Give every camera one clear job
Record one row per position: zone, required detail, target distance, day/night light, lens task, mounting point, cable route, maximum power, average recording bitrate and schedule. Ask for comparable sample footage when the brief depends on identifying a face or another detail; resolution alone is insufficient.
| Cameras | Starting plan | Expansion check |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | Entrance, service area, stockroom door and delivery approach. | Check blind spots first; compare spare recorder channels and powered ports. |
| 8 | Separate public, restricted, stock and vehicle zones. | Check spare channels, PoE power and bandwidth together. |
| 16 | Group buildings, switches, uplinks and recording priorities. | Check the future network load and supported drive configuration. |
Check the four-camera example on site
- Entrance: face direction, backlighting and detail at the doorway.
- Service area: handover angle, obstructions and the agreed detail.
- Stockroom door: door position, nighttime light and recording schedule.
- Delivery approach: vehicle path, headlight glare and unseen approaches.
Walk each route before fixing the quantity. If walls, shelves or a separate path leave a critical view unseen, revise the plan. Different zones may need different lenses, bitrates or schedules.
Check five separate capacities
- Camera quantity: cameras actually supplied.
- NVR channels: supported streams at the required settings.
- PoE ports and power: compatible standard, per-port rating and total budget, including enabled night lighting or PTZ loads.
- Incoming bandwidth: recorder and network limits; average storage bitrate does not establish peak network demand.
- Drive support: supported models, bays, capacity limits and space usable for video.
Mixed-brand video does not prove audio, smart events or PTZ control. Check exact models and firmware against the ONVIF product register and applicable profile features, then test required functions.
Estimate the recording budget
For continuous recording: video TB = cameras × average Mbps × days × 0.0108. At an assumed 4 Mbps per camera for 14 days, 4 cameras produce 2.42 TB, 8 produce 4.84 TB and 16 produce 9.68 TB.
These decimal-TB examples exclude audio, overhead, reserve and growth. They are arithmetic examples, not 4MP/4K presets or measured retention. Calculate mixed bitrates or recording days; measure representative bitrate where possible.
Prepare the bill of materials and handover brief
List camera quantities, exact NVR and drive options, power supplies, switches, cables, connectors and mounts. “No HDD” means no recording drive is included. Confirm supplied branding, delivery and warranty terms in the quotation; photographs do not define the package.
Keep the detailed acceptance record
Save the approved drawing, model and firmware list, channel names, recording schedule and required functions. Verify day/night detail, timestamps, overwrite, playback and export for every channel. Test internet outages separately if required. Record failed or untested functions; a short acceptance test does not guarantee future conditions.
For repeat or private-label orders, retain the approved sample record and packing list. Document branding and packaging separately from technical acceptance.
Compare system options, then request a matched configuration with site country, positions, target distances, night conditions, recording days, remote-access needs and expansion plans. Include existing model numbers for replacements; omit passwords and private footage.
Next: commission and hand over the system. For broader project planning, use the installer project page.