The cameras are only part of an IP CCTV system. Cat6 cabling, PoE switches, recorder capacity and remote connectivity determine whether video arrives reliably and whether the system can be maintained. Sentinel5 brings CCTV and networking together in the survey and installation plan.
Cat6 cabling and practical routes
We plan cable routes around building access, installation conditions and future maintenance. Cable type, length, termination and physical protection should suit the route. Outdoor runs, shared containment and links between separate buildings need specific consideration. Labelling makes later fault finding much less disruptive.
PoE power and switch capacity
A PoE switch needs compatible ports and enough power for the full connected load. Night illumination and other camera functions can affect demand. We consider spare capacity for agreed expansion alongside uplink bandwidth, rather than choosing a switch only by the number of sockets on its front panel.
VLANs and managed access
VLANs can separate camera traffic from other users of a network. Effective separation also needs suitable firewall rules, management access and a documented route to the recorder. We coordinate with your IT provider so authorised viewing and maintenance work without unnecessarily exposing cameras to guest or office devices.
Fibre and separate buildings
Longer routes or links between buildings may be better served by fibre. The design includes endpoints, compatible optics, physical routing and power at the far end. A wireless link may be considered where conditions support it, but it needs a suitable path, capacity and installation arrangement.
Power resilience and handover
UPS planning should account for the recorder, switches and any connection equipment required during an outage. Runtime depends on load and battery condition. At handover, clear equipment labels, camera names and agreed configuration records make the system easier to support. Discuss your commercial CCTV network.
Existing infrastructure and authorised access
A CCTV installation may need to connect through an existing Ubiquiti, Cisco, Aruba or Ruckus network. We check exact models and supported functions with the network owner. Where the route includes wireless equipment, the useful question is whether it can reliably carry the required camera traffic; where a firewall is involved, the recorder and authorised viewing paths need agreed rules. Those checks support the CCTV proposal and its documented support scope.