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R&D Audio Video

Service areas

Based in Hillsboro. Working across the metro.

We design and install systems for homes and businesses throughout the Portland metro, with projects across Oregon.

All service areas

Surveillance camera systems

Security Camera Installation in Portland & Hillsboro

Wired cameras on the front door, the driveway, the side gate and the backyard, recording day and night and right there on your phone. We plan where each camera goes, run the cable, and set it all up on a network that can handle the video.

5.0 from 19 Google reviews20 years installing in the Portland metroOregon CCB# 201122

What we do

Surveillance camera systems planned around your property

A doorbell camera covers the porch and not much else, so the driveway and the backyard go unrecorded.

We walk the property with you and mark where each camera should go so their views overlap and nothing important falls between them. Each camera gets a wired connection that powers it and carries the video back to a recorder inside, and you can watch live or play back clips from your phone. We install camera systems for homes and businesses, and we stick around after the install to help when something changes.

Cameras lean on a solid home network and clean cable runs, and we handle both. Start with a free quote, or meet us first.

  • A camera plan

    Every camera spot marked on your property, with views that overlap.

  • Wired cameras

    One cable to each camera carries both power and video. No batteries to swap.

  • A recorder on site

    Video saves to a recorder (an NVR) inside your home or business.

  • Night vision

    The cameras keep recording after dark.

  • Your phone

    Live video, playback and motion alerts in one app.

  • Video doorbells

    Ring doorbells at the front door, on their own or with the system.

  • The network behind it

    Switches and Wi-Fi sized for video. See network & Wi-Fi.

  • Ongoing support

    Help with the app, new cameras and anything that changes later.

Three kinds of camera job

Around the house, at the front door, or at the business

Every property is different. Here's where most camera work lands.

Wired security camera mounted under the eave at the corner of a house, aimed across the backyard and side gate
A corner camera covers the backyard and the side gate

Home security camera installation

Cameras go on the corners and sides of the house, aimed so each view picks up where the last one ends. Every camera is wired back to a recorder inside, so it keeps recording when the Wi-Fi hiccups.

Gear
Luma Surveillance cameras and recorders
Covers
Driveway, side yards, backyard, front door
Wiring
One cable to each camera for power and video
How we run the cable

Blind spots

How a camera system covers the whole property

A doorbell and nothing else

Most homes start with a video doorbell. It sees whoever walks up to the porch. The driveway, the side gate and the backyard never show up on it.

Wired cameras go on the corners and sides of the house, each one aimed to pick up where the last one stops. The coverage ring climbs as each one goes up.

After dark the cameras switch to night vision and keep recording. Everything saves to a recorder inside the house.

When someone walks onto the property, your phone gets an alert, and the clip is on the recorder whenever you want to look back.

Yard on camera · Street Not on camera Blind spot

Person detectedDriveway camera, 9:42 PM

House Garage Backyard Side yard Side gate Front yard Driveway 2:14 PM

Our process

How security camera installation works with R&D

  1. Walk the property

    We look at the doors, the driveway, the gates and the yard, and ask what you most want on camera.

  2. Plan the cameras

    Camera spots, views and a recorder, at a few price points, so you know what each one covers.

  3. Wire and mount

    Cable run to each camera, cameras mounted and aimed, and the recorder set up inside.

  4. Set up your phone

    We get the app on your phone, check every view and show you how playback and alerts work.

  5. Ongoing support

    Help when you add a camera, change a phone or can't find a clip.

Equipment rack with Araknis networking at the top, the kind of network a camera system runs on
Araknis networking at the top of a rack we built.
AV rack with LED lighting housing a home data network
One organized rack for the whole house.
Savant touch panel on the wall of a smart home
Every device rides on the network.

Behind the cameras

A camera system needs a network that can carry the video

Every camera sends video around the clock, and a busy network drops frames. We size the switches for the cameras you have and the ones you might add, run the cable back to an organized rack, and label it so any problem is easy to find. It's the same way we build the networks behind our theater and smart home jobs.

Network
Araknis switches and Wi-Fi
Cable
Run to each camera, back to one rack
Built for
Adding cameras later
See network & Wi-Fi

Gear

Security camera brands we install, and what they run on

We recommend the cameras and recorder that fit your property and budget. See every brand we carry.

Reviews

What clients and contractors say

★★★★★
R&D A/V has been great to work with. I've hired and worked alongside them with Rose City Tech for low-voltage wiring, camera installs, access points, TV mounting, and related A/V work. R&D is reliable, knowledgeable, and do clean professional work.
Colin, Rose City Tech, Google review
★★★★★
Reasonably priced for a cat5e retrofit, communication was clear and emails returned pre/post install in a timely fashion. Highly recommended!
Richard Fancher, Google review
★★★★★
Dan and his team are great. I've had him install/uninstall/Install from 3 different homes and they've always been responsive, quick and professional. Will always use R&D, couldn't be happier.
Edward Coon, Google review
★★★★★
R+D are great. Clear communication, showed up right on time and the installation looks great. Highly recommend.
Matt Curtis, Google review
5.0from 19 Google reviewsRead them all on Google

FAQ

Security camera questions

Don't see yours? Call 503-888-4313 and ask Dan directly.

How many security cameras does a house need?

It depends on the property. Most homes want the front door, the driveway, each side of the house and the backyard covered. We walk the property and mark every camera spot before we quote.

Wired or wireless security cameras?

Wired cameras are the more reliable choice. One network cable powers each camera and carries its video, so there are no batteries to charge and no Wi-Fi dropouts. A wireless camera can still fill a spot a cable can't reach. More on home wiring.

Where is the camera footage stored?

On a recorder (an NVR) inside your home or business, so the video stays on site. You can watch live or play back clips from your phone.

Can I watch my cameras from my phone?

Yes. We set up the app on your phone before we leave and show you how to check live video, play back clips and turn alerts on or off.

Do the cameras record at night?

Yes. The cameras we install have night vision, so they keep recording after dark.

Do you install Ring doorbells?

Yes. We install Ring video doorbells and cameras, on their own or alongside a wired camera system.

Do you install security cameras for businesses?

Yes. We install surveillance camera systems for homes and businesses around the Portland metro. See some of our commercial work.

How much does security camera installation cost?

It depends on how many cameras you need, how far the cable has to run and which recorder fits. Quotes are free.

What areas do you serve?

We're based in Hillsboro and install security cameras in Hillsboro, Beaverton, Portland and across the Portland metro.

Free quote

Get a free security camera quote

Tell us what you want to keep an eye on. We'll walk the property, mark where each camera should go and give you a straight quote.