Home CCTV Security Systems: How They Work and What to Choose

The three parts of a home CCTV system

1. The cameras

Modern cameras are IP cameras: small computers with a lens. They send digital video over a standard network cable. That same cable also powers the camera, which is called PoE (power over Ethernet). One cable per camera, and no outlet needed outside. If you are not sure which shapes to use, see turret, dome, bullet or PTZ.

2. The recorder (NVR)

All the cameras connect to a network video recorder, usually in a basement, closet or utility room. It records every camera onto a hard drive and keeps the footage in your home. Older systems used a DVR with coaxial cable. That still exists, but new installs today are almost all IP.

3. The app

The recorder connects to your home internet so you can watch live video and play back recordings on your phone, tablet or computer from anywhere. Setup is done at installation, and it is free to use.

How much footage does it keep?

That depends on the number of cameras, their resolution and the hard drive size. A typical 4-camera home system with a 2TB drive keeps roughly 10 to 20 days. When the drive fills up, the oldest footage is recorded over automatically. Larger drives keep more.

You can choose to record all the time or only when there is movement. Recording on motion keeps far more days on the same drive and makes it quicker to find events.

Night vision has changed

Old cameras switched to black-and-white infrared at night. Many current cameras keep showing colour in low light because their sensors are far more sensitive, and some include a small built-in light for complete darkness. Colour at night matters: it is the difference between "a person in a jacket" and "a man in a red jacket getting into a grey SUV."

Do I need the cloud?

No. With a recorder in your home, the footage is yours and there is no monthly fee. Cloud-only cameras store video on the manufacturer's servers and usually charge a subscription to keep more than a few hours or days. They also stop recording when your Wi-Fi drops.

The one thing to plan for is protecting the recorder. Put it somewhere out of sight, not next to the front door, so nobody can take it on the way out.

Cameras and alarms: better together

Cameras and alarms do different jobs:

• Cameras deter, let you check on home from your phone, and give you evidence afterwards.
• A monitored alarm detects someone getting in and brings a response, even when you are asleep or away.

A camera alone will record a break-in, but unless you are watching your phone at that moment, nobody responds. That is why many of our customers pair cameras with a monitored alarm.

What a professional install includes

• A walk-around to plan where each camera goes and what it should see
• Running cables neatly through the attic, walls or soffits
• Mounting and aiming each camera, then checking the picture day and night
• Setting up the recorder, motion zones and the app on your phone
• Showing you how to find and save a clip

See the systems we install on our security cameras page, or check typical prices in our sister site's guide to security camera installation costs in Toronto.

Frequently asked questions