End-to-End CCTV Security Solutions — Chennai
Beyond just supplying cameras, Star Networking Services supports Chennai businesses end-to-end — helping you choose the right mix of IP, dome, bullet and PTZ cameras for your site, with technical guidance on setup and ongoing support.
Choosing the camera type for each position
Most sites need a mix rather than one model repeated everywhere. The choice comes down to what each position has to see and how obvious you want the camera to be.
- Dome — discreet, wide coverage, suits indoor ceilings in offices, shops and receptions
- Bullet — visible and directional, suits perimeters, gates and corridors where deterrence helps
- IP bullet and network cameras — higher resolution and remote viewing over the network
- PTZ — one camera covering a large yard or warehouse floor, controlled or on patrol
- Wi-Fi — quick to deploy where running cable is impractical, at the cost of link reliability
Working out the PoE budget
PoE cameras draw power over the same cable that carries their data, so the switch has to supply enough for all of them at once. Two numbers matter: the per-port limit and the switch's total power budget. A switch can meet the per-port rating and still run out of total budget once every port is populated.
Standard PoE (802.3af) delivers 15.4 W at the switch port, about 12.95 W at the camera. PoE+ (802.3at) delivers 30 W at the port and roughly 25.5 W at the device. A fixed dome or bullet typically draws 4 to 8 W, more at night when infrared illumination switches on. PTZ models with motors and heaters need PoE+.
For sixteen fixed cameras at around 8 W peak each, budget roughly 128 W of draw, then add 20 to 25 per cent headroom for cable losses and night-time IR. A switch with a total PoE budget near 170 W or above covers it comfortably.
Recorder channels and storage
Choose the recorder by channel count with room to expand — a 16-channel NVR for a 12-camera site leaves space for the positions you discover after the first month of footage.
Storage follows a simple calculation: camera count, multiplied by bitrate, multiplied by hours of recording, multiplied by retention days. Higher resolution raises the bitrate and therefore the disk requirement, so 4MP everywhere is not automatically the right answer — resolution is worth spending where you need to identify a face or a number plate, not where you only need to see that something moved.
Motion-triggered recording extends retention substantially compared with continuous recording, at the cost of missing the seconds before a trigger unless pre-record is configured.
The cabling behind the cameras
An IP camera installation is a structured cabling job. Each camera needs a cable run back to the switch, within the same 90-metre limit as any other Ethernet link, terminated properly at both ends.
Quality Cat6 helps here beyond raw bandwidth: the larger conductor limits voltage drop on PoE runs and reduces heat build-up where cables are bundled together in a tray or conduit.
The switch, recorder and power distribution belong in a rack rather than on a shelf, with cable management that lets you trace a camera's link a year later.
Cat6 cable, jacks and patch cords · Racks, cable managers and PDUs
Supplying CCTV across Chennai
We supply cameras, PoE switches, cabling and rack infrastructure for CCTV installations across Chennai — for offices, IT companies, hospitals, factories, warehouses, retail and residential projects. Star Networking Services has supplied networking and security products since 1998, across more than 300 projects.
Send us a floor plan or a description of the site and the positions you want covered, and we will work out the camera mix, PoE switch capacity, recorder channels and storage as one specification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide end-to-end CCTV security setup in Chennai, not just cameras?
Yes — alongside camera supply, our team provides technical guidance on choosing and setting up the right IP, dome, bullet or PTZ camera mix for your site in Chennai.
Can you help with CCTV security for a warehouse or office, not just homes?
Yes, we supply and advise on CCTV setups scaled for homes, shops, offices and warehouses across Chennai.
What PoE switch do I need for 16 CCTV cameras?
Sixteen fixed dome or bullet cameras typically draw 4 to 8 W each, rising at night when infrared illumination turns on. Budget around 128 W and add 20 to 25 per cent headroom, so look for a switch with a total PoE budget near 170 W or above. Check the total budget, not just the per-port rating — a switch can meet the per-port figure and still run short once every port is used.
What is the difference between PoE and PoE+?
Standard PoE (802.3af) supplies 15.4 W at the switch port, about 12.95 W at the device. PoE+ (802.3at) supplies 30 W at the port and roughly 25.5 W at the device. Fixed cameras usually run on standard PoE; PTZ models with motors and heaters need PoE+.
How much storage do I need for my CCTV system?
Multiply camera count by bitrate by recording hours by retention days. Higher resolution raises the bitrate and the disk requirement, so use higher resolution where you need to identify a face or number plate and lower where you only need to see movement. Motion-triggered recording extends retention considerably.
Should I choose dome or bullet cameras?
Dome cameras are discreet with wide coverage and suit indoor ceilings in offices, shops and receptions. Bullet cameras are visible and directional, which suits perimeters, gates and corridors where the deterrent effect helps. Most sites use a mix rather than one type throughout.
How far can a CCTV camera be from the switch?
An IP camera link follows the same Ethernet limit as any other — 90 metres of permanent cable, 100 metres of channel including patch cords. Beyond that you need a fiber run with a media converter, or a switch positioned closer to the cameras.
Do you supply the switches and cabling along with the cameras?
Yes. We supply PoE switches, Cat6 cable, jacks, patch cords, racks and PDUs alongside the cameras, so the whole installation comes from one supplier with one quote.
Need a quote or bulk pricing?
Talk to our team about your project requirements — GST invoicing and bulk pricing available.