The useful answer is rarely “buy the biggest number.” This guide turns the specification sheet into an installation decision you can defend after dark, after handover and when footage is actually needed.
Write one alert objective
Begin with a narrow question: person entering a gate, vehicle stopping in a loading bay, or movement across a protected line. Draw the smallest zone that answers it. Large zones collect tree movement, reflections and distant objects that the operator cannot act upon.
Calibrate zones and object size
Minimum object size filters are powerful when set using real examples. Walk the far and near edges of the scene, capture reference frames and tune the threshold so a valid subject remains inside the expected size range. Avoid maximum sensitivity as a default.
Review events across a full week
Use schedules that match operations and review a week of alerts before handover. Weather and seasonal light reveal problems that a short daytime test cannot. Record the final configuration and export it where the platform supports backups.
Commission the system against a written evidence goal. Save reference images and settings so future maintenance can spot gradual changes.
Can another person prove the system still works?
Record the final view, night image, bitrate, alerts, firmware and access method. A system is not finished until the owner can verify recording and export without the installer standing beside it.
Every site is different. Confirm manufacturer instructions, electrical requirements, privacy obligations and local regulations before installation.
Frequently asked questions
How do I stop CCTV false alarms?
Tighten the detection zone, set realistic object-size limits, exclude moving vegetation and reflections, and use schedules matched to the site.
Should CCTV sensitivity be set to maximum?
Usually not. Maximum sensitivity captures more nuisance events; tune it with real people and vehicles at the near and far edges of the scene.