For new cameras or a better layout, we offer a free site survey. We look at the entrances you actually use, rather than recommending a box by camera count. Finchley Aerials brings 25 years' experience, practical advice and a fixed written quote to your security plans.
Start with what your existing cameras are doing
Tell us whether the missing image affects the monitor, your phone or both. That distinction helps us prepare for the visit. We check the recorder output, individual channels, power supplies and connections before suggesting replacement equipment. A damaged plug should not become an excuse to sell an entire system.
Around Hendon Central, flats can have equipment tucked into cupboards with little ventilation. We inspect recorder airflow as well as wiring. Where a supply serves several cameras, we measure its performance under load; a picture that returns briefly after restarting is not proof that the underlying problem has disappeared.
A free survey for the front door, not just the frontage
Hendon's inter-war semis, terraces and Brent Street flats need different camera positions. At a semi, a broad driveway image may miss the person standing close to the porch. At a flat, we need to establish which entrance belongs to you and which areas are shared before proposing any fixings.
During the free site survey, we walk the approach with you and identify the detail each view should deliver. We inspect mounting surfaces, possible cable entries, electrical supply and recorder space. The written proposal sets out equipment and installation scope. Any chargeable fault investigation or repair is discussed separately, with a clear price before work starts.
Tracing wet connections and intermittent pictures
Outdoor faults need more than a restart. We examine junction boxes, cable jackets and exposed terminations for water entry or movement. A cable pinched by a gate can interrupt pictures without looking broken from a distance. We test the suspect run and explain whether a local repair or replacement length makes more sense.
A typical job here: at a Hendon terrace, the passage camera disappears while the front view remains stable. We compare the power and signal at both ends of the passage cable, isolate the failing connection and protect the repaired junction. We then check recorded playback, not simply the restored live image.
Brent Street entrances and quieter garden approaches
Street-facing cameras near Brent Street need carefully drawn detection areas. Passing vehicles and pedestrians outside the boundary can overwhelm useful notifications. We separate the entrance threshold from the wider scene, then check whether the lens gives enough detail where someone pauses to knock or open a gate.
For homes around Sunny Hill Park, we inspect vegetation and changing shadows along the rear approach. Branches should not dominate the detection zone or hide a gate. We discuss trimming access and future maintenance rather than mounting a camera somewhere that only works while the garden is bare. Cable runs follow agreed routes with properly sealed entries.
Useful night images without lighting the neighbours
We look for reflected infrared light from porch ceilings, walls and nearby drainpipes. These surfaces can make the background seem black while the foreground glows. Moving the camera slightly may improve the result more than adding another illuminator. Dirty covers and spider webs also deserve attention before equipment is condemned.
Colour recording after dark depends on available light and the camera's capabilities. We explain any supplementary lighting and its direction, particularly where opposite windows are close. We agree how a night check will be completed; daylight footage alone cannot demonstrate the final view after sunset. On-site work continues only while conditions and daylight permit safe access.
Keep recordings useful when broadband is unavailable
With a suitably configured wired recorder, local footage can continue during an internet outage while the cameras and recorder retain power. Remote viewing is different: it needs a working connection. We favour testable wired links for permanent coverage and inspect older coax before deciding whether compatible upgrades can reuse it.
We check the recording schedule, drive status, clock and playback timeline. Storage depends on camera settings and activity, so we explain the expected retention rather than promising an arbitrary number of weeks. If an incident matters, tell us before repairs begin. Formatting a disk or replacing it is not a method of recovering footage.
Phone access with sensible ownership and privacy
When an app fails after a router change, we investigate network settings before touching the cameras. We test access away from your home Wi-Fi using mobile data. You practise opening playback and exporting a short clip, so a working thumbnail is not the whole handover.
We verify authority before attempting supported account recovery on inherited equipment. Each authorised user should have appropriate access, not an old installer's shared password. We aim views away from neighbouring windows and apply privacy masks where necessary. Capturing beyond your boundary can bring data protection duties, including secure handling, appropriate signage and proportionate retention; we explain the practical implications without promising legal compliance.
Arrange a Hendon repair or survey visit
Call 0800 206 2385, free to call, during Mon-Sat 8am-7pm, or WhatsApp 07595 292534. Include your NW4 postcode, equipment make and a description of the fault. A photograph of the recorder label is useful; never send account passwords. We offer same-day appointments where possible, with availability confirmed when you contact us.
We are Finchley Aerials and Satellites, based at Britannia Road, Finchley N12 9RU. Tell us about entry codes, parking restrictions and access to communal cupboards before we arrive. Advice is free, and the CCTV site survey carries no obligation. We agree the proposed work with you rather than starting an unapproved upgrade.