You get two quotes for eight cameras and the gap between them is large. The natural move is to take the cheaper one, but in most cases the difference is not a real discount. It comes from items that are simply missing: a hard drive that was never listed, lower-grade cable, or installation that does not include conduit. Those items come back later as "extras".
Here is how we review any quotation, from a home camera kit to a full ELV project.
Put both quotes in one table
Do not compare totals. Break each quote into its lines, set them side by side, and write a question next to anything vague. This simple table exposes most differences in minutes:
| Item | What should be stated | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Cameras | Full model and quantity | Are both models in the same class? |
| Recorder | Channels and HDD bays | Room for more cameras later? |
| Hard drive | Capacity and type | Surveillance-rated? How many days of recording? |
| PoE switch or power supplies | Ports and PoE budget | Enough for every camera? |
| Cable | Material (pure copper or CCA) and quantity | How was the quantity worked out? |
| Conduit, trunking, junction boxes | Type and quantity | Included, or on the client? |
| UPS and monitor | Rating and size | Are they needed at all? |
| Installation and configuration | Detailed scope | Mobile app setup and training included? |
| Warranty | Period and coverage | Who handles replacements, and how fast? |
Full model numbers, not descriptions
"4MP outdoor camera" is not enough to compare. Two cameras with the same resolution can differ in sensor size, lens, night range, WDR and analytics. Ask for the full manufacturer model for every device, then check the datasheet yourself or ask the supplier for it. Make sure the recorder supports the cameras' resolution, count and codec, such as H.265. If one quote uses a brand's entry series and the other its professional series, the price comparison is unfair from the start. You can see the different classes among Uniview NVRs.
Cable: material and quantity
Cable is where savings hide most easily. Some cheap cable is copper-clad aluminium (CCA), which does not meet recognised Cat6 standards and has higher resistance, causing trouble with PoE and longer runs. Ask for "pure copper" in writing. See the options in our CCTV cables.
Worked example: is the cable quantity sensible?
Take 12 cameras with an average run of 35 m to the recorder, plus 10% for bends and service loops:
12 × 35 × 1.1 = 462 m.
A standard reel is 305 m, so this site needs two reels (610 m). A quote with one reel will fall short and a second will appear later; a quote with four should explain why. Watch for cable priced "per metre" with no quantity, which is an open-ended line.
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
Storage: how many days will it record?
The hard drive is sometimes dropped or undersized to lower the total. Ideally the quote states expected recording days at defined settings. For example, a camera recording continuously at 4 Mbps uses about 43.2 GB a day, so eight cameras need about 346 GB a day, and a 2 TB drive holds only 5 to 6 days at that rate. H.265 and motion recording change this a lot, so ask the supplier to state the assumptions. We stock Western Digital drives in several capacities.
Labour: what installation really covers
"Installation" can mean many things. Ask the quote to state clearly:
- Cable pulling and conduit or trunking, or only mounting the cameras?
- Junction boxes, brackets and installation accessories?
- Work at height needing scaffolding or special ladders?
- Configuration, mobile app setup on users' phones and alert tuning?
- Testing every camera and handing over a document with IPs and passwords?
- Exclusions: wall chasing, electrical work, repainting after trunking?
A common surprise: labour priced on the assumption that conduits exist, then on site there are none.
Warranty and after-sales
Separate product warranty from installation warranty. Product warranty covers manufacturing defects; the real question is who collects the faulty unit, who delivers the replacement and how long it takes. Installation warranty covers workmanship, such as a loose connection or a junction box that let water in. Ask about technical support after handover and firmware updates too.
Tip for clients: ask for the model number and quantity on every line, with itemised prices rather than one lump sum. An itemised quote is easier to compare and protects you if there is ever a dispute about what was supplied.
ELV projects: extra lines worth checking
When a quote covers network, access control and PBX alongside cameras, more items can slip through: the rack, patch panels and patch cords; testing of every data point with results handed over; cable labels at both ends; as-built drawings; and operator training. Read the terms as carefully as the lines: price validity, a payment schedule tied to clear milestones, delivery and installation time, and who pays for changes requested during the job.
Red flags and how Do Link helps
Be careful with a single total and no breakdown, cable with no material or quantity, a recorder with no drive, a price far below others for the same models, and a verbal warranty with no named party.
Our quotations list the full model and quantity for every line. You can send us another quote you have received and we will go through the lines, cable quantities and capacities with you, with no obligation. We supply original products from brands such as Uniview, Hikvision, Dahua, Western Digital and TP-Link with a one-year warranty, pre- and post-sale support, special pricing for installers, contractors and projects, and delivery to all governorates in 2 to 3 working days. See our CCTV solutions, send your details through the contact page, or browse Hikvision switches and the rest of the system.
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
Why do CCTV installation quotes vary so much?
Usually because the lines differ, not the prices: different model classes, pure copper versus CCA cable, a hard drive included or not, and installation with or without conduit. Once both quotes are broken down into one table, the source of the gap becomes clear and you can compare them fairly.
How do I know the cable quantity in a quote is right?
Multiply the number of cameras by the average distance to the recorder and add about 10% for bends and service loops. For example, 12 cameras at an average of 35 m need around 462 m, which is two 305 m reels. If the quote is far lower or higher, ask how it was calculated.
What is the difference between pure copper and CCA cable?
CCA is aluminium with a thin copper coating. It is cheaper but does not meet recognised Cat6 standards and has higher resistance, which hurts performance and causes PoE power problems, especially on longer runs. That is why we recommend the quote states pure copper in writing.
Should a quotation state the recording period?
Ideally, yes. Drive capacity alone is not enough, because recording time depends on camera count, resolution, bitrate, codec and recording mode. When the supplier writes the expected days and the settings behind the figure, quotes become easy to compare and the supplier can be held to it after installation.
What should a CCTV system warranty cover?
Product warranty covers manufacturing defects for its period, and the quote should say who collects a faulty unit and who delivers the replacement. Installation warranty covers workmanship such as connections and junction boxes. Ask for the warranty in writing, including technical support after handover.