CCTV
Not every camera has to be highly visible.
Internal low light dome camera
Internal infra-red camera
Lattice tower mounted camera
Pole mounted camera
Internal low light camera
internal or external bullet camera
Camera on a wooden post
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Forget the grotty bits of video you see on TV’s crime programmes! CCTV has improved beyond recognition in the last few years thanks to High Definition and astonishing new low light camera technology. The cost of really good CCTV equipment has dropped dramatically, and now we can install a system for you at a reasonable cost that would have been outrageously expensive (or even technically impossible) just a few years ago.
Daytime and night time picture quality is stunning compared to the old standard definition images.
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Although this shot appears to be well lit it’s actually quite dark out there!
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We supply, install and maintain surveillance cameras of all types, multi-channel hard disk recorders, monitors, wifi links, and peripherals. An effective CCTV system needs careful planning. We can quickly point out the pros and cons of the camera locations you might be considering, and discuss all other aspects. We offer a no-nonsense down-to-earth service that aims to give you an effective system without wasting money on technology for technology’s sake.
All our cameras can be set to switch to black and white for extreme low-light conditions or can always remain in colour. When set to black and white the camera’s software can add together successive frames to increase sensitivity. If carried to extremes this can cause motion blur but when used sensibly can give decent images even when the eye would see little or nothing. Cameras have automatic sensitivity adjustment and most have proper mechanical irises (driven by a tiny motor) so they adjust very quickly to changes in light conditions.
Because HD CCTV pictures are not degraded by the compression techniques used for broadcast TV they can actually be slightly better than the HD TV you are used to!
High Definition Monitors and TV sets are now in common use so it’s possible to display up to 16 camera pictures on one screen in a grid pattern with quite acceptable detail and resolution.
This can be displayed permanently on a conveniently placed monitor or fed into your TV system so you will be able to see everything your CCTV system sees on any of your TV sets at a touch of the remote control.
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Here’s a real screenshot showing the detail visible in one of the nine images on a nine-image multiscreen
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Even when the lower resolution image forms part of a nine-image display the full resolution picture, which is nine times clearer, is being recorded and can also be viewed live in full resolution and in full screen on another monitor.
Camera housings can be spray painted to blend in with their surroundings or can be bright white to act as a visible deterrent.
The focal length of all our cameras is adjustable. That means the view can be widened or narrowed, so it covers exactly the area required. This greatly helps with the identification of suspects and the legibility of vehicle reg. numbers. For situations where the camera location is restricted we have specialist lenses that give a close view of distant objects.
Your CCTV pictures can be linked to your phone or a remote computer. 
We are rather good at installing hidden or disguised cameras and wiring.
Price-wise, we like to go for middle of the road equipment because it’s now so good that there isn’t normally any point in spending more. We won’t supply the CCTV all-in-one kits, as found in the DIY stores and on the internet, but if you need a budget system (probably for semi-temporary use) we will cheerfully install anything you have bought yourself. The reasons we don’t sell that sort of gear are:
- The cameras, recorders, and power supply units are usually incompatible with other makes, so upgrades or additions can be impossible
- Flaky software and poor instructions can be an issue
- Focal length (view angle) is usually fixed so shots can’t be framed accurately
- The focus is usually fixed so can’t be optimised at the preferred distance
- Reliability can be poor
- Although the picture quality under good light can be quite acceptable, in low light it is often extremely poor because of the small-aperture lenses and inferior sensors and software. Cameras often rely on built-in infra-red illumination to make up for this, but infra-red, especially in this price bracket, has many disadvantages and is no substitute for genuine low light performance.
- Cameras and mounts are often flimsy, so outdoor use can be problematic.
- Hard drive capacity can be low, so not enough days’ recordings can be stored.
- Picture format might not be full HD, but a lower HD resolution.