Security camera wiring for New York homes, stores and buildings

Wireless cameras are easy to buy and easy to lose: they drop off the network, drain batteries and stop recording when you need them. A wired PoE system sends power and video down one cable, so each camera stays up as long as the recorder does.

We plan coverage with you, run and test the cable, and power the recorder so a short outage doesn't leave a gap in the footage.

Each camera gets its own Cat6 run back to the recorder or a PoE switch, which carries both power and video. We route cable through ceilings, basements and conduit where it's exposed, keep runs within the distance limit, and terminate each one with a weather-appropriate connector at the camera. Every run is tested before the camera is mounted, labeled at both ends, and noted on a map of the system. Adding a camera later is then a matter of one more run to a known port.

The recorder is the heart of the system, and it's often the weakest link: a box on a shelf, plugged into a power strip, sharing a circuit with a microwave. We give it a dedicated outlet, space for a UPS so it keeps recording through brief outages, and a secure spot where it can't be unplugged or stolen easily. If you want remote viewing, we connect it to your network and confirm it works from your phone before we leave. Storage is sized to the retention period you need.

Storefront and lobby cameras need to capture faces at the door, the register or mailboxes, and the path in and out, without pointing into glare from windows. We place cameras at head height angles rather than straight down, choose lenses for the distance, and cover entrances from inside so the camera sees people as they come in. For residential lobbies, we coordinate placement with management so hallways and entries are covered and tenants' doors aren't the focus. Staff are shown how to pull and export a clip.

Outdoor cameras need a sealed cable entry, a junction box or mount rated for the weather, and a position high enough to be out of easy reach. On brick and stone we drill cleanly and seal every penetration so water can't follow the cable inside. Yard, alley and roof cameras get vandal-resistant housings where needed. We aim each exterior camera at your own property, entrance and yard, and adjust the view after dark so night footage is usable. Infrared range is checked against the actual distance to the gate.