Sricam Notification Delay: Closing the Gap Between Motion and Alert
A security camera's alert is only useful if it arrives in time for you to react. When you receive a notification from your Sricam camera minutes after the event happened, it can be both frustrating and concerning. By the time you open the app, the person or vehicle is long gone. This notification lag can be caused by a number of bottlenecks between your camera and your phone. This guide will help you identify these bottlenecks and take steps to receive more timely alerts.
## Step 1: Diagnose Your Network - The Most Common Culprit
The journey of a notification from your camera to your phone relies heavily on your network's health. Issues here are the number one cause of delays.
### Wi-Fi Signal Strength at the Camera
The connection between your Sricam camera and your Wi-Fi router is a critical link.
- How to Check: In the Sricam app, go to the camera's settings and look for a "Network" or "Wi-Fi" status page. Many apps will show a signal strength percentage or a bar indicator. Anything below 50-60% can cause issues.
- How to Fix:
- Move Closer: If possible, move your camera closer to your Wi-Fi router.
- Reduce Obstructions: Thick walls, especially concrete or brick, can severely degrade the signal. Minimise the number of walls between the router and the camera.
- Use a Wi-Fi Extender: If you cannot move the camera or router, install a Wi-Fi extender or a mesh Wi-Fi system to create a stronger signal near the camera.
### Internet Upload Speed
Your internet plan's download speed is often advertised, but for a camera, upload speed is what matters. This determines how quickly your camera can send video clips to the cloud to trigger a notification.
- How to Check: Run a speed test (you can find many free ones by searching online) from a device connected to the same Wi-tFi network. Pay attention to the "Upload Mbps" result.
- How to Fix: A minimum of 1-2 Mbps upload speed is recommended per camera. If your speed is low, you may need to:
- Reduce Camera's Video Quality: In the Sricam app's video settings, change the stream quality from HD (High Definition) to SD (Standard Definition). This creates smaller files that upload much faster.
- Limit Network Congestion: If other people in your home are heavily using the internet (e.g., uploading large files, video conferencing), it can slow down your camera.
- Contact Your ISP: You may need to upgrade your internet plan to one with a higher upload speed.
## Step 2: Optimise Your Mobile Phone's Settings
Sometimes the delay isn't in the network, but in how your phone is handling the notification.
### Check App Permissions
To save battery, both Android and iOS will put apps to "sleep" or restrict their background activity. This can delay push notifications.
- For Android: Go to Settings > Apps > Sricam. Under "Battery" or "Power usage," select "Unrestricted" or "Allow background activity."
- For iOS: Go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh and ensure it is turned on for the Sricam app.
- Check 'Do Not Disturb': Ensure your phone is not in a 'Do Not Disturb' or 'Focus' mode that might be silencing or delaying notifications from the app.
## Step 3: Camera and App Maintenance
Like any piece of technology, keeping things updated and running smoothly is important.
- Update the Sricam App: Go to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and check for updates to the Sricam app.
- Update Camera Firmware: In the app's settings for the camera, look for a firmware update option. Updates often include performance improvements that can reduce latency.
- Reboot Everything: A simple but powerful step. Power cycle your Sricam camera (unplug it for 30 seconds) and your home router. This can clear temporary glitches that are slowing things down.
- Reformat the SD Card: A full or failing SD card can sometimes slow down the camera's ability to process and trigger an event. Back up any important footage and use the app's format function to wipe the card clean.
By working through these steps, from your camera's Wi-Fi signal to your phone's settings, you can significantly reduce notification lag and ensure your Sricam alerts are as close to real-time as possible.