## How to Set Up Guardzilla Motion Detection: A Full Guide
Your Guardzilla camera is a powerful security tool, and its effectiveness hinges on how well you configure its motion detection features. A proper setup ensures you are alerted to meaningful events without being bombarded by constant, irrelevant notifications.
This guide will walk you through the key settings for Guardzilla's motion detection, helping you understand each feature and tailor it to your specific needs. All configurations are done through the Guardzilla mobile app.
## Core Concepts of Guardzilla Motion Detection
- Arm/Disarm: This is the master switch for your security system. When 'Armed', the camera actively looks for motion and will send you alerts. When 'Disarmed', it will not send motion alerts, which is useful for when you are at home.
- Sensitivity: This determines how much of a change in the scene is required to trigger a motion event.
- Activity Zones: These are custom areas you can draw within the camera's field of view to specify exactly where it should—and should not—look for motion.
## Step-by-Step Configuration Guide
Follow these steps to optimise your camera's performance and the relevance of your security alerts.
### 1. Arming and Disarming Your System
First, learn how to control the basic state of your system.
- On the main screen of the Guardzilla app, you will typically see a prominent button or toggle to 'Arm' or 'Disarm' your system.
- Arm the system when you are leaving the house or going to bed.
- Disarm it when you are home and moving about to prevent unnecessary alerts and alarms.
- Some Guardzilla systems also offer scheduling or geofencing features to automatically arm/disarm the system based on your location or the time of day. Explore these in the settings for added convenience.
### 2. Adjusting Motion Sensitivity
Fine-tuning sensitivity is key to reducing false alarms.
- Select the camera you want to configure and navigate to its 'Settings'.
- Find the 'Motion Sensitivity' or similar menu.
- You will likely see options like 'Low', 'Medium', and 'High'.
- High Sensitivity: Best for quiet indoor spaces where any small movement is noteworthy.
- Medium Sensitivity: A good all-around starting point for most locations.
- Low Sensitivity: Ideal for outdoor areas or rooms with pets. It requires more significant motion to trigger an alert, helping to filter out minor events like rustling leaves or a cat walking by.
- Experiment: Start with 'Medium' and observe the alerts you receive. If you get too many, lower it. If it misses important events, raise it.
### 3. Creating Activity Zones
This is the most powerful tool for eliminating unwanted alerts.
- In the camera's settings, look for 'Activity Zones' or 'Motion Zones'.
- The app will show you the camera's live view. You can then select or draw over the specific parts of the image you want to monitor.
- Strategic Use:
- If your camera faces your front garden, draw a zone that covers your walkway and porch, but excludes the public footpath and road.
- If you have a pet, you could draw a zone that covers the upper part of a room, avoiding the floor where your pet roams.
- By being precise, you tell your Guardzilla exactly what motion matters to you, making your alerts far more reliable.
### 4. Configuring Alert and Recording Settings
Finally, decide what happens when motion is detected.
- In the settings, you can typically choose what action the camera takes upon detecting motion (when armed).
- This can include sending a push notification to your phone, recording a video clip, or even sounding a siren on some models.
- Ensure that 'Push Notifications' are enabled if you want to receive alerts on your phone.
By investing a little time in these settings, you can turn your Guardzilla camera into a smart, efficient, and highly effective part of your home security strategy.