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Internet and Wi-Fi requirements for TELUS SmartHome Security
Learn more about TELUS SmartHome cameras and other devices' internet and Wi-Fi connectivity requirements before you buy.
What are the internet and Wi-Fi connectivity requirements for SmartHome cameras and devices?
TELUS SmartHome devices require both internet and Wi-Fi connections to work.
Your internet and Wi-Fi must be capable of an upload speed of 2.5 Mbps per security camera in or around your premises. As you increase the number of cameras, the minimum required upload speed increases. For example, two cameras requires 5.0 Mbps upload speed, three cameras requires 7.5 Mbps upload speed, etc.
Please follow these steps to make sure your Wi-Fi signal is strong enough for your cameras to work before you install them:
- Take your smartphone to the location where you would like to install your camera.
- Run aon your phone.speed test
- An upload speed of less than 2.5 Mbps will result in camera connectivity issues (loss of signal, missed events, etc). Please upgrade your wireless network or select an alternate camera location.
Check out these links below if you want to upgrade your TELUS home Wi-Fi wireless network:
How do I check my Internet and Wi-Fi for my SmartHome devices?
Check the Internet and Wi-Fi connection requirements for your SmartHome devices by watching the video below:
What's the difference between internet and Wi-Fi speed?
Understanding the difference between internet speed and Wi-Fi speed is important. Internet speed is the upload and download speed that is stated on your internet speed plan's bill, which is what you pay for. Think of internet speed as the “pipe” that enters your home. Once inside the home, all your personal devices that need to access the internet are connected to the modem either via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.
Ethernet-connected devices perform the best and offer the maximum speed of your internet plan.
Wi-Fi is the technology that connects your personal devices, such as your tablet, smartphone or laptop, to the internet without a physical wired connection. This technology transmits radio signals to and from your modem so you can browse web pages, stream videos or play online games.
For Wi-Fi connected devices, your internet gets distributed and shared amongst all your Wi-Fi personal devices that you use. The Wi-Fi speeds that you can use depend on various factors that are explained in this article.
What is Wi-Fi coverage?
Wi-Fi coverage is the quality of your signal over a certain distance that enables you to connect your personal devices to the internet seamlessly. Wi-Fi coverage behaves similarly to music playing from a speaker. The closer you are to the speaker, the better quality and clearer you can hear the music.
Like listening to music, your Wi-Fi signal is stronger (and faster) the closer you are to your modem. As you move farther away from your modem, Wi-Fi signals lose intensity, which is why the quality of your connection decreases. At some point, you might move far enough that you will simply be out of range and have no Wi-Fi signal at all.
There is no simple rule to calculate the amount of coverage your Wi-Fi device will offer. For everyday use, like surfing websites, streaming videos or sharing photos, your Wi-Fi network will provide great coverage throughout your home. The speeds you can achieve within various coverage areas varies with distance from the modem, along with other factors.
As shown below, the darkest green coverage zone represents the area that you enjoy the best speeds for activities that require a stronger internet connection, such as watching high-definition and 4K videos on Netflix or YouTube. Farther out, you can enjoy standard definition videos, sharing photos and more. Finally, the farther out you go (represented by the lightest green coverage zone), you will be able to browse and respond to emails, along with activities that do not require high internet speeds.
The size of each coverage zone depends on your usage and your home’s unique characteristics. Here are some of the key factors that impact your Wi-Fi coverage and speeds:
Your surroundings
- Home construction materials that block Wi-Fi signals (e.g. concrete, brick and heated floors).
- Electronic devices that emit interference to your Wi-Fi signals (e.g. microwaves, baby monitors and Bluetooth speakers).
- Home decorations that reflect or distort Wi-Fi signals (e.g. mirrors and fish tanks).
Your setup and usage
- Distance from your modem (the closer you are the better).
- Location of your modem (off the ground, generally on a table clear of electronic obstacles).
- Your personal device's age and technology limitations (older smartphones and some newer smart TV sets have fewer Wi-Fi antennas).
- Your Internet speed plan.
- Number of devices in your home that are using Wi-Fi at the same time.
What can you do to improve speed and coverage?
Here are some tips to optimize your coverage:
- If you see 2.4GHz and 5GHz options, you can enable.Smart Wi-Fi
- To expand or add an additional coverage zone, considerif you have TELUS internet service.adding TELUS Wi-Fi Plus
Your modem will be able to provide coverage throughout your home. On average, maximum speeds and best coverage are achievable within 2000 sq ft* around your modem. As you move into further coverage zones, your speeds will slow down.
*Disclaimer: The 2000 sq ft radius is based on testing conducted in real homes on the TELUS Advanced Wi-Fi modem. Individual results may vary depending on the construction materials of your home, location and configuration of your Wi-Fi modem, location and capabilities of Wi-Fi devices, number of nearby Wi-Fi networks, number of active Wi-Fi devices or other factors. For a description of Wi-Fi performance, please read the How to improve your device performance section of this article.
How to improve your device performance
section of this article.What are some factors that affect the Wi-Fi connection?
The speed and reliability of your Wi-Fi connection can be impacted by a range of factors, including:
- Interference from radio devices
- Wi-Fi interference
- Bandwidth sharing
- The specification of your device
- The size and building material of your home
Interference
Some devices may cause interference with your Wi-Fi signal if they are within close proximity to your modem. If possible, try removing or turning off the sources of potential interference. Try to relocate the following away from your modem and Wi-Fi devices:
- Baby monitors
- Wireless security cameras
- Cordless telephone base stations
- Microwaves
- Wireless speaker systems
- Certain monitors and LCD displays
To improve performance, try moving those devices away from your modem. If the interference persists, contact the device manufacturer for additional troubleshooting.
With TELUS internet service, installing Wi-Fi Plus can help with Wi-Fi congestion. Learn more about .
Wi-Fi Plus
Bandwidth sharing
The number of devices, the age of your devices and what you do on your devices also impact performance. If you have multiple Wi-Fi devices operating at the same time, each device must wait its turn to communicate through your home internet.
Some devices connected to your Wi-Fi may automatically use bandwidth. If you do not require your device to be connected, turn it off and this should help free up some bandwidth
If you find you are consistently using more than what your plan allows, consider upgrading your plan.
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