Two quotations for the same camera system, 40% apart. One says "8 × 4MP cameras and a recorder"; the other lists models, cable lengths and camera positions. Which do you pick? The supplier or installer you choose shapes your security system for years, often more than the brand itself. Here are the questions that reveal the difference, the red flags, and what a proper site survey covers.
Supplier, installer, contractor: who does what
In Egypt you will usually deal with a distributor or supplier that sells equipment and supports it technically, an installer that does the site work, and sometimes a contractor wrapping both into a larger project. One company may do it all, or you may buy equipment in one place and hire an installer elsewhere. Either way, be clear before signing: who guarantees the hardware, who guarantees the workmanship, and who you call when something fails.
The site survey is the first real test
A serious installer will not give a final price for a camera system without visiting, except for very simple jobs. A good survey covers:
- The purpose of each camera: general activity, recognising a person, or identifying faces at the door. That decides resolution and lens.
- Night lighting: light sources, backlight at glass entrances, completely dark zones.
- Cable routes: real lengths, wall crossings and distance to the equipment room, within the 100 m Ethernet limit.
- Power and network: where the recorder, switch and UPS go, and internet upload speed for remote viewing.
- For access control and intercom: door and lock types, emergency exit requirements, and how doors behave in a power cut.
Worked example: will this camera identify faces?
IEC 62676-4 sets pixel density by purpose: about 25 px/m to detect, 62.5 to observe, 125 to recognise and 250 to identify. A 4MP camera is typically 2560 pixels wide:
| Purpose | Pixel density | Max scene width |
|---|---|---|
| Identify | 250 px/m | 2560 ÷ 250 ≈ 10.2 m |
| Recognise | 125 px/m | 2560 ÷ 125 ≈ 20.5 m |
| Observe | 62.5 px/m | 2560 ÷ 62.5 ≈ 41 m |
So a 4MP camera covering a 10 m entrance gives usable faces; aimed across a 40 m yard, it shows general activity only. An installer who can walk you through this math understands what they are selling.
Questions to ask
| Question | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|
| Will the quote list the full model of every device? | Yes, with quantities, not "4MP camera" |
| What cable type and roughly how much? | Solid copper Cat6, lengths based on the survey |
| How do you size the PoE switch? | Sum of device consumption plus headroom |
| What do I receive at handover? | Layout drawing, IP list, passwords and user training |
| What warranty covers the installation itself? | A defined workmanship period, separate from hardware warranty |
| Can I see previous work? | Real sites you can visit or whose owners you can contact |
Need technical advice before you buy?
Do Link's sales team helps you choose the right equipment for your site and budget, with special wholesale and project pricing.
Contact the sales team WhatsApp Call us 01098280784 Request a quote
Reading the quotation
A good quote separates devices by model, cable by type and length, conduit and accessories, labour, configuration, training, timeline and payment terms. Compare line by line, not totals. Large gaps usually hide in cable, disk capacity and accessories missing from one quote. Cheap cable may be CCA (copper-clad aluminium): higher resistance, weaker PoE over distance, and not compliant with Cat6 cabling standards. Our CCTV cables and installation accessories show what a complete quote should include.
Red flags
- A final price for a large site with no visit.
- Unrealistic promises: exaggerated night vision range, or "clear faces" from one camera covering a whole yard.
- Refusing to write full models, or swapping the agreed model for a "similar" one without written approval.
- Keeping the admin password, or leaving default passwords.
- Unlabelled cables and exposed outdoor joints.
- Pressure to pay everything before delivery, or a price far below every other quote with no clear reason.
Any one of these may have an explanation. Two or three together are a reason to think again.
Handover checklist
- A layout of cameras, devices and main cable routes.
- A table of IP addresses, switch ports and cable labels.
- The admin password in your name, plus limited user accounts.
- Current official firmware and NTP time sync.
- A live test with you: play back yesterday, export a clip, view from your phone.
- Warranty documents and invoices with models and serials.
From our site visits: ask the installer to leave the system recording for two or three days before final handover, then review the night footage together. Most issues show up in night lighting, not in the daytime image shown on installation day.
After handover: maintenance
Ask about periodic maintenance before you sign. At minimum: clean outdoor lenses and housings, check recorder disks and confirm actual retention matches what you need, inspect outdoor joints for moisture, apply official firmware security updates, and remove accounts of staff who have left. A maintenance contract with a set number of visits and a defined response time beats a vague promise that "the technician is always available".
How Do Link can help
Do Link for Security Systems works with end users, technicians, installers and contractors. We are the official Platinum Distributor of Uniview in Egypt, including Uniview IP cameras, and carry Hikvision, Dahua, ZKTeco, Commax, TP-Link and more. Products are original with a one-year warranty, technical support before and after sale, wholesale and project pricing, and delivery to every governorate in 2 to 3 working days.
See our projects and our CCTV and access control solutions. Have a quotation you want a second opinion on? Send it to the Do Link team or visit one of our three branches in Bab El Louk.
Recommended products from Do Link
Get a quote from Do Link
Send us your site details and the number of points you need, and Do Link's sales team will reply with suitable models and pricing. Or visit one of our three branches in Bab El Louk, Cairo.
Contact the sales team WhatsApp Call us 01098280784 Request a quote
About Do Link
Do Link for Security Systems is the official Platinum Distributor of Uniview in Egypt, and we supply Hikvision, Dahua, ZKTeco, TP-Link and other global brands for CCTV, networking, intercom and access control. Our products are original with a one-year warranty, pre- and post-sale technical support, and delivery to all Egyptian governorates.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rely on a quote given without a site visit?
For very simple jobs, such as two cameras in a small shop, a precise description and photos can be enough. For larger or multi-floor sites a survey is essential, because it defines each camera's purpose, night lighting, real cable lengths and recorder location. Quotes made without one usually change once work starts, and costs rise.
How do I know a camera will show faces clearly?
Calculate pixel density. IEC 62676-4 sets about 250 pixels per metre for identification. A 4MP camera at 2560 pixels wide achieves that across a scene roughly 10 m wide. Cover a wider area and detail drops, so you would need a narrower lens or an extra camera dedicated to the entrance.
What is the difference between CCA and solid copper cable?
CCA is aluminium coated with a thin copper layer. It is cheaper but has higher electrical resistance than solid copper, which means weaker PoE performance and more heat over long runs, and it does not meet Cat6 cabling standards. Ask for the cable type in writing in the quote and check the jacket markings on delivery.
What should I receive when installation is finished?
A layout of devices and cable routes, a table of IP addresses and cable labels, the admin password in your name with limited user accounts, current firmware with time sync, a live test of playback, export and mobile viewing, and finally invoices and warranty documents listing models and serial numbers.
Does Do Link work with installers and technicians?
Yes. Do Link works with end users, technicians, installation companies and contractors, with special wholesale and project pricing. Products are original with a one-year warranty, technical support before and after sale, delivery to every governorate in 2 to 3 working days, and cash on delivery or payment at the branch.