If you’ve been shopping for security cameras recently, you’ve probably noticed that wireless cameras dominate the shelves at JB Hi-Fi and Bunnings. They look clean, they’re marketed as easy to install, and the price tags seem reasonable. But there’s something the packaging doesn’t tell you — a device you can buy online for under $30 can switch off every wireless camera on your property in seconds.
This isn’t a theoretical risk. RF signal jammers are widely available, and break-ins using jamming devices have been reported across Australia. Before you invest in a camera system, it’s worth understanding exactly how each technology works and what the real-world risks are.
How Wireless Cameras Actually Work — And Why That’s a Problem
Wireless security cameras — whether they’re Wi-Fi or battery-powered — transmit video footage over radio frequencies, typically 2.4GHz or 5GHz. They rely on a constant wireless connection to send footage to a cloud server or a local hub. When that signal is interrupted, the camera either freezes, goes offline, or stops recording entirely.
An RF jammer works by flooding those same frequencies with noise, overwhelming the camera’s signal and effectively cutting it off. The camera appears to still be powered on — the light may still blink — but it isn’t capturing or transmitting anything. A burglar who knows what they’re doing can walk onto your property and your cameras won’t record a single frame.
It’s worth noting that RF jammers are illegal to operate in Australia under the Radiocommunications Act 1992. Possessing one with intent to interfere with communications is a criminal offence. But that doesn’t stop people who are planning a burglary from obtaining and using them — and it doesn’t protect your footage if they do.
What Happens When a Wired Camera Records
A hardwired IP camera connected by a Cat6 cable to a Network Video Recorder (NVR) operates completely independently of your internet connection, your Wi-Fi router, and radio frequencies. The video signal travels along a physical cable directly to the recorder, which stores footage on an internal hard drive — typically 2TB to 8TB depending on the number of cameras and how many days you want retained.
There is no wireless signal to jam. No cloud server to go offline. No subscription fee for storage. As long as the power is on and the cable is connected, the camera records continuously. Even if someone cuts your internet connection, your cameras keep recording locally to the NVR.
Power over Ethernet (PoE) also means each camera receives both its data connection and its power supply through the same single Cat6 cable. This eliminates the need for a separate power outlet at each camera location and makes the installation cleaner and more reliable. Battery-powered wireless cameras, by contrast, need regular charging — and a flat battery means no recording.
The Real Differences Between Wired and Wireless Systems
Setting aside the jamming vulnerability, there are other practical differences that matter for long-term security. Wired systems record continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Most wireless systems only record when motion is detected, which means the seconds before an event — when a car pulls up or someone scopes out your property — often aren’t captured. Continuous recording gives investigators and insurers a complete, unbroken timeline.
Video quality is also generally superior on wired systems. The camera doesn’t have to compress footage to send it wirelessly, and you’re not dependent on Wi-Fi signal strength at the camera location. A wired 4K camera in a poor Wi-Fi spot will always outperform a wireless camera of the same resolution trying to push footage over a congested network.
Wireless cameras do have genuine advantages in specific situations. If you’re renting and can’t run cables through walls, or you need coverage in a location that’s genuinely impractical to wire — a detached shed 80 metres from the house, for example — a wireless camera is better than no camera. The key is understanding what you’re trading off and not treating wireless as equivalent to wired for primary security coverage.
What We Install at Mr Secured
For the vast majority of residential and commercial installs, we use hardwired PoE camera systems connected to a local NVR. We run Cat6 cabling through the roof space or along conduit, position cameras for maximum coverage of entry points and perimeter, and configure the NVR to store 30+ days of 4K continuous recording.
For clients who require NDAA-compliant equipment — government contractors, regulated industries, or anyone with specific procurement requirements — we install Hanwha Vision, Axis, and Ajax Systems equipment. All three are from manufacturers with no Chinese state connections and are not on the NDAA prohibited list. For alarm systems, Ajax is our first recommendation regardless of NDAA requirements — their encrypted wireless architecture is simply the best residential and light commercial alarm technology available in Australia.
We don’t install wireless cameras as primary security on homes or businesses. If you’ve been quoted a wireless system as your main coverage, it’s worth asking why — and whether the installer explained the signal jamming risk.
Get an Honest Assessment Before You Buy
Jarrod offers free on-site assessments across Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and the Sunshine Coast. He’ll walk your property, identify the camera positions that give you real coverage, and tell you exactly what a properly installed wired system would cost — with no pressure and no upselling.
Call 0490 130 339 or use the contact form on this site. If you’ve already got a wireless system installed and you’re wondering how exposed you are, that’s worth a conversation too.