How to Maximise the Features of Your Zosi Security System
Zosi security systems offer a fantastic balance of affordability and capability. However, many users are unaware of the advanced settings that can significantly improve the system's effectiveness and tailor it to their specific needs. If you've set up your cameras and feel like the options in the mobile app are quite basic, this guide is for you.
We'll help UK users of Zosi DVRs and NVRs dive into the main settings to uncover and configure the more powerful features, turning your basic setup into a smarter, more efficient surveillance solution.
Signs You're Missing Out on Key Features
Does this sound like your experience with your Zosi system?
- Too Many False Alerts: You get constant motion detection notifications from passing cars, swaying trees, or even shadows.
- Confusing Playback: Finding a specific event in your recordings is difficult because the timeline is just a solid block of continuously recorded footage.
- Poor Remote Viewing Quality: When you try to watch your cameras on your phone away from home, the video is choppy, pixelated, or constantly buffering.
- Privacy Concerns: Your camera's field of view includes a neighbour's window or a public footpath, and you're worried about privacy regulations.
- Limited App Options: The Zosi Smart App on your phone doesn't seem to have the detailed settings you need to fine-tune your system.
A Guide to Zosi's Advanced System Settings
To access these features, you will need to connect a mouse and a monitor (or TV) directly to your Zosi DVR/NVR box. The most powerful settings are located here, not in the mobile app.
1. Configure Intelligent Motion Detection
Go beyond the simple sensitivity slider to drastically reduce false alarms.
- Access the Main Menu: Right-click on the live view screen and log in to access the Main Menu.
- Navigate to Alarm/Motion: Find the menu for 'Alarm', 'Detect', or 'Motion'.
- Set a Detection Region: For the camera you want to adjust, find the 'Region' or 'Area' setting. This will show a grid over the camera's view. You can click and drag to select only the specific parts of the image where you want to detect motion (e.g., your doorway, but not the public pavement next to it). Deselect any areas with moving trees or traffic.
- Set a Recording Schedule: Instead of recording 24/7, you can set the system to record only when motion is detected ('MD'). This saves a huge amount of hard drive space and makes it much easier to find important events. You can set a schedule for each day of the week.
2. Set Up Privacy Masking
This is a crucial feature for responsible CCTV use in the UK.
- Find the 'Privacy Mask' Setting: This is usually located in the 'Display' or 'Camera' configuration menu.
- Draw a Privacy Zone: Select the camera you want to adjust. The system will allow you to draw one or more black boxes over the live image.
- Position the Mask: Drag and resize the box to completely cover any sensitive areas, such as a neighbour's windows, garden, or any part of a public street. This area will be permanently blacked out on both live view and all recordings.
3. Optimise Remote Viewing with Substreams
If your mobile viewing is slow, you're likely trying to stream the full high-definition video feed.
- Go to the 'Record' or 'Encode' Menu: In the main settings, find the section that controls the video stream parameters.
- Configure the Substream: You will see settings for both 'Mainstream' (the high-quality stream for recording) and 'Substream' (the lower-quality stream for remote viewing).
- Lower the Substream Settings: For the Substream, reduce the resolution (e.g., to CIF or D1), lower the frame rate (e.g., to 10-15 FPS), and set a lower bitrate (e.g., 512 kbps). This will use significantly less data.
- Select Substream in the App: In the Zosi Smart App, when viewing your cameras, there is usually an 'SD'/'HD' button. Tapping 'SD' (Standard Definition) will select the low-bandwidth substream you just configured, resulting in much smoother playback over mobile data.
By exploring the full menu on a connected monitor, you can unlock the true, customisable power of your Zosi security system.