Technological advances have made it possible for people to monitor their homes remotely. The Blink Security Cameras are one of those innovations.
In recent times Blink has become a top security company because of their inexpensive gadgets, easy installation process, and integration with Alexa and other Amazon devices.
But, do they need Wi-Fi for operating?
Let’s find out in this article.
Do Blink Cameras Require a Wi-Fi Connection?
Blink cameras require a stable 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. They can’t operate offline or without an internet connection. The bare minimum you should have is a connection with a decent speed that provides at least 2 Mbps upload speed from your network to the internet.
Blink devices use your Wi-Fi to communicate with the main servers. Since the cameras need to send photos and notifications, an internet connection is a must.
You won’t be able to see the live feed or do any monitoring if there is no internet connection.
While the mini cameras only need a local Wi-Fi signal, other models additionally require it for Sync Module.
Blink’s Sync Module and Why Wi-Fi is Necessary For it
The Sync Module is a handy accessory from Blink that manages and coordinates all your Blink devices. Plug it in a power outlet to set it up.
It acts as the central brain of your Blink system and sends commands and network details to devices.
The Sync Module, just like other Blink devices, requires an always-on Wi-Fi network to handle all the activities.
It relays commands between the Blink application, Blink Servers, and your cameras. For such operations, you’ll need a Wi-Fi internet connection.
If you’re thinking about connecting your Blink devices to the Sync Module, you will need to have them both on the same Wi-Fi network.
Blink Camera Features That Require Wi-Fi
All major features require a Wi-Fi connection. So what are you losing?
- Remote Device Control: No internet means you can’t monitor your house from a far place. Security cameras are useful since you don’t have to physically be with them to see what they are recording. You can see the live feed from the phone app. This isn’t possible if there is no Wi-Fi connection.
- Notifications or alerts: Another point of using security cameras is getting alerts the moment something becomes fishy. You can’t monitor your house all day long. Being able to receive notifications allows you to take immediate measures. No Wi-Fi defeats this purpose.
- Cloud storage: With a Blink subscription, you could save your footage to the cloud. But obviously, this requires an active internet connection.
- Two-Way Audio Communication: Some of the latest Blink devices support Two-Way audio. This means you can communicate with someone remotely using your phone and the camera’s microphone. Without the internet, this isn’t possible.
- Alexa: Using voice commands and integrating with other Amazon devices also require a Wi-FI connection.
Blink Camera Features That Don’t Require Wi-Fi
So if you don’t have Wi-Fi, does that mean your Blink Camera is useless? Well, technically yes.
The only thing that will work is the blinking light. It will also sense motion. Other than that, there is no use for it without an internet connection.
This could be a way to at least fake that your camera is working. The light will scare bad people away from your home.
Can Blink Cameras Work on Cellular?
Blink cameras do not support cellular data connection at the moment. A 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi is essential for your Blink system. It needs a minimum of 2Mbps upload speed for the best output.
The good news is that the company is researching the chances of adding a cellular option for its future products. This will take Blink devices to a whole new level. Hopefully, we can see cellular-supported Blink devices soon.
What Happens If My Wi-Fi Or Power Goes Out While Clips Are Being Downloaded?
When you least expect it, power outages happen. This can interrupt the functionalities of your Blink cameras.
If the Wi-Fi connection goes out when a clip is being saved, all your downloads will fail. The system will wait for the internet connection to come back and resume working on the downloads when it returns.
Oftentimes, your Blink clips fail to get downloaded because of a poor connection. This is why a steady Wi-Fi connection is important. We recommend you get a broadband internet connection to tackle this situation.
Do I Need A Wi-Fi Connection To Set Up My Blink Video Doorbell?
Like any other Blink device, the latest Blink Video Doorbell technology also needs a stable 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network with an upload speed of at least 2Mbps.
If your internet bandwidth is too low, you may face intermittent Live View. Clips can also take more time to load.
However, if you want you can use video doorbells that do not need a WiFi network. So that you can run these on without any interruption.
Does Blink Work with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)?
Unfortunately, Blink doesn’t support the latest Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 802.11 ax technology. You will need to use 802.11b/g/n networks with Blink. However, if your router is backward compatible, there is nothing to worry about.
Such routers can work with 802.11b/g/n connections so Blink should work just as well.
To double-check Blink’s compatibility with various Wi-Fi standards, you can refer to the chart below –
| Wi-Fi Standard | Frequency | Compatibility |
| 802.11b | 2.4 GHz | Compatible |
| 802.11g | 2.4 GHz | Compatible |
| 802.11n | 2.4 GHz | Compatible |
| 802.11n | 5 GHz | Not Compatible |
| 802.11ac | 5 GHz | Not Compatible |
| 802.11ax | 1 – 6 GHz | Not Compatible |
| 802.11w | 1 – 6 GHz | Not Compatible |
What Is The BLINK-XXXX Temporary Wi-Fi Connection?
If you’re trying to set up Blink’s Video Doorbell, Mini Camera, or Sync Module, you will need to connect each to its local Wi-Fi network. The Xs here are only placeholders. They can vary from device to device.
Once you try to add it, you will be prompted to join the local Wi-Fi with the message “Blink” Wants to Join Wi-Fi Network “BLINK-XXXX”.
With these networks, the Sync Modules can communicate between your devices and Blink’s secure server. The Mini Cameras have their local Wi-Fi connection. So they don’t need to depend on Sync Modules for communication.
How to Move Your Blink System to A New Wi-Fi Network?
If you’re changing your Wi-Fi network, you will need to go through a reconfiguring process for your Sync Module.
- Make sure both the Sync Module and the Blink app on your phone are active and connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
- Open the app and go to Settings → Device and System Settings. From Systems, choose the system you need to configure.
- Go to Sync Module → Change Wi-Fi Network.
- Follow the instructions to tap the reset button located on the device. Wait for the lights to become blinking blue and steady green.
- Tap Discover Device. You will be asked to join the Sync Module Wi-Fi network.
- Press Join. Choose your new Wi-Fi network.
- Enter your password.
- Enter the code BLNK when asked.
- Tap Done.
You have successfully moved your Blink System to your new Wi-Fi network.
Final Words
Before you buy any device, you should learn about all the requirements. If you’re considering one of Blink’s cameras and you don’t have a Wi-Fi connection yet, first set up a Wi-Fi connection.
Alternatively, you can check out security cameras that don’t need Wi-Fi to function. However, our recommendation is to get a Wi-Fi network and use Blink’s technologies because they are very convenient.
This article shows you why Blink devices need a stable internet connection to function. We’ve also covered relevant Wi-Fi questions you might’ve had.
Have any other questions regarding Blink Cameras? Let us know in the comments down below.
