Do all wyze wireless camera generally have the same range or do certain cameras have a greater range than others? Any particular camera known for exceptional range?
More detail in your question might be helpful. Are you asking about differences in optical range (like Cam OG (“Standard”) vs. Cam OG Telephoto), Wi-Fi signal range, or something else? What is it you hope to accomplish?
I’m assuming you’re talking about wifi range, but as @crease mentioned, that may not be a correct assumption.
If you mean optical zoom level (distance the camera can see) the OG Telephoto is the only option with its 3x (fixed) optical lens.
As far as Wifi range, I have OGs, a v4, and a couple Panv3s, I’d say they’re all similar as far as wifi range. I have a pretty good wifi setup, and several of them are in spots where I wouldn’t expect them to work great but they handle it fine.
That being said however, if you want a lot of distance, one with an external antenna (which Wyze does not offer) is going to have better range. If you’re talking about really far distances, then you’ll need to look at directional wifi APs aimed right at the cams, or even a point to point wifi bridge (which would still need an AP on the other end to connect to the cam).
Thank you for the reply. Yes, I am interested n the wif range of wyze cameras. Could you provide additional details about the wifi range extension setup you mention, maybe a specific product or products needed between the wifi router and camera? Thank you.
I appreciate the clarification of your question. Thanks!
Anecdotally, I’ve read on the Forum that some cameras seem to have better Wi-Fi performance than others (Cam v3 has been reported to have a better antenna than Cam Pan v3, for instance), and in YouTube videos I’ve seen disassemblies that suggest Cam v4’s antenna is positioned better than Cam v3’s. For the adventurous types, I’ve also watched instructions for attaching external antennas to Cam v3s.
If you could describe your goal for your use case, that might help guide others’ recommendations.
Depends on the coverage area you need. For highly directional long distance, the TP Link CPE210 is a nice, cheap little unit with AP mode (which is what you’d need). But generally that would be for cameras that are all located in pretty much the same direction from where it will be mounted. With a clear line of sight and not a ton of competing wifi/interference, you could probably get 500-1000 feet out of it (but to be safe, I’d assume more like 300-500).
The EAP110 or EAP225 are omnidirectional to cover all directions but at a shorter distance. But having it mounted outside will significantly extend the range of even an omnidirectional unit, but probably more in the 150-300 foot range in good conditions and depending where it is mounted (300 is pushing it). Something like the EAP610 would be good if you also want to extend your 5ghz network outside for your phone, laptop, etc. That’s also an omnidirectional unit.
Those are rough distance estimates of course, many factors come into play.
Ubiquiti makes very nice units too but they’re generally meant to be part of their ecosystem. They can be run standalone but it is a bit more complex to get set up and manage, though not terrible. But they are worth considering, a bit more expensive but probably also a bit better performance. Not that high performance is needed with these cams, they’re pretty low bandwidth devices.
The point to point bridge setup (with two units designed to work together) can potentially go miles if mounted high enough, but even down low can do very high speeds over pretty long distances. But you’d need an access point on the other end for the cams to be able to connect to. I’m guessing you’re not looking for that sort of distance? The point to point setup is more for connecting two buildings together, then you’d typically have an access point or router in that second building to serve the devices in or near it.
Thank you. I think placing an access point near the distant camera might provide the range I need. The camera is about 150 feet (and two walls) from my router. Ill do a search on it but any suggestions for an access point make/model that would work well with my verizon router? Or would it work to place an inexpensive wifi extender near the distant camera? Im assuming the extender’s antennas would do a better job of picking up the signal from the main router and sending the signal from the camera back to the router.
If you can solder small stuff, it’s not all that hard to change the internal antenna to an connector and then you can hook up any antenna that you want to the camera. I have done that with several V2 and V3 cameras. Do a search on YouTube and you can find instructions. Part of my reasoning was in order to put external antennas on the roof of my truck for Wyze cameras inside.
Great idea. I will look into adding an external antenna. Thank you.
At that distance and with only one camera, if it is possible to hardwire the CPE210 ($40 unit) back to your fios router with an ethernet cable, it is going to be your best bet. It should work from inside a window if aimed at the camera, but outside would be better if possible (mostly for the return signal back from the camera, which will be weaker). The limitation is it does need to be wired to your router using an ethernet cable, not wireless.
