For most homes, a Wi-Fi camera that you set up yourself in ten minutes now does what a wired CCTV system used to, at a fraction of the cost and without an installer. This guide explains the choice, what it costs, and which cameras we recommend at each budget.
Wi-Fi camera or wired CCTV?
| Wi-Fi (IP) camera | Wired CCTV kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup | Plug in, scan a QR code in the app, done | Cables to every camera, a recorder box, usually an installer |
| Cost to start | R269 for one camera | R2,499 for our 4-camera HI-LOOK kit, plus installation |
| Where you watch | Your phone, anywhere | A monitor at home, or the phone if the recorder is online |
| Recording | microSD card in the camera, or cloud | Hard drive in the recorder |
| Load shedding | Needs the router to be on a UPS or inverter | Recorder and cameras both need backup power |
| Best for | Flats, houses, small shops, watching one or two entrances | Large properties and businesses needing 4+ cameras recording all day |
If you need to watch the gate, the front door and the back yard, two or three Wi-Fi cameras will do it for under R1,500. Go wired if you need every camera recording around the clock.
What the specs mean
- 1080p / 2K / 4MP: picture sharpness. 1080p is enough to see a face at the gate. 2K and above let you read a number plate.
- PTZ: the camera can pan and tilt from the app, so one camera covers a whole yard.
- Night vision: every camera here has it. Colour night vision needs a light; standard infrared gives black and white.
- Two-way audio: speak through the camera to a visitor or a delivery driver.
- Indoor vs outdoor: outdoor cameras are sealed against rain. Indoor ones are not.
- Solar: a built-in panel and battery, so no cable at all. The best choice for a gate far from a plug point.
Our picks by budget
| Budget | Camera | Why | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | E27 IP Camera | Indoor, 1080p, phone app. Watch the lounge, a baby's room or a till | R269 |
| Starter outdoor | K1 Auto Track IP Camera | Follows movement automatically, good for a driveway | R368 |
| Mid-range | V9L IP Camera | Outdoor, night vision, two-way audio | R434 |
| Named brand | Hikvision PT Camera 2MP | Hikvision reliability with pan and tilt | R819 |
| Premium indoor | Xiaomi Smart Camera C301 2K | 2K picture, excellent app, works with Google Home | R999 |
| Premium outdoor | Xiaomi Outdoor Camera CW100 Dual | Two lenses for a wide and a close view, built for weather | R1,299 |
| No power point | Solar Wi-Fi Bullet Camera (Metal) | Solar panel and battery, nothing to wire | R1,424 |
| Top of range | Xiaomi CW500 Dual 2.5K Wi-Fi 6 | 2.5K, Wi-Fi 6, AI detection of people and cars | R2,099 |
If you want wired: the HI-LOOK 4 Channel CCTV Kit at R2,499 is the full set: a 1080p DVR, four 2MP bullet cameras, power supply and plugs. Add a hard drive for the DVR and cable to each camera. It is the right choice for a shop or a house that needs all four cameras recording all day, and it is always in stock at Vangate Mall.
A simple setup for a house
Three cameras cover most homes: one at the gate or driveway, one at the front door, one at the back. The V9L outdoor at R434 twice and the E27 indoor at R269 comes to R1,137, with no installer. Add a microSD card to each camera for recording.
Keeping cameras up during load shedding
Wi-Fi cameras stop when the router loses power. A small router UPS keeps the router and one or two cameras running for 4–8 hours. The solar cameras keep running on their own battery either way.
Already have a wired system?
We stock the parts to extend or repair it: 10m to 50m CCTV cable, power supplies with 4-way and 8-way splitters, BNC and DC connectors from R14, and video baluns. Bring a photo of your setup to the Vangate Mall store and we will match the parts.
