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CCTV Systems

Whether you’re retrofitting a corner shop or specifying a multi-site network, the right closed-circuit television (CCTV) system comes down to two decisions: the platform that suits the job, and a brand you can stand behind on compliance. Huvo stocks Hikvision and Serage across both IP and analogue ranges, and our in-house engineers help you spec the system, not just sell you the box.

Below is a quick guide to choosing your platform, where each brand fits, and how to get a system designed for free.

IP or analogue? Choosing the right platform

Most jobs land on one platform or the other for practical reasons: what cabling is already in the building, the budget, and what the customer actually needs the footage to do. Get this decision right at survey stage and the rest of the install falls into place.

Analogue (HD-over-coax)

Modern analogue isn’t the grainy footage of old. Today’s analogue cameras carry high-definition images, up to 4K, over coaxial cable using formats such as HD-TVI, HD-CVI and AHD, recorded to a digital video recorder (DVR).

It’s the fast, low-fuss choice when the building is already wired for coax, or when the customer wants reliable deterrence and clear recordings without a network to manage.

  • Reuses existing coaxial cabling, ideal for retrofits and upgrades
  • No network or IT knowledge needed on site
  • Low latency and no bandwidth contention to plan around
  • Typically lower cost per channel
  • Resolutions now up to 4K, so “analogue” no longer means low detail

IP (network cameras)

Internet protocol (IP) cameras run over standard data cabling (Cat5e/Cat6) and draw power down the same cable using power over Ethernet (PoE), recording to a network video recorder (NVR). This single-cable approach speeds up installs and is the basis for almost all on-board analytics.

It’s the platform to specify when detail, analytics or scale matter: new builds, evidential-quality footage, or systems that need to grow.

  • Single PoE cable carries power and data
  • Higher resolutions, including 8MP, 12MP and beyond, for usable digital zoom and detail
  • On-camera artificial intelligence (AI): line-crossing, intrusion detection, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and more
  • Scales easily across switches, and over fibre for long runs
  • Two-way audio and remote management as standard on most ranges

Which platform for which job?

ConsiderationLean analogueLean IP
Existing cablingCoax already in placeNew cabling or structured network
Detail requiredGeneral coverage and deterrenceEvidential detail, facial ID, plate capture
AnalyticsMinimalAI detection, search, alerts
System sizeSmall, fixedLarger or expanding
Budget priorityLowest cost per channelLong-term flexibility

Hikvision: breadth, value and proven analytics

Hikvision is the most widely deployed CCTV brand in the world, and for good reason: an enormous range, strong margins, and mature analytics that genuinely cut false alarms on site. Features such as AcuSense, for deep-learning human and vehicle filtering, and ColorVu, for full-colour imaging in low light, are now standard across much of the line-up. The Turbo HD range also covers analogue installs where IP isn’t needed.

  • IP and Turbo HD analogue cameras, from entry-level to high-spec
  • AcuSense and ColorVu across mainstream ranges
  • Deep NVR and DVR options, plus Hik-Connect remote management
  • Extensive lens, housing and form-factor choice for awkward sites

A note on procurement. Hikvision is not banned from general private or commercial sale in the UK. It is, however, restricted from sensitive central government sites under the 2022 government directive, and the National Protective Security Authority advises public bodies to avoid high-risk manufacturers.

In plain terms: Hikvision remains a strong choice for most private and commercial work, but for public-sector, education, healthcare or other procurement-sensitive jobs, an NDAA-compliant alternative is often the safer specification. If you’re unsure where a job sits, talk to our team before you quote.

Browse all Hikvision products

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Serage: British-built and NDAA-compliant

Serage is a British CCTV brand with over a decade behind it, built specifically for installers. It’s the answer when a job needs to sidestep the procurement questions around Chinese-manufactured equipment. Serage is compliant with the US National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the benchmark increasingly used in UK public-sector and security-sensitive tenders to screen out high-risk suppliers.

It’s not a compromise on capability, either. The IP range carries the AI features you’d expect, including face detection, ANPR, missing-object detection and night-colour imaging, while the analogue HD range runs up to 4K.

  • IP and analogue HD ranges, up to 4K
  • AI analytics across the IP line-up: ANPR, face detection, deterrent lighting and audio
  • 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64-channel NVRs, plus matching PoE switches
  • 3-year warranty across the range
  • Marketing, technical and training support for installers

Serage gives you a credible, like-for-like route when a customer or specification requires NDAA compliance, without sending your margin or your feature list backwards.

Browse all Serage products

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