How to Fix Ineffective Activity Zones on Your Somfy Camera
Activity zones are a powerful feature on Somfy cameras, designed to help you focus motion detection on specific areas and reduce the number of unwanted notifications. However, if they aren't configured correctly, you might find they don't work as expected, either by missing real events or triggering false alarms. This guide will walk you through troubleshooting and optimising your Somfy activity zones.
Understanding How Activity Zones Work
Before troubleshooting, it's important to understand what's happening behind the scenes. Somfy activity zones are based on pixel changes. The camera's software analyses the video feed for changes in the pattern of pixels only within the shapes you have drawn. It is not detecting heat or using a separate physical sensor for this feature. This means that the effectiveness of a zone depends on the size, placement, and the environment it's monitoring.
Troubleshooting Common Activity Zone Problems
Let's tackle the most common issues you might be experiencing with your zones.
Problem 1: Motion is Not Being Detected Within the Zone
You know there was movement in the zone, but you didn't receive an alert. Here are the likely causes:
- Zone is Too Small or Thin: A very small zone, like a thin line across a doorway, might not contain enough pixels for the software to register a significant change, especially if the person or object moves through it quickly.
- Solution: Redraw the zone to be larger and more substantial. Instead of a line, create a solid box that covers the area where movement is expected.
- Low Sensitivity Setting: The camera's main motion detection sensitivity might be set too low. The activity zone works in conjunction with this main setting.
- Solution: In the Somfy Protect app, navigate to your camera's settings, find the "Motion Detection Sensitivity" and try increasing it slightly. Then, test the zone again.
- Poor Lighting or Low Contrast: If the area within the zone is very dark or has a uniform colour (like a plain wall), it can be difficult for the camera to detect a change in pixels.
- Solution: Ensure the area is adequately lit. If you're monitoring a dark area, the camera's night vision must be enabled and working effectively.
Problem 2: Receiving False Alerts from the Zone
This happens when the camera thinks it sees motion in the zone, but it's not a person or vehicle.
- Moving Shadows or Light Changes: The most common cause. As the sun moves, tree shadows, cloud shadows, or reflections from passing cars can sweep across your zone, causing a significant pixel change.
- Solution: Observe the area at different times of the day. Redraw your zone to exclude areas prone to shadow movement. For example, end the zone just before the edge of a swaying tree's shadow.
- Insects or Rain: A spider crawling across the lens or heavy raindrops can trigger motion alerts if they are within the defined zone.
- Solution: Keep the camera lens clean. For rain, you may need to slightly decrease the sensitivity during stormy weather, although Somfy's detection algorithm is generally good at ignoring this.
- Bushes and Trees: Wind blowing through foliage within your activity zone is a guaranteed way to get constant false alerts.
- Solution: Carefully draw your zone to go around any moving trees or bushes. Create a shape that specifically excludes the foliage.
Best Practices for Creating Effective Activity Zones
Follow these tips to get the most out of your Somfy camera's activity zones:
- Keep it Simple: A few well-placed, simple rectangular zones often work better than one large, complex, and jagged shape.
- Cover the Whole Subject: When monitoring a path, for example, make the zone wide and tall enough to contain a whole person, not just their feet.
- Create Overlapping Zones (If Needed): You can create multiple zones. You could have a large, low-sensitivity "area of interest" zone and a smaller, high-sensitivity "critical" zone for a doorway within it.
- Test and Refine: After drawing a zone, walk through it yourself to test it. Adjust the size, shape, and sensitivity settings until you are only getting the alerts that matter to you.