Already have cameras? We repair installations from other suppliers, investigate unreliable recordings and help restore phone viewing. A free site survey lets us inspect the property and discuss what is worth retaining. We give you the scope and cost in writing before you decide on the work.
Start at the gate rather than the roofline
For a semi around Stonegrove, we check the path between the drive and the side entrance. One high camera might show the whole frontage but miss a face under the porch. We compare mounting positions from the visitor's route, including any point where a vehicle or hedge interrupts the view.
Bungalows towards Canons Park need their own approach. A low eaves position can be accessible but too close to reflective surfaces, while a distant view loses detail. We explain the compromises in plain language and agree the scene each camera is intended to capture before selecting lenses and equipment.
The free survey includes the less visible parts
We look for a secure, ventilated recorder position, an appropriate power supply and a practical connection to your network. Cable length and access matter as much as the external view. Tell us if the loft is boarded, rooms are locked or access to an adjoining passage needs arranging.
Your free survey leads to a fixed written quote describing the proposed installation or upgrade. We identify optional items rather than quietly adding them to the job. Where an existing fault needs paid investigation beyond the survey, we agree that separately. You can ask for advice without committing to a complete replacement.
Do not write off a system because its installer has gone
We can take a fresh look at cameras fitted by another company. Useful information includes the recorder model, the number of affected views and whether the problem began after bad weather, a power cut or a router change. Photographs of labels help; passwords should stay private.
Our checks separate failed supplies, damaged connectors, camera faults and recorder problems. We verify storage operation as well as live images. Older analogue equipment can sometimes accept compatible replacement parts, but we test formats and cable condition first. An upgrade recommendation should follow those findings, not simply the age of the box.
Broadway premises need views that serve the business
At an Edgware Broadway shop, the entrance, counter and delivery access do different jobs. We discuss which activity needs recording and avoid filling storage with unnecessary pavement footage. For flats above commercial premises, we establish whether the proposed camera belongs to the business or the residential entrance.
Shared equipment needs an authorised decision-maker. We ask who owns the walls, who can approve cabling and who will administer recordings. Staff and residents should not have to guess who has access. If work affects protected fabric or another consent requirement, we flag the check before fitting anything.
Tidy wired connections, with repair access left intact
New permanent systems are generally best served by wired cameras. With suitable power-over-Ethernet equipment, a single network run supplies both power and video. We secure the route, protect outside joints and seal building entries. We do not leave loose wiring across a path or force a cable through a closing door.
Where existing coax is usable, keeping it can avoid disturbance inside the house. We test before making that recommendation and explain any limitations. Concealing a connector permanently behind finished surfaces makes later maintenance harder, so we plan serviceable junctions and agree visible trunking or other finishing choices beforehand.
A driveway at night is a different scene
Headlights, porch lights and reflective number plates can dominate an image after dark. We consider exposure and camera angle rather than promising readable detail from every moving vehicle. A camera intended to watch the gate should be specified for that task, not assumed to read plates throughout a wide scene.
We also check infrared reflections under low bungalow eaves and the lighting in side passages. Colour night images need sufficient illumination. If extra light is proposed, its direction matters for neighbouring windows. We discuss achievable detail and remaining blind spots so you understand the system's limits before approving it.
Control what is recorded and who can retrieve it
We narrow views towards your own property and apply supported privacy masks to exclude irrelevant neighbouring areas. Recording outside the boundary can create data protection duties. We explain practical measures such as signage, restricted accounts and proportionate retention; audio is not enabled as a routine extra.
At handover, we demonstrate finding and exporting an event, confirm the clock and test authorised phone viewing away from your Wi-Fi. Storage duration depends on the configured streams and drive capacity. Before replacing storage, we ask about footage you need, since a new drive or reset does not preserve old material automatically.
Get practical advice before buying replacement parts
Our free number is 0800 206 2385; WhatsApp is 07595 292534. Contact us Mon-Sat between 8am and 7pm. Same-day appointments are offered where possible, with on-site work until sunset. Mention your postcode, access arrangements and parking limitations when booking.
Finchley Aerials and Satellites, Britannia Road, Finchley N12 9RU, has 25 years' experience. We offer free advice, free CCTV site surveys and a clear price before work starts. We would rather identify a failed connection than ask you to buy cameras that cannot solve the fault.