Internet Speed Requirements for ALL Nest Products (Cam, Hello, Thermostat, Lock)

Smart home products such as Nest security cameras, Nest Hello video doorbell, and Nest smart thermostats, make our lives easier, but in order to function properly, they require a stable connection to a Wi-Fi network. To help you ensure your Nest devices are always working, I found information on the minimum and optimal Internet speeds for Nest products.

The minimum upload Internet speed required for Nest products is 1.2 Mbps. The upload speed required to stream video from Nest cameras and doorbells at a 1080p resolution is 5 Mbps. For a home or office with multiple Nest products, an upload speed of at least 10 Mbps is recommended.

Because Nest devices are primarily sending information rather than receiving it, your Internet’s upload speeds are more important than its download speeds. There are also other important factors to well-functioning Nest devices such as radio frequency and Wi-Fi signal strength.

Internet Speed Requirements for All Nest Products

The table below lists the Internet upload speed requirements and other important factors for Nest products:

	Minimum internet upload speed required	2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency	Average monthly data usage for one device
Nest Cams and IQ Cams	1.2 Mbps	Both	100GB – 400GB
Nest Dropcam	1.2 Mbps	2.4 GHz	30GB – 300GB
Hello Video Doorbell	2 Mbps	Both	50GB – 300GB
Nest Thermostats – 1st and 2nd generation	No minimum speed listed	2.4 GHz	50MB – 200MB
Nest Thermostats – 3rd generation and Thermostat E	No minimum speed listed	Both	50MB – 200MB
Nest X Yale Lock	Requires connection to Nest Connect rather than directly to Wi-Fi	Does not connect to Wi-Fi	None
Nest Connect	No minimum speed listed	2.4 GHz	Varies based on how many devices are connected

Checking Your Internet Speed

You may be wondering how you can find out what your Internet upload and download speeds are. Well, it’s actually quite easy. Click here to complete a quick and free Internet speed test.

If you have multiple Nest devices, make sure to perform the Internet speed test while standing next to each device. Internet speeds vary based on where you are in relation to your home’s Wi-Fi router.

Video Streaming and Recording

If you have devices that stream and record videos such as Nest Cams and Nest Hello doorbells, a 10 Mbps upload speed is recommended for the best video quality.

To stream videos at a 1080p resolution, you will need an Internet upload speed of at least 5 Mbps. When your Internet upload speed is between .5 and one Mbps, you Nest Cam will stream video at a resolution of 720p. If the upload speed is below .5 Mbps, the videos will stream at a 360p resolution, or they may not stream at all.

Multiple Devices

The Internet speed requirements in the table above are based on one Nest device in a home. If you have two or more Nest devices on the same Wi-Fi network, Internet upload speeds of at least 5 Mbps are recommended.

In a large home or office with over 12 devices, at least 10 Mbps is recommended. For every dozen devices you add, you will probably want to add at least 5 Mbps of Internet speed for all the Nest devices to function well.

Common Problems and Solutions

Keep in mind that the Internet speed requirements listed in the table are the minimum recommended speeds. You may find that your home’s Internet speed meets the minimum requirement but your Nest device still isn’t functioning properly.

There are several factors that can affect your device’s Internet connection strength. The factors include:

• Wi-Fi router signal strength
• Physical obstructions between the Wi-Fi router and the Nest device
• Radio frequency (2.4GHz versus 5 GHz)
• The number of devices on your Wi-Fi network

Wi-Fi Router Signal Strength

While you are conducting the online Internet speed test next to each of your Nest devices, you may find that the speed is significantly lower for outdoor devices. This means that your Wi-Fi signal is struggling to fully reach these devices.

To improve the Internet connection to outdoor Nest devices, you can purchase a stronger Wi-Fi router. Routers with adjustable external antenna tend to have a further reach. Click here to see one of the best routers on Amazon.

Alternatively, you can purchase a Wi-Fi extender. A Wi-Fi extender connects to your home’s router to boost the signal in various parts of your home. Google Nest even has there own Wi-Fi router/extender. Purchase it here.

2.4 GHz Versus 5 GHz Radio Frequency

Many Wi-Fi routers have both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio frequencies. The 2.4 GHz frequency has a longer range but is slower. The 5 GHz frequency has a shorter range and is faster.

If you have Nest devices that can operate on both frequencies such as Nest Cam and Nest Hello doorbell, you should choose the frequency that will lead to the most optimal device functioning.

For example, if you have a lot of devices in your home using the 2.4 GHz frequency, switch some devices to the 5 GHz frequency. They will then have less interference from other devices, and they may work better.