How to Fix Two-Way Audio Delay on Your Yi Camera
The two-way talk feature on your Yi Home Camera is a fantastic tool for communicating with family, pets, or visitors. However, a significant delay or lag in the audio can make conversations choppy and frustrating. This guide will help you understand the causes of audio delay and provide effective solutions to fix it.
Why Audio Lag Happens
Two-way audio requires your voice to be captured by your phone, sent over the internet to the Yi servers, then to your camera, and finally played through its speaker. The response from the camera's microphone travels the same path back to you. A delay, or latency, at any point in this journey will result in a noticeable lag, making real-time conversation difficult. The most common culprit is network performance.
Troubleshooting Steps for Yi Camera Audio Delay
Work through these steps to improve the performance of your camera's two-way audio.
1. Strengthen the Camera's Wi-Fi Connection
A weak or unstable Wi-Fi signal is the number one cause of audio lag.
- Check Signal Strength: In the Yi Home app, go to your camera's settings and find the network or Wi-Fi information. Check the signal strength. If it's less than 100%, the connection may be unstable.
- Move Your Router: Try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to your Yi camera. Even a few feet can make a significant difference.
- Use a Wi-Fi Extender: If you cannot move the router, a Wi-Fi extender placed halfway between the router and the camera can boost the signal and provide a more stable connection.
- Minimise Obstructions: Wi-Fi signals are weakened by physical barriers like thick walls (especially concrete or brick), large metal appliances, and fish tanks.
2. Lower the Video Streaming Quality
High-definition video consumes a lot of bandwidth. Reducing it can free up resources for the audio stream.
- Change from HD to SD: While viewing the live feed in the Yi Home app, you should see an option to switch the quality between HD (High Definition) and SD (Standard Definition).
- Select SD. This will lower the video quality slightly but can significantly improve the responsiveness of the two-way audio.
3. Check Your Smartphone's Connection
The problem might be with your phone's internet connection, not the camera's.
- Use Strong Wi-Fi: If you are on mobile data (4G/5G), try connecting your phone to a strong Wi-Fi network instead.
- Test Your Speed: Run an internet speed test on your phone. A slow connection will struggle to handle the audio data in real-time.
- Close Background Apps: Other apps running in the background on your phone could be using up bandwidth or processing power. Close any apps you are not using.
4. Update Firmware and App
Manufacturers regularly release updates to improve device performance and fix bugs.
- Update Camera Firmware: In the Yi Home app, go to the camera's settings and check for any available firmware updates.
- Update the Yi Home App: Go to your phone's app store (Google Play Store or Apple App Store) and ensure you have the latest version of the Yi Home app installed.
5. Reboot Your Devices
A classic troubleshooting step that often works.
- Reboot the Camera: Unplug your Yi camera from power, wait for a minute, and plug it back in.
- Reboot Your Router: Unplug your internet router, wait a minute, and restart it.
By improving the network conditions for both your camera and your phone, you should see a noticeable reduction in two-way audio delay.