Question 1

How much does professional CCTV installation cost in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Professional CCTV installation typically ranges from £495 for a 2-camera starter system to £695 for a 4-camera 4K ColorVu system, £995 for 6 cameras, and £1,495 for 8 commercial cameras. Costs depend on camera resolution, cabling difficulty, and storage capacity. All ADI Communications systems feature lifetime zero monthly subscription fees.

Question 2

Can you install a CCTV kit that I already bought myself?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer professional fitting for customer-supplied CCTV kits including Swann, Reolink, Lorex, Eufy, and Hikvision. We mount the cameras neatly, run concealed cables through lofts or cavity walls, configure the recorder, and set up your smartphone remote viewing apps.

Question 3

Do I have to pay monthly subscription fees for CCTV recording?

Accepted Answer

No. Unlike consumer cloud cameras like Ring or Nest that require ongoing £5 to £15 monthly fees, our professional systems record directly to dedicated local surveillance hard drives (WD Purple or Seagate SkyHawk). You own 100% of your footage with zero monthly fees forever.

Question 4

Can I view my CCTV cameras on my mobile phone when away from home?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every CCTV system we install includes free smartphone app configuration (Hik-Connect, DMSS, SPro View, or Qvis Pro) on iOS and Android. You can view live high-definition video, receive smart motion alerts, and play back recordings anywhere in the world.

Question 5

What is the difference between Hikvision ColorVu, Dahua TiOC, SPro, and Qvis?

Accepted Answer

Hikvision ColorVu provides 24/7 full-colour night optics using F1.0 super-apertures. Dahua TiOC features 3-in-1 active deterrence with flashing red/blue strobes and sirens to warn off intruders. SPro delivers rugged commercial Starlight IP cameras, while Qvis offers proven British reliability with Viper PoE NVRs.

Question 6

Why is my CCTV showing on the monitor but offline on my phone?

Accepted Answer

This usually happens when your home broadband router reboots and reassigns a new local IP address to your NVR, or when cloud P2P server settings have desynchronized. We test network connectivity, rebind static gateway IPs, and restore remote app viewing permanently.

Question 7

Can you replace just one broken CCTV camera without replacing my whole system?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If an individual camera has failed due to water ingress, a cracked lens, or burnt-out night LEDs, we can test the cabling and fit a fully compatible replacement camera while preserving your existing recorder and other working cameras.

Question 8

Can you run a new cable for a CCTV camera that has stopped working?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Damaged, weathered or chewed exterior cables are a leading cause of camera failure. We run external-grade, UV-stabilised solid-copper Cat6 cabling with weather-tight silicone seals and concealed routing through lofts and wall cavities.

Question 9

Can you add extra cameras to an existing CCTV system I already have?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Provided your recorder has spare input channels and power capacity, we can install additional cameras, run new network cables, and configure them directly into your existing app and monitor display.

Question 10

Why has my CCTV stopped sending motion alerts and notifications to my mobile?

Accepted Answer

Missing CCTV push notifications are usually caused by smartphone operating system battery-saving restrictions, desynchronized app permissions, or firmware updates resetting motion detection sensitivity. We reconfigure push notification schedules and AI detection rules.

Question 11

Can you reset a CCTV system if I have forgotten the admin password or moved into a new house?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We carry official manufacturer diagnostic tools to perform hardware factory resets and firmware unlocks on Hikvision, Dahua, SPro, Qvis, and Swann recorders, enabling you to regain full master control.

Question 12

Is it legal to install CCTV cameras pointing towards the street or neighbours?

Accepted Answer

Yes, provided you comply with UK GDPR and Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) rules. You have the right to protect your property boundary. If cameras inadvertently capture public pavements or neighbouring boundaries, we configure privacy masking zones in the software to black out private areas.

Question 13

Will spider webs, wind, or heavy rain cause false alarms on my phone?

Accepted Answer

Not with our modern systems. Older cameras used pixel-change detection which triggered on falling rain and spiders. Our modern cameras utilize deep-learning AI human and vehicle classification, filtering out non-human movement with over 98% accuracy.

Question 14

Where do you hide the CCTV cables?

Accepted Answer

We take great pride in neat tradecraft. Cables are fed directly through the soffit into your roof space or dropped through wall cavities. Where cables must travel externally, we use black UV-rated Cat6 clipped cleanly along mortar lines with silicone drip loops.

Question 15

How long will my CCTV footage be saved before overwriting?

