None of the CCTV kits we sell is wireless. Every kit is a wired Hikvision kit, with either PoE network cables or coax cables between the cameras and the recorder, and none of our kit listings describes a WiFi camera. If you searched for a wireless CCTV kit to avoid drilling and cabling, this guide explains what "wireless" really involves and which of our kits are easiest to fit in a house with awkward spots.
What a wireless camera still needs
A wireless camera only removes the video cable. It still needs three things:
- Power at the camera. A wireless camera runs from a mains adapter or a battery, so you either run a power lead to it or recharge it. A power cable is still a cable.
- A WiFi signal that reaches it. Thick walls, outbuildings and long gardens weaken the signal, and a weak signal means a dropped or choppy picture. The camera has to be within range of your router or a WiFi extender.
- Somewhere to record. The picture goes to a recorder, a memory card or a cloud account. A kit with a recorder and hard drive keeps footage in your own home.
Wireless and wired kits compared
| Wireless cameras | Wired Hikvision kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Video connection | WiFi | Network cable (PoE) or coax cable |
| Power at the camera | Mains adapter or battery | PoE: over the same network cable. Coax: a power lead from the supply |
| Depends on WiFi range | Yes | No |
| Fitting effort | Fewer cables to run, but each camera needs power | One cable run per camera |
| Recording | Varies: recorder, card or cloud | Recorder with a hard drive fitted in the box |
Neither is better in every house. Wireless cameras can be quicker to place where a cable run is hard but power is close by. A wired kit does not rely on your WiFi, so the cameras keep sending pictures to the recorder whatever the signal is doing.
Which of our kits suit a hard-to-cable house
If you want the fewest cables, a PoE kit is the closest we have to a wireless kit, because each camera needs only one network cable and no power lead. The 4-channel 4K PoE kit has a DS-7604NXI recorder, four DS-2CD1383G2-LIUF/SL cameras, a 2TB hard drive fitted and four 20m Cat6 patch cables. The recorder powers the cameras, so there is no camera power supply to fit. You can see the whole range under IP (PoE) kits.
If you only need to cover a couple of spots, such as a front door and a driveway, the 2-camera 5MP coax kit keeps the job small. It has an iDS-7204HQHI recorder, two UKVISION 5MP turret cameras, a 2TB hard drive fitted, and two 20m RG59 cables with power leads and a 12V 3A power supply. Existing coax in the walls can often be reused. All our kits are listed under CCTV kits.
Before you choose
- Walk the house and note where each camera will go, and how far each spot is from where the recorder will sit.
- Check whether a loft, soffit or existing duct gives you a route for the cable.
- Decide whether you want recordings kept on a hard drive at home.
If you cannot run any cable to a spot, a wired kit will not reach it, and a wireless camera with its own power supply is the better fit there. For the rest of the house, a wired kit gives you a steady picture and a recorder in one box.