Honeywell Camera Not Detecting Vehicles? Here's How to Fix It.
Honeywell smart security cameras offer advanced features like vehicle detection to provide you with more relevant and specific motion alerts. It’s a useful tool for monitoring your driveway and property. However, if you find that your camera is failing to notify you when cars pull up, it can compromise your sense of security. This guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve the common issues that cause Honeywell vehicle detection to fail. The solution often involves simple adjustments to the camera's settings or placement.
Step 1: Optimise Camera Placement and Angle
The camera's perspective is fundamental to its ability to recognise objects. If the camera can't get a clear look at a car, it can't identify it as one.
- Ensure a Clear View: Your camera needs an unobstructed line of sight to the area you want to monitor (e.g., your driveway). Trim back any tree branches, bushes, or other objects that could be blocking the view.
- Mounting Height and Angle: Position the camera high enough (ideally 2-3 metres) and angle it downwards. This vantage point provides a clear, distinct shape of a vehicle, making it easier for the AI to recognise. A camera mounted too low may only see the side of a car, which can be harder to distinguish.
- Distance Matters: The vehicle should not be too far away. If cars on a distant street are the target, the camera may not have enough detail to make a positive identification. Ensure the primary detection area is within about 15 metres (50 feet) of the camera.
Step 2: Configure Motion Detection Zones Correctly
Motion detection zones tell your camera exactly where to look for activity. This is one of the most powerful tools for improving detection accuracy.
- Open Your Honeywell App: Navigate to the specific camera's settings menu.
- Find Activity Zones: Locate the 'Motion Detection' or 'Activity Zones' section.
- Draw a Precise Zone: Create a new zone that specifically covers the area where vehicles will be present, such as your entire driveway or the parking spot in front of your house. Be precise. Do not include a busy pavement or the street if you want to avoid irrelevant alerts. By focusing the camera's analysis on this specific area, you significantly increase the chances of it correctly identifying a vehicle within it.
Step 3: Adjust Motion Sensitivity
The sensitivity setting determines how much movement is required to trigger a recording and an AI analysis.
- Check Your Current Level: In the camera's motion settings, check the sensitivity slider.
- Increase if Necessary: If the sensitivity is too low, the camera may not even register a slow-moving car as a motion event worth analysing. Try increasing the sensitivity one level at a time.
- Avoid Maximum Sensitivity: Setting it too high can lead to false alerts from things like shadows or blowing leaves, so find a balance that works for your specific environment.
Step 4: Ensure Smart Alerts are Enabled
You need to explicitly tell the camera that you want it to identify and notify you about vehicles.
- Go to Notification Settings: In your camera's settings within the app, find the 'Notifications' or 'Smart Alerts' menu.
- Enable Vehicle Detection: Make sure the toggle or checkbox for 'Vehicle Detection' or 'Car Alerts' is turned on. It's possible to have general motion alerts on, but smart detection off, which would cause this exact issue.
Step 5: Update Your Firmware and App
Manufacturers regularly release software updates that improve the performance and accuracy of their detection algorithms.
- Update the Honeywell App: Check the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to ensure you have the latest version of the app installed.
- Check for Firmware Updates: In the camera's settings, look for a 'Device Information' or 'Firmware' section. If an update is available, follow the prompts to install it.
Step 6: Consider Environmental Factors
- Lighting: Strong glare from the sun, reflections off a wet road, or deep shadows can sometimes confuse the camera's image analysis. While you can't control the weather, ensure that at night the area is adequately illuminated by a porch light or streetlight if possible.
- Reboot the Camera: If all settings seem correct, try a simple reboot. Unplug the camera from power for 60 seconds, then plug it back in. This can often clear temporary software glitches.