You can also call us about cameras fitted by someone else. We repair existing CCTV in N10, including lost channels, failed recording and phone connections that no longer work. We explain what is salvageable and what needs attention, rather than treating every fault as a reason to replace the system.
A restrained installation starts with the building
Edwardian terraces and mansion flats call for care over mounting positions. We inspect the entrance, available cable paths and supporting surface before showing you a proposed layout. A small camera mounted at a useful angle can do more than a conspicuous unit placed high above the detail you need.
Many properties lie within the Muswell Hill conservation area. We ask you to confirm any relevant consent requirements, including listed status or lease restrictions, rather than assuming every external alteration is permitted. The specification follows those checks. We do not drill decorative stonework or run cable across an architectural feature without discussing the route.
An inherited recorder deserves investigation
When you move into a property with CCTV, there may be no paperwork and no familiar app account. We identify the cameras and recorder, check ownership and examine the connections. Supported account recovery may be possible, but we cannot guarantee access to equipment locked to somebody else's account.
For a working system with a new fault, we separate missing power, lost video and failed storage. We check connectors and supplies before choosing parts, and test a suspect channel against compatible equipment when appropriate. If footage matters, tell us before any reset: protecting existing recordings takes priority over making the menu look tidy.
Doorsteps and side returns need different views
A front entrance off The Broadway may sit close to a busy pavement, while the rear of a terrace has a narrow, shaded side return. We set a separate purpose for each proposed camera. A front view might identify somebody at the bell; the rear view might show access through a gate.
Steps and sloping approaches affect the angle to a face. We assess the position at visitor height, not just from where a ladder is convenient. For mansion flats, a camera outside one doorway must not casually become surveillance of every neighbour's landing. We agree the extent of capture before selecting the lens.
Fix the weak link without disturbing every room
Old coaxial wiring can sometimes support an economical repair or compatible upgrade. We examine its condition, the video standard and power requirements together. A new camera that cannot communicate with the recorder is not an upgrade. We show you what can remain and where replacement wiring is necessary.
For new wired cameras, we discuss surface routes, accessible voids and entry seals before installation. Shared staircases require permission and careful treatment of any fire-resisting construction. We avoid loose leads across circulation space, keep joints serviceable and locate the recorder where it can be maintained without being left openly accessible to visitors.
Shaded gardens need a realistic night plan
Around Highgate Wood, foliage and deep shade can make the rear scene very different from the front of the house. We consider light reaching the subject, reflections from pale surfaces and seasonal growth. A daytime demonstration cannot establish how much colour detail will be available on a dark winter evening.
Infrared can illuminate a scene without providing colour information, but a nearby downpipe or wall may bounce it back into the lens. We inspect these details when an existing camera produces a washed-out image. Additional lighting is discussed with its direction and neighbouring windows in mind, not treated as an automatic solution.
Playback, permissions and useful alerts
We demonstrate saved footage as well as live viewing. That means checking the clock, recording schedule and storage status, then locating an event and exporting a short clip. We explain how image quality and recording activity affect retention, rather than promising a storage duration without examining the actual configuration.
On your phone, we test access using mobile data and review authorised users. Motion zones can reduce alerts from passing pedestrians, although no setting guarantees perfect detection. We leave you controlling the main account and explain basic maintenance. Broadband loss can interrupt remote access even when a powered local recorder continues saving video.
Agree who is responsible in a shared property
For a block or converted house, we establish who authorises the work and who manages requests for footage. The free survey can identify technical options, but it does not replace agreement between leaseholders, a freeholder or managing agent. We ask for approval before fixing equipment to shared surfaces.
Views extending outside your private boundary may carry data protection duties. We help limit unnecessary capture and discuss signage, restricted access and deletion arrangements. Privacy masking is useful where supported, but it is not permission to record indiscriminately. Audio is normally left off unless a justified purpose and appropriate responsibilities have been considered.
Tell us what you want to see, or what has stopped working
Call free on 0800 206 2385 or WhatsApp 07595 292534. We welcome photographs of equipment labels, not passwords. Our advice and site surveys are free; any paid investigation, repair or installation is explained with a clear price before work starts. We provide a fixed written quote for the agreed work.
Finchley Aerials and Satellites is based at Britannia Road, Finchley N12 9RU, with 25 years' experience. Contact hours are 8am-7pm, Mon-Sat, and we work on site until sunset. We try to accommodate same-day requests where possible, subject to safe access and availability.