CCTV Upgrades in Leicester
Your existing CCTV is not delivering - blurry footage, dead cameras, or blind spots you did not know about. We start with an honest assessment of every camera, cable run, and recorder in your system before recommending anything. If your existing cables are intact and well-routed, we reuse them with modern PoE cameras and an NVR, saving significant installation cost. If they need replacing, we tell you upfront. Every upgrade includes proper night commissioning so your new hardware performs after dark, not just during the daytime walkthrough.
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
Existing system assessment
We test every camera, cable run, and recorder. If your cables are usable, we’ll tell you - and you’ll save on installation cost.
Coverage redesign
Even if camera positions stay the same, we verify each one still makes sense for what you’re protecting now - not five years ago.
Modern hardware, sized correctly
Cameras matched to your distances and lighting, a recorder sized for your retention needs, and PoE connectivity for reliability.
Old system removal
We remove and dispose of old cameras, recorders, and redundant cabling as part of the job.
How it works
Assess
On-site assessment of your existing system - cameras, cables, positions, and recorder. We test everything before recommending anything.
Recommend
Honest recommendation: upgrade what’s needed, keep what works. You get a clear proposal with fixed pricing.
Upgrade
New hardware installed, existing cables reused where possible, night commissioning, and full handover.
Signs your CCTV system needs upgrading
Most CCTV systems installed more than five years ago are running outdated hardware. The symptoms are familiar: grainy footage that’s useless for identification, cameras that have stopped working entirely, a recorder that fills up in a few days, or night footage that’s so poor you can’t tell what you’re looking at. If any of this sounds like your system, it’s time to upgrade. The list below covers the most common signs we see on systems across Leicester.
We see the same problems across Leicester properties. Analogue cameras installed in the early 2010s producing 1MP or 2MP footage at best. Wireless cameras that drop connection when the household is streaming. Battery-powered cameras that die in winter when temperatures drop. DVRs with small hard drives that overwrite footage after three days. In our experience, the most common trigger for an upgrade enquiry is an incident where the homeowner checks their footage and realises it’s not usable - that’s the worst time to discover your system isn’t good enough.
An upgrade doesn’t always mean replacing everything. If your existing cable runs are intact and well-routed - particularly Cat5e or Cat6 cabling - we can reuse them with new PoE cameras and an NVR, saving significant installation cost. We test every cable before making a recommendation.
What changes in a modern CCTV system
The biggest jump is in image quality. A modern 4MP or 8MP PoE camera produces footage where you can read number plates, identify faces, and see detail at distances that were impossible five years ago. Wide dynamic range handles the contrast between bright windows and dark interiors - a common problem in Leicester homes with south-facing windows. We’ve upgraded systems where the old cameras produced a silhouette at the front door because they couldn’t handle the backlight - modern WDR eliminates this.
Night performance has improved dramatically. Modern IR LEDs push useful illumination to 30-50 metres, and cameras with larger sensors produce cleaner, less noisy footage in low light. This matters in Leicester where street lighting varies significantly - a well-lit street in Clarendon Park is very different to a rear garden in Groby or an alleyway in Belgrave. Night commissioning is where we catch these differences - it’s the step most installers skip and the reason most systems underperform after dark.
Recording capacity is larger and smarter. Modern NVRs with 4TB or 6TB drives can store 30 days of continuous recording from four to eight cameras. Smart detection features like person and vehicle classification reduce false alerts from animals, headlights, and shadows - so you only get notified when something actually matters. For a full comparison of replacement camera specs, see our spec guide.
Can existing cables be reused?
Often, yes - and this is where most of the cost saving in an upgrade comes from. If your property was wired with Cat5e or Cat6 Ethernet cable, these runs can carry PoE power and data for modern cameras without replacement. We test every cable for continuity, signal quality, and power delivery before confirming reuse.
Older coaxial cable (RG59 or shotgun cable) from analogue CCTV systems can sometimes be reused with balun adapters, but the results are mixed. If the coax runs are in good condition and the distances are short, it can work. If they’re degraded, kinked, or running longer than 100 metres, new cable is the better option. We’ve tested hundreds of legacy cable runs across Leicester properties - roughly half of coax runs are reusable, while Ethernet runs are reusable in the vast majority of cases. We’ll give you an honest recommendation either way.
Even when cables need replacing, existing cable routes - through loft spaces, wall cavities, and conduit - often remain usable. This means the new cable follows the same hidden path, avoiding any external runs or visible fixings on your brickwork. That’s one of the advantages of an upgrade over a fresh install - the hard work of finding a clean route has already been done.
