What You Need to Know Before CCTV Installation [2025 Guide]

Before installing CCTV cameras, it helps to slow down and plan. The best systems start long before the first hole is drilled. You need to know what you want to protect, how you’ll record the footage, and whether your network can handle the extra load. Most importantly, choose an installer who visits your property and designs the coverage in person — not someone guessing over the phone.

This guide walks you through the key things to know before committing: how to plan your coverage, understand storage and network basics, spot bad advice, and know when professional help is worth it.

1. Start with why — not how many cameras

Most people begin with a number: “I think I need four cameras.”That’s backwards. Start by asking what you actually need to see.

• What are you protecting? The front door? Driveway? Garden? Inside rooms? Each area may need a different lens or angle.

• What do you need to see clearly? A face at the door? A licence plate at the gate? A wide view of your garden? The clearer your goal, the easier it is to choose the right equipment.

• When do you need coverage? Day only, or 24/7? If you want night vision or full-time recording, you’ll need cameras and storage that can handle it.

Example: A homeowner asks for “three cameras for the house”. After a quick talk, it turns out they need one for faces at the door, one for licence plates in the driveway, and one wide-angle for the backyard. Same number of cameras, but very different types.

If an installer doesn’t ask these questions, they’re just selling hardware — not designing security.

2. Understanding coverage — blind spots cost you

Before installation, do a quick test: walk around your property with your phone camera held where a camera might go. Look at the photos and ask:

• Can you clearly see faces or just the tops of heads?

• Are there shadows or bright glare that hide details?

• Are trees, lights, or furniture blocking the view?

• Could someone approach unseen?

  
  

It’s a simple exercise, but it often shows you need a different angle or a few extra cameras.

Common mistakes:

• Cameras mounted too high only show the top of people’s heads.

• Aiming directly at a door captures people after they’re inside, not before.

• Several cameras watching the same spot while another area has no coverage.

• Facing bright lights or windows makes footage useless during the day.

  
  

Professional installers walk the property, note the lighting at different times, and adjust angles to remove those blind spots before drilling a single hole.

3. Wired or wireless — which fits your home?

You’ll hear this question a lot, but the answer depends on what matters most to you: flexibility or reliability.

Wireless (Wi-Fi) cameras

Pros: Quick to install, no cables to run, easy to move later.Cons: Wi-Fi drop-outs, batteries to recharge or replace, and often only record when motion is detected — meaning you might miss the first few seconds of an event.

Best for: Small homes or rentals, short-term setups, or 1–3 cameras.

Wired (PoE) cameras

Pros: More reliable, record continuously, better picture quality, and no need for batteries.Cons: Harder to install because of cabling. Once they’re in place, moving them means rerouting cable.

Best for: 4+ cameras, permanent setups, or when you can’t afford gaps in recording.

Many professionals use a mix — wired for important areas like entrances and wireless for general monitoring.If someone suggests an all-wireless system with six or more cameras and doesn’t check your Wi-Fi strength, that’s a red flag.

4. Storage — where your footage goes

Where your footage is stored determines how long it lasts and how easily you can access it.

Cloud storage

Easy to access from anywhere, but you pay a monthly fee per camera, and it stops recording if the internet goes down.

Local storage (NVR or DVR)

A recording box that stays in your home or office. No monthly costs, full 24/7 recording, and your footage stays private — but you’ll need space, a power source, and a decent-sized hard drive.

Hybrid setups

Use local recording for everything and upload only key clips to the cloud for backup.

Storage rule of thumb: A single HD camera can fill about 20–30 GB of space per day. For 30 days of history, four cameras can use roughly 3 TB.That’s why proper systems use surveillance-rated hard drives — the cheap ones wear out quickly.

5. Your network matters

Cameras add constant traffic to your home network. If your Wi-Fi is already stretched, it will slow down everything else.

For wireless systems:You need strong Wi-Fi in every camera location. Each HD camera uses around 2–4 Mbps of upload speed, and 4K cameras use twice that. If your plan only gives you 10–20 Mbps upload, remote viewing may lag.

