Troubleshooting Netatmo Motion Detection Issues
Netatmo smart security cameras, like the Presence and Welcome, are renowned for their intelligent detection capabilities, distinguishing between people, cars, and animals. However, when it's not working as expected, it can undermine your home security. Whether you're getting no alerts or the detection is inconsistent, this guide will help you diagnose and solve the problem.
Step 1: Verify and Refine Your Alert-Zones
The most common cause of detection issues with Netatmo cameras is the configuration of Alert-Zones. These are the specific areas you define in the camera's view where you want to be notified about activity.
- Open the Netatmo Security App: Go to the main menu and select your camera.
- Access Alert-Zone Settings: Navigate to the settings menu (usually a gear icon) and find the motion detection or Alert-Zone settings.
- Review Your Zones: You will see your camera's live view with the zones you've created. Ensure these zones accurately cover the areas of interest. For example, make sure the zone for your driveway actually covers the entire area where a car would appear.
- Test the Zones: Walk into the designated zone yourself and see if the camera triggers a notification. If not, try resizing or redrawing the zone to be slightly larger.
Important: If you have told the app to 'ignore' events in a certain zone, it will not record or notify you. Double-check that you haven't accidentally set an important area to be ignored.
Step 2: Check Your Camera's Placement and Angle
The physical installation of your Netatmo camera is crucial for its performance. The manufacturer provides specific recommendations for a reason.
- Optimal Height: The Netatmo Presence (outdoor camera) should be installed at a height of 2.5 to 4 metres (8-14 ft).
- Ideal Tilt: The camera should be tilted downwards at an angle of approximately 30 degrees.
If your camera is mounted too high, too low, or is not tilted correctly, its algorithm may struggle to identify objects accurately. Ensure there are no direct obstructions, like a thick tree branch or a wall, blocking its view of the desired detection area.
Step 3: Customise Your Smart Notification Settings
Netatmo's strength is its ability to tailor notifications. However, these settings can sometimes be the cause of missed alerts.
- Go to Notification Settings: In the Netatmo Security app, access the settings for smart notifications.
- Choose What to Record and Notify: You can choose to be notified and to record for different events (people, cars, animals). For example, you might have set it to 'Record only' for cars, which means you won't get a notification.
- Adjust for All Motion: As a test, set the camera to notify you for 'All other motion'. If you start getting alerts, it confirms the camera's motion sensor is working, and the issue lies with the smart detection filtering.
Step 4: Reboot Your Camera and Network
Sometimes, a simple refresh is all that's needed to fix a software glitch.
- Reboot the Camera: The most effective way to do this is to cut the power to it from your fuse box. Wait for about 30 seconds before turning the power back on. This forces a full restart of the camera's systems.
- Reboot Your Wi-Fi Router: A poor or intermittent Wi-Fi connection can prevent notifications from being sent to your phone. Unplug your router, wait a minute, and plug it back in.
By carefully checking your zones, verifying the camera's physical installation, and ensuring your notification settings are correct, you can resolve most motion detection issues with your Netatmo system and restore its intelligent monitoring capabilities.