CCTV Installations

What is the need for CCTV Installations?

CCTV installations in London and other city centers are becoming increasingly common, as is its used in homes, to increase security and reduce the risk of burglary.

BSL-CCTV can set up surveillance systems that use video cameras to transmit a signal to a specified monitor or set of monitors. It’s most commonly used for real-time surveillance of a building or open areas and is an essential tool in protecting people, business property, and assets. CCTV cameras can be used to monitor banks, schools, bars, offices, airports, hospitals, shops, and many other locations.

How to Choose the Ideal CCTV Camera Type?

BSL-CCTV installation experts can help you with choosing the ideal type of CCTV cameras, but it doesn’t hurt to be familiar with some of the basic options before you make the call.

The list below will provide you some insight into the functions CCTV cameras can handle and the options we can use to build your customised system. Depending on your budget and your needs, you can opt for one, two, or more types of cameras. For instance, you don’t have to pay extra to have HD cameras in areas where you don’t need them.

The most popular types of CCTV monitoring cameras are:

Dome CCTV Cameras

Dome security cameras are named so because of their dome shape. These cameras are unobtrusive and enclosed in a transparent dome making them super easy to fit mounted on the ceiling or under the eaves of your building. These dome cameras can be installed both indoors and outdoors, but most people usually install them indoors. The dome makes it hard for intruders to tamper with the camera, so you’ll enjoy a future-proof security system.

Dome CCTV cameras are ideal for hotels, restaurants, casinos, and others because they have 360-degree angles and can be easily added to any monitoring system.

5MP Motorised Vandal Dome Camera (White) - SKU 012

Bullet CCTV Cameras

Bullet CCTV cameras are perhaps the most widespread option. These cameras refer to the ones that are cylindrical in shape, looking like a bullet shell. These cameras are more seen in homes and small offices. Their iconic design makes them easy to recognise and act as a deterrent for intruders. They can also be installed both indoors and outdoors and are mostly used because of their longer range and lens size.

Bullet CCTV cameras are ideal for surveillance of outdoor areas like parking lots or backyards.

High Definition (HD) CCTV Cameras

For the best quality image, we recommend you add HD cameras to your CCTV system. They have resolutions ranging from 720p to 4K.

High-definition cameras are available in many dome and bullet models. They are ideal for criminal identification.

Infrared/Night Vision CCTV Cameras

Want to protect your property and assets 24/7? We recommend installing CCTV cameras that have night vision/infrared capabilities. These cameras offer an ideal solution for industries like manufacturing where you are more likely to be a target at night. While the imagery may not be as clear as that obtained by HD cameras, night vision cameras act as an excellent deterrent.

Day/Night CCTV Cameras

Do you need a consistent CCTV system that doesn’t compromise quality depending on the time of day? Day/night CCTV cameras record in both colour and black and white with an excellent quality during ideal conditions. These cameras are designed to ensure your security 24/7 and typically used in outdoor areas where light is variable.

PTZ Pan Tilt & Zoom Cameras

Closely monitoring certain areas of your property is made easy when you install PTZ cameras which offer the possibility to zoom in and out to analyse certain incidents in detail. You will be able to optically zoom in to give you the possibility to focus on certain areas, pan/tilt to proved you with 360-degree viewing angles, and ease of access to ensure that you are on top of every situation.

Cognitio 2MP Thermal Dual Lens PTZ Camera

The difference between IP and HD/Analogue cameras

In terms of cabling and resolutions, IP cameras have the advantage compared to the HD Coax system; however a major drawback with IP systems comes in terms of network knowledge required when things don’t work out.

IP cameras capture video image, compress and transmit in digital format over the network. The recorder is programmed with IP addresses to receive these video streams and record to NVR (network video recorder). Whereas, HD cameras have to be connected directly to the recorder and the recorder is responsible for collating picture information, compression and storage.

IP CCTV is more suitable for people with network knowledge, have structured cabling in place or have experience of network cabling. IP CCTV system can be highly flexible; they offer great saving on installation costs and time especially on large sites. Avoid the need to re-cable for additional cameras; Use WiFi bridge to link buildings and then have multiple cameras over it. By utilising POE, long cable length can easily be achieved and more.

With HD CCTV, each camera signal has to be wired back to recorder. HD systems can be simpler to install and manage.

Both HD and IP can be accessed over the network, mobile devices, and tablets.

Network/IP CCTV Cameras

Monitoring your property while you are mobile is made easy using network/IP cameras. You can access their feed from anywhere in the world, which makes them ideal for offices where management travels often.

The feed is stored on NVR (Network Video Recorders – not to be confused with DVR, which is used for analog cameras) for later access. Your archive footage can always be accessed via NVR for later use. Plus, the installation process is very easy, since there are no computer stations or co-axial cables required.

Wireless CCTV Cameras

Wireless cameras are often the fastest system to install because they need fewer cables. This makes them a cost-effective solution for companies that require a system up and running quickly. Despite their name, wireless cameras aren’t 100% wireless and need to be connected to the mains network to draw power. There are some options that work on batteries, however, these will need to be replaced more frequently. Wireless cameras are still an increasingly popular option for indoor environments like museums, churches, art galleries, stately homes, and others where cabling is not aesthetically pleasing.

If you are still unsure what type of CCTV system or camera is the ideal fit for your property or organisation, our professional CCTV engineers will provide you with the best possible solution. We start with an onsite survey to help us identify the most suitable system for your security needs, as well as the best solution for your budget.