Foscam WIFI connection not stable

Foscam WIFI connection not stable

Normally we use WIFI for devices like smart phones or laptops, and if there is a momentary glitch in connection, it goes without being noticed.  But with a WIFI camera we tend to be streaming video which is bandwidth intensive on the local network, at least while we are watching or recording using an NVR.  So any instability can cause loss of connection.  Also WIFI signal can vary greatly from place to place and even only a few feet can make a big difference in WIFI quality.  You can download an app for most smart phones and sometimes even standing in one place you will see the signal level go up and down quite dramatically.

So that being said it is very important to have a good, strong, stable WIFI signal to operate a video camera.  You can use a smart phone as mentioned before, placed EXACTLY where the camera will be mounted to see if the signal is strong and stable.  If it is not full strength you may need to either reposition your router, get one with a stronger signal (commercial quality access points are way more stable and strong), or get a repeater to boost your WIFI signal.

Short of geting expensive test equipment, in addition to using a smart phone (or tablet) you can also try simply moving the router or camera and see if stability improves.

As a last ditch effort you can check to see if a firmware update is available.  It's less common but occasionally, and if an issue is found with the camera firmware that causes instability, a newer firmware version may fix the issue.  We don't recommend updating firmware unless you know there is a confirmed issue to be addressed, as a failed update can render the device inoperable, so proceed with caution and it would be best to upgrade using a wired Ethernet connection rather than WIFI.  Besides, after a factory reset or firmware update, the camera will lose the WIFI password and you will need to connect to your wired Ethernet in order to set up WIFI again after the upgrade.

Feel free to contact our technical support department with any questions or concerns.

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