How to Fix Lorex Live View Buffering and Lagging
There are few things more frustrating than trying to check your security camera's live feed, only to be met with a constant buffering symbol or a choppy, lagging video stream. When you need to see what's happening at your property right now, a smooth live view is essential.
This guide provides a professional and comprehensive set of troubleshooting steps to diagnose and resolve buffering issues with your Lorex security system. Using clear, helpful language (in British English), we will walk you through the common causes and their solutions, from simple app settings to network optimisations.
The Quickest Fix: Switch to the Substream
Before you start rebooting routers or changing complex settings, there's one simple trick that solves the problem for many users. Your Lorex system broadcasts two video streams:
- Mainstream: This is the high-resolution, full-quality stream that is recorded to your NVR/DVR. It requires a lot of bandwidth to view remotely.
- Substream: This is a lower-resolution stream designed specifically for smooth remote viewing on mobile devices with limited bandwidth.
How to switch:
- Open your Lorex viewing app (e.g., Lorex Home, Lorex Cloud).
- Select the camera you want to view.
- Look for an icon that says HD or HQ. Tap on it.
- Switch the setting to SD or LQ. This selects the substream.
If the video now plays smoothly, the problem is confirmed to be a bandwidth limitation. You can either continue using the substream for remote viewing or proceed with the steps below to try and improve the performance of the mainstream.
Understanding the Root Cause: Bandwidth
Buffering is almost always a symptom of a data bottleneck. The video data from your camera cannot get to your viewing device fast enough. This can be caused by two main factors:
- Slow Upload Speed at the Camera's Location: Your home or business internet connection's upload speed is critical. This determines how much data your Lorex system can send out to the internet.
- Slow Download Speed at Your Viewing Location: The network you are currently on (whether it's your mobile data or another Wi-Fi network) may not have enough download speed to handle the high-quality video stream.
Troubleshooting Your Network and Settings
If switching to the substream isn't an ideal long-term solution, you can work on optimising your network and camera settings.
Step 1: Test Your Internet Speeds
- At the Lorex System's Location: Connect a computer to the same network as your Lorex NVR/DVR and run an internet speed test. Pay close attention to the upload speed. For smooth HD streaming, you ideally want at least 5-10 Mbps of upload speed per camera you intend to view simultaneously.
- At Your Viewing Location: Run a speed test on your mobile phone or computer. Look at the download speed. Again, you need sufficient speed to receive the video data.
Step 2: Optimise Camera Settings
If your upload speed is limited, you can reduce the amount of data the camera tries to send. This is done by adjusting the stream parameters in your NVR/DVR's settings.
- Log in to your Lorex system's main interface.
- Navigate to Settings > Camera > Recording.
- Select the camera you want to adjust.
- You can lower the following on the Mainstream:
- Bitrate: This is the most important setting. Lowering the bitrate reduces the stream's size. Try reducing it by 25% and testing the result.
- Frame Rate (FPS): Lowering this from 30 to 15, for example, will cut the data requirement in half, though it will make motion less smooth.
- Resolution: Dropping from 4K to 1080p will significantly reduce bandwidth needs.
Step 3: Check Your Local Network (LAN)
If you experience buffering even when connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your Lorex system, the bottleneck is local.
- Use a Wired Connection: For the most stable connection, your Lorex NVR/DVR should always be connected to your router via an Ethernet cable, not Wi-Fi (if applicable).
- Router Quality: An older or underpowered router may struggle with the high-bandwidth demands of multiple IP cameras. Consider upgrading to a more modern router if you have many cameras.
- Wi-Fi Signal: If you are viewing on your phone at home, a weak Wi-Fi signal can cause buffering. Try moving closer to your router.
Step 4: Update Firmware
Manufacturers like Lorex regularly release firmware updates for their apps, cameras, and recorders. These updates often include performance optimisations that can improve streaming efficiency.
- Check for updates in the Lorex app settings.
- Log in to your NVR/DVR and check the system maintenance or update section.
By methodically addressing these potential bottlenecks, you can significantly improve the performance of your Lorex live view, ensuring you have a clear, stable picture when you need it most.