Having Trouble with Your Merkury Camera's Motion Detection?
Merkury smart cameras, often managed through the Geeni app, offer an excellent way to keep an eye on your home. One of the most critical features of these cameras is motion detection, which alerts you to any activity. However, when this feature doesn't work as expected—either by failing to send alerts or by sending too many—it can be frustrating.
This guide is here to help you troubleshoot and resolve common issues with Merkury motion detection. We'll use a professional yet empathetic tone, writing in British English, to help you get your security back on track.
## Step 1: Check Your App and Phone Notifications
The problem might not be with the camera itself, but with the settings on your smartphone or within the Geeni app.
- App Permissions: First, ensure the Geeni app has permission to send notifications.
- On iOS, go to 'Settings' > 'Notifications' > 'Geeni' and make sure 'Allow Notifications' is turned on.
- On Android, go to 'Settings' > 'Apps & notifications' > 'Geeni' > 'Notifications' and confirm they are enabled.
- In-App Alert Settings: Open the Geeni app and select your Merkury camera. Tap the three dots in the top-right corner to access the settings. Find the 'Motion Detection' or 'Detection Alarm' settings and ensure the main toggle is on.
- Do Not Disturb: Check if your phone is in 'Do Not Disturb' or a similar silent mode, which could be blocking notifications from all apps, including Geeni.
## Step 2: Optimise Motion Detection Settings
Fine-tuning the motion detection settings within the Geeni app is crucial for reliable performance and avoiding false alarms.
- Adjust Sensitivity: In the 'Motion Detection' settings, you will find a sensitivity slider, often with levels like 'Low', 'Medium', and 'High'.
- If you are receiving too many alerts from things like moving shadows, rustling leaves, or pets, lower the sensitivity.
- If the camera is missing important events, increase the sensitivity.
- Set Up Activity Zones (if available): Some camera models allow you to define specific zones within the camera's view for motion monitoring. This is incredibly useful for excluding high-traffic areas, like a public pavement or a busy road, which can cause constant false alerts. Draw the zone to cover only the areas you care about, such as your doorway or garden path.
## Step 3: Verify Your Wi-Fi Connection
A stable internet connection is essential for your Merkury camera to detect motion and send an alert to your phone in a timely manner.
- Signal Strength: In the Geeni app, go to your camera's settings and look for 'Device Info' or a similar section. It should show you the Wi-Fi signal strength. If it's weak (e.g., less than 50-60%), the camera may struggle to stay connected.
- Improve Your Signal: To improve the signal, try moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the camera, or vice-versa. If that's not possible, consider a Wi-Fi extender to boost the signal in the area where your camera is located.
- Router Reboot: Sometimes, a simple reboot of your Wi-Fi router can resolve underlying connectivity issues that affect your camera's performance.
## Step 4: Check SD Card and Recording Settings
If your issue is that motion-triggered events are not being recorded, the problem may lie with your storage.
- SD Card Health: Ensure you are using a compatible, high-quality microSD card. In the app's 'Storage' or 'Recording' settings, check the status of the card. If it's full, your camera will stop recording. You can enable 'overwrite' or loop recording if you want it to automatically delete the oldest footage.
- Formatting: If the card appears corrupted or isn't working correctly, use the format function within the Geeni app. This will erase all data but can often resolve recording problems.
- Recording Mode: Double-check that the camera's recording mode is set to 'Event Recording' or 'Motion-Activated' and not 'Continuous Recording' if you only want to save clips when motion is detected.
## Step 5: Update and Reset
As a final step, updating the device's firmware or performing a reset can clear up persistent software bugs.
- Firmware Update: Manufacturers release firmware updates to fix bugs and improve functionality. Check within the Geeni app for any available firmware updates for your Merkury camera and install them.
- Power Cycle: Unplug your camera from the power source, wait for 30 seconds, and then plug it back in. This simple reboot can sometimes fix temporary glitches.
- Factory Reset: If nothing else has worked, you can perform a factory reset. This will revert the camera to its original settings, and you will need to set it up again in the Geeni app. Look for a small, recessed reset button on the camera's body. Press and hold it until the camera gives an audio or visual cue that it is resetting.