WiFi
WiFi Range -
We are frequently asked what the WiFi range is on our products.
Variables such as antenna placement, the composition of obstacles between the IP
Doorbell WiFi antenna and your WAP (Wireless Access Point), and WiFi ‘Pollution’
all can negatively affect your WiFi range. With these in mind, here are some
recommendations;
Antenna Placement -
One of the advantages of the GBF IP Doorbell is the fact it
has an external high-gain antenna (instead of the small wire antennas designed to
fit within a plastic chassis). Mount the antenna vertically (it can be upside down as
well) making sure that there is not any vertical-oriented metal
between
the
antenna and your WAP (e.g. mounted on gate post side opposite of your router’s
line-of-site).
Obstacle Composition -
The composition of the walls within your home will affect
the overall range of your IP Doorbell. The following examples will negatively affect
your WiFi range if between the IP Doorbell antenna and WAP in your setup;
- aluminum siding or foil insulation
- stucco walls (wire mesh bonding the scratch coat)
- in-floor heating (electric and hot water)
- window solar treatments, metallic blinds, and mirrors
WiFi ‘Pollution’
- We have customers living in the city with difficulty getting good
WiFi just 25’ from their router, whereas other customers living on farms who have
excellent WiFi results at distances over 200’! This is typically a symptom of WiFi
’Pollution’. The most common sources of WiFi ‘Pollution’ in the 2.4GHz range WiFi
are neighboring WiFi access points and some electrical appliances.
A simple way to test the WiFi strength between your IP Doorbell and WAP
during installation is to mount the IP Doorbell and antenna, and then, using your
mobile phone, observe the WiFi strength of the IP Doorbell ‘Hotpot” (SSID looks
like LIDawXXXXXXXX) while you are standing beside the intended WAP. Adjust
the antenna orientation to achieve the highest observed signal near the WAP.
Appendix A: Installation Tips
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