CCTV Where There Is No Power and No Internet: Solar + 4G / Wireless Bridge
Farms, construction sites, borders, pipelines, forest edges — this solution runs cameras on solar power and sends video back over 4G or point-to-point wireless bridges (up to 3 km per hop, about 9 km with relays). No mains cable, no fiber trench, no site visits just to check a battery.
The Problem on Remote Sites
Four things kill most remote CCTV projects before they start:
System Architecture
One solution, two transmission options — pick per site, or mix both in one project.
Diagram redrawn by AtlasCommTech from the manufacturer's official solution material. Diagram labels are kept in English for engineering clarity.
Option A · Wireless Bridge
- Up to 3 km per hop, and up to 3 relays — total reach about 9 km
- No SIM card, no monthly data cost — the link is yours
- High bandwidth: carries several cameras per link back to one NVR cabinet
- Needs clear line-of-sight between bridge points — trees and buildings block it
Option B · 4G + Cloud
- No distance limit — the camera works anywhere with 4G coverage
- Live view, playback and PTZ from a phone app, from any country
- Remote power management: battery %, voltage, power statistics, remote restart — battery level even shows on the video image (OSD)
- Needs local 4G coverage and a SIM data plan — an ongoing monthly cost
How Much Solar Do You Need?
This is the question that decides whether your system survives the rainy season. Here is the official sizing logic, in plain numbers:
Two numbers change everything by region: your local peak sun hours (4 h in the example — some regions get 5-6, rainy zones may see 2-3) and how many no-sun days the battery must bridge. A 320 Wh battery running a 6.5 W camera holds roughly two days with zero sunshine; sites with long rainy seasons should size up the panel and battery instead of hoping.
Send us your location and camera count on WhatsApp — we run this calculation with your real sun-hour data and return a sized panel + battery recommendation, free.
System Components
These are the equipment roles the solution is built from. Exact models are chosen per site conditions, country requirements and budget — several of our product lines fit each role, so we spec the model list after receiving your requirement list.
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| 4G solar camera | 4MP ColorHunter dual-light bullet with built-in 4G — full-color at night, works off the solar kit, streams to the cloud. Two lens options (4.0/6.0 mm). |
| Solar power kit 320 Wh | Panel + 320 Wh battery + power management. Sized to run one camera 24/7 with the margin calculated above. |
| Bracket | Pole/wall mounting matched to the camera form factor — we confirm the exact bracket code with your order. |
Browse the full product catalog — cameras, NVRs & switches →
Kit B — Multi-camera cluster over wireless bridge
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| IP cameras (per point) | Standard PoE cameras — powered by the cabinet's NVR, so no separate power at each camera. |
| Solar cabinet (solar input) | Outdoor cabinet with 2560 Wh capacity, built-in 8-PoE NVR (up to 16 TB HDD), power management with remote restart, breaker, fan, surge protector, door sensor. DC solar input 10.8–14.4 V. |
| Solar cabinet (mains input) | Same cabinet family powered from AC mains where available — US or EU socket standard (other standards customizable), adds heater option. |
| Wireless bridges | One pair per hop, up to 3 relay hops. We plan hop positions from your site map to keep line-of-sight. |
| Alarm add-ons (optional) | On intrusion detection the system can flash red-blue warning lights, sound the speaker and notify managers remotely — deterrence without a guard on site. |
The 4G router inside Kit B setups is DC 12 V input; the manufacturer recommends sourcing it locally so the modem bands match your country's carriers exactly — we flag this openly instead of shipping you a router that might not fit your network.
Design Notes & Honest Limits
- Solar sizing is regional. The 4-sun-hour example does not transfer everywhere — quote your real location so the panel and battery are sized for your worst season, not the brochure's best case.
- Wireless bridges need line-of-sight. Trees grow, buildings rise — plan bridge towers with clearance margin, and remember each relay adds a solar-powered site to maintain.
- 4G means a monthly SIM cost and depends on carrier coverage. Check signal strength at the exact pole position before ordering — one bar at ground level can be zero bars at 6 m.
- Batteries age. Capacity fades over years of cycling, faster in constant heat — budget battery replacement into multi-year projects and use the remote battery statistics to catch decline early.
- This is not a fit if your site has stable mains power and wired network nearby — a normal PoE system costs less and needs less maintenance. We will tell you so if you send us such a site.
FAQ
How many days does the battery last when it rains?
Do I need internet at the site?
How far can the wireless bridge transmit?
Can I check the battery level remotely?
What if there is no 4G signal at my site?
Send us your site conditions — we size the solar kit for you
Location, number of cameras, distance to your office, 4G coverage — an engineer replies with a sized configuration and honest feasibility, free.