7 Common CCTV Installation Mistakes You Must Avoid in Australia
• Tommy Tang

Why Proper CCTV Installation Matters?

A properly designed CCTV system is more than cameras and cables — it is an integrated security infrastructure. Yet even in 2025, professional installers still see businesses and homeowners making the same avoidable mistakes that compromise image quality, coverage, storage, and long-term system stability.   

This guide compiles the 7 most common CCTV installation mistakes, based on industry best practices from Hikvision, Dahua and professional Australian security standards. Each mistake includes the problem, where it commonly happens, and a technical solution that aligns with modern installation principles.

👉 Explore our full range of Hikvision and Dahua Security system at SMarket.

Mistake 1: Wrong Camera Placement

Problem

Incorrect positioning causes blind spots, reduced facial detail, and unusable evidence — especially when cameras are too close/far from the target area.

Real-World Scenario

A front-door camera is placed too high (above 3.5 m), resulting in:

  • No facial recognition
  • Only top-of-head visibility
  • Backlighting destroying usable detail

Professional Solution

  • Position cameras between 2.4–2.8m for residential and 3–3.5m for commercial entrances.
  • Follow manufacturer guidelines for Field of View and pixel-density requirements:
  1. 250 px/m for clear face ID, according to per industry standard
  2. 150 px/m for general recognition

Problem Incorrect positioning causes blind spots, reduced facial detail, and unusable evidence — especially when cameras are too close/far from the target area. Real-World Scenario A front-door camera is placed too high (above 3.5 m), resulting in: No facial recognition Only top-of-head visibility Backlighting destroying usable detail Professional Solution Position cameras between 2.4–2.8m for residential and 3–3.5m for commercial entrances. Follow manufacturer guidelines for Field of View and pixel-den

Mistake 2: Incorrect Height & Angle

Problem

Improper tilt angle causes IR bounce, glare, motion-blur, and nighttime overexposure.

Real-World Scenario

A driveway camera is installed horizontally with 0° downward tilt. At night, IR reflects off the ground and vehicles, causing:

  • Washed-out images
  • Driver faces unreadable
  • Overexposed number plates

Professional Solution

  • Maintain 10–15° downward tilt for general monitoring.
  • For license plates, use: 20-25°  tilt and Dedicated LPR camera or AI mode.
  • Avoid pointing cameras directly toward strong light sources such as sunset lines or streetlamps.

Mistake 3: Poor Lighting Consideration

Problem

Ignoring lighting conditions results in grainy footage, high noise levels, and failed AI detection.

Real-World Scenario

WDR means Wide Dynamic Range. It is a key imaging technology in surveillance cameras that solves the issue of overexposed or underexposed images when strong light and dark areas appear in the same scene. An indoor camera without WDR faces a large glass window. During daytime:

  • The background becomes white
  • The subject becomes a silhouette
  • Motion analytics cannot detect human shapesIgnoring lighting conditions results in grainy footage, high noise levels, and failed AI detection. Real-World Scenario WDR means Wide Dynamic Range. It is a key imaging technology in surveillance cameras that solves the issue of overexposed or underexposed images when strong light and dark areas appear in the same scene. An indoor camera without WDR faces a large glass window. During daytime: The background becomes white The subject becomes a silhouette Motion analytics cannot detect human shapes Profes

Professional Solution

  • Use True WDR 120dB or above cameras for areas with high contrast.                     
  • For dark environments:
  1. Choose ColorVu/Full-Colour models
  2. Add supplementary LED lighting
  • Ensure all cameras support low-lux sensors or 3D-DNR noise reduction.

Mistake 4: Choosing the Wrong Camera Type

Problem

Using the wrong form factor or technology directly affects image clarity and coverage.

