Is Your SimpliSafe Camera's Quality Not Up to Scratch?
When you invest in a security system like SimpliSafe, you expect clear, reliable video footage. If your camera's live stream is pixelated, the recordings are choppy, or the audio is distorted, it can undermine your sense of security. Poor quality video can make it difficult to identify faces or see important details in an emergency.
Fortunately, most quality issues are not due to a faulty camera but are related to network conditions. This guide will help you diagnose the problem and take practical steps to significantly improve your SimpliSafe camera's video and audio quality.
The Root Cause of Poor Camera Quality: Bandwidth
Your SimpliSafe camera needs a stable and robust internet connection to send high-definition video from your home to the SimpliSafe cloud and then to your smartphone. When the connection is weak or slow, the camera has to compress the video file heavily, resulting in poor quality.
The two most critical factors are:
- Wi-Fi Signal Strength: The connection between your camera and your Wi-Fi router.
- Internet Upload Speed: The speed at which your home internet can send data to the outside world.
How to Troubleshoot and Fix Poor SimpliSafe Quality
Let's work through the solutions to get you a crisp, clear picture.
Step 1: Test Your Wi-Fi Signal Strength
This is the connection inside your home. A weak signal here is the most common cause of all quality problems.
- Check the Distance: How far is your camera from your Wi-Fi router? The further away it is, the weaker the signal.
- Identify Obstructions: Each wall, floor, or large appliance (especially metal ones like refrigerators) between the router and the camera significantly degrades the signal.
- Relocate Your Router: If possible, try moving your router to a more central location in your home to provide more even coverage.
- Consider a Wi-Fi Extender: If you cannot move the router, placing a Wi-Fi extender halfway between the router and the camera can boost the signal and provide a much more stable connection.
Step 2: Test Your Internet Upload Speed
This is the connection from your home to the internet. Many people focus on download speed, but for a security camera, upload speed is what matters.
- Run a Speed Test: On your smartphone (while connected to your Wi-Fi), go to a website like
speedtest.netor use their app. - Check the "Upload" Result: SimpliSafe recommends a minimum upload speed of 2 Mbps per camera. So, if you have two cameras, you need at least 4 Mbps of upload speed available.
- Contact Your ISP: If your upload speed is consistently below this recommendation, your internet plan may not be sufficient to support high-quality streaming. You may need to contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to upgrade to a plan with a higher upload speed.
Step 3: Optimise Your Camera's Settings
The SimpliSafe app gives you some control over the video quality, which can help if your network is struggling.
- Open the SimpliSafe App.
- Go to "Cameras".
- Select the settings gear icon for the camera you want to adjust.
- Look for a "Quality" or "Performance" setting.
- You can often choose between High (1080p), Medium (720p), and Low (480p).
- If you are experiencing lag or buffering, try lowering the quality setting to 720p. A smooth 720p stream is far more useful than a choppy 1080p stream.
Step 4: Reduce Network Congestion
Your home network has a limited amount of bandwidth. If other people are streaming 4K movies, downloading large games, or on video calls, it can leave little bandwidth for your camera. If you notice the quality drops at certain times of the day, this could be the reason. Try to minimise other high-bandwidth activities to see if the quality improves.
By systematically improving the Wi-Fi signal and ensuring you have enough upload speed, you can resolve most quality issues and get the clear, dependable video feed you expect from your SimpliSafe system.