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Camera and doorbell advice, written for Maidstone.
Plain, original guides for Maidstone homes: fitting cameras to old brick, fixing weak Wi-Fi, choosing and installing a doorbell, picking and setting up a camera brand, sizing a recorder drive, remote viewing, footage and account security. Each opens with the short answer and then explains it. The legal position is in our CCTV and doorbell law guide.
Guide
Fitting CCTV to a Victorian terrace: cables and fixings
Cable routes, soft-brick fixings and the shared-boundary problem on a Victorian street.
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Why the garden camera drops off Wi-Fi, and how to fix it
Thick walls and long gardens: how to get a steady signal to the camera.
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Battery or wired video doorbell: which should you choose?
Recharging versus wiring: the trade-offs between the two types of video doorbell.
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How long should you keep CCTV footage at home?
Retention periods, storage choices and keeping an incident clip safe.
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Keep your cameras private: passwords, two-factor and updates
Simple steps that stop strangers looking at your cameras.
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Securing a detached garage or outbuilding: what to do first
Lights, locks and a camera: the order that protects tools and bikes best.
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Reolink or Eufy cameras: which should you buy?
Six questions that settle the choice between the two brands for your house.
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Arlo or Ring: what the subscription really costs over 3 years
A simple three-year sum so you compare the whole cost, not the box price.
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How big a hard drive does your CCTV recorder need?
The bitrate sum, with a worked example, so you buy the right size drive first time.
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Do I need a new transformer for a wired video doorbell?
Check the label first: the voltage and VA decide whether your old doorbell supply will do.
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Do you need a static IP to watch your cameras remotely?
Why most home cameras need no static IP, and what to use if yours does.
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Tapo camera self-install: set-up, memory card and fixing
From box to working picture: the app steps, the right memory card and where to fix it.
Read the guide →The law
UK CCTV and video doorbell law, in plain terms
The household exemption, doorbell audio, and what the ICO expects.
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