- ▸Start with the access points: gate, front door, back yard, garage.
- ▸IP cameras powered over PoE (a single cable) are today’s standard.
- ▸AI detection of people and vehicles drastically cuts false alerts.
How many cameras, and where
For a typical house, 4–6 cameras usually cover everything that matters: the gate and driveway, the front door, the yard, the side of the house and the garage. Cameras go at 2.5–3 m high — enough to see faces, but out of easy reach.
Resolution: how much is enough
- ▸4 MPThe balanced choice for typical entrances and yards.
- ▸8 MP (4K)For wide areas, or when you want to zoom in — for licence plates, for example.
- ▸The lens matters just as much: too wide an angle “shrinks” details at a distance.
Night vision
Infrared cameras record in black and white in total darkness. “Color night” models use more sensitive sensors and sometimes a discreet light to give colour images at night too — useful where the colour of clothes or a car matters.
Recording: NVR or cloud
An NVR (recorder) with a hard drive keeps recordings locally with no subscription, usually for 2–4 weeks depending on the number of cameras and the disk size. Cloud is useful as a backup if the NVR is stolen, but requires a subscription. Either way, you see live footage in the app from anywhere.
Power and cabling
We recommend PoE-powered IP cameras: one network cable carries both power and video. The installation is cleaner, safer and more stable than Wi-Fi cameras, which depend on signal strength and separate power adapters.
GDPR and the neighbours
- ▸Cameras should cover your property — not the neighbours’ yard or the street beyond what’s strictly necessary.
- ▸Where cameras may capture other people, an information sign is recommended.
- ▸Access to recordings must be protected with a password and in-app authentication.
This guide is for information only and is not legal advice.
For special cases (commercial premises, employees), check the applicable GDPR requirements.
