CCTV Installation in Maputo: What Happens at the Site Survey

A CCTV installation in Maputo starts with a free site survey, and that one visit decides whether the system will actually work. Our engineer walks the premises with you, checks the doors, the dark corners, the cable routes and the power, and leaves with everything needed to write an exact quotation within 24 hours. Here is what we look at, why, and how you can prepare so the visit takes less of your morning.

Why we do not quote CCTV over the phone

Two shops on the same street can need very different systems. One has a false ceiling where cable disappears in an hour; the other has concrete beams, so every run needs trunking. One has a back door onto an alley with no light at all; the other backs onto a lit car park. A quotation written without seeing this is a guess, and guesses turn into extra charges on installation day, or cameras that point at the wrong thing.

So we visit first. It costs you nothing, it usually takes 30 to 60 minutes, and the quotation that follows lists every camera, every metre of cable and every hour of labour, so there are no surprises later.

What the engineer checks during the survey

• Every way in and out. Main entrance, staff door, delivery gate, windows that open onto the street, the roof hatch if there is one.
• The valuable spots. The till, the safe or back office, the stockroom, the server cabinet, the fuel pump or the generator.
• Light at night. Where the security lights are, which corners go completely dark, and whether a ColorVu camera (colour at night) or an infrared camera suits each spot.
• Cable routes. Ceilings, trunking, outdoor runs, how far each camera is from the recorder, and whether an existing coaxial or network cable can be reused.
• Where the recorder lives. A cool, lockable place near power and the internet router. A recorder in a hot cupboard fails early.
• Power and backup. Which circuits are available and whether a UPS is needed so the system keeps recording through a cut.
• Internet. Whether there is a fixed line or 4G for viewing on your phone, and roughly how much bandwidth the connection has.
• What you already own. Old cameras, an existing DVR or an alarm panel that the new system should work with.

How we decide where the cameras go

A camera at the entrance is placed to capture faces, so it sits around 2.2 to 2.5 metres high, slightly off to one side, pointing at the door rather than down at the top of heads. Overview cameras on the shop floor or in the warehouse go higher, in a corner, to cover the longest diagonal. Cameras never go in changing rooms, toilets or staff rest areas.

Lens choice matters as much as position. A 2.8 mm lens shows a wide room; a 4 mm lens reaches further down an aisle or a corridor. For a car gate we usually recommend a camera with a narrower lens aimed at plate height, and for the perimeter an AcuSense model that tells people and vehicles apart from a stray dog, so the alerts you receive at night are real. Our comparison of ColorVu and AcuSense explains which technology suits which spot.

What you receive after the visit

Within 24 hours you get a written quotation, usually with a simple sketch of the camera positions. It lists the cameras by model and lens, the recorder and its hard drive, cable and connectors, the power supply or UPS, and the installation as a separate line. The validity period is printed on it, because equipment prices move with the exchange rate. If a ready-made kit fits your site, we say so; our 8-camera and 16-camera kits cover most small and medium premises.

How to prepare for the visit

1. Have the keys to every room, the roof and the electrical board.
2. Know where the internet router is and who your provider is.
3. Tell us about past incidents: where things went missing, which door was forced, what time of day.
4. Decide who will watch the footage and from where: the owner's phone, a guard on a screen, or both.
5. Mention plans to expand, open another branch or add access control, so the recorder is sized for it.
6. If a specific budget band exists, say so. We design to it rather than present something you cannot approve.

How long the installation takes

A four to eight camera system in a shop or home is normally installed, configured and tested in one working day. A sixteen camera system takes two days, more if long outdoor runs need trenching or poles. Multi-building sites are planned in stages so the business keeps running. Before we leave, every camera is checked with you on the screen and on your phone, the recording schedule is set, and the person responsible is shown how to search and export a clip.

Where we work

Our base is at Av. Josina Machel, in Alto Maé, and most site surveys are in Maputo city, Matola, Marracuene and Boane, normally within a few days of your call. For sites further out, from Xai-Xai to Beira, Nampula or Tete, we combine the survey with the installation visit, or start from your photos and a video call so the trip is made once.

Frequently asked questions

Is the site survey really free?

Yes. In Maputo and Matola the visit and the quotation cost nothing and carry no obligation. For distant sites we agree the travel arrangement with you first.

Can you quote from photos or a floor plan?

For a first estimate, yes. Send a plan or photos of each entrance and we will give you a camera count and a kit suggestion. The final quotation still needs the visit or a video walk-through, because cable routes and night light cannot be judged from a photo.

Do you install cameras I bought elsewhere?

Yes, after inspecting them. We install Hikvision and most other brands, and we tell you honestly if a camera is not worth mounting. The manufacturer warranty on equipment you supply stays with the seller; our installation warranty covers our work.

How soon can you install after I approve the quote?

Kits are usually in stock, so a small installation can often be scheduled within days of your approval. Larger projects depend on equipment lead times, and the quotation says what those are.

Book your free survey

Call or WhatsApp 844888222, email vendas@asslda.com, or request a free quote and we will call you to fix a time.

Written by the A.S.S. LDA technical team, Maputo.