What's included in CCTV camera hire
A temporary CCTV set-up has three parts: the cameras, the recording equipment that stores their footage, and the network that connects them. The cameras run on Power over Ethernet, so a single cable from a PoE switch carries their video and their power. The recorder sits somewhere secure, and how you view live or recorded footage is agreed in your plan.
Because the cameras use the same switches and cabling as the WiFi, it makes sense to install both at once. On a joint job we reserve PoE ports for cameras while planning the network, put the cameras on their own VLAN, and install everything in the same visit. Our network and CCTV packages cover this combination.
Where to place hired security cameras
Placement decides whether footage is useful. We plan positions with you around what you need to see:
Entry and exit points
Gates, doors and loading docks, angled to capture people and vehicles as they come and go rather than the tops of heads.
Equipment and stock
Storage areas, compounds and anywhere valuable gear or materials sit overnight.
Cash and payment areas
Bars, ticket booths and registration desks, framed to show the area while angled away from keypads.
Perimeters
Fence lines and boundaries on construction sites and outdoor events, mounted high enough to be hard to reach or knock.
The network hub
The router, switch and recorder themselves, since they're what keeps every camera running.
CCTV camera hire specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Cameras | Security cameras matched to each position in your plan |
| Power | PoE from the switch, over the same cable as the video |
| Network | Their own VLAN, separate from staff and guest WiFi |
| Recording | Recording equipment kept in a secure spot on site |
| Mounting | Wall, pole, fence or structure, out of easy reach |
| Viewing | Live and recorded viewing options agreed in your plan |
| Who watches | Your team; we install and support the system but don't watch the cameras |
Send a floor plan or the venue name. We reply with what the network needs and one written quote.
When CCTV camera hire suits, and when it doesn't
Hiring cameras suits sites that exist for weeks or months, or events where equipment, stock or cash sit unattended: construction sites, display suites, temporary warehouses, festival compounds, multi-day exhibitions. Footage is also a useful record of deliveries, access and incidents when questions come up later.
Cameras record; they don't respond. If you need someone to act on what the cameras see, you'll need people for that, and it's outside what we provide. For a one-night event in a venue that already has CCTV, ask the venue what their system covers before hiring more. Our temporary CCTV planning guide walks through the planning in more detail.
What we set up before the cameras go in
Cameras arrive configured, so installation is about mounting, aiming and testing.
- Camera positions marked on your site plan and agreed with you
- PoE ports reserved on the switch for each camera, plus a spare
- A separate camera VLAN, so guest and staff devices can't reach the cameras
- Recording equipment configured and placed in a secure spot
- Viewing access for the people you nominate, as agreed in your plan
- Cable routes planned from each camera back to the switch
- How long footage needs to be kept, so recording storage is sized to match
Questions people ask
How does temporary CCTV hire work?
Temporary CCTV hire starts with a site plan and a conversation about what you need to see. We plan camera positions, configure the cameras, recording equipment and a separate camera network before the hire, then install and test them, ideally in the same visit as any WiFi. Viewing options and the support level are agreed in your plan, and the cameras are collected at the end.
Do hired CCTV cameras need a power point at each camera?
No. Hired CCTV cameras run on Power over Ethernet, so one network cable from a PoE switch carries both power and video. That's why cameras can be mounted on poles, fences or high walls away from power outlets. The switch and recording equipment need a mains supply in a secure, dry location.
Can I view the hired cameras on my phone?
Viewing options for hired CCTV cameras, including whether footage can be viewed away from the site, are agreed in your plan. It depends on the internet connection, how much upload it has, and who needs access. Tell us who should be able to view live or recorded footage and we'll plan access for them.
Does EventWiFi watch the cameras?
No. We plan, install and support temporary CCTV, but we don't watch the cameras or respond to what they record. Footage is for your team to view and review, using the viewing options agreed in your plan. If you need someone to act on events as they happen, that needs people on the ground, which is outside what we provide.
Why put security cameras on a separate network?
Security cameras on their own VLAN can't be reached by guest or staff devices, and their constant video traffic doesn't compete with WiFi users. It also keeps the recording equipment out of view of anyone on the guest network. On our installs, cameras get their own network and reserved PoE ports, planned alongside the WiFi.
Can I hire CCTV for a construction site?
Yes. Construction sites are a common use for temporary CCTV, often alongside site office internet on the same network. Cameras cover gates, compounds and stored materials, powered over Ethernet from a switch, with recording equipment kept somewhere secure such as the site office. Our construction site internet and CCTV guide covers planning both together.
