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Tech Tip 10 - Life cycle costs of surveillance systems (continued)

Cable – useful lifecycle of 20 years

Good cable infrastructure is hardly ever replaced, therefore good network standards should be put in place in the early stages to ensure quality control. Copper is not getting cheaper and it is therefore recommended to invest in quality cable upfront. Some manufacturers will even certify the cable installation and provide lengthy warranties. Best practice outdoors or between buildings is to use fibre optic cable.

Wireless equipment, although sometimes cheaper and more convenient, has a much shorter lifespan, sometimes 10% to 20% of cable and often starts deteriorating immediately after installation. Wireless radios have limited bandwidth, reliability and higher maintenance costs, but offer significant cost reductions upfront.

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