topic Re: Camera zoom in Arlo

Camera zoom

Spy40 — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 10:31:00 GMT

When in video settings if camera zoom is slightly minimised to focus on a certain area, does the pir still activate for the whole view range not just the zoomed area? as I'm getting activations when zoomed but nothing is showing. However the part of the camera view not shown is potential getting movement.

Re: Camera zoom

steve_t — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 10:48:30 GMT

Correct. The Zoom only affects the video. The PIR sensor is still the same. You may want to turn down the motion sensitivity. One bonus of zooming in is the apparently delay between motion and recording appears less 😉

Re: Camera zoom

Spy40 — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 11:00:34 GMT

Ok that explains this.

The motion detection was set to 93% last night and missed my wife walking across drive and open the door?? Should I still reduce motion?

Re: Camera zoom

Spy40 — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 10:57:10 GMT

Ok that explains this.

The motion detection was set to 93% last night and missed my wife walking across drive and open the door?? Should I still reduce motion?

Re: Camera zoom

jguerdat — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 15:34:06 GMT

Make sure motion is across the FOV, not directly at the camera. My cameras pick up squirrels and rabbits at as much as 25 feet on occasion.

Edit: Oh, yeah, post a screenshot of the camera view for suggestions.

Re: Camera zoom

Spy40 — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 18:11:33 GMT

Re: Camera zoom

Spy40 — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 18:16:04 GMT

The camera is not directly facing the motion but I know it's not ideal. It's the best I can get t

Spy40 wrote:

aking into consideration access for battery changes and height so no one can touch it. Bear in mind two cars are normally on the drive therefore people will walk down middle of drive to house, slightly across fov.

Re: Camera zoom

jguerdat — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 19:46:22 GMT

That's basically your problem - directly at the camera is difficult for the PIR detectors to see the motion. A weird "solution" could be to rotate the camera 90 degrees so motion would then be across the FOV but there's no 90 degree rotation adjustment built into the software. You'd just have to get used to tipping your head to view.

That wall on the left could be useful if yours or you get permission to mount the camera. Otherwise, the left side of the overhang as seen in this view might be a better place if far enough to the left. You could use a screw-on mount for more security.

Re: Camera zoom

steve_t — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 19:55:06 GMT

Is that a shared driveway? No doubt cars going past would set it off. Vehicles have such a large thermal mass that even when not zoomed, they can trigger motion sensing when not in the frame.
I would suggest a lower positioning. Most of my cameras are in arm's reach but if you're concerned about them getting stolen, check out the security measures others have taken in other threads. You might not prevent it 100% but even a little deterrent is enough to slow them down enough to capture their face on camera (unless it's a premeditated theft and they cover their face).
Have had the Arlo for a long time now and none have been stolen. In fact, nobody even notices they're there

Re: Camera zoom

Spy40 — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:03:06 GMT

The wall u suggest if it's the wall I'm thinking of is actually a fence which isn't that high maybe under 2m. The wall to the bottom left is my doorway again not too high. I did think about locating it there but thought the lack of height would make it easily stolen and wasn't sure if it would cover cars and entrance.

I have adjusted it slightly away from the main road but I think I'll try rotating 90degs next.

It's not a shared drive but the shape of house and accessing the battery whilst cover the entrance and cars is difficult.

Re: Camera zoom

steve_t — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:29:48 GMT

My driveway is kind of similar but larger. I have two cameras, one on the house up high looking down the driveway, kinda like yours and one on the fence to the left in a black silicone skin (on a black fence). Both cameras have motion trigger to record but also get the other camera to record as well. I guess it's not ideal to need two cameras to cover the same area but I do find it works really well. The one looking down the driveway has the road at the end of it so I have the motion sensitivity in the 70's while the one looking across the driveway has a motion sensitivity of about 95

Re: Camera zoom

Spy40 — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:37:18 GMT

I was thinking the same tbh having another camera lower in the other corner near the fence would work. My other option is to relocate this camera to the fence position to the left looking across the garage cars and front door but I'm sure I'll get movement from down the street then . It's tricky to say the least!!

Re: Camera zoom

bryan536 — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 00:36:47 GMT

You seem to have the same problem I have. I recently purchased a single camera system but have now purchased a second camera to try and overcome a similar problem to yours.

When first putting up my camera I found it did not always trigger recording or if it did I only got a partial recording. I eventually decided that while the camera has a110 degree fov the PIR sensor only has approx. fov of 30 degrees. ( without a diagram from Arlo I am only guessing). The PIR does seem to be able to trigger from quite a distance and of course the further from the sensor the wider the fov. With this in mind It is my intention to position my original camera lower down (not less than 8 feet ) at the left side of my house and point it across the front of my house. I also intend to sacrifice some of the picture fov so that I can move the PIR fov closer the the front door ( trial and error ). My second camera will be situated at the right side of the house similarly positioned looking back across the front of my house.

I hope then to set some Rules so that each camera can trigger the other camera to record irrespective of which one is triggered.

I realise that people can creep under the PIR fov of each individual camera if staying close to the boundary but as I said earlier the PIR fov gets wider the further away from the camera it gets and it does seem to be sensitive to movement at quite a good distance. So I am hoping I have each boundary covered.

Hopefully I will have full coverage across the front of my house.

Hope I haven't rambled on too much and have given you some ideas. Looking at your photo I would be putting a second camera up on the front part of the house we cannot see looking across the drive and trigger both for recording irrespective of which triggers.

Re: Camera zoom

steve_t — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 04:16:30 GMT

You wrote this in your other thread but my experience has been that the PIR has a FOV much wider than 30 degrees. Not sure where you got your information from but I don't think it's even close to correct, sorry

Re: Camera zoom

Spy40 — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 07:20:27 GMT

Regardless of the angle. The PIR is temprimental as it picks up things that aren't even close however misses someone walking directly across the drive. Very much trial and error then if that fails I need another camera. I agree with the solution however this can't be the right solution certainly from the manufacturer point of view it is for obvious reasons!!! Half hashed attempted at a product that doesn't work correctly is my opinion at the minute!!

Re: Camera zoom

Spy40 — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 09:55:05 GMT

Can leaves and plants blowing set this thing off as well??

Re: Camera zoom

TomMac — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 12:38:36 GMT

Spy40 wrote:
Can leaves and plants blowing set this thing off as well??

Yes , esp if they are reflecting IR

Re: Camera zoom

Spy40 — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 18:31:25 GMT

Seems so temperamental to me. The camera goes off for a car driving past that is in shot then doesnt pick up my car until I'm out of it and practically in the house. Can rely on this for anything tbh.

Re: Camera zoom

jguerdat — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 18:39:08 GMT

It all depends on the camera positioning. Motion on virtually any device that uses a PIR motion detector, such as the wireless cameras, want motion across the FOV instead of directly at the sensor. Nature of the beast. Post a screenshot for suggestions.

Cars can not only be a great source of IR but also reflect the sun's IR well. You likely have more shots of cars driving by during the day than at night because of this. Plus, they're likely moving across the FOV.

Re: Camera zoom

Spy40 — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 19:11:23 GMT

Tha is looks like that's my issue. I did post this on another thread and that was the same outcome. However I was talking about people walking up drive, I thought cars would be picked up coming onto drive better. The cars going up the road are picked up more and are not even in shot until it exits the scene so I don't know how it's pickng these up, unless the PIR picks up beyond the view a little?