Is Your SimpliSafe Person Detection Wrong?
One of the most powerful features of your SimpliSafe camera is its ability to distinguish between general motion and the specific movement of a person. This intelligence is designed to provide you with more meaningful alerts, so you know when someone is actually on your property, while ignoring irrelevant motion from passing cars, pets, or swaying trees.
However, when this feature doesn't work as expected, it can be a source of frustration. You might be getting alerts for shadows, or worse, not getting alerts when a person is clearly there. The good news is that you can often resolve these inaccuracies by making a few key adjustments. This guide will show you how.
Why SimpliSafe's Person Detection Can Be Inaccurate
The camera's "brain" uses a complex algorithm to analyse shapes and movement patterns. Its accuracy can be influenced by several environmental factors:
- Camera Placement and Angle: A camera pointed at a busy street, rustling foliage, or areas with dramatic lighting changes (like shadows from clouds) is more likely to generate false positives.
- Sensitivity Settings: If the motion sensitivity is set too high, the camera can be triggered by insignificant movements that the algorithm might misinterpret.
- Lighting Conditions: Very low light, intense glare, or backlighting can make it difficult for the camera to accurately identify human shapes.
- Obstructions: A partially blocked view can prevent the camera from seeing enough of a person's shape to make a positive identification.
- Weak Wi-Fi: A poor connection can sometimes interfere with the processing of video, leading to delayed or missed detections.
How to Improve Person Detection Accuracy
Fine-tuning your camera's settings is the key to getting reliable alerts. Let's walk through the most effective adjustments you can make within the SimpliSafe app.
1. Optimise Your Camera's Position
The right perspective can make all the difference.
- Ideal Height: Mount your camera between 2 and 3 metres (7-10 feet) off the ground.
- Downward Angle: Angle the camera slightly downwards. This provides a clear view of people approaching while reducing the amount of "background noise" from distant movement.
- Avoid Busy Backgrounds: If possible, try to position the camera so it doesn't include a busy road, a neighbour's property, or trees that move a lot in the wind.
2. Adjust Motion Sensitivity Settings
This acts like a volume dial for motion.
- Open the SimpliSafe app and navigate to your camera's settings.
- Find the "Motion Detection" or "Motion Settings" menu.
- You will see a sensitivity slider, usually with options like Low, Medium, and High.
- If you are getting too many false alerts, lower the sensitivity one level at a time. If you are missing events, you can try increasing it. For most environments, Medium is a good starting point.
3. Define Motion Zones (Activity Zones)
This is one of the most powerful tools for reducing unwanted alerts. Motion Zones let you tell the camera exactly where to look for motion.
- In the camera's settings within the app, find the "Motion Zones" or "Activity Zones" option.
- You'll see your camera's live view with a grid overlay.
- Select the specific areas you want to monitor by drawing one or more boxes. For example, draw a zone covering your garden path and porch, but exclude the pavement and the street.
- The camera will now only trigger an alert when it detects motion inside these specific zones.
4. Ensure a Strong Wi-Fi Signal
Go to your camera's settings in the app and check its network status. If the signal strength is listed as weak or poor, it could be affecting performance. Consider moving your Wi-Fi router closer to the camera or using a Wi-Fi extender to boost the signal.
5. Keep the Lens Clean
A smudged or dirty lens can distort the image, making it harder for the AI to work correctly. Periodically wipe the lens with a soft, clean microfibre cloth.
By methodically working through these adjustments, you can significantly improve the accuracy of your SimpliSafe camera's person detection, leading to more relevant alerts and greater peace of mind.