CCTV & Camera System Guide

CCTV Cameras in Rust allow you to monitor areas remotely through a Computer Station. Setting up a camera network gives you real-time intelligence about threats approaching your base, activity at nearby monuments, and enemy movements.

Camera crafting and deployment: CCTV Cameras are found in loot crates or crafted at Workbench Level 2 (requires 5 HQM, 1 Tech Trash). Each camera needs a unique identifier (a text name you assign) and 5 rW of electricity to operate.

Placement process: 1. Craft or find a CCTV Camera. 2. Deploy it on a wall, ceiling, or post by right-clicking. 3. Set the camera identifier using the interface -- choose a short, memorable name like GATE1, ROOF1, TC-ROOM. 4. Wire the camera to a power source (5 rW per camera). 5. The camera is now live and viewable from any Computer Station that enters the correct identifier.

Optimal placement positions: - Above your front door: See who is approaching or door-camping before opening. - On compound walls facing outward: Monitor all approach routes. - Near your TC room: Detect raiders who breach into your base. - On your roof: Watch for build-up raiders or helicopter approaches. - At nearby road intersections: Early warning of players heading your direction.

Camera angles: Cameras have a fixed field of view. Angle them downward slightly for ground-level coverage. A camera mounted at 3 meters height with a 30-degree downward tilt covers approximately 10-15 meters of ground. Place cameras at staggered heights and angles to eliminate blind spots.

Camera protection: Exposed cameras are easily destroyed by enemies. Place cameras behind window bars, inside recessed wall sections, or behind reinforced glass. An armored camera housing (a small box structure around the camera) costs minimal resources but significantly increases the effort required to disable your surveillance.

The Computer Station is a deployable workstation that displays live feeds from CCTV cameras. It is the control center for your surveillance network.

Crafting: Computer Station requires 20 HQM, 1 Tech Trash, and Workbench Level 2. Place it inside your base in a secure room with a chair.

Using the Computer Station: 1. Sit at the Computer Station (interact with the chair). 2. Type a camera identifier into the input field. 3. Press enter to connect to that camera's live feed. 4. Use arrow keys or bookmark buttons to switch between saved cameras. 5. Press escape to disconnect.

Bookmarking cameras: You can save frequently used camera identifiers as bookmarks in the Computer Station interface. This allows you to quickly cycle through your camera network without retyping identifiers. Organize bookmarks by location: group all compound cameras together, all monument cameras together, and so on.

Multiple Computer Stations: You can deploy multiple Computer Stations in your base. Place one near your exit to check cameras before leaving, one in your main living area for passive monitoring, and one near your sleeping area to check cameras when you first log in.

Remote camera usage: You can view cameras from any Computer Station on the server, not just your own. If you place cameras near monuments or enemy bases, you can monitor them from your home base. However, enemies can do the same if they guess your camera identifiers.

Camera identifier security: Choose non-obvious camera identifiers that enemies cannot guess. Avoid simple names like CAM1 or FRONT. Use randomized strings like XR7-GATE or your steam ID plus a number. If an enemy discovers your camera identifier, they can view your feed and gather intelligence about your base layout.

Many monuments in Rust have pre-installed CCTV cameras with publicly known identifiers. You can view these from any Computer Station without deploying your own cameras.

Confirmed public camera codes:

Launch Site: - OILRIG1 / OILRIG2: Small Oil Rig views - OILRIG1L / OILRIG2L: Large Oil Rig views

Dome: - DOME1: View of the Dome scaffolding and surrounding area

Large Oil Rig: - YOURLAB1 through YOURLAB4: Underwater Lab cameras (varies by server)

Outpost: - OUTPOST1: Main entrance view - YOURTOWN: General Outpost overview

Bandit Camp: - BANDIT1: Main gambling area view

Airfield: - AIRFIELD1: Runway and hangar view

Note: Camera codes may change with game updates. Test codes on your specific server, as some community servers disable or modify public cameras.

Strategic use of public cameras: - Before heading to a monument, check its public camera from your Computer Station. If you see enemy players already there, wait for them to leave or choose a different monument. - Monitor Oil Rig cameras to know when other teams are running it. If you see them clearing scientists, you can time your counter-attack to arrive just as they finish. - Check Outpost and Bandit Camp cameras to see if enemies are shopping. Knowing their location and that they are unarmed (safe zones) gives you an opportunity to set up an ambush outside.

