How to Fix Pixelated Video on Your SimpliSafe Camera
A pixelated, blurry, or blocky video feed from your SimpliSafe camera can be incredibly frustrating. Clear video is essential for identifying people and details, and poor quality defeats the purpose of having a high-definition security camera. The good news is that this issue is almost always related to network performance and can be resolved.
This guide will walk you through the professional steps to diagnose and fix the root causes of pixelated video on your SimpliSafe camera.
## Understanding the Cause: Bandwidth and Signal Strength
Pixelation (or compression artefacts) is a direct result of the camera not having enough bandwidth to send a full-quality video stream to the SimpliSafe servers. To avoid disconnecting completely, the camera intentionally lowers the video quality to send a less data-heavy stream.
The two main factors are:
- Wi-Fi Signal Strength: The quality of the connection between your camera and your Wi-Fi router.
- Internet Upload Speed: The speed at which your internet service can upload data from your home to the internet.
## Step 1: Test Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength
The first place to investigate is the connection between the camera and your router. A weak signal is the most common culprit.
- Check Signal in the App: SimpliSafe's app and system settings often provide a way to check the connection quality of your devices. Look for a Wi-Fi signal indicator for your camera.
- Physical Distance: How far is the camera from your Wi-Fi router? The further away it is, the weaker the signal will be.
- Obstructions: Walls (especially brick or concrete), large metal appliances (like refrigerators), and even dense furniture can significantly degrade Wi-Fi signals.
How to Fix It:
- Move Your Router: If possible, try moving your router to a more central location in your home, closer to the camera.
- Eliminate Obstructions: Ensure there is a clear line of sight, or as close to it as possible, between the router and the camera.
- Invest in a Wi-Fi Extender: If you cannot move the router, a Wi-Fi range extender or a mesh Wi-Fi system is the most effective solution. Place the extender halfway between the router and the camera to boost the signal in that area.
## Step 2: Check Your Internet Upload Speed
People often focus on download speed, but for a security camera, upload speed is what matters. This is the speed at which the camera can send video data to the cloud.
How to Fix It:
- Run a Speed Test: On a computer or phone connected to the same Wi-Fi network, go to a website like Speedtest.net and run a test. Pay close attention to the "Upload" speed result.
- Check Requirements: SimpliSafe recommends a minimum upload speed of at least 2 Mbps per camera. So, if you have two cameras, you need a stable 4 Mbps upload speed, in addition to bandwidth for all your other devices.
- Reduce Network Congestion: Is someone else in your home heavily using the internet when the pixelation occurs? Activities like streaming 4K video, online gaming, or uploading large files can consume your upload bandwidth, leaving little for your camera. Try to test the camera when the network is not busy to see if the quality improves.
- Contact Your ISP: If your upload speed is consistently below the 2 Mbps requirement, you may need to contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to discuss upgrading your plan.
## Step 3: Adjust Camera and Router Settings
While less common, some settings can impact performance.
- Camera Quality Setting: In the SimpliSafe app, navigate to your camera's settings. Ensure that the video quality is set to the highest available option (e.g., 1080p HD).
- Router's QoS: Some routers have a "Quality of Service" (QoS) setting. This allows you to prioritise traffic for specific devices. If your router supports it, you can configure QoS to give your SimpliSafe camera priority on the network, which can help ensure it always has the bandwidth it needs.
By systematically working through these steps, you can identify the bottleneck and restore a clear, high-definition picture to your SimpliSafe security system.