Accepted Answer

Depending on hard drive capacity and camera count, continuous recording typically stores between 21 and 45 days of footage. The system operates on automated FIFO (First-In, First-Out), smoothly overwriting the oldest day once the drive reaches capacity.

Question 16

Can I link CCTV to my garden office or detached garage?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We install external steel-wire armoured (SWA) Cat6 cables in trenches or deploy compact 5GHz point-to-point wireless bridges to link outbuildings up to 5km away back to your central house NVR cleanly.

Question 17

What happens if my internet goes down? Will the cameras still record?

Accepted Answer

Yes, 100%. Because our systems are hardwired to a local NVR, your cameras record 24 hours a day to the internal surveillance hard drive regardless of whether your broadband is connected. Internet is only required for live mobile phone viewing when away from home.

Question 18

What warranty do you provide on CCTV equipment and installation?

Accepted Answer

All commercial and domestic systems supplied and installed by ADI Communications come with a comprehensive 3-year manufacturer hardware warranty and our 12-month installation tradecraft guarantee.

Question 19

How much does professional Starlink installation cost in the UK?

Accepted Answer

Professional Starlink installation starts at £199 + VAT when you supply all your equipment, or £249 + VAT when Gary supplies the heavy-duty galvanized heavy-duty Starlink chimney bracket and external UV-resistant Cat6 cable. Non-drill heavy-duty chimney lashing mounts start from £295 + VAT, and full estate installations with garden office Wi-Fi links start from £450 + VAT.

Question 20

Is it worth paying for professional Starlink installation vs DIY?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Hiring a professional Starlink installer guarantees an blockage-free roof mount. We use heavy galvanised steel brackets and twin chimney lashing wires. We route cables through clean wall holes with silicone seals. DIY setups often suffer tree blockages, loose cables, and wind vibration. Our work includes a full 12-month workmanship warranty.

Question 21

Can Starlink be installed on a roof, and does it need to go on the roof?

Accepted Answer

Starlink works best on a roof. High roof mounting gives a clear 110-degree sky view. This clears trees, hedges, and nearby buildings. Roof mounting stops dropouts on video calls. As an experienced Starlink installer, Gary fits dishes to chimney stacks, gable walls, and ridgelines without cracking tiles.

Question 22

Do I need to drill a hole in my wall for the Starlink cable?

Accepted Answer

Yes. A neat 22mm entry hole is needed for the Starlink cable head. Gary Pearce drills at a downward angle from inside to outside. This stops rainwater entering your home. We fit rubber wall bushings and exterior silicone drip-loops. The entry looks tidy and keeps your home fully weatherproof.

Question 23

Will Starlink be fully set up and working the same day you leave?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Your Starlink installer stays until your system is live. We power up the Gen 3 router. We update the SpaceX firmware. Next, we connect your phones, TVs, and PCs. Finally, we run a live speed test showing 150 to 250+ Mbps before handing over.

Question 24

How long does a professional Starlink installation take on the day?

Accepted Answer

A standard domestic Starlink installation takes between 2 and 3 hours. More complex jobs with chimney lashing or outbuilding Wi-Fi bridges take 3 to 4 hours. Every Starlink installer visit is finished cleanly in a single day. All brackets, cables, and routers are fitted and tested before we leave.

Question 25

Does Starlink Wi-Fi work through thick solid stone walls?

Accepted Answer

The standard Starlink router Wi-Fi signal struggles through two-foot thick solid Yorkshire stone walls. To solve this, Gary Pearce installs internal Cat6 data cabling to commercial ceiling access points or mesh nodes, giving you full 200+ Mbps wireless coverage in every room of your property.

Question 26

Can I extend Starlink Wi-Fi to a garden office, shed, or outbuilding?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Gary Pearce links your Starlink broadband to garden rooms and detached barns. We use direct-buried Cat6 cable or high-speed wireless bridges up to 5km. You get full broadband speeds at your garden desk without digging up lawns or driveways. It works reliably in all seasons.

Question 27

Does Starlink stay online in bad UK weather, storms, and snow?

Accepted Answer

Yes. SpaceX Gen 3 Standard hardware features automated built-in snow melting and advanced phased-array electronic beam steering. Mounted securely on Gary Pearce's galvanised steel brackets and twin chimney lashings, our installations are tested to withstand 90mph Pennine gales.

Question 28

Is Starlink better than BT Openreach and 4G broadband in rural areas?

