IP CCTV Cameras

IP CCTV cameras connect to a recorder (NVR) using network cable, which carries both the video and the power thanks to PoE. They give the best image quality and the most smart features, and they're what we'd recommend for most new installs.

No. The cameras record to the NVR on site, so they keep recording even if your broadband goes down. You only need internet if you want to view the cameras or get alerts on your phone.

With a PoE NVR, the cameras plug into the back of the recorder and sit on their own separate network. Only the NVR connects to your router, so the cameras don't clutter your home network.

An NVR: check it supports your cameras' resolution and has enough channels for the number of cameras you want, plus a few spare for later. See our IP recorders.

A hard drive: the NVR records to a CCTV hard drive fitted inside it. Higher resolution cameras fill it faster, so size it to how many days of footage you want to keep.

Cable: one Cat5e or Cat6 run from each camera back to the recorder or a PoE switch, up to 100 metres.

Or pick up a matched kit from our IP CCTV systems.

Usually, yes, but it's not as simple as using one brand throughout. Same-brand cameras are plug and play (connect them to the NVR and they appear on screen). A different brand won't be picked up automatically. You'll need to set the camera up on the network first, give it a suitable IP address, then add it to the NVR manually using a standard called ONVIF, with the camera's username and password. That needs some networking know-how.

Even once it's working, you'll often lose the smart features, like person and vehicle detection or two-way audio, which tend to only work when the camera and recorder are the same brand. For the simplest setup and the full set of features, including remote viewing in the Hik-Connect app, pair Hikvision and HiLook cameras with a Hikvision or HiLook NVR.

Already have coax cables from an old system? HD over coax cameras let you reuse them.