Receiving Too Many Alerts From Your Tend Camera?
A Tend security camera is an excellent way to keep you informed about what's happening at home. However, a constant barrage of notifications for insignificant events can be more of a nuisance than a help. If your phone is buzzing every time a car drives by or the wind blows, it's easy to start ignoring alerts altogether, potentially missing a real security event.
The good news is that you have control over your camera's notifications. By properly configuring the motion detection settings within the Tend app, you can significantly reduce the number of unwanted alerts and ensure that you are only notified about the events that truly matter.
What Causes False Alerts on Tend Cameras?
Your Tend camera detects motion by analysing changes in the scene. This method is effective, but it can't always distinguish between a person and other types of movement. Common triggers for false alerts include:
- Environmental Movement: Swaying trees, bushes, or even shadows shifting as the sun moves.
- Lighting Changes: Car headlights sweeping across a room or clouds passing overhead.
- Insects and Animals: A spider building a web in front of the lens or a pet wandering through the frame.
- High Sensitivity: The motion detection sensitivity might be set too high for the camera's environment.
- Poorly Defined Zones: Monitoring areas that include public spaces like roads or footpaths.
How to Fine-Tune Your Tend Camera's Alert Settings
Let's get your notifications under control. Open your Tend app and select the camera you wish to configure.
1. Adjust the Motion Detection Sensitivity
The sensitivity level determines how much movement is required to trigger a recording and an alert. A high setting means even small movements will be flagged.
- In the Tend app, navigate to your camera's Settings.
- Look for an option labelled Motion Detection or Notifications.
- Inside this menu, you should find a Sensitivity setting.
- If you are receiving too many alerts, lower the sensitivity level. Try decreasing it by one step at a time and monitoring the results for a day to find the right balance.
2. Create Custom Motion Detection Zones
This is one of the most powerful tools for eliminating false alerts. A motion zone tells your camera to only pay attention to movement within a specific, user-defined area.
- In your camera's settings, find the Motion Zone or Activity Zone option.
- You will be shown the camera's live view with a grid overlay.
- You can now select the grid squares that correspond to the areas you want to monitor. For example, you can select the squares covering your driveway and front path, while deselecting the squares that cover the street or your neighbour's property.
- Be precise. Only include the areas that are essential. By excluding that rustling tree or busy pavement, you will dramatically cut down on irrelevant notifications.
- Save your new zone to apply the changes.
3. Set a Notification Schedule
Receiving alerts while you're at home and active can be unnecessary. Use the scheduling feature to control when your camera sends you notifications.
- Within the camera's settings, look for a Scheduling or Arm/Disarm feature.
- This will allow you to create a timetable for when you want motion alerts to be active.
- You can, for example, set the camera to only send notifications during the night, or during the hours you are typically away at work.
- This ensures you are not bothered by alerts from your own activity but that the system is armed and ready when your property is unoccupied.
4. Keep the Lens Clean
This might sound simple, but a spiderweb or a piece of debris on the camera lens can move with the wind and continuously trigger motion alerts. Regularly check that your camera lens is clean and clear of any obstructions for optimal performance.
By taking a few minutes to customise these settings, you can transform your Tend camera from a source of constant interruptions into a smart and effective security tool that respects your time and attention.