Busting CCTV Myths and Misleading Information

The world of CCTV is unfortunately filled with misleading information and figures as manufacturers and suppliers try to outsell the competition with amazing claims which are often a lot less amazing than they first appear. These extravagant claims combined with the conflicting information being shared by retailers, manufacturers and a range of other sources mean that it is all too common for people to be left confused and unsure when it comes to CCTV and home security systems.

In order to make your CCTV buying experience a bit easier and more rewarding, we have created a list of some of the most common myths which concern CCTV so you are not caught out by false information.

Myth 1: Wireless CCTV is More Advanced

Wireless CCTV is no more popular than it was almost a decade ago despite a decade of huge technological growth across most industries. Wireless cameras still present challenges and weaknesses in security not found in hardwired CCTV systems. The idea of CCTV being wireless is enough to convince many consumers that the technology in the cameras is more advanced but this is not necessarily the case.

Generally, wireless CCTV cameras are not as good as they are usually aimed at the lower end of the market. Often, they have limited options when it comes to lenses and due to the frequency they use, most of them can have their signal disrupted by common items such as phones, microwaves and baby monitors. They are vulnerable to hackers and above all, they are not entirely wireless as they use wires for a power source.

Myth 2: You Only Need High Resolution to Capture Detail

This is not strictly true, whilst high resolution will improve the detail it will capture this only works in conjunction with the right camera. For example, wide-angle cameras with a high resolution will still struggle to capture the detail of objects in the distance as pixels spread apart quickly as you move away from the camera. A better way of capturing detail is to focus on buying the right type of camera and positioning them correctly (for more information watch these guides to positioning CCTV cameras).

In addition, not only does a higher resolution not necessarily result in better detail but it can take up vast amounts of storage space. With 4k resolution, you will get just 2.6 days of rolling footage compared to 21 days with HD1080p.

Myth 3: Low Lux Is How Well A CCTV Camera Performs at Night

Low Lux can be one indicator of how well a CCTV camera will perform in low light, but the Lux figure can also be very misleading. The lower the number of Lux the better the camera is supposed to work in low ambient light, but many manufacturers or retailers will report a lux of 0 on cameras with infrared (IR). This offers no information or indication of the sensitivity of the cameras as all IR-equipped cameras could report a lux figure of 0.

Furthermore, there is no industry-wide standard on the quality of image needed meaning that the same lux figures can reflect different image quality in two different cameras. In addition to this, the results will vary depending on the lens used on the camera when it is tested. The analogy we use is this; it is like testing how quickly two cars go from 0-60mph except one car is tested on a flat road whilst the other going down a steep hill. The testing conditions are too different making it unfair to make a direct comparison.

Hopefully by dispelling these three myths we have helped you find a better CCTV system than if you were to believe these common misconceptions. Explore our range of CCTV cameras and CCTV system DVR recorders and make sure to contact us if you have any more questions concerning what will be the best CCTV for you.