Using public cameras for map awareness is one of the most underrated intelligence-gathering techniques in Rust. Dedicated players check monument cameras every 10-15 minutes to maintain situational awareness across the entire map.

Auto turrets in Rust have built-in cameras that can be viewed from a Computer Station. This integration creates a powerful defense monitoring system.

Turret camera setup: 1. Place an Auto Turret and power it (10 rW). 2. Set the turret's identifier the same way you set a CCTV identifier. Access the turret's inventory and name it. 3. View the turret's camera feed from any Computer Station by entering its identifier.

Benefits of turret cameras: - See exactly what your turrets see. Monitor their field of fire in real time. - Identify if a turret is out of ammo (the feed shows the turret's perspective, and you can see if targets are in range without the turret firing). - Determine if turrets have been destroyed. If a camera feed goes black, that turret may have been taken out. - Coordinate manual defense with turret positions. While watching through a turret camera, you can see enemies that the turret is engaging and plan your own response.

Turret monitoring workflow: When your Smart Alarm triggers (indicating an intruder), immediately sit at your Computer Station and cycle through your turret cameras. Identify which turret area the intruder is approaching. Determine if they are a lone player or a raiding group. Decide whether to respond personally or let the turrets handle the threat.

Advanced turret-camera tactic: Place a CCTV Camera next to each turret, aimed at the same field of fire. The CCTV camera provides a wider angle view than the turret's built-in camera, letting you see the broader situation around each turret position. If the turret is destroyed, the standalone CCTV camera continues to provide visual intelligence.

Remote turret management: While you cannot directly control a turret's firing remotely, you can monitor its status and plan responses. If you see through a turret camera that multiple enemies are approaching from a direction that only one turret covers, you can rush to that area with your own weapons to support the turret. The camera system turns your turrets from blind sentries into a coordinated defense network.

A comprehensive surveillance network transforms your base from a static structure into an intelligence-gathering outpost. Planning your network before deployment saves resources and eliminates coverage gaps.

Network architecture: - Tier 1 (Perimeter): Cameras on compound walls and at road approaches. These are your early warning system, detecting threats before they reach your base. Place cameras every 30-40 meters along the compound perimeter for continuous coverage. Total: 4-8 cameras. - Tier 2 (Base exterior): Cameras on your base walls, above doors, and on the roof. These monitor the immediate area around your base, including door-camping spots and boosting positions. Total: 4-6 cameras. - Tier 3 (Base interior): Cameras inside your base covering the TC room, main loot room, and airlock areas. If raiders breach your walls, these cameras let you monitor their progress from a safe room. Total: 2-4 cameras. - Tier 4 (Strategic): Cameras near frequently used monuments, on hills overlooking enemy bases, or along key road sections. These provide strategic intelligence beyond your immediate area. Total: 2-6 cameras.

Power budget for a full surveillance network: - 16 cameras at 5 rW each = 80 rW total - 1 Computer Station: 0 rW (no power required) - Total: 80 rW, requiring 4 solar panels + 2 large batteries for 24-hour coverage

Redundancy planning: Assume that some cameras will be destroyed by enemies or damaged during raids. Run separate power circuits for perimeter cameras and interior cameras so that destroying the external circuit does not disable internal monitoring.

Surveillance schedule: Check your cameras at key moments: 1. Before logging off: Scan all perimeter cameras for lurking enemies. 2. When logging in: Check for signs of offline raid attempts (destroyed cameras, turret damage). 3. Before leaving your base: Check exterior cameras for door campers. 4. When Smart Alarms trigger: Immediately cycle through relevant cameras to assess the threat. 5. Every 15-20 minutes during active play: Quick scan of strategic cameras for monument activity and enemy movements.

Cost-effectiveness: A full 16-camera surveillance network costs approximately 80 HQM and 16 Tech Trash, plus 80 rW of electricity. This is a significant investment but provides irreplaceable intelligence that no amount of walls or turrets can replicate. Knowledge of incoming threats is the ultimate defense.