How to Reduce False Alerts on Your Guardzilla Camera
A security camera should be a watchdog, not a boy who cries wolf. If your Guardzilla camera is bombarding you with false alerts from passing cars, swaying trees, or your own pets, you might start to ignore the notifications altogether. This guide will help you fine-tune your Guardzilla system to reduce false alarms and ensure the alerts you receive are meaningful.
1. Adjust the Motion Detection Sensitivity
The single most effective tool for combating false alerts is the sensitivity setting. If the sensitivity is too high, even the smallest movements can trigger a notification.
- Open your Guardzilla app and select the camera you need to adjust.
- Go into the Settings for that device.
- Find the 'Motion Sensitivity' or 'Detection Sensitivity' option.
- If it's set to 'High', try lowering it to 'Medium' or 'Low'.
- Test the results. Give it a few hours to see if the frequency of false alerts has decreased. The aim is to find a sweet spot where it ignores trivial movements but still reliably detects people or vehicles.
2. Re-evaluate Your Camera's Placement
Where your camera is positioned has a massive impact on its performance. Take a critical look at your camera's field of view.
- Avoid High-Traffic Areas: If your camera is pointed directly at a busy street, you will get an alert for every car that drives by. Try to angle it so that the street is out of the frame, focusing only on your property, such as your driveway or front path.
- Watch Out for Wind-Blown Objects: Trees, bushes, flags, and wind chimes are common culprits for false alerts. If these are in the frame, either reposition the camera or secure the objects if possible.
- Manage Light and Shadows: Drastic changes in lighting can be misinterpreted as motion. Avoid pointing the camera directly at the sun. Be aware that moving shadows from clouds or trees can also be a source of false triggers.
3. Keep the Lens and Housing Clean
This is especially important for night-time false alerts.
- Insects and Spiders: The infrared (IR) LEDs that your camera uses for night vision attract insects. When a moth flies past or a spider builds a web directly in front of the lens, the IR light reflects off them, causing a massive motion trigger.
- Regular Cleaning: Periodically wipe the camera lens and housing with a soft, dry cloth to clear away any cobwebs, dust, or grime that could attract pests or obscure the view.
4. Reboot Your Camera
Occasionally, a simple reboot can resolve software glitches that may be causing the motion detection to be overly sensitive. Unplug your Guardzilla camera from its power source, wait for about 30 seconds, and then plug it back in. Allow it a few minutes to restart and reconnect.
By taking a systematic approach to adjusting sensitivity, optimising placement, and maintaining your camera, you can significantly cut down on Guardzilla false alerts and build more confidence in your security system.