Your first step should be to obtain some advice and investigate what CCTV system will best suit your premises and why you need CCTV before you invest! Working out the ‘why’ will help narrow down what key features your Surveillance System requires.
Implementing CCTV security cameras for business premises offers several advantages, from enhancing security to operational efficiency.
In summary, CCTV security cameras are a multifaceted solution that goes beyond mere surveillance. They provide a proactive approach to security, offering both deterrent effects and practical benefits for business operations and management.
The most popular types of CCTV systems are:
CCTV systems are available in diverse configurations (catering to different needs and budgets), usually encompassing security cameras and a recording system. These CCTV cameras capture and store footage of designated areas, providing a record for potential reference in the event of unforeseen incidents. Depending on specific requirements, one can opt for IP, analogue, or wireless systems.
The choice of system hinges on your specific requirements and financial considerations.
Here is a break down on the Pros and Cons of each CCTV system type:
IP CCTV Surveillance Systems
IP, or Internet Protocol, systems comprise cameras linked to a Network Video Recorder (NVR) through an Internet network. These IP network cameras can record and compress video data before it reaches the NVR, where it is stored and can be accessed for playback when required.
Many contemporary IP systems employ Power over Ethernet (PoE), an innovative security system feature providing both power and data from the NVR to the camera through a single cable. This plug-and-play functionality facilitates the setup of a video security system, making it accessible to a broad audience.
IP security camera systems, also known as IP Kits, have rapidly gained popularity due to their provision of high-resolution videos and images and the convenience of remote access to live cameras via smartphones, computers, or tablets.
IP CCTV Advantages:
- Easy setup
- High-quality, detailed, high-resolution images and videos
- Easy remote access to video footage using smart devices
- Reduced wires and cables
- Enhanced security with encrypted data
- Simple firmware updates for cameras
- Advanced features like motion detection, face detection, tripwire technology, email and push notifications to smartphones, digital zoom, and image enhancement technology
- Capability to cover a much wider area—up to three times more than analogue cameras
IP CCTV Disadvantages:
- High-resolution video requires adequate hard drive storage capacity
- Higher setup costs compared to analogue cameras and systems
Analogue CCTV Surveillance Systems
Analog CCTV security systems transmit and record video data in an analog format before sending it over coaxial cable to a Digital Video Recorder (DVR). The DVR then transforms this analog data into a digital format, compresses it, and stores it on a hard drive for subsequent playback. Certain contemporary DVRs can connect to the Internet, allowing live monitoring and playback over a network.
Analogue CCTV Advantages:
- It is more economical, particularly for extensive camera installations, compared to IP systems
- Simplified setup process
- It demands less bandwidth than IP camera systems
- Technological advancements enable the use of high-resolution analog cameras
Analogue CCTV Disadvantages:
- Requires both a coaxial cable and power cable for each camera, unlike IP cameras that use a single PoE cable
- Typically, lower image quality and frame rates lead to potential blurriness or graininess in high-motion areas
- The absence of encryption exposes the system to potential external hacking
Wireless CCTV Surveillance Systems
A wireless security system establishes a connection with the NVR via WiFi or a wireless network. It’s important to emphasise that wired power is required for each camera.
Wireless CCTV Advantages:
- It is convenient for DIYers as there is no need to run cables between the cameras and recorder, ensuring easy installation.
- It is ideal for renters or situations requiring a temporary setup due to the ease of relocation.
- Due to their smaller size and no wiring, they are much easier to conceal.
Wireless CCTV Disadvantages:
- While considered wireless, cameras still require a power source unless battery-powered.
- If battery-powered, you have to change the batteries continuously.
- Lower total bandwidth capacity.
- Potential for loss of WiFi signal due to interference.
- Susceptible to hacking, emphasising the importance of strong passwords and encryptions to reduce risks.
- Cameras need to be within WiFi range.
- Higher lag times.
- Vulnerable to interference from other wireless signals, devices, or reflections from building structures.
- Lower camera resolution, resulting in less image clarity.
- Lower frame rates lead to choppy video.
PRO TIP: Surveillance systems typically offer three recording options: continuous 24/7 recording, scheduled recording, and motion-activated recording. Continuous recording operates non-stop, saving all captured footage to the hard drive. Scheduled recording lets you specify certain hours and days for recording, providing flexibility in data capture.
Motion-activated recording, however, is the most commonly used method. It’s efficient for conserving hard drive space and makes event search during playback simpler. Cameras only record when they detect movement within their range. Once motion is detected, the camera captures the preceding 10 seconds and continues recording for 60 seconds after the motion ends, although these durations can be adjusted.
