Most IP cameras are WiFi compatible: If the technical characteristics include this function or include a WiFi antenna, you can probably connect it wirelessly. In this document, we are going to give you more information.
how to configure WiFi settings on IP cameras: and how to solve the most common problems. We are going to clarify concepts about what is a WiFi camera, wireless IP camera, wifi IP camera.
Is Wireless IP Camera, WiFi camera, IP camera Is it the same?
Yes. There are several ways to call the same product.
A WiFi camera can be referred to as a wireless camera.
All IP cameras connect through an IP address to our Router, either with cable or wirelessly.
How To Work WiFi IP Cameras
The IP cameras are either wired or wirelessly connect to the Router.
The Router transmits the information of the IP cameras over the Internet to be able to view the images remotely.
Communication is carried out in the same way externally, whether the cameras are connected with cable or WiFi. That is you should not make any special configurations to the wired one because the cameras are wireless.
How to connect an IP camera with WiFi
WiFi configuration from a computer
From your web browser you can configure the WiFi configuration as follows:
- Connect the camera with a network cable to the Router
- Access camera settings with a wired camera
- To access the camera you run the IP address search software called IP Camera Tool
- It will detect an IP address of the wired camera.
- Double click on the address of your IP camera to open the browser and access the configuration screen.
- Once inside the camera configuration to do the WiFi configuration:
- Click on the button to scan WiFi networks
- Select our WiFi network
- Enter the password for the WiFi network
- Press accept to save the changes
- We can remove the ethernet cable and leave only the power cable.
- Once this process is done, you can run the IP address search software again. If you have not specified a fixed IP address, you will get another IP address for the wireless connection.
WiFi configuration from mobile APP
Most mobile APPs allow you to configure WiFi. The process is very similar. After accessing the camera with a cable, we select the WiFi network we want to connect to enter the password.
If you need more information on how to use the Foscam APP, I recommend you read the following document.
Wireless connection via AP mode
Some models of IP cameras allow a connection whereby pressing a button on the IP camera creates a WiFi network to which you can connect from a mobile, tablet, laptop directly to the camera to make the configuration.
In other words, you can connect directly from a computer to the camera without the need for a router. If you are interested in more information about this function, you can read the following document.
Configure WiFi IP Camera with WPS / QSS
If your router and your IP camera both have WPS or QSS functions, you can configure the camera without entering the password. This way of configuring the camera is very easy since you only have to press both buttons to synchronize the products.
Although this configuration may vary depending on the model of each camera, the procedure is very similar in all:
- Connect the IP camera to the power and wait about 1 minute.
- Once the camera is turned on, press the Reset or WPS button on the camera for about 3 seconds.
- Then press the WPS or QSS button on your Router.
If the camera has a connection indicator, it will notify you that the connection has been made.
Security in the WiFi connection of the IP camera
The IP camera connects wirelessly to your Router as well as other peripherals such as tablets, phones. No additional protection is necessary to connect an IP camera compared to other peripherals.
Although the model specifications must indicate it, the vast majority of IP cameras are compatible with the wireless encryption systems used by Routers such as WEP, WPA, WPA2.
Problems with the WiFi configuration of the IP camera
If you have followed the WiFi installation process, after entering the password you can remove the network cable and only with power to see the images from the camera.
If not, you should try to specify what the problem is due to:
- While the camera does not detect WiFi networks. Try in this case to verify the camera can detect the network you are trying to connect, that is, you are not very far away.
- Or if it detects WiFi networks but cannot connect to them. If this problem happens to you, everything indicates the camera’s hardware is working correctly but for some reason, such as not being the correct password, it cannot connect to the network.
If either of the two previous problems happens to you, I recommend you read the following document on our blog where this problem is discussed in more detail.
Where to install an IP camera via WiFi
As you have initially read, you must make the connection from a network cable to the IP camera. From this place, once you detect the WiFi network and configure it, you can disconnect the camera to install it in the final place.
You must install the camera in a place where you have WiFi coverage. If you install the camera in an area far away from the Router where you do not have enough WiFi signal, the images will not be seen smoothly or they may not even be seen.
The range of the WiFi signal of the camera is the same as that of any other mobile, tablet. You can check where you are going to install the IP camera first with a mobile phone. You have a good signal and you can watch videos on the Internet. If you can’t see the video, you won’t be able to connect the camera wirelessly either.
Where to buy a WiFi IP camera
Recommend you visit the amazon web from where you can see a wide catalog of indoor and outdoor IP cameras. You can also download documentation and manuals in Spanish that will help you set up. Although if you need more help with the installation, do not hesitate to leave us a message.
Different WiFi connection protocols
Today’s cameras typically support the 802.11n protocol. This protocol allows higher transmission speed with up to 150mbps of connection than other older protocols such as 802.11b or 802.11g (11 or 54mbps)