Home CCTV, if fibre cable gets snipped...

[Phil473]

Looking at the fibre cables of my neighbors, it dawned on me that to disable all the cameras of a property a burglar just has to snip the cable.

Quick search reveals this does indeed happen...

In the video, the thieves went around the side of the house to cut the cable. In my neighborhood some of the cables are actually within reaching distance from the street.

Galvanized conduit might help, but the appropriate tool could still get through that. And you'd have to make sure the box itself was covered. Read about cellular backup, which I presume would kick in instantly if the fibre cable got cut? Doesn't look like this is extensively available in the UK, and costs more...

Broadband backup: What is it and do you need it?

Broadband backup – essentially where your router will switch to 4G/5G mobile data when your broadband goes down. But is it something you genuinely need?

bestbroadbanddeals.co.uk

Some cameras will of course continue recording to an internal HD unit, which you could hide and/or secure away in the home.

For now, I'm thinking 5G router for cameras.

Thoughts appreciated.

 

[sparkymarka]

My recorder in a secure location …so not fussed if the broad band is down

 

[secureiam]

many routers allow dual WAN, so the normal connection and a backup of 5G with a usb phone or dongle.

However the biggest problem is not having UPS for the DVR/NVR/Router, so something like https://www.secureiam.co.uk/shop-af...f-p280-b-2048wh-battery-400w-solar-panel.html can power a router, cctv, and a few other bits for 21 hours, that is without the additional battery. not what I would call cheap mind and Aferiy or Amazon shop are probably the cheapest places to buy the kit.

Solar Panels are ridiculously expensive for there output so third party solar panels would work out cheaper.

But you could also just charge them up from the mains, especially if you have a time of use tariff or a free energy session.

 

[secureiam]

back to system design., the router being down only stops remote access and notifications power being down stops everything without a UPS.

 

[Phil473]

many routers allow dual WAN, so the normal connection and a backup of 5G with a usb phone or dongle.

So you can get routers that automatically switch to 5G as back up if broadband goes down?

ie, fibre cable gets snipped 5G instantly kicks in?

 

[secureiam]

certainly there are routers out there you can buy, that have the option to have the traditional connection to your ISP, then to use a mobile service as backup.

Dual WAN, usb plug in of a dongle or mobile phone. allows the dongle/ phone to provide a backup. you can use it payasyougo.

How you configure it is upto you and the limitations/ features of that router and your mobile device, and the mobile data of that provider.

5G will allow you usually to upload and download decent spec images, although you are more likely to use it for system notifications, stills and short clips.

I suppose the only thing to be wary of is how much data do you need to be transferred using the mobile service, but there is nothing to stop you using payasyougo, if you need more data you can change it relatively easily. remember its a backup and not your main use of data transfer, cctv can take up a lot of data.

The minimum you need as a backup is to view your live streams, as normal either reduced resolution or full resolution for how long?, so upload speed is your limitation, we can get ell over 100mpbs on 5G with the phones/dongles we have used, thats plenty to view an 8MP camera full resolution and frame rate for most cameras 30fps being the the best for most cameras used on domestics.

yes if its plugged into the router and the ISP fails you probably wouldn't notice the switch

 

[sparkymarka]

For the paranoid. Of things that may never happen ..

 

[secureiam]

yeup, that for some would be a good choice, but you need to know what speeds in your area to make an informed decision and which option is more cost effective/ better value.

 

[SandyLyon]

My CCTV system has the DVR in a lockable steel safe box located in the loft with two fans for cooling / ventilation it has a 6TB HDD and a UPS backup so if the fibre cable is cut / damaged all I lose is remote access.
Same with my alarm system, fully wired, so while a damaged fibre cable would be a P.I.A. And would need Openreach to replace / splice it’s not going to greatly affect the systems.