How to Fix Doorbird Vehicle Detection Not Working
Doorbird's vehicle detection feature adds a powerful layer of security, allowing you to receive specific alerts when a car enters your property. However, when it fails to work correctly—either by missing vehicles entirely or sending false alarms—it can become unreliable.
This guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve common issues with Doorbird's vehicle detection, ensuring you get the accurate notifications you expect.
1. Check Your Subscription and Feature Activation
First, confirm that vehicle detection is an active feature on your account. Some advanced detection features are tied to specific subscription tiers.
- Verify Your Plan: Open your Doorbird app, go to the settings for your device, and check your cloud recording or subscription plan details. Ensure that advanced motion detection features like vehicle identification are included.
- Enable the Feature: Within the motion detection settings, make sure the option for vehicle detection is specifically toggled on. Sometimes, general motion can be enabled while specific object detection is turned off.
2. Optimise Camera Placement and Angle
The physical position of your Doorbird camera plays a critical role in its ability to accurately identify objects.
- Clear Line of Sight: The camera must have an unobstructed view of the detection area. Bushes, garden ornaments, or other objects can block the camera's view and prevent it from seeing the entire vehicle.
- Avoid Extreme Angles: If the camera is mounted too high or too low, it may distort the shape of a vehicle, making it harder for the software to recognise. The ideal position is typically looking straight out at a slight downward angle.
- Keep the Lens Clean: A dirty or smudged lens can significantly impair detection performance. Regularly clean the camera lens with a soft, microfibre cloth to remove dust, water spots, and grime.
3. Configure Motion Detection Zones and Sensitivity
Properly configured software settings are just as important as physical placement. You need to tell the system exactly where to look and how sensitive it should be.
- Define a Precise Zone: In the Doorbird app's motion settings, you should find an option to draw one or more detection zones. Create a zone that specifically covers the area where vehicles will be, such as your driveway or the road in front of your house. Avoid including areas with constant irrelevant motion, like a busy pavement or swaying trees.
- Adjust Sensitivity: If you are getting false alerts, try lowering the sensitivity. If the system is missing vehicles, try increasing it. Make small adjustments and test for a day or two to find the optimal balance. Be aware that setting the sensitivity too high can lead to alerts from shadows or light changes.
4. Update Firmware and App
Manufacturers regularly release software updates to improve the performance and accuracy of features like vehicle detection.
- Update Device Firmware: In the settings menu of the Doorbird app, check if there is a firmware update available for your device. If so, install it.
- Update the App: Go to your smartphone's app store (Apple App Store or Google Play Store) and ensure you have the latest version of the Doorbird app installed.
By carefully reviewing your subscription, optimising camera placement, fine-tuning the software settings, and keeping everything up to date, you can significantly improve the reliability of your Doorbird's vehicle detection feature.