--- title: "IP Addressing Basics for CCTV & Office Networks | Qyvea Kenya" url: https://qyvea.co.ke/ip-addressing-basics-kenya description: "IP addressing in plain language: IP addresses, subnets, DHCP vs static, gateways and DNS, why CCTV devices need static addresses, and how conflicts cause devices to drop." updated: 2026-10-17 --- > Markdown copy of https://qyvea.co.ke/ip-addressing-basics-kenya for AI assistants. Prices and stock change; check the live page. 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The Wi-Fi works until the day everyone needs it at once. Read on: it takes a few minutes and could save you a lot more than that. **In this guide you will see:** - Unique address per device, same subnet to talk directly. - DHCP for laptops and phones; static/reserved for security devices. - Address conflicts make devices drop in and out. Quick answer Every device on a network needs a unique IP address. Devices on the same subnet can talk directly; the gateway (usually the router) connects them to other networks and the internet. Phones and laptops usually get addresses automatically (DHCP), but cameras, recorders and controllers should have fixed (static or reserved) addresses so they don't move. [Photo: Compare Fibre / Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/hXVVNB6Qctg) Why this matters now ## Every dropped call and stalled upload is time you pay for twice. ### If you wait - Wi-Fi that drops in the middle of a call - Cables run once and never labelled - One broken router stops everyone ### What you get - Cabling and access points placed on a plan - A network that carries the whole team at once - Faults you can trace to a cable or a port [MikroTik RB951Ui-2HnD 5-Port Home](/products/mikrotik-rb951ui-2hnd-5-port-home-ap-router-37 "MikroTik RB951Ui-2HnD 5-Port Home AP/Router")[Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC](/products/ubiquiti-unifi-ap-ac-lite-indoor-access-point-41 "Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC Lite Indoor Access Point")[TP-Link TL-SG3428 24-Port L2](/products/tp-link-tl-sg3428-24-port-l2-managed-switch-44 "TP-Link TL-SG3428 24-Port L2 Managed Switch") [Get my free quote on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/254113301244?text=Hi%20Qyvea%2C%20I%20read%20your%20guide%3A%20IP%20Addressing%20Basics.%20I%20want%20networking%20sorted.%20Can%20you%20help%3F)Reply usually within 30 minutes. Free site survey in Nairobi and nearby counties. Real products, live prices, in stock now ## Key takeaways - Unique address per device, same subnet to talk directly. - DHCP for laptops and phones; static/reserved for security devices. - Address conflicts make devices drop in and out. - Keep an address list. ## The terms | Term | Meaning | Example | | --- | --- | --- | | IP address | The device's address on the network | 192.168.1.64 | | Subnet mask | Which addresses are 'local' | 255.255.255.0 | | Gateway | The router that leads to other networks | 192.168.1.1 | | DHCP | Router hands out addresses automatically | Phones, laptops | | Static / reserved | Device always has the same address | Cameras, NVR, controllers | **Did you know?**: Private ranges such as 192.168.x.x, 10.x.x.x and 172.16–31.x.x are used inside buildings and aren't reachable from the internet directly. ## Why security devices need fixed addresses The NVR finds each camera by its address. If a camera gets a new address after a router restart, the NVR can lose it. Fixed or reserved addresses keep every device where the recorder expects it. ## Common problems - Two devices given the same address (conflict): both drop in and out - Device on a different subnet: can't be reached - New router with a different range: cameras 'disappear' - No record of which address belongs to which device See [network device offline](https://qyvea.co.ke/network-device-offline-kenya) and [NVR not detecting camera](https://qyvea.co.ke/nvr-not-detecting-camera-kenya). Never publish your site's internal addresses or passwords. ## Frequently asked questions Should CCTV cameras use DHCP? It's better to give them static or reserved addresses so they don't change. What is an IP conflict? Two devices with the same address. Both become unreliable until one is changed. Why did my cameras disappear after a new router was installed? The new router may use a different address range, so the recorder and cameras are no longer on the same subnet. ## Why customers choose Qyvea **Genuine brands**: Manufacturer warranty on what we sell, so you are not gambling on the box. **One team, start to finish**: The people who advise you also install and support it. **Fast answers**: WhatsApp replies usually within 30 minutes, and delivery within 24 hours in Nairobi. **Easy to buy**: Pay by M-Pesa, bank transfer or card. Free delivery in Nairobi on orders over KES 5,000. **Risk taken off you**: 7-day returns and exchanges on products, and a workmanship warranty on installations. **Customers say so**: Rated 4.6/5 from 57 Google reviews. **Your next step takes one minute:** send us a photo of the place on WhatsApp and we will tell you what it needs. ## Related articles [Networking & IT · Technology Explained VLANs: Separating CCTV from the Office Network Why cameras, office PCs and guest Wi-Fi shouldn't all share one network, and how VLANs separate them on the same switches. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/vlans-for-cctv-networks-kenya)[Networking & IT · Troubleshooting Network Device Offline A camera, terminal, controller or PC has dropped off the network. How to narrow it down from power and cable to IP address and router. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/network-device-offline-kenya)[CCTV · Troubleshooting NVR Not Detecting an IP Camera A new or existing IP camera won't show up on the NVR. Power, cable, IP address, password and compatibility checks, in order. 3 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/nvr-not-detecting-camera-kenya) ### Related services [Networking & Cabling](https://qyvea.co.ke/networking)[IT Support](https://qyvea.co.ke/it-support) ### Related products [Best switches & routers](https://qyvea.co.ke/best-network-switch-router-kenya) ### Related projects [Real Qyvea case studies](https://qyvea.co.ke/projects#case-studies) [← Previous**How to Improve Your Wi-Fi Signal**](https://qyvea.co.ke/how-to-improve-wifi-signal-kenya)[Next →**: IT Support for Small Businesses**](https://qyvea.co.ke/it-support-for-small-business-kenya) ## Need this system installed? Talk to Qyvea. We design, install and maintain it. Chat with us — 30 min response --- **Qyvea Limited** · Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya (delivery only, no walk-in pickup) · serving all 47 counties Phone/WhatsApp: [+254 113 301 244](https://wa.me/254113301244) · Email: info@qyvea.co.ke · Shop: [qyvea.co.ke/products](https://qyvea.co.ke/products) · Facts: [qyvea.co.ke/qyvea-facts](https://qyvea.co.ke/qyvea-facts)