The Blink system relies on having good signal strengths for optimal performance in viewing Live Views, uploading motion clips and for best video quality. It is critical for the cameras to show 3 bars of connectivity to avoid performance issues.

Fewer than 3 bars for each connection can create intermittent issues with the performance of your system. 

In case of any camera issues on a mesh network, rebooting the router should be a first step.

Assuming standard construction techniques (single building, no unusually dense construction materials) the Sync Module should be able to communicate with Blink cameras up to 100 feet (33m) away in any direction. We recommend keeping the Sync Module near your wireless router for best signal strength. 

See the section below to learn about signal strengths and how to check them. You should have three bars of signal connectivity at the Sync Module and each camera, as depicted on the Sync Module screen in the Blink app.

Troubleshooting your connection

If your connections to either your Wi-Fi or Sync Module are below 2 bars or less, attempt the following troubleshooting steps.

1. Device placement
   • Move the device closer to the Wi-Fi router and tap Pull to Refresh to check if the bars increase. Repeat until you see improved signal strength.
2. Check your internet
   • If you haven't already, attempt a power cycle of the Wi-Fi router.
   • Check that your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network is functioning normally and that the internet is available.
   • Check that the Wi-Fi network speed is not being reduced by streaming movies and games, or other high bandwidth activities. Two Megabit per second (2 Mb/sec) upload speed (going from your location) must be available to the Blink system at all times. Test your connection by temporarily suspending any streaming of music, movies, video or gaming to prevent consumption of bandwidth.
   • If your Wi-Fi password or network has changed, the Blink system will not function correctly until you update the settings.
3. Check that the outlet provides power
   • To confirm that power is present to the wall outlet, you can try plugging in a different device or appliance.
   • Some outlets are controlled by a wall switch, check to see if this applies to your outlet.
   • If the wall outlet is not providing power, you can try a different outlet.
   • It is also possible that a circuit breaker has tripped, so you may want to check your electrical distribution panel.
4. Check that the wall charger provides power
   • If your outlet has power and the camera is not getting power, try to use a different wall charger.
   • Any standard 5 volt USB wall charger should work. 5 volt USB phone chargers are commonly available.
5. Check the cable
   • It is possible that the USB cable became damaged from being bumped into. The damage may not be visible from outside.
   • You can try the camera's power cable with another device to see if power is present.
   • You can try to use another USB Type A male, to micro-usb Type B male, cable. These are commonly used for charging phones and other devices.
     

Blink products can only connect to 2.4 GHz (802.11 b/g/n) networks.

Many newer routers provide 5 GHz Wi-Fi, or switch between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz automatically. The Sync Module will not respond if it has been switched to a 5 GHz network.

What’s the Difference Between 2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz Wi-Fi?

When logging into a Wi-Fi network and presented with two bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz — you might have the following questions:

• Which band should I connect to?
• Is one band faster than the other?
• Are both bands part of the same network?

The answer to the last question can clarify the difference between 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. Even though they are different frequencies, supported routers can broadcast on both simultaneously, and some can switch between the two bands during operation. Blink devices; however, will only connect to 2.4GHz bands.

Dual-Band Routers

A dual-band router is any wireless internet router that sends out a signal on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies. Routers have features that vary based on manufacturer and model. Most dual-band routers automatically broadcast on both bands without any additional configuration, which is why it may not be obvious there are two bands.

Which Band is Better?

The main differences between 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands are the speed and range of their networks. A 2.4GHz band transmits farther and can penetrate building materials better with lower power transmission. A 5GHz band; however, can send more data. 5GHz should not be confused with 5G networks that mobile devices use for data transmission.

Many other devices commonly found in homes, such as microwave ovens and garage door openers, also operate on the 2.4GHz band. This can cause interference and reduce speeds. In addition, placing your devices behind dense building materials such as brick, stone, concrete, steel, and aluminum can interfere with signal strength, even when connecting on 2.4GHz.

Band Merging

With the technological advancement of routers, "band steering" is becoming more common. Routers with this feature use the same Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, allowing you to join a single network and receive the advantages of both frequencies.

Note: Blink devices only connect to 2.4GHz bands, even when bands are merged on your router.