Best Practices for Setting Up Your Camera's Wi-FiUpdated 22 days ago

We want your camera to work seamlessly and securely, so let’s walk through some best practices for setting it up! 

Choosing the Right Network

🚫 Avoid Guest Networks

• Guest networks often have isolation settings that block devices from communicating properly.

🤖 Avoid IoT-Specific Networks

Some routers offer a separate “IoT” network. While these are designed for smart devices, they can actually cause issues for Harbor products: 

• AP Isolation or P2P Blocking: These settings may be enabled by default, preventing your camera and monitor from communicating. 
• 2.4GHz-Only Limitation: IoT networks often only support 2.4GHz, which can result in lower video quality or slower link speeds compared to dual-band networks.

For best results, connect your Harbor devices to a main password-protected Wi-Fi network with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz enabled.

🔒 Use a Secure Network

• Networks without passwords aren’t supported yet. Set up a password-protected network for the best experience.

🏨 Don't try to connect to Hotel networks

• Use Direct Mode for scenarios when you're traveling in a hotel. In the future we may enable a feature to connect the system to hotel networks, but right now it is not supported.

📶 Wi-Fi Signal Strength

📱See Signal Strength in the App

• Both the monitor and mobile app show your camera's Wi-Fi strength! This is based on the RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator), which measures the strength of the connection the Camera has established with your network.

💪 Improve Your Signal Strength

1. Move Your Network Device Closer: Place your network device (extender, router) within 20–30 feet of your camera if possible.
2. Reduce Obstacles: Thick walls, mirrors, and metal objects can weaken the signal.
3. Elevate Your Network Device: Network devices work better when placed higher up, like on a shelf or desk.

Upcoming Improvements

🎉 Coming in February 2025 (target)

• Self-Diagnose Network Issues: You’ll be able to pinpoint problems and even tell your camera to connect to specific bands or network access points directly from the app.

🛠️ Need Help Until Then?

• We can configure your camera to work with specific bands or access points remotely! Just reach out to our support team. 💻

Network Behavior of Camera vs. Monitor

📌 Cameras Are Stationary

• Since cameras usually stay in one spot, it’s okay to pin them to a specific router or network device. This helps ensure a stable connection.

🚶‍♂️ Monitors Need to Roam

• Your monitor is designed to move around the house. It will automatically roam between access points for uninterrupted video and audio.

Advanced

⚙️ Check AP Isolation Settings

• If your router has AP isolation enabled, your camera and monitor might struggle to connect. Disable it if possible. This setting can be labled other things like Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) or Peer-to-peer blocking (P2P).

🔗 Want to Learn More About Connection Modes? Check out our guide to Understanding Your Harbor Baby Monitor Connectivity Options for an overview of how each mode works!

📸 Following these tips will help ensure your camera and monitor deliver reliable performance. If you run into any issues or have questions, we’re here to help! 🧑‍💻✨