Security cameras are only as good as the internet in your home.
Before you install security cameras, make sure your internet is up to par otherwise, your cameras will never work properly.
If it is possible to hardwire your security cameras, you should.
If you’re depending on wireless internet, make sure you do the four things below BEFORE you set an installation date for the security cameras.
1. Upgrade your internet package.
The lowest speed internet package is not powerful enough to support a wireless camera in addition to other devices in your home. You need 20 Mbps download speeds and 10 Mbps upload speeds.
Just because the wireless internet package says it is UP TO 25 Mbps doesn’t mean that is what your upload and download speed is – or that you’ll get that level during peak use hours.
2. Test your internet speed.
QEI Security & Technology recommends using speedtest.net to test your internet speeds monthly. If you’re having problems, test weekly. And be sure to test during peak use hours (5-9 p.m.). The Speedtest by Ookla app makes it easy to test your wireless internet speeds and records your history.
If you are not consistently getting the speeds you’re paying for, contact your internet provider.
3. Get a Gigabit wireless router.
You need to have BOTH the right internet speeds AND the right router for your security cameras to work properly.
Make sure you purchase a Gigabit wireless router to ensure the network will support the data you will be transmitting/streaming. You also want to be sure you have a multichannel Wifi router that can handle B, G and N signals.
4. Hardwire devices if possible.
Your wireless network performs the best with fewer connected devices. The devices that you can hardwire – like a desktop computer, gaming station, Apple TV/Roku, etc. – should be hardwired. It will increase speed to those devices as well as your wifi devices.
QEI Security & Technology’s interior and exterior cameras can be hardwired and if possible, that is our recommendation. Our doorbell camera operates exclusively on your wireless network.