Before choosing what CCTV Camera system to get, sometimes the customers stumble upon the following question: should I choose wired or wireless CCTV camera? What are the pros and cons of wired and wireless CCTV cameras?
As you might have guessed, none of the options available are perfect, so it mostly comes down to your personal preferences. But to make your buying decision easier, we’ve composed a comprehensive list of what you can expect from each type of device, both positives, and negatives.
Note that a wireless CCTV camera has to be a digital IP Camera, as only digital signal can be transmitted wirelessly.
General Comparison of Wired and Wireless CCTV Camera in Table
| Advantages | Disadvantages | |
| Wired CCTV Camera | Better video quality. Nearly no interference. High reliability. No need a separate power | Installation is more challenging. Not easily portable |
| Wireless CCTV Camera | Easier installationPortabilityCan be flexibly placedReduced Maintenance | Less reliable. Risk being hackedHigh cost. Possibility of interference |
Advantages of Wireless CCTV Camera
1. Easier installation
Wireless IP Camera from Dahua
This is especially important if you want to do it yourself. That way, you will save time and also ensure that you’re going to be capable of doing it in the first place. In a typical scenario, all you have to worry about in terms of installation is having a power source in close proximity to your wireless CCTV camera, and you’re good to go.
2. Portability
Since these types of wireless CCTV cameras tend to be rather lightweight and easily installed, you can take them anywhere you want to without trouble.
3. Can be placed anywhere there is a Wi-Fi signal
Extending on the previous points, as long as you have a power source and a Wi-Fi signal nearby, your wireless CCTV camera will serve you well. This also comes in handy if you want to move it to another location later on.
4. Reduced maintenance
Maintaining a CCTV camera can be troublesome. But since a wireless CCTV camera doesn’t need a cable to function, ideally you won’t be spending any money on cable maintenance (although you will still need the power cable to power up the wireless CCTV camera)
Disadvantages of Wireless CCTV Camera
1. Less reliable than wired CCTV cameras
The reliability of wireless CCTV camera relies on the wi-fi signal. Sometimes you’re going to be experiencing instability of wi-fi signal, or even weak signal, which means you could potentially lose some crucial moments of footage. In that aspect, a wired CCTV camera is more reliable than a wireless CCTV camera
2. Risk of being hacked
Data security is an important aspect of today’s world, and the con of using a wireless CCTV camera is that you risk being hacked. Although breaching the security of your camera is not something that a novice hacker can do seamlessly, there is still a risk. Knowing this, you have to make a decision based on how comfortable you are that someone else may have access to the recorded footage at any given time.
3. Cost is high
For the most part, wireless CCTV cameras tend to be more expensive than their wired counterparts.
4. Possibility of interference
Sometimes, wireless CCTV cameras experience interference which can lead to false alarms, dropped signals, and lost video.
Benefits of Wired CCTV Camera
1. Best video quality
Out of all the CCTV cameras, wired CCTV cameras tend to have the best picture quality.
2. No interference
If you’ve installed a wired CCTV camera properly, one of the pros is that you won’t have to worry about any interference from Bluetooth devices, telephones, wireless networks, alarms, microwave ovens, baby monitors, and the like.
3. Reliability
Expanding on the previous points made, a wired CCTV camera is one of the most sturdy and reliable options if you’re looking for the best picture quality and availability at all times.
4. No need for a power source nearby
Unlike with what you can expect from wireless CCTV cameras, a wired CCTV camera doesn’t require a power source nearby – a cable will carry the power to it. And if you use a power distribution box, many cameras can be powered at once.
Disadvantages of wired CCTV camera
1. Installation can be challenging
Unlike wireless CCTV cameras, a wired CCTV camera can be quite challenging to install. Unavoidably, you’re going to have to drill a hole in the wall, and you can run into all sorts of obstacles while you’re at it: concrete blocks, studs, and the list goes on. To make matters even trickier, these are hidden behind the wall, so you won’t be able to tell them in advance. And if you want to steer clear of interference in picture quality, you’re going to have to avoid placing the cable along a high-powered line.
2. Not easily portable
As you may have imagined, since there is a lot of work involved during the installation phase, moving it to a different location can be quite tricky, and it’s usually better to just get a new one in this case.
Conclusion
When considering the pros and cons of wired and wireless CCTV cameras, you always have to consider what matters the most to you, as well as the budget you have available. But hopefully, this article has helped clear up some of the questions you may have had.
