CCTV Installation Guide
This guide covers the physical installation of a new CCTV system - the paperwork, equipment and wiring involved on install day, from first signature to a fully wired-in system.
Already installed and looking to view your footage? See our mobile app setup guide.
Wondering what actually happens on the day your CCTV cameras and recorder are installed? Here's the full process AMCO follows, from paperwork through to your system being wired in and connected to your network.
11 things that happen on install day
1. Paperwork
Sign your customer agreement
A customer agreement/contract is sent to you electronically for signature before install day, so everything's agreed and in writing up front.
Monitoring & key-holder details (monitored systems only)
If your system is monitored, your monitoring and key-holder contact details are also collected via a secure online form. Non-monitored systems only need the contract signed - no further paperwork.
2. Equipment overview
What gets installed
Installation involves positioning your cameras, junction boxes, the DVR (recording unit) and power supplies, then running cabling between them through the property.
3. Positioning
Careful camera placement
Your engineer positions each camera to cover the areas that matter most, then plans the tidiest route for cabling before any drilling starts.
4. Key equipment
Junction boxes
Each camera has a nearby junction box - often surface-mounted - used to connect it into the system.
The DVR - your system's brain
The DVR is the recording unit at the heart of your system, handling recording and remote viewing for every camera.
5. Wiring
Hidden, minimally disruptive cabling
Engineers try to hide wiring where possible. Running cable may occasionally require minor drilling or moving objects, but your engineer will work to keep disruption to a minimum.
Two cabling approaches
Cameras are cabled either with a single CAT5 cable, or with a black coax cable for the image signal plus a separate white cable for camera power.
Power supplies
Power supplies are positioned and wired in alongside the cameras and DVR as part of the same cabling run.
6. Network connection
Connecting the DVR to your router
The DVR needs a direct ethernet connection to your router, so a spare port needs to be available on the day.
Router access
Your engineer will need access to your router's password and settings during setup to get the DVR connected to your network.
Wondering what install day will look like for you?
Every property is different - give our team a call and we'll talk through what to expect at yours.
Next: set up viewing your footage
Once your system is physically installed and connected, the next step is setting up how you'll actually view your cameras - on your phone or from a PC.
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