Accepted Answer

For rural homes getting under 20 Mbps on BT Openreach copper phone lines, Starlink is vastly superior. It delivers consistent 150–250+ Mbps download speeds and 25–40ms latency, compared to decaying copper lines that buffer on 4K streaming and freeze on video calls during bad weather.

Question 29

Can I cancel BT and keep my landline phone number on Starlink?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but you will need a third-party VoIP provider. Starlink is a high-speed broadband connection and does not supply a traditional landline. To keep your existing 01 or 02 number when cancelling BT, you can port it to an independent digital VoIP service (such as Voipfone or Vonage) using a simple ATA adapter plugged into your router.

Question 30

Can I take my Starlink dish with me if I move house?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You own the Starlink hardware outright with no long contract. When you move home, your Starlink installer can safely de-rig the dish. We seal all old wall entry holes. Then, we reinstall the system at your new property with storm-proof brackets.

Question 31

Can an installer fit a Starlink dish I bought myself from Currys or SpaceX?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Most customers order their Starlink Standard kit directly from SpaceX, Currys, or John Lewis. Gary Pearce supplies heavy-duty galvanized roof brackets, non-drill chimney mounts, weather-sealed cable grommets, and professional roof ladders to safely fit and commission your equipment.

Question 32

Can a damaged or rodent-chewed Starlink cable be repaired without buying a new one?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If your Starlink cable is cut by gardening tools, chewed by mice or dogs, or pinched in a window frame, Gary Pearce splices and repairs the line using shielded IP68 waterproof external couplers, restoring full gigabit speed without waiting weeks for SpaceX replacement cables.

Question 33

How do I get Starlink internet to a detached garden office or barn?

Accepted Answer

You do not need a second Starlink subscription. Gary Pearce connects your main house to your garden room using either direct-burial armoured SWA Cat6 cable or a zero-dig Gigabit wireless bridge, feeding a dedicated Wi-Fi 6 access point inside your office for uninterrupted video calls.

Question 34

Can Gary Pearce relocate my Starlink dish if trees have grown or I move house?

Accepted Answer

Yes. If summer tree foliage creates micro-dropouts or you are moving to a new home, we unmount your dish, relocate it to an unobstructed chimney or high gable apex, re-route the cabling neatly, and sign off the signal with a live sky blockage audit.

Question 35

Do Ajax alarms require a monthly subscription fee?

Accepted Answer

No. Unlike Ring, Verisure, or ADT, an Ajax alarm has zero compulsory monthly subscription fees. You own your equipment outright. You get full mobile app control, instant push alerts, and video verification free of charge. Optional professional ARC monitoring can be added if your insurer requires police dispatch.

Question 36

What is the difference between Ajax wireless Jeweller and Fibra wired?

Accepted Answer

Ajax Jeweller is an encrypted Grade 2 wireless system with up to 2,000-metre radio range and 5 to 7-year battery life, ideal for finished homes without chasing walls. Ajax Fibra is a Grade 3 wired hybrid system using 4-core bus cables, designed for high-risk commercial premises, banks, and luxury new builds requiring wired compliance.

Question 37

Are Ajax alarms approved for UK home insurance policies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ajax Jeweller is independently certified to European standard EN 50131 Grade 2, and Ajax Fibra achieves Grade 3. Both comply with British police standard PD 6662:2017. Gary Pearce provides a signed certificate of conformity upon completion that satisfies major UK domestic and commercial insurers.

Question 38

Will domestic pets set off the Ajax motion sensors?

Accepted Answer

No. Ajax MotionProtect sensors use digital SmartDetect algorithms and specialized Fresnel lenses that analyze heat signatures and body mass. Dogs and cats weighing under 20 kilograms (44 lbs) and below 50 centimetres in height move freely around your home without triggering false alarm sirens.

Question 39

What happens if power cuts out or home broadband drops?

Accepted Answer

Your Ajax system stays fully protected. The hub contains an internal backup battery providing up to 16 hours of independent operation during power outages. It also features dual communications: primary Ethernet/Wi-Fi backed up by dual 2G/3G/4G cellular SIM cards that instantly route alerts if your broadband fails.

Question 40

Do Ajax CCTV cameras require monthly cloud fees?

Accepted Answer

No. Ajax TurretCam, BulletCam, and DomeCam Mini cameras record locally onto onboard microSD cards or directly to an Ajax NVR with hard drives up to 16TB. You get full 4K live streaming, smart AI human/car detection, and instant alarm video playback with zero monthly cloud subscription fees.

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