Users can also customise motion detection zones on their camera’s view.
During playback, motion events are indicated on the 24-hour timeline with coloured markers, allowing quick navigation to specific incidents. This is far more convenient than sifting through continuous footage for brief events. Additionally, motion detection can trigger alerts to your smart device, either as push notifications or emails with snapshots. Advanced cameras come with built-in smart detections like line-crossing and intrusion detection, enabling users to define specific zones for monitoring. These detections can also be scheduled hourly or daily to reduce false alerts, such as disabling line-crossing detection during regular morning departures.
These recording methods and smart features combine to create a customised, effective perimeter defence for properties, allowing users to tailor their surveillance strategy to their specific needs. There’s no significant cost difference between these recording methods, but using motion-activated recording can lead to long-term savings on storage space, potentially reducing the need for frequent hard drive upgrades or expansions.
Here are some common CCTV cameras:
2. Turret CCTV Cameras:
- Description: Turret CCTV cameras resemble ball and socket joints and look similar to a Dome camera.
- Advantages: Directly mounted to ceilings or walls, low maintenance and easy to clean, suitable for outdoor use, immense directional flexibility.
3. Bullet Cameras:
- Description: Bullet CCTV cameras are cylindrical and often have a long, narrow shape resembling a bullet.
- Advantages: Typically weatherproof, suitable for outdoor use, visible deterrent.
Pro Tip: Bullet CCTV cameras are easily noticeable, serving as an effective visual deterrent. Their installation is straightforward, typically on walls or under eaves. Adjusting their viewing angle to cover new areas is simpler than dome or turret cameras. However, this might make them more prone to tampering.
Most bullet cameras are encased in robust, vandal-resistant steel casings, meeting IK10 standards, and are also rated IP67 for weatherproofing. These cameras usually boast more extensive infrared ranges, such as 50 meters, longer than the typical 30-meter range of dome and turret cameras.
5. Box CCTV Cameras:
- Description: Box CCTV cameras are boxy and often used in custom housings for specific applications.
- Advantages: Versatile, interchangeable lenses for different applications.
Resolution and Megapixels
High-resolution imagery significantly aids in identifying suspicious behaviour and discerning intricate details like facial features or license plates.
An image comprises pixel grids, where the quantity of pixels directly influences image clarity. For instance, a standard 1080P Full HD resolution shall consist of 1080 pixels vertically and 1920 pixels horizontally, totalling 2,073,600 pixels, or a 2-megapixel (2-million-pixel) camera. IP cameras offer a range of recording resolutions, from 0.5MP (DVD quality) to 5MP (Super HD), 8MP (4K Ultra HD), and even up to 12MP.
Typically, cameras with higher resolution and superior image quality are more costly. A resolution of 4 or 5 megapixels is often sufficient for most security surveillance needs, providing sharp, detailed images and videos. However, it’s important to remember that higher-resolution footage demands more storage space on hard drives. The most prevalent high-resolution cameras are 8 Megapixels, also known as 4K Ultra HD, offering the best video quality.
Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that suspicious activities are easily identifiable, whether in daylight or low-light conditions or using features like 16X digital zoom during playback. Higher-resolution footage maintains the most detail when reviewed later.
Night Vision
Considering that many intrusions happen during nighttime, it’s essential to have a camera capable of capturing clear images and movements around your property in complete darkness. Opt for cameras equipped with infrared LEDs to ensure distinct night vision. These cameras automatically transition to a monochrome infrared mode in low light conditions. Typically, such cameras provide infrared visibility ranging from 30 to 50 meters.
Starlight Technology
Numerous modern cameras are now equipped with “starlight” technology, enabling them to capture images in colour even in low-light conditions, provided there’s a slight amount of ambient light. Some cameras offer continuous colour footage around the clock; these usually incorporate soft white LED lights to facilitate this feature. Colour video at night time can be beneficial for distinguishing details such as the colour of an intruder’s clothes, which would typically appear in monochrome in infrared imaging.
Smartphone, Tablet & PC Remote Access
It’s essential to monitor your property in real time, regardless of your location. Therefore, remote access through a mobile app is a crucial feature. Various security surveillance providers offer different types of computer software and mobile applications to facilitate this remote access.
