Experiencing a Frustrating Delay on Your Anran Camera?
You rely on your Anran security camera to see what's happening at your property in real-time. But if there's a significant delay, or "lag," between an event occurring and you seeing it on your screen, the effectiveness of your security is compromised. A lagging video feed can make it impossible to interact with someone via two-way talk or to react promptly to a security event.
This guide is designed to help you understand the causes of camera lag and provide you with a professional troubleshooting process to fix the delay on your Anran camera. While a tiny delay of a few seconds is normal for IP cameras, anything more than that can, and should, be addressed.
Understanding Camera Lag vs. Buffering
It's important to distinguish between lag and buffering, as their solutions can differ.
- Lag (or Latency): This is a delay in the video stream. The video plays smoothly, but it's several seconds (or even minutes) behind real-time.
- Buffering: This is an interruption in the video stream. The video plays, then freezes or shows a loading icon, then plays again.
This guide focuses specifically on fixing lag. If your issue is buffering, please refer to our dedicated guide on that topic. The most common cause for both is network performance.
How to Troubleshoot and Fix Anran Camera Lag
Follow these steps to diagnose and reduce the latency of your camera's video feed.
1. Strengthen the Camera's Network Connection
A weak or unstable connection is the number one cause of high latency. The camera has to resend lost data packets, which creates a delay.
- Check Wi-Fi Signal: In the Anran app, check the Wi-Fi signal strength for the camera in question. If it's weak (only one or two bars), you've likely found the problem.
- Minimise Distance and Obstacles: The ideal setup is a clear line of sight between the camera and your Wi-Fi router. Reduce the number of walls, floors, and large metal objects between them.
- Consider a Wired Connection: If your Anran camera has an Ethernet port, the most reliable way to reduce lag is to connect it directly to your router with a network cable. This eliminates any potential Wi-Fi interference.
- Use a Wi-Fi Extender: If a wired connection isn't possible, place a Wi-Fi range extender halfway between the router and the camera to provide a stronger, more stable signal.
2. Check Your Internet Upload Speed
Your camera sends a constant stream of video data to the cloud, which relies on your internet connection's upload speed.
- Perform a Speed Test: Use a device on the same network to run an internet speed test.
- Analyse Upload Speed: For smooth, low-latency streaming, you need a consistent upload speed of at least 2-4 Mbps per camera. If your total upload speed is low, the data stream gets bottlenecked, causing a delay. Contacting your Internet Service Provider (ISP) for a plan with higher upload speeds may be necessary.
3. Update Your Firmware and App
Manufacturers regularly release updates that optimise performance and can reduce latency.
- Update Camera Firmware: Open your Anran app, go to the camera's settings, and check for a "Firmware Update" or "Device Version" option. Install any available updates.
- Update the Anran App: Visit your phone's app store (Google Play Store or Apple App Store) to ensure you have the latest version of the Anran application installed.
4. Reduce Video Resolution
While you bought an HD camera for its clear picture, a very high resolution requires more bandwidth. As a temporary diagnostic step, try lowering the resolution.
- Change Stream Quality: In the live view screen or camera settings, find the option to change the video quality from "FHD/HD" (Full High Definition/High Definition) to "SD" (Standard Definition).
- Observe the Lag: If the lag significantly improves at the lower setting, it's a strong indicator that your network connection is the limiting factor.
5. Reboot Your Equipment
A simple power cycle can often resolve temporary glitches that cause lag.
- Reboot the Camera: Unplug your Anran camera from its power source. Wait for one minute before plugging it back in.
- Reboot Your Router: Unplug your Wi-Fi router and modem. Wait a minute, then plug the modem back in first. Once the modem's lights are stable, plug the router back in.
By systematically working through these solutions, you can significantly reduce or eliminate the frustrating lag on your Anran camera, ensuring what you see is what is happening, right now.