple on paper — and with 64 different ethernet…
- Belden Cable Equivalent: UK Part Cross-Reference 2026Matching a Belden part number shouldn't mean paying a Belden premium: what matters on a tender or a call-out is whether the gauge, pair count, screen type and…
PoE & Power
- 12V CCTV Power Supply: Sizing & Amps 2026Size 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…
- Hikvision PoE Cameras UK 2026: Models & PricesHikvision's PoE camera range spans dozens of models, but most UK buyers only need to answer three questions: bullet or turret, how many megapixels, and does…
- PoE Switch for CCTV: Sizing & Mistakes 2026Most installers pick a PoE switch by counting ports, then wonder why four cameras starve of power on an 8-port unit—the real killer is total wattage budget…
- PoE Cameras Explained: UK Buyer's Guide 2026A PoE camera runs video and power down a single Ethernet cable — no separate power supply, no second cable run, and no electrician needed just to add a camera.
Cameras
- Digital Cameras vs CCTV: Why Not SecurityA digital camera — compact, mirrorless or DSLR — is built to take great photos on demand, not to watch a property unattended for weeks on end.
- Canon G7X Cameras for CCTV: Why Dedicated Security WinsA Canon G7X is a superb pocket camera for stills and vlogging, but it was never built to watch your front door.
- Best CCTV Outdoor Security Cameras 2026For UK buyers, an outdoor CCTV camera is only as good as its weakest specification — and that's rarely the resolution.
- CCTV vs Security Camera: What's the Difference and Which Do You Actually Need? (UK Buyer's Guide 2026)Most people shopping for "CCTV and camera" systems are searching for the same thing — the terms are interchangeable in the UK market, but the distinction bites…
Kits & Systems
- Zxtech 4K CCTV vs Dahua & Hikvision 2026Zxtech's 4K PoE kits will look identical to a Dahua or Hikvision system on a spec sheet, but the gap shows up the moment footage needs to be pulled, zoomed, or…
- 4K CCTV Cameras for UK Homes | Best Security Systems4K CCTV cameras genuinely change what you can do with surveillance footage — but only when the right lens, sensor size, and storage infrastructure back them up.
- Business CCTV Systems UK 2026: How Many Cameras You NeedSizing a business CCTV system starts with counting your actual coverage points, not your budget.
- Best Home CCTV Systems in the UK (2026): What to Buy and WhyMost UK homeowners shopping for a home CCTV system focus on camera resolution and price — and miss the two things that will actually determine whether their…
Installation
- CCTV Camera Bracket Fitting Guide 2026Get 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…
- DIY vs Professional CCTV Installation 2026If two CCTV quotes for the same building arrive far apart, the usual explanation is simple: the installers have priced two different jobs — and that gap is…
- CCTV Camera Installation Cost UK 2026Professional home CCTV installation in the UK typically runs from around £250 for a basic single-camera install up to £800 or more (plus VAT) for a wired…
PTZ & Zoom Cameras
- Dahua PTZ Cameras UK 2026: Which Model?Dahua's PTZ range spans everything from compact mini-domes to heavy-duty TiOC combo units with 25x optical zoom and 8MP sensors, and the right choice hinges on…
- PTZ Camera Meaning: Pan, Tilt & Zoom 2026PTZ stands for Pan, Tilt, Zoom — three motorised movements built into a single camera head that allow it to rotate horizontally, pivot vertically, and magnify…
- Best PTZ Cameras UK 2026: Buyer's GuideA PTZ camera is one of the most capable tools in a CCTV installer's kit — and one of the most frequently misapplied.
Guides
- CCTV Cabinet Buying Guide UK 2026Choosing 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…
- Hikvision DS-2CE72UF3T-E vs DS-2CE78U1T-IT3F 2026Both cost roughly the same, carry the same 8MP/4K sensor spec, and share an IP67 turret housing — yet they're built to solve opposite problems after dark.
Recorders & Storage
- CCTV Hard Drive Size Guide 2026: Calculate Your Storage NeedsGuessing your CCTV storage and hoping for the best is how UK installers end up with systems that silently stop recording three weeks before someone actually…
- NVR Explained: How to Choose a Network Video RecorderAn NVR is the central intelligence of any modern IP camera system—it receives video streams from your cameras over the network, compresses them intelligently…
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Trade & Wholesale
ANPR & Number Plate
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