Home CCTV in 2026 — what you actually need (and what to skip)
We sell and install CCTV every week in Valsad. Apartments, bungalows, shops, clinics, schools. Every customer walks in confused by online ads promising "4K kit at ₹4,999". Let's clear it up.
The 4-question checklist
- How many cameras do you actually need?
- Indoor, outdoor, or both?
- Do you want phone access from outside home?
- How long do you want to keep footage?
Answer these four and everything else — resolution, DVR vs NVR, storage size, cabling — falls out automatically.
How many cameras?
| Home type | Typical count | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| 1BHK apartment | 2 cameras | Entrance + living room |
| 2BHK / 3BHK apartment | 3–4 cameras | + Balcony + common passage |
| Bungalow | 6–8 cameras | All entrances + parking + compound |
| Shop | 3–4 cameras | Entry + counter + stock area |
2MP or 4MP or 4K?
Short answer: 2MP for indoors, 4MP for outdoor and critical spots. 4K (8MP) sounds great in the brochure but needs much bigger storage and better cabling. Unless you're doing number-plate recognition or covering a parking lot, you don't need it.
- 2MP (1080p) — good for up to 8–10 metres. Faces clear, reading text OK.
- 4MP — our default for outdoor. Faces and license plates readable up to 15m.
- 4K (8MP) — only for long-range outdoor or court-admissible evidence. 3–4× more storage.
DVR or NVR?
DVRs use analog cameras and coaxial cable — cheaper, older technology. NVRs use IP cameras over ethernet (PoE) — cleaner cabling, better image, future-proof.
For a new setup today, we recommend NVR + IP cameras. The price difference is ₹3,000–5,000 and the reliability is dramatically better.
Storage — how much?
Rough rule: 4-camera 2MP setup → 1TB gives ~20 days of recording. 8-camera 4MP → 4TB for a month.
Most customers keep 15–30 days of footage. Anything longer and the hard drive becomes the biggest cost.
What to skip
- "WiFi cameras" for full-home CCTV — fine for one nursery cam, terrible for a 6-camera house. WiFi drops; cables don't.
- ₹4,999 full kits on Amazon — the DVR dies in 6 months, no service, no accountability. We've replaced dozens.
- "AI facial recognition" at home — overkill, overpriced, and privacy-risky. Ignore.
What we recommend in Valsad
For most homes we install Hikvision 4-camera 2MP bullet kits with 1TB storage — around ₹18,500 installed. Add phone app access, 15-minute training, free cable routing (up to reasonable distances), and 1-year warranty on install.
Installation — don't DIY
CCTV cabling needs to survive 10 years of monsoon, sun and rats. We've seen customers DIY, save ₹3,000 on install, and lose the whole system in 18 months because the cable was run through an unprotected outdoor rail. Worth the ₹2,500 for a proper install.
Phone app — what works
Hikvision's Hik-Connect works reliably on Android and iPhone. Live view, playback, motion alerts. We set it up free on your phone before handing over the system.