CCTV Commissioning in Leicester
Commissioning is the final stage that separates a professional CCTV installation from a box on a wall. We test every camera in daylight and after dark, verify recording and storage, configure remote access and push notifications, train you to use the system, and provide documentation for insurance or compliance. The system is not finished until commissioning is complete.
By the Doberman install team · CCTV system designers & installers, Leicester · Last reviewed February 2026
By the Doberman install team
CCTV system designers & installers, Leicester
Last reviewed February 2026
What you get
Daytime performance check
Every camera tested for image quality, focus, field of view, and WDR performance. We verify that each camera covers its intended area with usable detail at the distances that matter.
Night commissioning
We return after dark to verify IR performance, check for IR reflection problems, and confirm that every camera produces usable footage in real nighttime conditions - not just during daylight.
Recording and storage verification
We confirm the NVR is recording every channel, playback works correctly, storage capacity meets the planned retention period, and the hard drive is healthy.
User training and handover
You get a full walkthrough of the system: live viewing, playback, phone app, exporting footage, and managing alerts. The system is handed over so you know exactly how to use it.
How it works
Daytime testing
We check every camera for image quality, correct aim, focus, and scene coverage. Any adjustments to angle, zoom, or position are made before moving to night testing.
Night commissioning
After dark, we verify IR illumination, check for reflection and glare issues, and confirm that every camera produces clear footage in the actual lighting conditions at the property.
Handover
Recording is verified, the phone app is configured and tested, and you receive a complete walkthrough of the system. We do not leave until you are confident using it.
Why commissioning after dark matters
Most CCTV cameras produce reasonable footage during the day - even a cheap camera will give you a usable image in good light. Night-time is where the difference between a properly commissioned system and a quick install becomes obvious. IR illumination range, reflection off nearby surfaces, glare from neighbouring security lights, and dome fogging are all problems that only appear after dark. We have attended properties across Leicester where cameras were installed and "tested" at 2pm on a sunny afternoon, and the homeowner only discovered the night footage was unusable when they actually needed it weeks later.
We commission every system after dark as standard. This means either scheduling the installation to finish before sunset so we can test the same day, or returning for a separate evening visit. On residential installations in areas like Clarendon Park, Oadby, or Wigston, this is typically straightforward. On commercial properties where access is restricted after hours, we plan the commissioning visit in advance. Night commissioning is non-negotiable - it is the only way to confirm that the system works when it is most likely to be needed. This is a core part of every installation we carry out, alongside the cabling infrastructure that connects every camera to the recorder.
What we test during commissioning
Daytime testing covers image quality, camera aim, and field of view. We verify that each camera covers its intended area as designed during the system design stage - the driveway approach, the front door, the side gate, the rear garden entry point. We check focus at the distances that matter: can you read a number plate at the end of the driveway, can you identify a face at the front door, can you see clearly to the rear fence? If the camera supports varifocal lenses, we adjust the zoom and focus to optimise coverage for the specific scene. WDR (wide dynamic range) settings are tuned for cameras that face mixed lighting conditions - a common issue on east and west-facing cameras in Leicester where direct sunlight can wash out parts of the image at certain times of day.
Night testing is more involved. We check IR illumination range against the intended coverage area - a camera specified to cover 30 metres of driveway needs to actually illuminate 30 metres in practice, not just on the spec sheet. We look for IR reflection off nearby walls, soffits, window frames, and other surfaces that can cause a bright white bloom across part of the image. Dome cameras are checked for internal IR reflection off the dome cover, which is a common problem when the dome is not seated flush or has even minor contamination. External security lights from neighbouring properties are checked for glare that can blind cameras at specific angles. Every issue found is resolved before the system is signed off.
Recording verification and storage
A CCTV system that is not recording is worthless. During commissioning, we verify that every camera channel is recording to the NVR, playback works correctly on every channel, and the recording schedule is set correctly - typically continuous recording 24/7 rather than motion-only, which can miss events. We check the hard drive health using the NVR's built-in SMART diagnostics and confirm that storage capacity meets the retention period specified during the survey. A 4-camera system recording in 4MP with H.265 compression will typically get 20-30 days of continuous recording on a 2TB drive - we make sure the maths adds up and the system is actually delivering it.
We also verify overwrite settings. Most residential systems are configured to overwrite the oldest footage when the drive is full, maintaining a rolling window of the most recent recordings. If you need a longer retention period for compliance or insurance reasons, we adjust the recording resolution, compression, or hard drive size during commissioning. For commercial installations, recording requirements can be more specific - some insurance policies require a minimum retention period, and some businesses need higher resolution on specific cameras covering tills or entry points. Our resolution and lens guide covers how resolution and compression affect storage requirements.
