Yes, you can buy a Hikvision kit with just two or three cameras. We sell Hikvision kits with 2 or 3 cameras on a 4-, 8- or 16-channel recorder, so the channels you do not use stay free for more cameras later. That suits a front and back door, a house with a drive and a side gate, or a small shop with a shop floor and a yard.
Why the recorder has more channels than cameras
In a 2 camera kit on a 4-channel recorder, two channels are in use and two are free. An 8-channel recorder leaves six free, and a 16-channel recorder leaves fourteen. A 3 camera kit on a 4-channel recorder leaves one. If you expect to add a camera in a year or two, a bigger recorder means adding the camera alone instead of replacing the recorder. If you are sure two cameras is all you need, the 4-channel kits are the compact choice.
Coax or PoE?
Our 2 and 3 camera sets come in both types, and they are not interchangeable. A coax (Turbo HD) kit has a DVR and cameras that connect by BNC cable, with a power lead for each camera. A PoE (IP) kit has an NVR that powers each camera over a network cable. Our guide to PoE or coax Hikvision kits goes through the cabling in detail, and how many cameras a Hikvision kit needs helps if you are not sure whether two is enough.
The kit title tells you the recorder channels, the resolution, the number of cameras and the hard drive that is fitted. The coax 2 and 3 camera kits are listed under 2 camera kits and 3 camera kits, and the PoE sets are also grouped in IP (PoE) kits.
Two examples from the range
| Coax kit | PoE kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Kit | 4-Channel 4K, 2 Cameras + 1TB | 4-Channel 8MP, 2 Cameras + 1TB |
| Recorder | iDS-7204HUHI-M1/XT DVR | DS-7604NXI-K1/4P NVR |
| Cameras | Two Hikvision 4K fixed turret cameras | Two DS-2CD1383G2-LIU 8MP turret cameras |
| Cable in the box | Two 20m RG59 BNC leads with DC power | Two 20m Cat6 patch cables |
| Power | 12V 3A supply with a 4-way splitter | From the recorder's PoE ports |
| Also in the box | 1.5m HDMI cable, 1TB drive fitted | 1.5m HDMI cable, 1TB drive fitted |
Both kits are also sold with a 2TB drive, shown in the kit title. A 4-channel 4K coax kit with 3 cameras is the next step up if two doors are not enough.
What to check before ordering
- Cable length. Measure from each camera position to the recorder and compare it with the 20m leads in the box.
- Cable type. A coax kit needs coax and a PoE kit needs network cable, so check what is already in your walls.
- The recorder's spot. It needs a mains socket and a shelf or cabinet, and a monitor or TV with an HDMI input.
- Drive size. Pick the drive from the kit title. Ask us before ordering if you want a different size.
- Future cameras. Buy the same type as the kit: a coax recorder takes coax cameras and a PoE recorder takes network cameras.
If you outgrow a small kit, the 4 camera kits are the next size up. Ask us if you want help matching a kit to your doors.