FAQs

Everyone wants something slightly different out of a CCTV system, and everyones home is also very different. Because of this, we offer a free home visit to discuss what you want out of a system. We will also perform an initial site survey at the same time to work out any cable routes and the best options for providing power.

There are no ongoing costs. Once installed, the mobile app for viewing, and configuring is free, and you're not forced into any kind of cloud storage arrangement, although it is an option if you do want it. 

The optional cloud video storage costs start at £2.99 a month for a single camera, if required.

The cameras are of course powered, so there is a very small ongoing electricity cost - they use about 8 - 10W during the day, dependant on model. Night vision and/or built in flood lights will increase power consumption to about 20-24W, again, dependant on model (10-15p per day).

Typically only the indoor cameras are Wi-Fi as these will be in the Wi-Fi coverage area.

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Outdoor cameras are not usually Wi-Fi enabled for a number or reasons: firstly, coverage may not be great, but even if there is Wi-Fi signal, it is not good practice to stream security video over Wi-Fi. The recording may also drop out once in a while. Secondly, all cameras need power which will be via a cable so it is better to run the video feed down that same cable (this is called Power Over Ethernet).

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Outdoor cameras capable of Wi-Fi are available for outbuildings and sheds where running a cable will be problematic, but these will still need local mains power for a plug in power supply. A Wi-Fi repeater may also be required in some cases in order to ensure a good signal.

Definitely not. Each camera is pasword protected and without the correct password you can't get access.

As part of the installation and setup, one of the steps is for you to choose the password(s) you want. At this step you will be asked to enter the password yourself, so that even us at Rugby Smart CCTV won't know what it is.

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You can of course share that password with other family members so that they can see the views if you want to.

That is a common question and a legitimate concern. Clearly you are not allowed to simply spy on your neighbours, and there has to be some thought on what the cameras are pointing at and why.

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Essentially, as long as you have a legimate reason to want to monitor something, then that is usually good enough (not always but usually). Things like monitoring who is at the front door, or watching your nice new car in the drive way, are all perfectly acceptable reasons for installing CCTV, especially if you've already been a victim of a doorstep crime or vandalism to your car. As long as the cameras are pointing at the right thing, and aren't unnecessarily seeing more than they need to, then all should be well.

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To assist with complying with regulations, all cameras also have the ability to 'mask' or 'block' parts of the field of view. Those parts will then no longer be seen/recorded. In this way you can look down at your car and mask off the neighbours driveway, for example. This feature is usually required when installing 'Video doorbells' as these will naturally be pointing right out at the street, and at everyone walking/driving by.

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In all cases it is recommended that you simpy speak to your neighbours and let them know you're getting CCTV - and why. Once installed you should show them what the cameras can see. In most cases neighbours will appreciate the extra security in the neighborhod and may even request that your camera sees a bit of their property, or include their car in the view too!

Of course, if your neigbours are the reason that you need CCTV in the first place then thats a different matter, but our installation experts can advise you on the best position to locate each camera for your unique situation.

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GDPR is often cited as a concern when installing cameras, but it is more concerned with how organisations store customer data than with individuals, and as such can be mostly ignored for the average home owner. Whilst a camera is clearly recording and storing images of people, as long as you have a legitimate reason for cameras being there, and have been installed professionally - with thought - then there should be no issue. We can discuss this further if you have any concerns.

Essentially everything connects to your home broadband router which gives access to the video streams when you're out and about.

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Typically the connection will not be direct to the router but instead will be via a Power-Over-Ethernet (POE) switch which will send power to the cameras at the same time as receiving the video and passing on to the router.

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A single POE switch can provide power to one, four or eight cameras dependant on model and the site survey will determine how may of each type will be required and the optimum positions to install them.

We can do this, and have done in the past, but please bear in mind that we cannot offer any waranty on devices not supplied by us.

If any of the hardware supplied and installed by Rugby Smart CCTV, develops a fault within its guarantee period, it will be repaired or replaced free of charge, at our descretion.

In all cases we reserve the right to inspect the product and verify the fault. We may also charge a call out fee to investigate faults.

We do not cover faults caused by accident, neglect, misuse or normal wear and tear.

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The guarantee period for networking components is typically 12 months, but because Rugby Smart CCTV is an official Reolink partner, cameras have 12 to 24 months guarantee period dependant on model.

While battery powered cameras are available, they are not recommended and we do not supply them.

Firstly, to ensure that the battery lasts a long time, these kinds of cameras will go into a sleep mode and must be activated by movement, or will go into a low power mode where only a single frame of video is recorded every few seconds. Both methods of battery saving mean that you will miss lots of things going on.

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Secondly, you will forget to charge the battery! This is inevitable and again you will miss that vital recording when this happens.

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Thirdly, even if you remember to charge the battery, having to get up a ladder every week to take the camera down, get it charged and then put it back up again is a massive pain that soon wears thin.