Blog
CCTV that works, without the guesswork
Short, practical guides from Doberman: how to choose PoE vs Wi‑Fi, how to read camera specs, and how to get reliable coverage without subscriptions.
Start here
PoE vs Wi‑Fi CCTV: the reliability tier list
When to wire, when Wi‑Fi works, and how to avoid dropouts and blind spots.
2-minute cheat sheet
CCTV Specs Cheat Sheet: Camera Specifications
Stop buying on megapixels. What actually matters on a spec sheet and how it translates to usable footage.
Regulations guide
UK CCTV Regulations: Rules, Planning and Audio
UK CCTV regulations: planning permission, GDPR, audio recording law, signage and neighbour disputes for Leicester homeowners and businesses.
Audio guide
Does CCTV Record Audio? The Honest Answer
Most security cameras have built-in microphones. They don't all record sound, and the law on recording it is more nuanced than people think. A practical guide for homeowners and businesses.
Comparison guide
Ring, Arlo, and Nest vs professional CCTV: an honest comparison
Consumer cameras vs professional CCTV: what each does well, where each falls short, and which actually costs less over five years.
Keep it running
CCTV Maintenance and Servicing: A Complete Guide
How often to service, what a real visit covers, and the storage and firmware checks that keep footage there when you need it.
Night footage
Security Lighting and CCTV: Light Cameras Right
IR vs white light, how much light a camera really needs, and the UK rules on nuisance lighting.
Buyer’s guide
How to choose a reliable CCTV installer: a buyer’s guide
Verify accreditation, insist on a survey and a fixed price, keep your footage, and spot the cowboy jobs.
Business & compliance
How Long Do Businesses Keep CCTV Footage?
Where the 31-day figure comes from, what licensing conditions actually require, and how to set a retention period you can defend.
Outdoor & weather
Weatherproof Outdoor CCTV: IP Ratings and Damp
IP ratings explained, why the cable joint is the real failure point, and how to mount cameras that survive a UK winter.
Evidence & police
How to Export CCTV Footage for the Police
Native format, replay software, clock checks and the master copy rule. What police guidance asks for when you hand over CCTV.
Your rights
How to Request CCTV Footage in the UK
The one-month right of access, what changed under the 2025 Act, asking a neighbour versus a business, and why court disclosure rarely applies.
Recording modes
Continuous vs Motion-Only CCTV Recording
What motion-only really saves, what detection documentably misses, and why smart codecs made continuous recording the default answer.
Lifespan & replacement
How Long Do CCTV Cameras Last?
Why no service life is published, what an MTBF really means, why the night picture fades first, and how to decide when to replace.