Afternoon guys. Please see link below https://www.screwfix.com/p/swann-swdvk-816004-uk-8-channel-security-system-4-cameras-5-pcs/9089t Basically have any of you guys had dealings with Swann gear ie is it good stuff or problematic etc etc? At some time in the near future I hope to have a property built abroad, and want to design in some cctv. Any comments on Swann gear would be most appreciated. Thanks lads.
Last time i looked JP...it was regarded as junk. The pros on here will be able to advise better than I, as i am out of touch with lots of stuff now. Altho I am a dab hand at reading bedtime stories and showing grandchildren under 5 five... tricks with magnets and the like ! RS
I've got a system using swann. Seems fine and works well. The screws they provide for mounting the cameras should be chucked.
As a pro installer it's not kit we'd specify, but, having said that, even stuff off eBay serves the purpose. Hikvision is our preferred stuff, amongst a few others.
Guys many thanks for your responses. I have decided to go for a Hikvision system - link below (thanks Mr R) https://www.cctvtek.co.uk/ Its a matter of deciding how many cameras etc etc - never done CCTV before so may be asking a few questions. Thanks lads.
Dahua and Qvis are my choice. Used extensively around here by most installers. Nearly all new installs are IP.
Cheers Lec. One question. You buy the camera to box cables separately and these seem to come in lengths of 20 metres.. if say the distance to camera from box is what 5 meters do you neatly coil any surplus up? Alternatively is it easy to fashion your own leads up? One site sells the cables and connectors and one of the cables specified is RG69 - I find that odd because that stuff is old hat and I would have thought PF/CT 100/Webro would be far superior?
Cheers Spark - what is the quality of picture like on the smartphone when you access the system remotely, is it fuzzy and pixelated, or clear Mr S?
I don't buy pre ended cables. Buy a roll and put your own ends on. Horrible leaving coils. Also easier to pull through, go through holes etc. If you go for IP, you will be using small ethernet cat5e which is a breeze to pull in, and you will get decent image quality. If you opted for pro end kit, 1080 4K!
Thanks Lec. So from camera to main box it will be say pf100 cable (for the video signal) and also the cat 5e, does the 5e also carry the power to the camera unit? I will read up, must admit bit lazy of me . bit of a luxury though having the forum giving me answers. Just one more thing - is the signal from the camera digital, or is it an RF signal? (final output from camera)
https://www.jmcsecure.co.uk/cctvinfo/rg59-coax-cabling-guide.asp Right see what the IP way is, but if I use the above way will I still be able to use Smartphone/remote viewing - I'm presuming the internet commection goes straight into the box?
If you go IP, cat5e is all you need. If you go old school, it’s RG59 coax, not PF100! Usually a shotgun cable, RG59 and two core power. You can get HD over coax, but if going with a new install, cat5e and an IP system would be my choice.
As Lec, Poe and cat5 would be best, most DVR's and NVR's have the option of using p2p for remote viewing, basically what that means is you are using the manufacturers server to connect to your machine, obviously not as secure as a direct link via the www, but it's a godsend if you don't have a static ip address. In layman's terms your router will use DHCP, and dish out an address to your NVR, now obviously that needs to stay the same for you to go straight to it via the www, ie, static, never changes, but most home networks routers can and usually do change their address on power outage etc. P2p works by your NVR notifying the remote server that it's address has changed, hence you can go to it easily via them. Not easy to explain here, but google p2p etc for an explanation that is probably going to be better than mine, lol.
Cheers Lec and Mr R. If I went the IP route (one cat 5 cable sounds brill as opposed to the shotgun coax way) then what happens if the internet connection is lost? Does it mean that there will be no surveillance whilst server is down?