How to Fix Poor Video Quality on Your Friedland Doorbell
A video doorbell is only as good as the video it produces. If the image from your Friedland doorbell is blurry, pixelated, or grainy, it can be difficult to see faces or read number plates, reducing its effectiveness as a security device. Most video quality issues are not due to a faulty camera but are related to its connection or environment.
This guide will help you identify the cause of poor video quality and provide you with practical steps to restore a clear, sharp image on your Friedland doorbell camera.
Step 1: Clean the Camera Lens
This is the simplest yet most frequently overlooked step. The camera lens is exposed to the elements and can easily get dirty, which will directly impact image quality.
- What to look for: Dust, pollen, water spots, fingerprints, or even a fine spiderweb can make the image appear blurry or foggy.
- How to clean: Use a soft, dry microfibre cloth (the kind used for cleaning spectacles) to gently wipe the lens. For stubborn spots, you can slightly dampen the cloth with water, but avoid using harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive materials that could scratch the lens.
Step 2: Check and Optimise Your Wi-Fi Signal
Your doorbell needs a strong and stable Wi-Fi connection to upload high-quality video. A weak signal is the most common technical cause of poor video.
- Check Signal Strength: Most smart home apps, including Friedland's, have a device health or settings section that shows the Wi-Fi signal strength at the doorbell. If the signal is reported as 'weak' or 'poor', this is likely your problem.
- Restart Your Router: Unplug your Wi-Fi router from power, wait 30 seconds, and plug it back in. This can often resolve temporary connection issues that affect performance.
- Improve the Signal: If the signal is consistently weak, you have a few options:
- Move your router to a more central location in your home, closer to the front door.
- Install a Wi-Fi range extender or a "chime extender" if offered by Friedland. These devices boost the signal in weaker areas.
- Upgrade to a mesh Wi-Fi system for more even coverage throughout your home.
Step 3: Adjust Video Quality Settings in the App
The Friedland app may have settings that allow you to change the video resolution. Sometimes, these might be set to a lower quality to conserve battery life or reduce data usage.
- Navigate to Settings: Open the Friedland app and select your doorbell camera. Go into its settings menu.
- Find Video Settings: Look for an option labelled "Video Quality," "Resolution," or "Streaming Quality."
- Select High Definition: Make sure this option is set to "High," "HD," or the highest resolution available (e.g., 1080p). Changing this to a higher setting will use more bandwidth and potentially more battery power, but it is necessary for a clear image.
Step 4: Troubleshoot Night Vision Issues
Poor video quality at night presents its own set of challenges, usually related to the camera's infrared (IR) illumination.
- Check for Reflections: Ensure the doorbell is not mounted right next to a side wall or under a deep ledge. A nearby surface can cause the IR light to reflect directly back into the lens, creating a glare or "white-out" effect that makes the rest of the image dark.
- Clean the Lens (Again): Smudges and dirt are much more visible under IR light and can cause significant glare and blurriness at night.
- Provide Some Light: While the IR LEDs are powerful, they work best when there is some ambient light. A small porch light can dramatically improve the clarity and colour of your night-time video.
By following these steps, you can systematically address the common causes of poor video quality and ensure your Friedland doorbell provides the clear picture you need for your home's security.