Can Wireless Cameras Work Without the Internet?

Do Wireless Security Cameras Need the Internet?

Wireless security cameras are very convenient. Since they’re wireless, they can be placed in nearly any location and they’re relatively easy to install. However, many businesses worry about how much internet bandwidth these cameras will use.

If you’re in a location where you don’t have stable internet, or if your internet service provider doesn’t provide you with much bandwidth, you might be asking, “Can wireless cameras work without the internet?”

The answer is yes, wireless cameras can work without the internet, but you won’t be able to access all of their features.

Of course, whether or not the camera will work without the internet depends on the type of camera, how it was set up, and how it stores video. If you’re using a camera that records to the cloud, then it will require the internet to function. However, if your cameras can record to an SD card, hard drive, or local network storage, then they should be able to function even if they’re not connected to the internet.

Wireless Security Camera Features that May Work Without the Internet

As mentioned, wireless security cameras can still function without the internet, depending on a few factors. However, you may not have access to all of  their features. Some features that may continue to work include:

• Locally viewing cameras
  • If you have your security cameras locally connected to a monitor or computer, you will still be able to watch security footage. If you’re using a monitor, you may only be able to watch live footage, while connecting your cameras to a local computer may allow you to watch recorded footage as well.
• Recording to SD cards, hard drives, and other local storage
  • If your cameras can record to an SD card, hard drive, or local network storage device, then you can still save recorded footage. However, you’ll need to make sure you have enough storage space available.
• Powering your cameras
  • As long as you have electricity at your property, you should still be able to power your cameras. If you don’t have electricity, you can use batteries to power the cameras, but you need to make sure they are adequately charged.

Wireless Security Camera Features that Require the Internet to Work

While many wireless security cameras will be able to work without the internet, you won’t have access to all of the cameras’ abilities. Here are some functions that need an internet connection to work:

• Viewing cameras remotely
  • If your security cameras are not connected to the internet, you won’t be able to view them from outside of your property. This means you won’t be able to use your phone, tablet, or laptop to watch footage from your cameras while you are away.
• Receiving notifications
  • Without having an internet connection, your camera system won’t be able to send you notifications. This means you won’t get alerts on your phone when motion or other potentially suspicious activity is detected.
• Backing up or recording to the cloud
  • If your cameras are set to record video to the cloud, or if the system is designed to back up data to the cloud, these functions will not work if the cameras aren’t connected to the internet. This could potentially be an issue if your local storage fills up, since the system will either be unable to record until you delete some data, or it could overwrite existing footage.

As you can see, the answer to, “Can wireless cameras work without the internet?” is that they can, but their abilities will be reduced.

Using Mobile Security Solutions at Sites that Have Unstable or No Internet

If your location is lacking stable internet, or any internet connection at all, there are alternatives to using wireless cameras without an internet connection. Mobile surveillance solutions are common at properties such as construction sites and industrial locations.

A mobile surveillance solution involves:

• Battery backups
• Mobile internet connections
• 24/7 monitoring by a professional security team
• The ability to access camera footage remotely using nearly any internet-connected device

Mobile surveillance trailers are completely self-sufficient. They do not even need to be hooked up to the power grid.

For more information on remote video monitoring and our mobile surveillance solutions, please do not hesitate to contact Birdseye Security Solutions today.