App setup, notifications, and user training
The remote viewing setup is completed during commissioning. We install the phone app on every device that needs access, configure P2P cloud access, set up user accounts, and test remote viewing from outside the property's Wi-Fi network to confirm it works over mobile data. Push notifications are configured with tuned motion zones and sensitivity so you receive useful alerts rather than constant false triggers from passing traffic or moving vegetation.
User training is the final step. We walk you through live viewing on the monitor and the phone app, show you how to play back recordings and find specific footage by date and time, demonstrate how to export video clips to a USB drive or phone for sharing with police or insurance, and explain how to manage notification settings. For business installations, we train the relevant staff and provide documentation covering daily operation and basic troubleshooting. The goal is simple: when we leave, you know exactly how to use the system. No PDF manual, no "call us if you get stuck" - genuine competence with the system on day one.
Documentation for insurance and compliance
Some insurance policies require evidence that a CCTV system has been professionally installed and commissioned. During handover, we can provide documentation confirming the system specification, camera locations, recording retention period, and the date of commissioning. For commercial properties, this documentation can also support compliance with CCTV regulations including data protection requirements around signage, retention periods, and subject access requests.
For businesses in Leicester that handle CCTV footage as part of their operations - retail, hospitality, car parks, or shared premises - the commissioning documentation demonstrates that the system was designed and installed by a professional company. This matters if you ever need to provide footage as evidence or respond to a data protection enquiry. We keep records of every system we install, so if you need a copy of the documentation at any point in the future, we can provide it. This level of documentation is only possible because we control every stage of the process: from the initial site survey through cabling to final commissioning.
Commissioning is the final stage that ties the full installation together. For an overview of the complete process - from survey and system design through cabling to handover - see our complete CCTV installation service page.
Pricing
Commissioning is included in every CCTV installation we carry out - it is not an optional extra. Night commissioning, app setup, user training, and documentation are all part of the standard installation price.
Why Doberman
Night commissioning as standard
Every system is tested after dark. IR performance, reflection issues, and glare from external lights are all checked in real nighttime conditions.
Full user training
We do not leave until you can use the system confidently - live view, playback, exporting footage, managing alerts, and operating the phone app.
Recording verification
Every channel checked for active recording, correct playback, adequate storage, and healthy hard drives before handover.
Documentation provided
System specification, camera locations, and commissioning confirmation provided for insurance and compliance purposes.
About Doberman
Doberman is a Leicester-based CCTV installer specialising in hardwired PoE camera systems for homes and businesses. Every installation is carried out by our own team - we do not subcontract any part of the work.
We focus on one thing: wired CCTV that works reliably. No alarm bundles, no smart home add-ons, no maintenance contracts you did not ask for. Clean installations, properly commissioned after dark, and handed over so you know exactly how to use the system.
If you want to understand how we work before getting in touch, our commissioning and testing guides cover everything from camera placement to system specs to what drives the cost of a CCTV installation in Leicester.
Areas we cover
We cover Leicester city and towns across Leicestershire, including Clarendon Park, Stoneygate, Oadby, Wigston, Braunstone, Hamilton, Thorpe Astley, Glenfield, Groby, Loughborough, Hinckley, Market Harborough, and everywhere in between. If you are not sure whether we cover your area, just ask.
Frequently asked questions
- Do you always test cameras at night?
- Yes. Night commissioning is standard on every installation. Most security incidents happen after dark, so a system that has only been tested in daylight is a system that has not been properly tested. We either commission on the same day or return for a separate evening visit.
- How long does commissioning take?
- For a typical 4-camera residential system, daytime commissioning takes around an hour. Night commissioning adds another 30-45 minutes after dark. Larger commercial systems take proportionally longer depending on camera count and system complexity.
- Will you show me how to use the system?
- Yes. User training is part of every handover. We walk you through live viewing, playback, the phone app, exporting footage, and managing notifications. We do not leave until you are comfortable operating the system independently.
- Can you commission a system installed by someone else?
- Yes. If you have a system that was installed but never properly commissioned - no night testing, no app setup, no training - we can carry out a standalone commissioning visit. We will also flag any installation issues we find during the process.
- Do I get any paperwork after installation?
- Yes. We provide documentation covering the system specification, camera locations, recording configuration, and commissioning date. This is useful for insurance claims, compliance records, and future reference if the system needs servicing.
- What if a camera does not perform well at night?
- We resolve it during the commissioning visit. That might mean adjusting the camera angle, adding supplementary IR illumination, changing the mounting position to avoid reflective surfaces, or in rare cases specifying a different camera model. The issue is fixed before handover.