CCTV system help

[artemis]

Hello,

I am currently in the process of constructing a self build property. The site is located at the end of a cul de sac, however the boundaries back out to public land adjacent to a B road. I am therefore looking for a CCTV system which will:

- cover the entrance gate which is approximately 40 metres away from the main property. The gate will be electrified and it would be good to be able to have a camera which could pick up car registrations as they approach the gate. Any suggestions on gate control would also be appreciated!
- provide adequate coverage of the back garden which backs out to wooded public land. Of particular concern is the chance that someone could cross over the fence into the garden
- Cover a courtyard / garage area in front of the house
- provide coverage at the side of the property which are close the the boundaries on the gable wall

The surrounding area does benefit from a certain element of low level street lighting from the adjacent road, so at night it will not be completely dark especially around the boundaries.
As a ready reckoner I envisage we would require approximately 7 cameras to cover the entire area including the gated entrance. I'm happy to take advisement, but in my mind colour capture at night is less important than the basics of being able to identify genuine incidents. Sound capture is also low on my priority list.

As this is a new build, I am running cat 6 throughout the property and will be able to provide additional networking should the CCTV system require it. I am unsure of what NVR requirements I will need as I envisage the whole network to be PoE. Is the software pre loaded on it and does it suffice?

I have also been given anecdotal advice to have a camera inside the garage, as people commonly do not set the alarm systems.

Any advice on the above would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading!

 

[Kyle]

Hi @artemis

If you would like the camera on the entrance gate to read licence plates and operate the gate based on these readings, you will need a dedicated ANPR camera. The Hikvision DS-2CD7A26G0-IZS (2.8~12mm) has a varifocal lens which will read licence plates up-to 50m away, which would allow you to mount the camera on the main property if needed. However, we recommend mounting it much nearer the entrance gate if possible, as it will improve the accuracy of readings. The cameras have alarm outputs which you are able to connect the open/close mechanism of the gate for access control. I should point out that these cameras are only useful for automatically reading number plates, and should not be used in an attempt to achieve a general view of the space/people.

If your main concern was identifying individuals at the gate and controlling it based on this, then the Hikvision DS-KIS603-P Video Intercom Door Station Kit. However, the 2MP camera used in this kit is not ideal for seeing licence plates clearly, so you would need to look at also mounting something like a Hikvision DS-2CD2545FWD-IS Mini Dome in a 4mm focal length option, near the gate, to allow you to read registrations. However, unless you are using as specialist ANPR camera, you'll likely find that fluorescent licence plates appear overexposed when the camera is using its IR LEDs in low-light.

For the other cameras located around the property, we recommend turrets such as the Hikvision DS-2CD2386G2-I in most scenarios now. Our 10 Things We Like About Turret Cameras YouTube video explains the benefit of this style over the more traditional ones. This guide for understanding the different focal lengths should be useful for understanding which option will work best in each position.

Regarding the NVR, the software comes preloaded and works well, particularly if you opt for a newer I-Series model such as the Hikvision DS-7608NI-I2-8P. The NVRs from this family are compatible with all of the Hikvision cameras that we sell and continues to receive firmware updates, which is a key benefit. You can also access the NVR on a PC or through the Hik-Connect mobile app, neither of which require you to purchase extra software.

For a camera inside the garage, the popular vandalproof option would be the DS-2CD2545FWD-IS, as its 10m IR range is best suited to smaller indoor spaces. If having a camera that is vandalproof and waterproof isn't such a concern then the Hikvision DS-2CD2455FWD-IW Cube is also a good indoor option.