Analogue to IP CCTV Upgrade
The most common upgrade we carry out is replacing an old analogue DVR system with modern IP cameras and an NVR. Our analogue to IP CCTV upgrade walks through what is involved - from testing your existing cable runs to configuring the new system. If your cables are Cat5e or Cat6, the swap is straightforward and saves significant installation cost.
CCTV Camera Upgrade
Sometimes the cameras are the problem but the recorder and cabling are fine. Our CCTV camera upgrade replaces individual or all cameras while keeping your existing NVR and wiring in place - a cost-effective option when the infrastructure is sound but the image quality has fallen behind current standards.
CCTV Recorder Upgrade
A failing recorder can take your entire system offline without warning. Our CCTV recorder upgrade replaces ageing DVRs and NVRs with modern units that support higher resolution cameras, larger hard drives, and smart detection features like person and vehicle classification - extending the useful life of your existing cameras.
CCTV upgrades as part of a complete security installation
Upgrading an existing system is one part of the CCTV work we carry out across Leicester and Leicestershire. Whether you need a straightforward camera swap or a full analogue-to-IP migration, every upgrade starts with an honest assessment of what you have and a clear recommendation on what to keep and what to replace. For an overview of all the security camera services available from Doberman, including new residential and commercial installs and ongoing maintenance, visit our main page.
Pricing
Upgrade cost depends on what can be reused. If existing cable runs are intact, an upgrade can cost 30-50% less than a fresh installation. If cables need replacing, the cost is closer to a full install. We provide a fixed quote after the on-site assessment - no guesswork.
Why Doberman
Honest assessment first
We test your existing cables and positions before recommending anything. We don’t replace things that work just to inflate a quote.
Cable reuse where possible
If your existing runs are intact and well-routed, we reuse them - saving you significant installation cost.
Modern PoE standard
Upgrades move you to hardwired PoE - the professional standard for reliability. No more Wi‑Fi dropouts or cloud dependency.
Night commissioning as standard
The most skipped step in upgrade jobs. We don’t leave until every camera performs after dark.
About Doberman
Doberman is a Leicester-based CCTV installation company. We design, install, and upgrade hardwired PoE camera systems for homes and businesses across Leicester and Leicestershire. Every assessment and installation is carried out by our own team - we don’t subcontract and we don’t use sales reps.
Upgrades are a core part of what we do. We’ve assessed and replaced systems originally installed by national chains, alarm companies, and DIY setups. Our approach is honest: we test what you have, tell you what works, and only replace what doesn’t. No inflated quotes, no unnecessary hardware.
If you want to understand what’s involved before getting in touch, our technical guides cover everything from camera specs to what’s changed in CCTV technology since your system was installed.
Areas we cover
We cover Leicester city and the surrounding areas including Oadby, Wigston, Braunstone, Glenfield, Groby, Hamilton, Thorpe Astley, Clarendon Park, Stoneygate, Market Harborough, Hinckley, Coalville, Loughborough, Melton Mowbray, and everywhere in between.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a CCTV upgrade cost compared to a fresh installation?
- If your existing cable runs are reusable, an upgrade typically costs 30-50% less than a new installation because the most labour-intensive part - cable routing - is already done. If cables need replacing, the cost is closer to a full install. We provide a fixed quote after the on-site assessment so you know exactly where you stand.
- Can I keep my existing camera positions?
- Often, yes - but we verify each position during the assessment. Properties change over time: fences get built, extensions are added, trees grow. A camera position that made sense five years ago may now have a blind spot. We’ll recommend position changes only where there’s a genuine coverage gap.
- Will you remove my old CCTV system?
- Yes. Removal and disposal of old cameras, recorders, and redundant cabling is included as part of the upgrade. We don’t leave old hardware hanging on your walls.
- Can my old analogue DVR be upgraded to a modern NVR?
- The DVR itself is usually replaced entirely - modern NVRs support higher resolution cameras, larger drives, and smart detection features that analogue DVRs can’t. However, if your analogue cameras are connected via Cat5 cabling, the cables themselves can often be reused with the new NVR and PoE cameras.
- How do I know if my existing cables can be reused?
- We test every cable during the on-site assessment. For Ethernet cables (Cat5e/Cat6), we check continuity, signal quality, and PoE power delivery. For coaxial cables, we test signal strength and check for degradation. You’ll get an honest answer - we don’t replace cables that work just to pad the quote.
- How long does a CCTV upgrade take?
- If cables are being reused, a typical three to four camera upgrade takes a single day. If new cables are needed, it may take one to two days depending on the property and routing complexity. We confirm the timeline in your proposal after the assessment.