Questions Everyone Asks, with Straight Answers.
The most common questions about networks, cameras, access, alarms and radios, and about what it is like to hire ARX.
Each answer starts with what you need to know. On legal topics, we give general information and point to where it is found. This does not replace the advice of a lawyer for your case.
About ARX and hiring
What does ARX Protocol do?
ARX is a technology company applied to security. It designs, installs and maintains networks and Wi-Fi, smart cameras, access control, alarms, automation, radios and operations centers. It also develops custom software and hardware. From a one-off adjustment to a complete project.
Where does ARX operate?
Installation is done in the State of São Paulo: the capital, the interior and the coast. Design, consulting and retrofit design serve all of Brazil. ARX also serves foreign companies that operate in Brazil.
Does ARX serve homes or only businesses?
Both. The technology is the same and the scale changes: homes, condominiums, stores, offices, industrial sites, hotels, clinics, parking lots and self-service laundromats.
Can I hire just the design, or just the maintenance?
Yes. ARX works in stages: consulting only, design only, installation only or maintenance only. It also takes care of systems installed by other companies, after an assessment.
How much does a camera, access or network system cost?
There is no price list, and be wary of anyone who gives a price without seeing the place. The cost changes with the number of points, the length of cable and conduit, the installation height, the brand, the days of recording, the licenses and the maintenance. That is why the proposal comes after the visit.
After it's installed, do I keep paying for anything?
It depends on the system. Some don't charge a license, others charge per camera, per module or per period. Disks and batteries also have a limited lifespan. Before you sign, ask for the list of what needs to be renewed and when.
Does ARX do monitoring or guard services?
No. ARX is a technology company: it designs, installs and maintains. Remotely monitoring properties and providing guard services are private security services, which require authorization from the Federal Police. Your alarm and your cameras can alert you, your team or an authorized company.
Which brands does ARX work with?
Ubiquiti, Hikvision, Axis, Intelbras, Ajax, Digifort, Hytera and Inrico. We don't sell just one brand: the choice depends on your project and your budget.
Cameras and privacy
How long do I need to keep camera footage?
For companies and condominiums in general, the law doesn't set a period. It is worth keeping footage only for as long as the purpose requires. The market custom is 30 days. The more days and the more cameras, the more disk space.
Does a security camera have to comply with the LGPD (Brazil's data protection law)?
Yes, when the one filming is a company, a condominium or a business. An image of a person is personal data. You need a clear purpose, to give notice, and to define how long you keep it and who can see it. Strictly household use is outside the law.
Am I required to post a sign saying the place is filmed?
In the city of São Paulo, yes: Municipal Law 13,541/2003 requires the sign and dictates the text. Other cities may have their own law. Where there is none, the sign remains the simplest way to meet the LGPD's duty of transparency.
Can I point the camera at the street or at my neighbor?
Filming your own entrance and the stretch of sidewalk in front is usually accepted. Filming the neighbor's window, yard or pool leads to lawsuits. The framing of each camera is defined in the design to avoid this.
Does a security camera use a lot of internet?
Recording on-site doesn't use the internet. Usage happens when someone watches remotely or when the recording goes to the cloud, and it weighs on data upload. That is why the site's internet is part of the project calculation.
Does a camera with artificial intelligence make mistakes?
It does, and quality depends a lot on the installation. Poor light, a camera mounted too high and heavy rain increase errors. That is why tuning is done on site, by day and by night, and not out of the box.
Access control
Is facial recognition allowed in a condominium? Is a resident required to register their face?
It is allowed, with care. Under the LGPD, the face is sensitive data. The most repeated position among legal scholars and consumer groups is that the resident must have another way to enter. Brazil's data protection authority has not yet published a specific rule for condominiums.
Card, tag, fingerprint, face or QR code: what's the difference?
A card and a tag identify an object, which can be lent or lost. A fingerprint and a face identify the person. A QR code works well for temporary access, such as for visitors and service providers. A good design combines more than one method.
Can a door with an electronic lock be used on an emergency exit?
It can, if it opens from the inside without a key or code. On an escape route, the door must release during a power outage and when the fire alarm sounds. In the State of São Paulo, the requirements are set by Technical Instruction 11 of the Fire Department.
Is a meeting needed to install cameras or access control in the condominium?
Generally, yes. The Civil Code (art. 1,341) addresses the quorum according to the type of work, and the condominium bylaws may have their own rule. The classification is a legal matter: it is worth consulting the management company or the condominium's lawyer before hiring.
Network and Wi-Fi
How many Wi-Fi access points do I need?
There is no number per square meter. It depends on the walls, the number of connected devices and the use. What decides it is measurement on site. More access points don't always help: in excess, they interfere with each other.
What is PoE?
It is power that travels over the same network cable. A single cable connects and powers the camera, the Wi-Fi access point or the access reader, with no need for an outlet next to the device.
Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7: what's the difference?
Wi-Fi 7 uses wider channels and several bands at once. The gain shows up in environments with many devices, and only exists if the devices are also Wi-Fi 7. For many people, a well-designed Wi-Fi 6 is enough.
Alarms and radios
Is a wireless alarm reliable?
Professional wireless systems have protected communication and check each sensor continuously, warning you if one disappears. What fails silently is the simple kit without that supervision.
Does a two-way radio need an Anatel (Brazil's telecom regulator) license?
It depends on the radio. Low-power certified ones are free to use. A private network, on a dedicated frequency, needs authorization and a license for each station. Radios that use the cellular network follow other rules.
What is the difference between a digital radio and a radio over the cellular network?
A digital radio talks over its own frequency, with the customer's antennas, and works where a cell phone doesn't, such as basements and industrial plants. A radio over the cellular network talks between cities and depends on carrier coverage. Many operations use both.
Shall we talk?
Tell us what you want to solve. ARX replies clearly, with no obligation.