Guides

Guides and Advice

Plain answers on comparing brands, fixing faults, choosing a system and staying safe. Written by the installers who do the work.

A comparison image showing a white and black Hikvision bullet camera on the left and a white and black Dahua bullet came

Featured guideBrand comparison

Hikvision vs Dahua: which CCTV brand is best for Australian homes and businesses?

Read the guide

Dahua vs Reolink: Key Differences You Need to Know Now

Brand Comparisons24 guides

Hikvision/HiLook Hik-Connect Not Showing Video? Step-By-Step Fix For Device Offline

Troubleshooting18 guides

Buying Advice12 guides

Sipko Security - Is Your Home an Easy Target for Burglars in Melbourne

Security Tips200+ tips

Brand Comparisons

CCTV, alarm and intercom brands side by side

24 guides

A comparison image showing a white and black Hikvision bullet camera on the left and a white and black Uniview bullet ca

CCTV

Alarm and intercom comparisons too

Ajax vs Hills, Bosch vs Ajax, wired vs wireless and more.

See all 24

Show all 24 comparisons

CCTV Comparisons

Hikvision vs Dahua Hikvision vs Uniview Hikvision vs Swann Hikvision vs Axis Hikvision vs Reolink Hikvision vs HiLook Dahua vs Reolink Dahua vs Uniview Dahua vs Eufy Dahua vs Swann Reolink vs Eufy Reolink vs Arlo Arlo vs Eufy Ring vs Hikvision Swann vs Reolink

Alarm & Intercom Comparisons

Ajax vs Hills Alarm Ajax vs Hikvision AX Pro Ajax vs Ness Ajax vs Paradox Bosch vs Ajax Hikvision AX Pro vs Bosch 6000 Ajax Doorbell vs Ring Wired vs Wireless Alarms Alarm vs CCTV

Troubleshooting

Camera, alarm and intercom fixes. Try these before you call.

18 guides

Start here

Hikvision Hik-Connect not showing video

Common causes and the step-by-step fix, in the order we check them on site.

Read the fix

Technician hand positioning network video recorder NVR unit in server rack with multiple cable connections, professional

NVR overheating and loud fan fixCamera and CCTV

Smartphone displaying Dahua DMSS app troubleshooting guide showing offline camera status with noisy background represent

Dahua DMSS camera offline fixCamera and CCTV

Why Your Ajax Alarm Batteries Are Draining Fast - Fix Now

Why Ajax alarm batteries drain fastAlarm

Spider Webs on Cameras - How to Minimise IR Attraction

Spider webs on camerasCamera and CCTV Stop alarm beepingAlarm Akuvox intercom offlineIntercom

Show all 18 fixes

Camera & CCTV Fixes

Fix Offline Cameras Fix Motion Detection Hikvision Password Reset Dahua Password Reset Hikvision No Video Fix Dahua DMSS Offline Fix Uniview Camera Offline NVR Overheating Fix Spider Webs on Cameras

Alarm & Intercom Fixes

Stop Alarm Beeping Ajax Battery Issues Ajax Devices Offline Prevent Ajax False Alarms Ness Alarm Beeping Paradox Alarm Beeping Akuvox Intercom Offline Akuvox Screen Frozen Akuvox Not Ringing

Buying Advice

What to buy, what to skip and how to place it

12 guides

Buying guide

Best CCTV systems for Melbourne homes in 2026

What each type of system does well, and which one suits your property.

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Four rack-mounted DVR units with coaxial and network cables connected to the rear, illustrating a DVR vs NVR comparison

DVR vs NVR: choosing your recorder

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Alarm system design across multiple security zones in a large luxury home

Best alarm for luxury homes

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CCTV camera placement covering a home entrance and driveway in Melbourne

CCTV camera placement guide

Read

Solar security camera with separate solar panel installed on a Melbourne garage

Best solar security cameras

Read

Show all 12 buying guides

Buying Guides

Best CCTV Systems 2026 Choose a Home Security System CCTV Cost Guide Melbourne DVR vs NVR Guide Best Alarm for Luxury Homes Best Solar Security Cameras CCTV Storage Explained External vs Internal Cameras CCTV Camera Placement Guide Security for Renovated Homes Best Ajax CCTV Alternatives Hikvision Review 2026

Security Tips

Everyday habits that make a home or business harder to target

200+ tips

Home

10 essential security tips

Read

Home

Secure your home on holiday

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Home

Is your home an easy target?

Read

Melbourne

The real cost of a break-in

Read

200+ more security tips

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More security tips

10 Essential Security Tips Secure Home on Holiday Is Your Home a Target?Real Cost of a Break-In 5 Signs Your Alarm is Outdated Smart Home Security Integration How Wireless Alarms Work Female Safety & Panic Buttons Ajax Alarm Being Jammed

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SIPKO technician assessing a home alarm system in Melbourne

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