SimpliSafe's page is short and exact, so the planning is simple. Choose the resolution, multiply by the number of cameras, and compare with your upload.
Steps
- Choose a resolution
SimpliSafe lists four levels: 1536p, 1080p, 720p and 480p.
- Note the per-camera minimum
2 Mbps for 1536p, 2 for 1080p, 1.5 for 720p, 1 for 480p.
- Multiply by your cameras
SimpliSafe says the speeds add up when cameras stream together. During an alarm, all cameras record. Four cameras at 1080p need a minimum of 8 Mbps.
- Check the camera's Wi-Fi
SimpliSafe's outdoor camera guide asks for a 2.4 GHz network. See the band-split article.
- Test your upload
Use the speed test guide. SimpliSafe notes that a phone speed test can look faster than the camera's reading, because the camera's Wi-Fi chip is built for streaming.
- Check the signal where the camera sits
SimpliSafe has an article on cameras that keep losing Wi-Fi. A mesh node near the camera helps.
- Lower the resolution if the alarm view stalls
A camera at 720p needs less than one at 1080p.
Does SimpliSafe have a connection check?
SimpliSafe's articles mention a Connection Check tool in the app that measures upload and signal. The page we read does not mention it, so look in your app. Video adds up over a month. The service agreement says each service level has a data transfer limit, available by email at info@hdiss.net, with $1 per gigabyte charged for use over it in a billing cycle.
What if the system works in the day and not at night?
The household is busier at night. See what is using your bandwidth and the slow-internet checklist.
Does a power cut affect it?
Cameras need power and the router needs the High Desert line. See after a power outage and NV Energy outages and staying online.
How do I tell the camera's Wi-Fi from the line?
Stand next to the router with your phone and check the connection, then check the camera's signal in the app. A strong phone signal and a weak camera signal means the camera is too far away, and a mesh node near it helps. A weak phone signal everywhere means the router is poorly placed. Where the router sits matters more than most settings; read the router-placement guide.
SimpliSafe notes that a camera's own reading can be lower than a phone's speed test, because its Wi-Fi chip is built for streaming. So use the phone test for the line and the app for the camera, and do not expect the two numbers to match. If the line tests well and the camera still falls short, move the camera closer to the router for one evening as an experiment.
Do I need to go outside or touch the antenna for this?
Work from inside the house only. If the trouble seems to be at the antenna, leave the radio and its cable alone and call; a technician will come.
Sources
- support.simplisafe.com/articles/wifi-troubleshooting/what-are-the-wifi-upload-speed-requir (SimpliSafe, What are the Wi-Fi upload speed requirements, read 2026-10-15; outdoor camera guide read through a search summary on 2026-10-15; the page itself did not open)