Understanding the Lack of 24/7 Recording on Tend Cameras
If you've recently purchased a Tend security camera, you might be looking for a setting to enable continuous 24/7 video recording (CVR). Many users are surprised to find that this feature is often not available on their device. This can be a point of confusion, especially if you're used to other systems that offer it.
This guide will clarify why most Tend cameras do not have a 24/7 recording option, explain the motion-based recording system they use instead, and help you get the most out of your camera's features.
Why Tend Cameras Focus on Motion-Activated Recording
The primary reason Tend cameras typically lack a 24/7 recording feature is based on a design philosophy focused on efficiency, affordability, and ease of use.
- Data and Storage Costs: Continuously recording high-definition video consumes an enormous amount of data. Storing this data, whether on a local SD card or in the cloud, is expensive and requires significant management. A 1080p camera can generate hundreds of gigabytes of data per week.
- Network Bandwidth: Constantly uploading a video stream to the cloud would place a heavy, continuous strain on your home's Wi-Fi network, potentially slowing down all other internet activity in your household.
- Finding Important Events: Sifting through 24 hours of footage to find a few seconds of a specific event is incredibly time-consuming. Motion-activated clips, by contrast, present you only with the moments that matter, saving you a huge amount of time.
- Hardware Limitations: CVR requires more robust and expensive hardware within the camera to handle the constant workload, which would increase the product's cost.
How Tend's Recording System Works
Instead of CVR, Tend cameras use a system of motion- and sound-triggered event recording.
- Detection: The camera's software and sensors constantly monitor the scene for changes in motion or specific sounds.
- Trigger: When motion or a sound that exceeds your preset sensitivity level is detected, the camera is triggered.
- Recording: The camera then records a short video clip of the event. The length of this clip can sometimes be configured in the settings.
- Notification & Upload: You receive a notification on your smartphone, and the recorded clip is securely uploaded to Tend's cloud storage.
- Review: You can then view, download, or share this event-specific clip directly from the Tend app.
Maximising Your Camera's Coverage
While you can't enable 24/7 recording, you can adjust settings to ensure you capture as much as possible.
1. Adjust Motion Sensitivity
This is the most effective way to control how often your camera records.
- Access Settings: Open the Tend app and navigate to the settings for your specific camera.
- Find Motion Detection: Locate the "Motion Detection" or "Sensitivity" settings.
- Increase Sensitivity: If you feel the camera is missing events, increase the sensitivity level. A higher sensitivity means that smaller movements will trigger a recording. Be aware that this may lead to more frequent notifications from things like moving tree branches or pets.
2. Utilise Detection Zones
Many Tend cameras allow you to create "Activity Zones" or "Motion Zones". This feature lets you select specific areas within the camera's field of view to monitor for motion.
- Focus on Key Areas: Draw zones around important areas like doorways, windows, or pathways.
- Ignore High-Traffic Areas: Exclude areas that have constant, unimportant motion, like a busy street or a swaying plant. This helps to reduce irrelevant recordings and ensures you are only notified about events that matter.
3. Understand Your Cloud Subscription
Familiarise yourself with the specifics of your Tend Secure cloud storage plan. Understand how long your clips are stored before they are deleted and how many cameras are covered by your plan. This ensures you can access important footage when you need it.
By understanding and utilising these features, you can create a highly effective security monitoring system that is both efficient and easy to manage, even without a traditional 24/7 recording option.