For wired systems:You’ll need a PoE (Power over Ethernet) switch — a small device that sends both power and data through one cable. A good installer checks that your router, switch, and cables can handle the total load.

Typical mistakes:

• Overloading Wi-Fi with too many cameras.

• Putting cameras on the same network as smart TVs, phones, and computers, causing slowdowns.

• No backup power — one router reboot and the entire system goes offline.

Professionals plan this from the start and configure everything so your cameras don’t compete with Netflix.

6. The rules — what you can and can’t record

CCTV is allowed, but there are limits. The general rule: record your property, not someone else’s.

Usually fine: filming your entrances, driveway, garden, or any area visible from public space.

Not fine: pointing cameras into neighbours’ windows or private spaces, or recording audio without consent (audio laws are often stricter than video).

For businesses:

• Display signs saying recording is in progress.

• Keep recordings only as long as necessary.

• Follow employee and customer privacy laws (these vary by state).

• Some cities require permits for exterior cameras — usually $50–$200.

A professional installer already knows these rules and can help you stay compliant.

7. Questions to ask any installer

Before signing anything, ask:

• Do you visit the property before quoting? (Phone quotes are guesses.)

• Which cameras are you recommending, and why?

• What’s included in the price? Equipment, cabling, setup, training, and warranty should all be listed.

• Can I add cameras later?

• Who handles maintenance and support? Local contact matters more than a chatbot.

If someone can’t answer these simply and clearly, move on.

8. Red flags — signs of a bad installer

• They give quotes without seeing your property.

• They push one brand without explaining options.

• They can’t describe resolution, night vision, or lens types.

• They have no license or insurance.

• They can’t show previous work or reviews.

• They pressure you to decide immediately.

• They sell “cheap” systems that depend on monthly subscriptions.

A good installer will explain, not rush.

9. Before installation day

A little preparation makes everything smoother.

Before they arrive:

• Clear camera areas and trim any branches.

• Keep pets safe indoors.

• Choose where the recorder (NVR) will live — near power, network, and out of sight.

• Tell neighbours if your cameras might capture their boundary. It prevents awkward talks later.

During installation:

• Walk through placement with the installer before drilling.

• Test each camera’s view before they leave.

• Make sure you learn how to view, save, and export footage.

• Keep all manuals, warranties, and login details together.

10. How much you’ll likely spend

Every property is different, but these ranges help set expectations.

For homes (4–6 cameras):

• DIY wireless kits: around $800–$1,000 upfront + $200/year cloud fees.

• DIY wired systems: around $1,500–$2,500 depending on tools and cables.

• Professional installation: usually $3,000–$5,000 total, but with better reliability and no monthly costs.

  
  

For businesses (8–16 cameras):

• Professional setups typically range from $6,000–$18,000, depending on scale, storage, and building layout.You pay more upfront, but maintenance is minimal and systems last for years.

  
  

Think of it like buying peace of mind — you’re paying for a system that works when you need it.

If you want a deeper look at how those numbers add up, check out our guide How Much Does Security Camera Installation Cost — it breaks down every part of the price, from equipment and labor to storage and long-term value, with real examples from local installations.

11. Homes vs. businesses — different priorities

Home systems focus on security, deliveries, and peace of mind. Most need 4–8 cameras and aim to deter theft or catch incidents.

Business systems protect against liability, theft, and downtime. They record 24/7, store footage for 30–90 days, and must meet privacy laws for employees and customers.

Businesses also need faster support — if something fails, it can’t wait days to fix.

12. Making the right choice

If you’re comfortable running cables, configuring networks, and have lots of free time, a DIY system can work for small setups.

For most people, though, professional installation is the smarter path.You get proper coverage design, reliable network integration, and long-term support — things that are hard to fix later.

The Clear Telecommunications difference

Across Sonoma, Napa and Marin, Clear Telecommunications designs and installs Ubiquiti UniFi Protect systems that combine reliability, clarity, and privacy — no subscriptions, no cloud dependency.

We start every project with a free on-site assessment, walking your property and designing a setup that fits exactly what you need.No pressure, no surprises — just a system that works when it matters.

Call (707) 823-3830 or schedule your free on-site assessment today.