IDS CCTV Blog
Security tips, product reviews, installation guides, and industry insights.
Latest Security Camera Articles & Guides
SecurityCar Dealership and Auto Shop Security: Lots, Service Bays and Showrooms
Camera layouts for dealership lots, service bays and showrooms, including plate capture at the gate and coverage that protects high-value inventory.
SecurityGym and Fitness Center Security Cameras: Locker Rooms, Rules and Liability
Where cameras belong in a gym, where they must never go, and how coverage reduces slip-and-fall claims, theft disputes and membership chargebacks.
ArchitectureSmart Home Security: Connecting Cameras to remote viewing, Home Assistant and Apps
Integrate CCTV with smart home platforms: app options, RTSP and ONVIF feeds, automation triggers and where consumer hubs fall short.
GuidesVideo Retention Calculator Walkthrough: How Many Days at 4K and 5MP?
Work out exactly how many days of video your drives will hold: camera count, resolution, codec, frame rate and motion versus continuous recording.
TechnologyNight Vision Explained: IR LEDs, Smart IR, Dual-Light and Full Colour
IR, Smart IR, dual-light and full-colour night vision compared: real range expectations, overexposure problems and how to pick the right mode.
GuidesPTZ Presets, Tours and Patrols: Configuration Guide for Installers
Configure PTZ presets, tours and patrol patterns correctly, link them to alarms, and avoid the zoom settings that ruin night image quality.
TechnologyONVIF and RTSP for CCTV: Integrating Mixed-Brand Cameras and NVRs
How ONVIF and RTSP make mixed-brand CCTV work: profile differences, stream URLs, what breaks in practice, and when to keep brands matched.
TechnologyStatic IP vs DHCP for IP Cameras: Network Setup for Installers
How to address IP cameras correctly: static addresses versus DHCP reservations, subnet planning, gateways and the misconfiguration that kills streams.
TechnologyPoE Explained: Cable Lengths, PoE Switches and Power Budgets for IP Cameras
Power over Ethernet explained for CCTV: cable length limits, PoE versus PoE+ budgets, switch selection and the mistakes that cause camera dropouts.