Cameras and Security
Cameras only help if they record clear footage when something happens. We plan, install and look after video surveillance systems for homes, shops, offices and warehouses in San Pedro, Long Beach and nearby parts of Los Angeles County.
- Security camera installation – site survey, camera placement, PoE cabling, NVR and app setup.
- IP camera & NVR setup – configure cameras you already own, recording schedules and motion rules.
- Remote viewing on your phone – secure access from iPhone, Android or PC without opening ports.
- CCTV repair & maintenance – offline cameras, NVRs that stopped recording, failing drives and firmware.
Planning a new system? Read our CCTV and IP camera setup guide first, then ask for a site survey.
Choosing surveillance equipment for your property
Most video surveillance problems trace back to equipment picked from a spec sheet rather than for the spot where it hangs. Before recommending anything we look at a few practical points:
- What each camera must show. An overview of a yard needs a wide lens; recognizing a face at a door or reading a plate at a gate needs a narrower view and more pixels on the target.
- Light at night. Infrared gives black-and-white images in darkness, while color night models need some ambient light, such as a porch lamp or a parking lot light.
- The coastal climate. Salt air near the harbor and the beach corrodes cheap housings and brackets, so outdoor cameras should be weather-rated and fixed with corrosion-resistant hardware.
- Where footage is stored. A local network video recorder keeps recordings on the premises; cloud cameras add a subscription and depend on the internet connection.
Motion detection cameras and false alerts
Basic motion detection reacts to any change in the picture: swaying branches, headlights, rain or a spider crossing the lens. Motion detection cameras and recorders with person and vehicle recognition filter most of that out, which matters if you want phone alerts you will not learn to ignore.
Frequently asked questions
Do security cameras keep recording during a power or internet outage?
Not during a power cut, unless the recorder and PoE switch are on a UPS sized to carry them through short outages. When only the internet goes down, a local recorder keeps recording and just the phone access and alerts pause, whereas cloud-only cameras may save nothing until the connection returns.
Can security cameras record audio?
Many can, but California law protects private conversations far more strictly than video, and recording people talking without their consent can be illegal. We normally leave audio switched off; ask an attorney if you need it for a specific purpose.
How many days of recordings can I keep?
That depends on the number of cameras, resolution, compression and whether they record continuously or only on events. We size the drives for the retention you choose and show you how to export a clip before it is overwritten.
Is a home system different from a business system?
The technology is the same, but the priorities differ. Homes focus on doors, driveways and deliveries, while businesses add counters, stock rooms and parking, and often need separate user accounts for managers.
Related services: CCTV installation, IP camera setup and configuration and a separate camera network on your business network.
