Slow or Laggy Camera on the REVEAL Diamond Detector 3S or 2S: Is It Your Wi-Fi or the Device?

STEP 1: Test your REVEAL 2S Camera with a monitor

If the live camera view on your REVEAL Diamond Detector 2S is slow, freezes or lags behind what is under the lens, the device is usually working perfectly. In most cases the cause is the network between the device and your phone or tablet. The quickest way to find out is to look at the camera view on a monitor, where the image comes straight from the device and does not travel over Wi-Fi.

Quick Guide on How To Use REVEAL with a monitor:

1. Plug in both the monitor and your REVEAL 2S Device to power. Connect your REVEAL Diamond Detector 2S to a monitor with an HDMI cable. Plug in a mouse and a keyboard on the USB ports on the back of your REVEAL device. For detailed instructions, please check out the article Turn Your REVEAL Diamond Detector Into a Desktop Diamond Verification Instrument
2. Power on the device and wait for the home screen to appear.
3. Select Reveal Analysis and place a stone or a ring in the analysis area.
4. Watch the live camera view on the monitor while you move the stone.
5. If the camera view is smooth and responsive on the monitor, this means the device is working normally. The slowdown happens on the way to your phone, which points to your Wi-Fi network.
6. Continue with Step 2 below for help with WiFi issues.

If No Monitor Is Available, Try Direct Connection Mode

You can run a similar test with Direct Connection Mode.

1. Press and hold the Wi-Fi button for 6 seconds, then release it.
2. When the button starts slowly glowing blue, join the network named JTRRDD followed by your serial number on your phone, and open the camera view in the myREVEAL app.
3. Your phone is now connected straight to the device, with no router in between.
4. If the camera is smooth this way, your Wi-Fi network is the cause.

If your device is experiencing camera issues even with a monitor or on Direct Connection Mode, please contact our JTR Support Center. Scroll to the bottom of this article for directions on how to contact us.

STEP 2: Fix a Slow Wi-Fi Connection

If the camera works well on the monitor but is slow in the myREVEAL app, this means there is an issue with your WiFi. Here is a list of solutions that might fix the speed of your WiFi. Check the camera view in the app after each one.

You do NOT need to do all of the steps below. These are just a few suggestions to help locate where the WiFi problem is stemming from.

Bring the device, the router and your phone closer together

The live camera view sends a constant stream of images to your phone, so it needs a stronger signal than everyday browsing. Walls, metal shelving, safes and display cases all weaken Wi-Fi signals, and jewelry stores and workshops tend to have plenty of them.

• Place the REVEAL Diamond Detector 2S in the same room as the router or a Wi-Fi access point if you can.
• Keep the device away from safes, metal cabinets and microwaves.
• If your space is large, a mesh Wi-Fi system or an extra access point near your workbench can make a big difference.
• If your router shows separate names for its 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, try connecting the device to the 2.4 GHz band. Your phone may stay on the 5 GHz band.

Reduce the load on your network

If many people and devices share the same Wi-Fi, the camera view has to compete for bandwidth.

• Pause large downloads, video calls, security camera uploads and backups while you screen stones.
• Restart your router. This clears temporary slowdowns and often helps right away.
• If your network is managed by IT, ask them to check for heavy traffic and to make sure AP Isolation (also called client isolation) is turned off, since it blocks devices on the same network from reaching each other.

Reduce Wi-Fi congestion and change the channel

Wi-Fi networks share a limited number of channels. In shopping centers, jewelry districts and office buildings, dozens of neighboring networks often sit on the same channel, and every one of them competes for airtime with your REVEAL. The result is a camera view that stutters even when the signal looks strong.

• Find a quieter channel. Use a Wi-Fi analyzer app on an Android phone, or the channel scan built into many router apps, to see which channels nearby networks are using.
• On the 2.4 GHz band, use channel 1, 6 or 11. These are the only three channels that do not overlap with each other. Pick the one with the fewest networks on it.
• Change the channel in your router's settings. Open your router's app or admin page (often printed on a label on the router), go to the wireless settings for the 2.4 GHz band, and set the channel manually instead of Auto. If you are not sure how, your internet provider or IT team can do this for you.
• Set the 2.4 GHz channel width to 20 MHz if your router offers the option. A wider setting picks up more interference from neighboring networks on this band.
• Restart the router to apply the change, then check the camera view in the app again.

If one channel does not help, try the other two. The best channel can change over time as neighbors add or move their own networks.

Check your phone's settings

• Turn off VPN apps while you use the myREVEAL app. A VPN sends your traffic through an outside server, which can slow down the connection to a device sitting right next to you.
• Turn off Low Power Mode (iPhone) or Battery Saver (Android). These modes can slow down Wi-Fi activity.
• Turn off Wi-Fi Assist (iPhone) or Switch to mobile data (Android) while you test, so your phone does not quietly move traffic off Wi-Fi when the signal dips.
• On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, find the myREVEAL app, and make sure Local Network is turned on.
• Close other apps that are streaming video or downloading large files.
• Update the myREVEAL app to the latest version from the App Store or Google Play.

Use a Wired Connection For The Device

For the most stable connection, connect your REVEAL Diamond Detector 2S to your router with an Ethernet cable. The device has no built-in Ethernet port, so you need a USB to Ethernet adapter. We recommend the TP-Link UE306, or any comparable gigabit plug-and-play adapter that needs no driver. The adapter is not included with the device. When the device is connected over Ethernet with full access to my.jtr.org, the Wi-Fi button turns solid turquoise.

A wired connection takes the device off the busy Wi-Fi network entirely, so only your phone's side of the connection uses Wi-Fi.

Still Need Help?

If the camera view is slow on the monitor too, or if it is still slow in the app after you have tried every step, contact JTR support through the Support Center or email us at revealsupport@jtr.org. Please include:

• Your device serial number
• Whether the camera was slow on the monitor, in the app, or both
• Whether the device is connected over Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) or Ethernet
• Your phone model and the version of the myREVEAL app