Security Cameras & Surveillance Equipment
How to choose surveillance equipment
Start with where it is going
A camera at a house with WiFi and mains power has a different answer from one at a gate a kilometre from the nearest socket. If there is power and a router, a WiFi security camera, which is what most people mean by a wireless security camera, is the simplest and cheapest option. If there is neither, a 4G security camera with a solar panel runs on its own. For a whole property, a wireless system or a wired CCTV kit records several cameras to one recorder. The security cameras buying guide below walks through the choice in five minutes.
Cameras for land, vehicles and people
For rural blocks, hunting and wildlife, trail cameras trigger on movement and either store to a card or send photos straight to your phone. For vehicles, dash cams record continuously and many keep watching while parked. For people working alone or in security, a body camera is worn visibly and records a shift. For seeing in the dark at distance, see night vision.
Compare the types
 WiFi cameras |  4G cameras |  Systems |  Trail cameras |  Dash cams | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Needs | WiFi and usually a socket | A SIM, and sun or a socket | A hub, cabled, wireless or solar | Batteries, sun or a SIM | The car |
| Watches | A home or business with broadband | A gate, paddock or site with none | Several angles on one property | A track, a trap line, a fence line | The road and the car park |
| Suits | Most houses and shops | Farms, holiday homes, building sites | Whole properties and sheds | Hunting, pests, rural theft | Every driver, and anyone with a fleet |
| Range | WiFi security cameras | 4G security cameras | Security systems | Trail cameras | Dash cams |
Buying guides
Security Cameras Australia Buying GuideWiFi, 4G, solar, wireless systems or CCTV
Security Camera System Buying Guide AustraliaWhat powers the hub decides everything
4G Security Camera Buying Guide AustraliaSolar, PTZ and zoom compared
WiFi Security Camera Buying Guide AustraliaWhether your signal reaches
Related
WiFi Security Cameras 4G Security Cameras Security Systems Wireless Security Systems Alarm Systems Trail Cameras Dash Cams Bodycams Night Vision Spy Cameras
Common questions
Do I need internet at the site?
Only for WiFi models. A 4G camera uses a mobile SIM and needs no broadband.
Will solar work through winter?
In most of the country, yes, provided the panel faces north and is clear of shade. Further south the daylight hours are short enough through June and July that a camera with a larger battery reserve is worth the extra cost, particularly on a site you cannot easily reach to recharge.
What about a holiday home left empty for months?
That is the case 4G and solar were made for. No power, no broadband, no one visiting to change a battery, and an alert on your phone the moment something moves.
Will an older 3G camera still work?
No. Australia no longer has a 3G network, so a 3G camera or tracker cannot be reconnected. Everything here that uses a mobile network is 4G.
What is the difference between CCTV and a wireless security camera?
CCTV records to a recorder in the building, over a cable or a dedicated wireless link, so it does not depend on the cloud or on your broadband: the PoE kits and the wireless hub systems here. A wireless security camera usually means a WiFi camera recording to its own card and streaming to your phone through your router. CCTV gives sharper, continuous footage that survives a stolen camera; a WiFi camera is cheaper, quicker to fit and better for one or two angles.
Do I need a sign for security cameras in Australia? Australian law
Cameras that protect your own home, vehicle and family are lawful, and no sign is needed at home, although one is a good deterrent. A business should put up a clear sign that cameras are in use, and workplace surveillance rules in some states and territories require written notice to staff. Surveillance devices laws differ by state and territory: point cameras at your own property, never into a neighbour's home, a bathroom or a bedroom, and leave audio off, because recording private conversations you are not part of is generally not allowed.