Field-tested guides and free design tools for ELV engineers
CCTV, networking, fire detection and smart-building know-how written from real job sites, not datasheets. Plus free calculators to design faster.
Learning paths
Free step-by-step courses from a working ELV engineer. Follow a path in order, practise with the tools, and track your progress.
CCTV: Zero to Designer
Fire Alarm Engineer
Networking & Fiber for ELV
Thermal & Special Surveillance
Access Control & Smart Buildings
Browse by system
Pick the system youβre working on today.
Smart CCTV
IP vs analog, NVR storage, lens selection, installation and wiring.
Explore βNetworking & LAN
Structured cabling, fiber, switches, PoE budgets and VLANs.
Explore βFire Detection
Detector spacing, loops, panels and BS 5839 / NFPA 72 basics.
Explore βSmart Systems
Home and building automation, access control and integration.
Explore βFree engineering tools
Run them in your browser. No sign-up.
Storage & Bandwidth Calculator
HDD size, RAID and bitrate for mixed camera groups.
Open tool β CCTVFOV & Lens Calculator
Lens, pixel density and IEC 62676-4 / DORI levels.
Open tool β CCTVThermal Camera Calculator
Detection, recognition and identification ranges.
Open tool β CCTVFloor Plan Designer
Place cameras on your drawing with live coverage.
Open tool β CCTVCCTV Map Designer
Plan outdoor cameras on a satellite map.
Open tool β FIREFire Alarm Design Tool
Detectors, sounders, loops, battery and BOQ.
Open tool β FIREExit Plan Designer
Bilingual evacuation plans with signs and routes.
Open tool β NETWORKNetwork & CCTV Designer
Single-line diagrams with ping and link simulation.
Open tool β NETWORK Β· NEWPoE Budget Calculator
Check PoE switch budget, ports and class limits with cable loss
Open tool β POWER Β· NEWVoltage Drop Calculator (12/24 V DC & 230 V AC)
Cable voltage drop for fire alarm, CCTV, access control & 230 V feeds
Open tool β POWER Β· NEWUPS & Battery Backup Calculator
Fire alarm standby Ah (BS 5839-1/NFPA 72) and CCTV UPS runtime
Open tool β NETWORK Β· NEWFiber Optic Loss Budget Calculator
Fiber link loss, SFP/GPON power budget, margin, reach & overload check
Open tool β NETWORK Β· NEWIP Subnet & VLAN Planner
Subnet calculator plus VLSM VLAN plan for CCTV, access control and BMS
Open tool β NETWORK Β· NEWRack Layout & U Planner
Plan 19" rack U space, weight, power, heat and draw the elevation
Open tool β ACCESS Β· NEWAccess Control Designer
Doors, locks, readers, controllers, parking and interfaces with BOQ.
Open tool βNeed a custom tool?
Tell me what you calculate by hand every week.
Request it βTechubox in your pocket
Read every CCTV, network and fire guide on site, search articles, download datasheets and share with your team. Works on Android 7.0 and newer.
First install: open the downloaded file and allow βInstall unknown appsβ for your browser when Android asks.
Scan on your phoneLatest guides
New articles from the field.
IP vs Analog (HD-TVI/CVI/AHD) CCTV Cameras: Which to Choose in 2026
HD analog or IP? A field engineer's comparison of cabling, distance, power, analytics, scalability and cost, with upgradeβ¦
Read guide βSmoke vs Heat Detector: Differences and Where to Install Each
Smoke or heat detector? Learn how optical, ionisation, multisensor and heat detectors work, where each belongs, typical BSβ¦
Read guide βCat5e vs Cat6 vs Cat6A vs Cat7: Speed, Distance and Which to Use
A practical field comparison of Cat5e, Cat6, Cat6A and Cat7 (plus Cat8): bandwidth, speed, distance, shielding and PoE,β¦
Read guide βHow to Reset a Hikvision or Dahua NVR Password (Official Methods)
Locked out of a Hikvision or Dahua NVR? This guide walks through every official, manufacturer-supported reset method, plusβ¦
Read guide βCCTV Field Of View Calculator
Choosing a CCTV lens by guesswork is the fastest way to end up with a camera that βseesββ¦
Read guide βCCTV Installation & Wiring Guide: HD Analog & IP Cameras
πΉ Learning path Β· Step 12 of 17CCTV: Zero to DesignerCCTV Installation & Wiring Guide HD Analog andβ¦
Read guide β
ELV & security design support for your next project
From concept drawings to commissioning, get an engineer who has delivered CCTV, fire alarm, PA and network systems on real sites in Saudi Arabia and Africa.
Discuss your projectAbout me- π System design & layouts (CCTV, fire alarm, PA/VA)
- π BOQ, datasheet review and compliance checks
- π Network & fiber backbone planning
- β Pre-commissioning and testing checklists
Hi, Iβm Sarwar
Senior ELV & ICT project engineer. I write Techubox so technicians and engineers can skip the trial and error I went through on site. Read my story β

