BY RHODIUM SECURITY · BUYING GUIDE
The most useful CCTV budget separates equipment, installation and optional services. A camera kit price is a starting point, not a promise of a finished installation. Use the current Rhodium Security catalogue for equipment prices, then compare clearly defined configurations and a separate installation scope.
Read the equipment price as a specific configuration
For an individual camera, check the full model, lens, housing colour and whether an additional recorder is needed. For a kit, check the camera count, camera models, recorder model and included hard drive. Similar titles can hide a meaningful difference, such as a four-channel versus eight-channel recorder.
Treat “No HDD” as an incomplete recording-storage choice that must be addressed in your plan. Do not assume the largest drive shown in a list of options is already included. Read the selected configuration and its price together, including the displayed GST treatment.
Separate camera choices from paid extras
A lens or housing colour selection can define the camera without adding to its price. Storage, an upgraded recorder, additional cameras or a monitor can change the total. Keep each extra on its own line so two quotes can be compared on the same basis.
Use this comparison structure: selected cameras and recorder, included storage, added equipment, installation, and any recurring services. Count an item once. If a kit already contains the drive you need, do not add a second storage allowance unless it has a defined purpose. Confirm whether an option is priced per item or once for the configured package.
- Exact camera model, lens and quantity.
- Recorder model, camera inputs and included storage.
- Optional equipment and the quantity of each extra.
- Equipment subtotal and whether GST is included.
- Separate installation and service lines.
What belongs in an installation quote?
An installer needs more than the number of cameras. Provide the address, a property sketch, intended mounting positions, building height, roof or ceiling access, likely cable routes and the recorder location. Identify any existing cabling you hope to reuse and provide existing model numbers.
Ask for a scope that describes cable runs, mounting hardware, equipment configuration, recording setup and the handover you expect. Include whether remote viewing will be configured and which devices are involved. Ask how extra work will be identified and quoted if access or cabling differs from the initial plan.
A fixed installation figure without these details can make unlike jobs appear comparable. Rhodium Security’s equipment listings do not establish an installation price. Obtain a separate quote for your property before treating an equipment shortlist as the finished budget.
Budget for the recording period you need
A fixed hard-drive capacity does not guarantee a fixed retention period. Axis explains that storage estimates depend on video bitrate and the recording scenario. Ask for an estimate based on your selected camera count, settings and recording schedule rather than assuming every four-camera kit retains the same number of days.
Think about when you usually notice an event. If you may be away for an extended period, include that in the brief. Also ask how older footage is handled as storage fills and how to export a clip you want to keep. These are practical setup questions, not reasons to choose a drive by capacity alone.
Manufacturer references: Axis: bitrate control and storage estimates
Compare the total, then confirm the scope
Use the same camera positions and recording requirements when comparing Dahua, Hikvision and HiLook. A lower total may reflect different included equipment rather than a like-for-like saving. Ask what would change if you added another camera later: a spare camera input alone is not a complete expansion plan.
Bring your shortlist and scope questions to Rhodium Security at 12 Stelvio Close, Lynbrook. Check the showroom page for contact and visit arrangements. If an alarm is also part of the project, keep its devices, installation and any services on separate lines so the combined budget stays understandable.