A good CCTV system is about more than just hanging cameras. Camera placement, lens choice, network infrastructure, storage capacity, and remote access all affect whether the footage will actually be useful when you need it. Millar Electrics installs IP-based CCTV systems with hardwired PoE cabling — more reliable than wireless, better image quality, and no battery-powered camera going flat at the worst moment. We plan CCTV systems around the threats you're actually trying to address. Residential installs typically cover entry points, driveways, and backyard access. Retail installs focus on till points, stock areas, and customer entries. Commercial premises often need to cover car parks, loading bays, and specific high-value equipment.
All our installs use hardwired PoE cabling — no wireless cameras, no battery-powered gimmicks. Footage is stored on a locally-hosted NVR by default (no monthly subscription), with cloud backup available for high-security sites. We configure remote viewing so you can check the cameras from your phone without exposing the system to the open internet.
Camera and lens choices
We use Hikvision and Dahua professional-grade cameras with IP67 weatherproofing and IR night vision. Lens choice depends on what the camera covers — wide-angle for entry overviews, narrow-angle telephoto for licence-plate-readable footage at distance. We position cameras for compliance with privacy expectations (no covert recording into neighbours' yards) and document the system layout for your records.
Storage, retention and remote access
We size the NVR storage for your retention requirement — 30 days is typical for residential, 90 days for commercial. Remote viewing is via the manufacturer's app, with strong authentication and no port-forwarding required. For multi-site businesses we can configure central monitoring across all locations.
Standards we work to
The mains supply feeding the NVR and any PoE switch is installed to AS/NZS 3000 (the Wiring Rules). PoE cabling between the switch and the cameras is customer cabling under the ACMA Cabling Provider Rules, which adopt AS/CA S009 — that's why CCTV cabling work has to be done by a registered cabler. Outdoor camera enclosures are IP-rated to AS/NZS 60529 (we use IP66/IP67 housings as a default for any external mount). Image retention and the location of recorded footage are covered by Australian privacy legislation rather than an electrical standard, but we configure the system to default to on-site storage so the privacy boundary is clear.