CCTV Manuals

What Security Camera Resolution Is Best for My Home in 2026? 2MP, 2K, 3K, or 8MP? Here’s the Explanation

Choosing the Best Security Camera Resolution for Your Home

Questions about security camera resolution are something I get asked about all the time. Most of these questions come from people who are buying a security camera for the first time and aren’t sure which resolution is right for their home. I also often hear from customers who are using a high-resolution security camera but still find that the live feed looks blurry. They wonder why this happens even though their camera has a high resolution. In 2026, high-resolution security cameras have become the go-to choice for many of my customers.

Here’s my take on choosing the right security camera resolution for your home. Of course, choosing the right brand is just as important.

Hik-Connect 7 App with AI Features: Download, Install and Everything You Need to Know

Hikvision has just launched the Hik-Connect 7 app, the latest version of Hik-Connect 6. This new app incorporates AI technology designed to make live viewing and video playback easier for users. Unlike the previous version—Hik-Connect 6—which relied on a timeline requiring manual searching, Hik-Connect 7 allows users to search for video footage directly by typing keywords into a search bar.

In this article, I will explain the new menus and features available in the Hik-Connect 7 app.

30+ Hik-Connect App Error Codes and Quick Ways to Resolve Them

Error codes in the Hik-Connect app generally indicate a network-related issue—such as “AccessToken Expired,” “Device Offline,” “Number of Streaming Channels Exceeded Limit,” or “No Video Source.” Users may sometimes panic when these codes appear, even though the codes actually indicate the necessary course of action.

In this article, I will show you 30+ error codes that appear in the Hik-Connect app and quick ways to fix them.

Does the Dahua Apollo BP3EW-4G Camera Support RTSP and ONVIF? Here’s What You Need to Know

One question we get asked quite often is whether the Dahua APOLLO BP3EW-4G camera supports ONVIF and RTSP.

The Dahua APOLLO BP3EW-4G is one of Dahua’s newer and more affordable camera models. It uses a 4G connection to access the internet and runs on a battery with a solar panel, making it a great option for locations where access to a power outlet is limited. In my area, the camera also supports Telkomsel SIM cards.

Shelly Camera RTSP URL – How I Access an RTSP URL and Display It in VLC Media Player

Shelly camera RTSP URL – Recently, Shelly launched its first security camera, the Shelly Camera White, priced at $38.97. As someone who works with security cameras, I’m naturally curious about what this camera can actually do from a technical perspective. One of the things I’m most interested in is whether the Shelly Camera White supports RTSP. If it does, that would make it possible to integrate the camera with other devices, such as an NVR, using an RTSP stream.

In this article, I’ll show you the RTSP URL format for the Shelly Camera White and walk you through how to access its RTSP stream using VLC Media Player.

I Tried Installing VibeNVR, a 100% Free, Open-Source & Self-Hosted NVR for Recording Any IP Security Camera

I became interested in trying VibeNVR after coming across an article on XDA Developers. VibeNVR is a free, open-source NVR that you can host on your own server. This means your security camera footage is stored directly on your own server, so you don’t have to pay for a monthly cloud subscription. In the article I read, VibeNVR was used with UniFi IP cameras, and it seemed to work quite well. That made me curious to try it out for myself.

In this article, I will attempt to install VibeNVR on my 2012 MacBook, taking the process from start to finish until it is ready for use—will it work?

How I Installed the ZKTeco X8s Access Control: Wiring Diagram, Adding Users, Fingerprints, and Cards—From Start to Finish

As a security camera technician, I also handle other types of jobs, including installing basic access control systems. Over the years, I’ve worked with equipment from brands like Hikvision, Dahua, Solution, Fingerspot, and ZKTeco. The first access control system I ever installed was at a local Public Works office, a government office in my area, around 2016. At the time, I installed a ZKTeco X6.

In this article, I’ll walk you through how I installed the ZKTeco X6s, along with a wiring diagram you can follow.

Tapo App for PC – How I Download an Alternative App for My Tapo Camera on My PC & Laptop (Windows 10/11 & Mac)

Looking for a TP-Link Tapo camera app for your PC? After going through a lot of documentation, I finally found a way to use the TP-Link Tapo CCTV camera on a PC. You can download and install the app directly on your computer. With TP-Link Tapo for PC, you can monitor your Tapo CCTV cameras remotely, just like you would on your smartphone. The main difference is that you get a much bigger screen, making it easier to keep an eye on your cameras.

In this guide we will explain how to download and install an alternative application for TP-Link Tapo CCTV cameras on PC.

Novicam IP Camera Login: Default IP Address, Username and Password—How to Access It From a Web Browser

Knowing the login credentials for Novicam IP cameras—such as the default IP address, username, and password—will make it easier for you to set up the IP camera you just purchased. Generally, the default IP address, username, and password are provided by the camera manufacturer, but some manufacturers do not provide this information in multiple languages. Novicam is a Russian camera brand. The camera’s user manual is also in Russian.

In this article, I’ll go over the default login details for Novicam IP cameras, including the default IP address, username, and password.

How do I View and Recording Windows Desktop As A Channel In NVR? I Used This Software and It Worked

At first, I thought DeskCamera was CCTV software for displaying live camera feeds, similar to a VMS. But after downloading, installing, and trying it out on my computer, I realized that’s not actually how it works. Instead, DeskCamera can turn your computer’s desktop screen into a virtual camera and make it accessible to recording devices like NVRs and DVRs, as well as security camera applications such as iVMS-4200, AnyCam, Blue Iris, and others that support RTSP and ONVIF.

In this guide, I explain how I use this software on my computer, from downloading and installing it to using it in full.

IPTRONIC Camera Login: Default IP Address, Username, and Password—Here’s What I Know

IPTRONIC Camera Default IP Address Username Password

IPTRONIC is a company based in Russia. It provides security devices. Their flagship product is the IP security camera, such as the IPTRONIC IPT-IPL1081DM(2,8)PAH. They do not offer analog cameras. Just like in European countries, analog cameras are less popular; European countries tend to prefer IP cameras. On their official website, you can find information about the products and services they offer.

In this article, I will explain the IPTRONIC IP camera credentials, such as the default IP address, username, and password.