Swann Person Detection Wrong? How to Fix False Alerts
Swann's security systems, particularly those with True Detect™ technology, are designed to give you accurate alerts for people and vehicles. However, if you're being inundated with notifications for things that aren't there—like swaying trees or moving shadows—your system's settings likely need some fine-tuning. This guide will help you troubleshoot and dramatically improve the accuracy of your person detection alerts.
Getting reliable alerts is a balance between three things: camera placement, detection settings, and understanding the environment.
## Step 1: Optimise Camera Placement and Position
Where your camera is installed is the single most important factor for accurate detection.
- Mounting Height and Angle: Install your cameras at a height of 2-3 metres (7-10 feet), angled downwards. This provides a clear view of a person's entire form. A camera that is mounted too low can be triggered by pets, while one mounted too high can fail to detect people at a distance.
- Field of View: Position the camera so that subjects will move across the detection area rather than directly towards the camera. PIR sensors (used in True Detect) are more effective at detecting sideways motion.
- Avoid False Triggers: Do not point the camera directly at sources of moving heat or light. Common culprits include:
- Bushes and trees that sway in the wind.
- Vents from air conditioning units or clothes dryers.
- Areas with strong reflections or sun glare.
- Busy roads with constant traffic.
## Step 2: Configure Your Detection Settings
Within your Swann Security app or NVR/DVR interface, you have powerful tools to customise how the camera detects motion.
- Adjust Sensitivity: Navigate to the settings for the specific camera you want to adjust. Find the Motion Detection or PIR & Detection menu. You will see a 'Sensitivity' setting. If you are getting too many false alerts, lower the sensitivity. Try reducing it by one level at a time and testing the results.
- Set Activity Zones (Masking): This is a crucial step. The 'Masking' or 'Activity Zone' feature allows you to draw a grid over the camera's view and select only the specific areas where you want to detect motion. For example, you can draw a zone over your pathway and driveway but mask out the public pavement and the neighbour's swaying tree. This tells the system to ignore any motion in the masked areas.
- Utilise True Detect: Ensure your camera's detection mode is set to use its PIR sensor if available. True Detect combines standard video motion with a PIR heat sensor. This dual-tech analysis is much more reliable at filtering out non-human motion, as it requires both movement and a heat signature to trigger an alert.
## Step 3: Maintain Your Camera
Physical obstructions can lead to poor performance and false alarms.
- Clean the Lens and Sensor: Regularly wipe the camera lens and the separate PIR sensor dome with a soft, microfibre cloth. Cobwebs, dirt, and even water spots can obstruct the view and trigger false motion events, especially at night when the IR lights reflect off them.
- Check for Obstructions: Trim back any growing tree branches or bushes that may have started to enter the camera's detection zone since it was first installed.
By systematically reviewing your camera's placement and carefully configuring its sensitivity and activity zones, you can significantly reduce the number of incorrect person detection alerts and ensure your Swann system only notifies you when it truly matters.