When mounting cameras and network gear in hard-to-reach spots, most companies focus on one thing only: getting it done and making sure the camera has a good view. But the installation is not the last time anyone will touch the device. Sooner or later it will need servicing, and that is when it shows how well the job was thought through.

The install is not the last contact with the device

A high wall, a pole, a facade, a ceiling void. A great shot, the technician leaves and it seems done. The truth, however, is that every device eventually needs a human hand. And if you reached it the first time only with a platform or scaffolding, you will need exactly the same for every further visit.

This is the heart of the matter. The way you reach a device during installation is the way you will reach it during service. A good technician thinks about this in advance.

Why the device will eventually need servicing

This is not theory. These are common, recurring situations from real life:

  • Optics. The lens occasionally needs cleaning or replacing, especially when dust, cobwebs or insects settle on it.
  • Power. A PoE injector or adapter can fail and needs to be restarted or replaced.
  • Memory card. Cards in cameras have a limited lifespan and need to be replaced over time.
  • Connectors and cabling. A connector can come loose, oxidise, or a joint needs reconnecting after an outage.
  • Updates and settings. Firmware, re-aiming the shot, changing the angle after building work.
  • Faults and lightning. After a surge or lightning event the device needs to be checked or replaced.

Every single one of these points means someone has to reach the device again.

The hidden costs of a poorly planned install

This is where the most common mistake appears. When a device is placed so that it can only be reached with a platform or scaffolding, every visit costs time and money and extends the system outage. And we are not talking about a major repair. Replacing a memory card or tightening a connector is enough, and you still have to order equipment, arrange a date and pay for access at height.

With a poorly planned install this repeats for every little thing. The cost of mounting is a one-off, but the cost of poor placement is paid throughout the whole life of the system.

How we do it: mounting with service in mind

When designing an installation we decide placement not only by what the camera needs to see, but also by how we will reach it later. That is the difference between a quick mount and a thought-through solution.

  • Active gear at the bottom, in an accessible cabinet. The PoE switch, injector, recorder and power supply belong in an accessible cabinet within reach from the ground or a ladder. Only a single cable runs up to the camera.
  • One cable instead of two. Thanks to PoE (power over ethernet) both power and data run to the camera through a single cable. Fewer joints at height means fewer places where something can fail.
  • Quality, durable components. A cheap camera that lasts two years costs you more at height than a quality one that lasts ten. The comparison of camera types shows where it pays to save and where it does not.
  • Surge protection. Outdoor and high-mounted gear belongs behind surge protection. A single lightning strike can take out a whole branch, and a visit at height is the most expensive possible way to replace it.
  • Slack and order. We leave cable slack, use proper connectors, and document and label the joints. During service the technician gets oriented in a minute, not an hour.

Sometimes it is better not to overcomplicate things

And one more thing most companies will not tell you. Sometimes it makes sense to stop and ask whether that extreme placement is really worth it. Often the same goal, that is the same shot or coverage, can be achieved more accessibly. A little lower, on a different wall, in an easier spot.

Before buying and mounting a camera system it pays to go through what to consider with cameras thoroughly. The cheapest installation is not the one with the lowest mounting price, but the one that costs you the least over its whole lifespan.

Conclusion

Mounting cameras and network gear in hard-to-reach spots is not just about it working today. It is about being able to service it cheaply and quickly two years from now too. Active gear at the bottom, one cable up top, quality components, surge protection and order. That is what an installation looks like that you will not curse during the first memory card swap.

A good technician does not think only about mounting. He thinks about service.

Planning cameras or a network in a demanding spot? Get in touch and we will design a solution that stays simple years from now too.

This article is part of our Business IT overview.