Wireless interference can cause your SkyBell to struggle to make video connections, send notifications or cause it to disconnect from the network and then may start to blink.
If you’re experiencing any of these things, here are some explanations about the causes of wireless interference, what symptoms to look for and how to fix them.
Causes, Symptoms and Troubleshooting
Causes
Typically interference is caused by one of three sources:
- Walls and floors that block wireless signals. Home construction materials can
- Other Wi-Fi networks using the same channel as your Wi-Fi network
- Appliances and electronics emitting radio frequency interference.
Symptoms
Wireless interference is quite common but the symptoms can vary.
- Missing video history.
- Skipping, pixelated, or other problems watching your video.
- Camera shows Offline in the SkyBell app or disconnects from WiFi.
Troubleshooting
Note: Every network has its unique configuration and settings and no single solution will work for all when dealing with the issues caused by wireless interference. When troubleshooting, test what works best for your connection and your configuration.
Interference from walls and floors
Depending on the materials used to build and furnish your home, you may experience interference with your wireless network. Bricks, dense materials and large furniture can block signal causing issues with your connection.
Troubleshooting tips
- If your router or access point is equipped with antennas, adjusting the antennas to aim the signal toward your SkyBell product can help improve your connection.
- In some cases, moving the wireless router or access point is possible. Moving your router or access point closer to your SkyBell and away from materials that might block the signal can improve your connection.
- Power line adapters can be especially useful for larger homes with thick or dense walls and floors.
Hint: Connecting a power line adapter to a WiFi access point can bring a strong wireless connection to even the most remote rooms in your home. They use your home’s electrical wiring for ethernet, so you can readily extend your network without installing expensive new wiring.
- You might also consider adding a WiFi extender to your network. Extenders re-broadcast your router’s signal from another room or location.
Interference from other WiFi networks
Wi-Fi networks broadcast on channels and in heavily populated areas it is common for networks to be set to the same channel and be competing for the same limited bandwidth.
Hint: Check for competing networks by opening the wireless options on your phone or computer. When the list of networks displays if there are many to choose from, there is a good chance you might experience interference from competing networks.
Troubleshooting tips
- Check to see if your router is able to auto-detect the low traffic Wi-Fi channels. If it can, make sure that the auto-detect feature is set and enabled.
- If you have channel auto-switching enabled but are still getting slow speeds or poor connections, try to manually set the channel and then perform speed tests to find the fastest one.
- Upgrade your router if it is more than a few years old.
Interference from electronics and appliances
Many electronics and appliances in our homes can interfere with wireless connectivity. Some use similar frequencies to communicate, others might generate radio frequencies only when in use and might cause intermittent interruptions in Wi-Fi connection. The following list might give you an idea of the possible culprits: cordless phones, baby monitors, Bluetooth devices, wireless cameras, security systems, microwaves, tvs, etc.
Troubleshooting tips
- Experiment by powering off electronic devices which might be affecting signal.
- If you notice a particular device affects connectivity, try moving it. Sometimes just moving an item a few feet can make the difference.
- It might be possible to switch the signal frequency on some of your devices. Some devices are able to broadcast and receive both 2.4GHz and 5GHz signals and for these devices, you might have the option to select with frequency to use and thereby limit the number of devices on any given frequency.