Smart Detections
Significant research and development investments by top surveillance companies have led to the creation of highly intelligent security cameras. These cameras come equipped with advanced detection technologies that facilitate the capture of crucial events in real-time. For many of these detection features, users can set up instant alerts through push notifications or emails, which may include image snapshots. Key smart detection capabilities and features in these cameras include:
- Tripwire or line-crossing detection
- Facial recognition
- Motion sensing
- Intrusion detection (using virtual boxes)
- Auto Tracking for PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) cameras
- Detection of object removal
- People counting, is beneficial for business analytics
- Defocus alerts
- Heat mapping
- Audio anomaly detection
- Tamper alerts
Expandability
It’s advisable to select a surveillance system that includes additional channels, which allows for the expansion of your camera network in the future. This approach is more cost-effective and convenient than purchasing an entirely new system when you need to add more cameras.
Power Over Ethernet (PoE)
Power Over Ethernet or PoE simplifies the installation by using a single cable for each camera to connect to the NVR, simultaneously delivering power and data. This single-cable solution not only reduces costs but also streamlines the setup process. In contrast, analogue systems require a separate power supply for each camera.
Choosing the right CCTV camera style depends on the intended application, environmental conditions, and specific surveillance requirements.
How much does a CCTV System cost?
When considering the cost of CCTV systems, several key factors play a significant role in determining the overall price:
1. Digital vs. Analogue Cameras: Digital (IP) cameras are generally more expensive than analogue cameras. Digital cameras offer higher resolution and more advanced features but come at a premium.
2. Megapixel Count: The resolution, measured in megapixels, significantly impacts the price. Higher-megapixel cameras provide clearer images but are more expensive. For instance, a 4K camera will cost more than a 1080p camera.
3. Low Light Technology: Cameras equipped with advanced low light technology, such as starlight vision or infrared capabilities, tend to be more costly. This technology enhances nighttime recording quality.
4. Lens Type – Fixed vs. Varifocal: Fixed lens cameras are usually cheaper than varifocal lens cameras. Varifocal lenses offer more flexibility in adjusting the field of view and zoom but add to the cost.
5. Brand: Established brands often charge more for their reputation and perceived quality. However, lesser-known brands might offer similar features at a lower price.
6. Number of Cameras: The number of cameras needed for your surveillance setup will directly affect the cost. More cameras mean a higher overall price, especially when considering higher-specification models.
Balancing these factors with your specific needs and budget is essential when selecting a CCTV system.
There are two main recording options: Network Video Recorders (NVRs) and Digital Video Recorders (DVRs). Both serve the purpose of recording security camera footage but differ in compatibility and processing methods.
NVR systems process video data at the camera level and are compatible with IP and wireless cameras. They can be set up with either wired or wireless configurations. In contrast, DVR systems process video data at the recorder and require a wired setup, functioning exclusively with analogue cameras.
The fundamental distinction lies in the camera types they support: DVRs are designed for analogue cameras, whereas NVRs are suited for IP cameras.
NVR and DVR systems are commonly available in 4, 8, 16, and 32 channel models, where each channel represents support for one camera. For instance, a 4-channel recorder can handle up to 4 cameras. The 8 and 16-channel models are often preferred for their scalability, allowing users to start with fewer cameras and expand the system as needed.
Key Elements Influencing the Price of a Recording Device:
- The choice between NVR and DVR
- The number of channels available
- The analytics capabilities supported
- The storage capacity requirements
NVR Or DVR?
When comparing Network Video Recorders (NVRs) to Digital Video Recorders (DVRs) in terms of cost, DVRs generally come with a lower initial hardware price tag. This difference in cost is primarily due to the types of cameras each system utilises. DVR systems are compatible with analogue cameras, often considered traditional and less expensive than their contemporary counterparts. On the other hand, NVR systems are designed for IP (digital) cameras, typically viewed as more advanced but with a higher cost.
However, while the hardware for DVRs may be less expensive, the overall installation costs can be higher. This increase in cost is attributed to the need for additional materials and labour. Analogue cameras in a DVR system require a direct cable connection to the recorder for each camera, leading to higher installation expenses than the typically more straightforward setup of IP cameras in an NVR system. This distinction in installation complexity and material requirements contributes to the overall cost difference between DVR and NVR.
For those starting, NVR and DVR systems are available at a base price of around $300. However, more sophisticated models come with higher price tags.
These factors collectively contribute to the variability in the cost of NVR and DVR systems.
Number Of Channels?
The number of channels on a DVR directly corresponds to the number of cameras it can support. For instance, an 8-channel DVR can accommodate 8 cameras—generally, the more channels a DVR has, the higher its cost.
In DVR systems, the cost escalates with the number of channels because each camera requires a direct wired connection to the recorder. This limitation means the DVR can only support as many cameras as it has ports.
