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Possible to Improve Video Compression?

Possible to Improve Video Compression?
Possible to Improve Video Compression?
2 weeks ago
Model: Tapo C545D  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version: 1.1.6

I'm finding this model has the worst video quality out of any of the Tapo cameras I have and this includes cheap models like the C200.

 

There is very obvious heavy video compression going on. Even under bright daylight, motion of leaves, wires, and even people/animals causes a lot of macro blocking. Textured surfaces like brick walls turn into featureless blobs. The image itself is also unsteady as these muddy blobs/compression artifacts seem to bubble and move across the image frame continuously. These are all telltale signs of too much compression and maybe noise reduction.

 

This happens also when connected via wired LAN so it's not a wifi streaming artifact.

 

Would it be possible for a firmware update to give an option to reduce the amount of video compression or is this impossible because of for example hardware limitations from needing to support simultaneous streams from two cameras?

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Re:Possible to Improve Video Compression?
2 weeks ago

  @ThisIsFine 

Hi，

If the camera's live view or video quality is poor, try these steps:

    1. Update Firmware: Ensure both camera and Tapo app firmware are up-to-date (Tapo App > Me > Firmware Update).

    2. Reboot Camera: Disconnect other phones/tablets that may be streaming the camera, and view the feed only from your device.

    3. Adjust Camera Settings (Tapo App > Camera Settings > Video & Display):

        a. Set Video Quality to the highest available.

        b. Increase frame rate for smoother video if supported.

        c. Adjust image style and brightness level that suits your preferences.

        d. Enable HDR (if available) based on the scene’s lighting conditions.

        Note: The availability of the above features varies by model.

    4. Check Camera Environment:

        a. Ensure adequate lighting and avoid backlight or glare.

        b. Keep the camera lens clean and free from dust or smudges.

        c. Position the camera appropriately for a clear view.

    5. Verify Network Connection:

        a. Confirm that the router is stable and provides good speed.

        b. Ensure the camera is receiving a strong Wi-Fi signal. RSSI should be above -60 dBm. To check the RSSI value, refer to Part 1 of this FAQ: How to Check and Fix an Unstable Tapo or Kasa Network Connection

For more details, refer to this FAQ: How to improve video clarity and quality of Tapo Camera

 

If the problem persists, contact our customer service team and provide the results of the troubleshooting steps above.

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Re:Possible to Improve Video Compression?
a week ago

  @Hilbert-TP 

 

I updated to the 1.1.7 firmware which did not noticeably change anything.

 

To be clear I am viewing the RTSP feed from the camera over wired ethernet. The quality options are all set to their highest.

 

The blockyness that appears when objects are in motion is the kind of thing that is usually because of low bitrate. Looking more closely at the images I can say there is probably an excessive amount of image sharpening being applied which degrades quality even more. There are noticeable white halos around black wires against a blue sky for example.

 

The question is can this be improved via firmware updates with more video bitrate and less image sharpening or is the hardware maxed out with processing feeds from two separate cameras?

#3
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Re:Possible to Improve Video Compression?
a week ago

  @ThisIsFine 

Hi，

Under these circumstances, we recommend that you contact our support team for further analysis and provide video evidence of the specific issue.

 

Best Regards,

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