Receiving Too Many Alerts From Your Abode Security System?
An Abode home security system offers fantastic peace of mind, but that peace can be quickly shattered by a phone that won't stop buzzing with unnecessary alerts. If you're feeling overwhelmed by notifications for everyday movements, you've come to the right place. This guide will show you how to take control of your Abode system's settings and ensure you're only alerted when it's genuinely important.
## Diagnosing the Cause of Excessive Notifications
Before you can fix the problem, you need to understand why it's happening. With a flexible system like Abode, the cause is usually in the configuration, not a fault with the hardware.
Common reasons for too many alerts:
- Default Settings: The 'out-of-the-box' settings are often designed for maximum security, which can mean maximum notifications.
- Incorrect System Mode: If your system is in 'Away' mode while you're at home, every motion sensor and camera will be sending you alerts for your own activity.
- High Sensor Sensitivity: Motion sensors and cameras on their highest sensitivity setting can be triggered by pets, curtains moving near a vent, or even changing light patterns.
- Poor Camera/Sensor Placement: A motion sensor pointing at a window with a busy street outside, or a camera aimed at a swaying tree, will generate endless alerts.
- Over-enthusiastic Notifications: You may have notifications enabled for every single event (doors opening/closing, motion detected, etc.) in every mode.
## Your Step-by-Step Guide to Fewer, Smarter Alerts
Let's get your Abode system working for you, not against you. Follow these steps within the Abode app or web interface.
### 1. Master Your System Modes
This is the most critical step. Abode's strength lies in its 'Standby', 'Home', and 'Away' modes. You need to tell the system what to do in each state.
- Open the Abode App and tap on "Modes" in the bottom navigation bar.
- Select the mode you want to edit (start with Standby).
- Review the settings. In Standby mode, you generally want the alarm off and motion detection for cameras off.
- Now, edit Home mode. Here, you might want the alarm to trigger for door/window sensors but have motion sensors turned off to avoid alerts as you move around your house.
- Finally, check Away mode. This is where you want everything active – sensors armed and cameras detecting motion.
- Crucially, get into the habit of changing modes. Use the app, the key fob, or set up geofencing so the system automatically switches to 'Away' when you leave and 'Standby' or 'Home' when you return.
### 2. Adjust Sensor Sensitivity
If pets are the source of your false alarms, adjusting sensitivity is key.
- For Motion Sensors: This is often a physical switch inside the sensor itself. You may need to open the device casing to find a small switch labelled 'L' and 'H' (Low/High) or with a pet icon. Set it to 'L' or the pet-friendly setting.
- For Abode Cameras: In the device settings within the app, find the motion detection options. You should see a slider or menu for sensitivity. Lower this setting and monitor the results.
### 3. Customise Your Notification Settings
You have granular control over which events trigger a push notification to your phone.
- In the Abode app, go to Menu > Notification Settings.
- Here you will see a list of all your devices and system events.
- Go through the list and toggle off notifications for events you don't need to know about instantly. For example, you might not need a push notification every time the living room motion sensor detects movement when the system is in 'Home' mode.
- You can set different notification rules for different modes, giving you complete control.
### 4. Re-evaluate Sensor and Camera Placement
Take a critical look at where your devices are. Is a motion sensor pointing directly at a heat source or a window? Is a camera's view filled with the branches of a large tree? A small adjustment to the angle or location of a device can prevent thousands of false alerts.
By investing a little time in customising these settings, you can dramatically reduce the number of unwanted alerts and turn your Abode system into the smart, silent guardian it's meant to be.