Upgrade to existing CCTV

[CoastalHawk]

Hi all,
Our current CCTV system a cheap Amazon Chinese POE system could do with an upgrade and Hikvision seems to be the preferred manufacturer from my research of old threads on here.

We current have (I think) 960p cameras x 4 and a NVR. I’d like to simply unplug all the current setup and plug in the new NVR and cameras, is it that simple?

I’d also want to add a further 2 cameras.

Is anyone feeling kind and able to access Hikvision equipment?

Cheers
Chris

[AJB88]

I want to know the same really, I have 3x Swann and 1x Unknown cameras and a Swann DVR. Its a fair few years old now so quite poor in picture quality.

Want to get a newer DVR as the Swann DNS has stopped working so cant access it from my phone anymore.

[Tomo1971]

AJB88 said:

I want to know the same really, I have 3x Swann and 1x Unknown cameras and a Swann DVR. Its a fair few years old now so quite poor in picture quality.

Want to get a newer DVR as the Swann DNS has stopped working so cant access it from my phone anymore.

Our swann is NVR but the dns is still working. Login, disable it and re enable... Had had its knickers in a twist for me before but that had fixed it

Ps, your dvr will have seperate power and video cables whereas the OP has an NVR and will be PoE (power and ethernet in one) you may need to run in new cabling.

[AJB88]

Tomo1971 said:

Our swann is NVR but the dns is still working. Login, disable it and re enable... Had had its knickers in a twist for me before but that had fixed it

Ps, your dvr will have seperate power and video cables whereas the OP has an NVR and will be PoE (power and ethernet in one) you may need to run in new cabling.

Tried all that, set up a new DNS etc wont work, I reckon the DVR is knackered. Annoyingly earlier in the year somebody scaled my fence and robbed car keys off table (back door was open for dogs) and it hadn't been recording.

I reckon might just bin it all off and get 2x Google camera's.

[Baldchap]

We have 4k Hikvision outside and Arlo inside. Both are very good.

Happy to answer any specific questions. Replacing the box with an 8 port will do what you want.

Depending on the old system you may have to crimp RJ45 ends onto the existing wiring as I had to when replacing my old POE equipment.

[thebraketester]

Hikvision are good but there support for mac software is a joke and is about 2/3 years behind the windows program. That may or may not matter to you.

[paultownsend]

If it’s cat 5/6 cable terminated with RJ45 then it’s plug and play. Hik is very simple to set up. I have three external 6mp turrets and they are superb. I also have one in the kitchen which connects wirelessly to the router using a TP WiFi extender. Previously used a TP power line And it’s far more stable this way.

Hik have tried to restrict access to their ‘proper’ kit recently. I would have a look on your local Facebook local group and find a local installer. Either pay them a few quid to supply, or to do the install with the additional cameras.

[Baldchap]

Check the camera wiring that goes into the existing box. If it says Cat 5 or Cat 6 you're all good. If the end is a single plug (like a big RJ11 phone jack) then no changes required. If the cable is cat 5/6 but the end is split into power and signal (i.e. not a small, single plastic plug), then you'll need to crimp some connectors on. If it's neither, then I'd go wireless unless you want to replace cables.

These guys sell everything you need and were very good when I used them:
https://www.cctvkits.co.uk/