Conversely, NVR systems offer more flexibility with Power over Ethernet (PoE). PoE enables an NVR to support more cameras than it has physical ports. For example, an 8-channel NVR could support up to 10 cameras using a PoE switch. This capability often makes NVRs a more cost-effective solution for larger surveillance systems, reducing the need for more physical ports on the recorder.
Storage Capacity?
There are three main storage options: built-in or added on hard drive, memory stick or cloud-based storage.
Built-in hard drive: Video surveillance footage is commonly stored on a hard drive within the NVR. The capacity of these hard drives varies, with some NVRs accommodating 1 or 2 hard drives, each ranging from 8TB to 10TB. You have two options to increase storage: if your NVR supports dual hard drives, you can add a second one. If it only supports a single hard drive, you must replace the existing one with a higher-capacity drive. The cost of this upgrade depends on the capacity of the new hard drive you choose.
When the hard drive reaches its total capacity during recording, most NVR systems offer two options: automatically overwrite the oldest data or stop recording. The overwrite feature ensures continuous recording without manually managing storage. In contrast, the stop recording option requires manual intervention to free up space or add additional storage.
Memory card storage: Certain surveillance cameras have the option of onboard memory card storage for footage. This feature is handy as a backup storage solution in case the primary hard drive fails or becomes full or in scenarios where a camera is used without an NVR and records directly onto the SD card. The storage capacity of these memory cards is typically limited, with most supporting up to a maximum of 256GB.
The price of memory cards varies based on their storage capacity. For instance, a 256GB memory card will be more expensive than smaller capacity cards like 128GB or 64GB. One of the key benefits of using memory cards is their portability and ease of transfer; they can be quickly removed from the camera and inserted into another device for viewing or transferring footage. This flexibility makes them a cost-effective and convenient option for additional or backup storage in surveillance systems.
Cloud-based storage: Many consumer-grade surveillance cameras offer cloud storage options accessible via the Internet. However, this convenience typically comes with a recurring cost, as cloud storage often requires a subscription fee. The expense of cloud storage can escalate quickly, especially considering the vast amounts of video data that need to be streamed and stored.
The price for cloud storage subscriptions varies depending on the service provider and the storage needed. For instance, plans with higher storage capacity or extended retention periods will cost more than basic plans with limited storage and shorter data retention.
Some leading brands in the surveillance industry, like Hikvision, traditionally do not offer cloud storage solutions. Instead, these brands focus on local storage solutions, such as hard drives in NVRs or DVRs. Local storage to hard drives is a one-time investment compared to the recurring costs associated with cloud storage subscriptions, making it a cost-effective solution for long-term surveillance needs.
Analytics?
The inclusion of more advanced analytics in surveillance systems typically results in a higher cost: Intelligent Video Surveillance (IVS) and similar sophisticated analytics demand greater processing power. Consequently, high-end NVRs that feature these advanced analytics are often priced higher.
Brands like Hikvision provide various analytics options, each with varying features tailored to meet different security needs. The diversity in their offerings means that the prices vary depending on the level of sophistication of the analytics provided. These brands cater to various prices, accommodating wide budgets while offering specialised functionalities.
What is the average cost of a CCTV Security System for a business in Australia?
Determining the cost of a CCTV system installation is not straightforward, as it hinges on various factors. The intricacy of the premises and work environment, along with the diverse features and functions of different CCTV systems, contribute to the overall pricing. In essence, two primary factors influence the cost of installing a new CCTV system which are what Harware you choose and how complex the installation will be.
1. Type of Hardware Employed:
The selection of CCTV hardware significantly impacts the overall cost. Different cameras and systems vary in quality, features, and capabilities, leading to variations in pricing.
2. Complexity of the Installation:
The intricacy of the installation process, influenced by the layout of the premises and specific requirements, plays a crucial role in determining costs. Factors such as the number of cameras, the need for additional features (e.g., remote access, motion detection), and the difficulty of installation can contribute to variations in pricing.
As a result, obtaining accurate cost estimates necessitates a thorough assessment of the unique needs of each business or site. However, as a guide
Regardless of your business type, AVE Technologies offers CCTV systems tailored to your needs. We cater to a wide range of enterprises, including:
- Retail businesses, from fruit shops to jewellery, fashion outlets, electronic stores, and shopping centres.
- Industrial sites such as factories, warehouses, and workshops, including mechanics and wheel and tyre services.
- Corporate offices like those of accountants and real estate agents.
- Healthcare and wellness facilities, including medical clinics and retirement homes.
- Educational institutions, from schools and kindergartens to education centres.