You would not need to put anything at the camera end, that unit will talk directly to the wifi in the cam.
Range extenders, especially in wireless (repeater) mode, are severely limited. Even the ones with external omni antennas, while they have better range, that distance is going to be pushing it especially if there is a window or other structure in the way. It is possible, if the repeater is say 50 feet from your router and mounted in a window, that it might be able to make the 100 feet clear line of sight to the camera. Definitely look for one with external antennas (TP Link also has repeaters, as do many other brands) if you go that route. If you run it wireless all the way (including back to your FIOS router) that cuts your throughput in half which is part of what makes them less than ideal, as combined with the distance, it may not be able to keep up with the bandwidth even if it reaches the cam.
Thank you. A wired connection berween the repeater and router not possible. I think Im going to try adding an external antenna to a v2 I have. The instructions on youtube for a v2 look pretty straight forward. The antenna would plug right in.
If a direct Ethernet connection between the router and an access point isn’t possible or practical, then I wonder if powerline adapters might be an option for your application. I’ve used TP-Link TL-PA4010 KITs for a while and right now have one connected via Ethernet to my ISP gateway and another connected to a TP-Link RE315 via Ethernet and running in Access Point Mode. The throughput between the adapters is best when both are on the same circuit, but even within a house for my use it’s acceptable and was an easier solution than running new cable.
PLA as @crease mentions might work. I’ve found them to be totally unreliable garbage, but if it is just one cam, it might be able to have a stable 2mbit. It depends heavily on your wiring. But you’d still need to put something like the CPE210 on the end of it in a window somewhere.
Would you be able to mount something like the CPE210 closer to the FIOS router but still with line of sight out a window from like the middle of the room? That might do it.
I honestly don’t think an external omni antenna on the cam is going to cut it by itself, especially not with the FIOS branded router, their wifi isn’t all that strong. But who knows, maybe… Perhaps if you can find a directional antenna to solder in that might do it.
A wireless repeater mounted in a window might do it, might not, unfortunately only way to know is to try it. Maybe combined with the external antenna it will be enough. But look for a repeater with external antennas as the higher gain will help a lot. TP Link makes many of those, and obviously many others do too, just steer away from no name brands. If you can get an outdoor rated one and mount it on the outside of the window, that should also help in this scenario.
Yeah, and that was part of my thinking for tossing it out there as a possibility. Without knowing more about the physical location and why…
…I’m not sure what else to offer. I think you’ve given some solid suggestions.
Also true, and this has been my experience with them, though I still think they can be an easy solution if the throughput needs are modest and if the electrical wiring allows for it. Definitely some “ifs” there, though, and they’re certainly not a solution for every situation.
I have 6 various outdoor cams. 4 are Battery Pro and others V4. I have an exterior WiFi 4-pole extender mounted on 2nd story outside house wall. It does 2.4g and 5G. My furthest Battery Pro is about 150ft away from WiFi reciever. It is a bit slow to initially view, but it works fine. All other cams are like 50ft from other routers (I have 4 routers and 4 extenders)
Now, in case the question was, distance from camera lens to how far it can sense movement? Or which cameras have the “longest” range for this, I dont know. My BatteryPro cam which is the one 150ft from the router, doesnt sense motion further away as well as my others. Mostly I think is I am trying to get motion from about 100ft away to the bottom of our driveway. It does not capture this far. I have no choice to use that because I do not have any AC supply around. So I am stuck using the battery Cam in this installtion.
But if you can give us the “range” of capture by each cam it would be cool. unless they are the same.
V3
OG
V4
Pan/Tilt
Battery Cam
Keep in mind, whatever you try, that moving an antenna even a few inches in any direction may have a drastic effect on your results at these frequencies. It may be worth a try to move things around a bit, as possible before resorting to yet another hardware change, in some cases.
I don’t disagree, but 150 feet through a couple walls with a FIOS provided router, it is almost certainly going to take a lot more than a slight reposition of the router. If they fashion up some external antenna on the cam, then perhaps getting the FIOS router up higher and trying to turn it different ways might get a slightly usable signal, but even then I wouldn’t hold my breath (unless that external antenna is a decent highly directional one).