Real-World Scenario

A warehouse installs dome cameras near dusty machinery. Over time:

  • The dome cover scratches
  • IR reflects inside the housing
  • Image becomes milky and unusable

Professional Solution

Choose camera types based on environment:

Recommended Selection Table

Camera Type Best For Avoid When Example Product (from SMarket)
Bullet Camera Long‑distance coverage, outdoor deterrence Tight indoor spaces (IR glare risk) Dahua DH-IPC-HFW3866EP-AS-AUS 
Turret Camera Low‑glare, clear IR, general installations (indoor/outdoor) Outdoor areas prone to vandalism or exposed harsh environment Hikvision DS-2CD2366G2-I 6MP AcuSense turret network camera
Dome Camera Hotels, offices, covered indoor areas, low‑tamper requirement Dusty, greasy, or exposed outdoor areas (IR reflection risk) Hikvision DS-2CD2166G2-ISU is a 6MP AcuSense dome CCTV camera
PTZ Camera Large open areas that require zoom / variable monitoring (parking lot, warehouse) Small rooms or fixed‑angle needs Hikvision DS-2DE4A425IW-DE 4MP outdoor PTZ camera
Varifocal / LPR (Long‑range) Camera Driveways, vehicle entry, license‑plate recognition, long‑distance coverage Close‑range face monitoring without zoom Dahua DH-IPC-HDW3867T-ZS-IL-ANZ 8MP varifocal turret network camera

Mistake 5: Network & Bandwidth Issues

Problem

Improper network configuration leads to lagging feeds, dropped frames, and storage corruption.

Real-World Scenario

A 4K system with eight cameras runs through a standard home router:

  • Bandwidth maxes out
  • Remote access becomes unstable
  • NVR fails to record at full bitrate

Professional Solution

  • Use PoE switches rated for CCTV load (minimum 96W for 8 cameras).
  • Set each camera’s bitrate according to resolution:
  1. 4K: 8192–10240 kbps
  2. 6MP: 6144–8192 kbps
  • Separate CCTV traffic using:
  1. VLAN for network-heavy business
  2. Direct PoE-to-NVR ports for home use

Mistake 6: Poor Cabling Practices

Problem

Substandard cabling causes intermittent signal loss, voltage drop, and premature hardware failure.

Real-World Scenario

An installer uses copper-clad aluminium cable for a 60m run:

  • PoE voltage drop
  • Camera randomly disconnects
  • IR LEDs fail at night due to low power supply

Professional Solution

  • Use solid copper CAT6 for all CCTV runs.
  • Keep runs below 90 meters per network standard.
  • Avoid tight bends and power-parallel routing that causes interference.
  • For outdoor installations, use UV-rated, shielded CAT6.Problem Substandard cabling causes intermittent signal loss, voltage drop, and premature hardware failure. Real-World Scenario An installer uses copper-clad aluminium cable for a 60m run: PoE voltage drop Camera randomly disconnects IR LEDs fail at night due to low power supply Professional Solution Use solid copper CAT6 for all CCTV runs. Keep runs below 90 meters per network standard. Avoid tight bends and power-parallel routing that causes interference. For outdoor installations, use UV-rated, shield

Mistake 7: Ignoring Legal & Privacy Requirements

Problem

Incorrect placement may violate Australian privacy laws and workplace surveillance regulations.

Real-World Scenario

A small business installs hidden cameras without notifying staff.
This violates:

  • Workplace Surveillance Act 2005 (NSW)
  • Surveillance Devices Act 1999 (VIC)
  • Other state privacy regulations

Professional Solution

  • Use visible cameras unless legally justified.
  • Place clear CCTV signage at entrances.
  • Avoid pointing cameras into:
  1. Neighbouring properties
  2. Bedrooms
  3. Private office areas (without consent)
  • Follow state-specific legislation for recording audio.

Conclusion

A CCTV system is only as strong as its installation. By avoiding these seven common mistakes — and aligning your setup with recognized industry standards — you can achieve:

  • Clearer evidence
  • Better night performance
  • Higher AI accuracy
  • Longer equipment lifespan
  • Full compliance with Australian regulations

Our authoritative interpretation of security camera is based on Axis Communications white paper. For the full technical details, please clink the link. If you need a system designed using professional standards, explore our recommended solutions:👉 SMarket 

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