How Settings and Surroundings Impact Motion Detection
Tags: motion detection settings, camera surroundings, pixel-based detection, PIR detection, detection mode, sensitivity adjustment, detection area, motion zones, false alarms, environmental factors, camera performance optimization, motion detection technologies, camera settings, external factors, camera optimization
The way a camera detects motion depends not just on its internal settings but also on external factors in its surroundings. Understanding how these elements interact can help you optimize your camera’s performance, reducing false alarms while ensuring you never miss what matters most.
Which Camera Setting Affects Motion Detection
Detection Mode
Two types of motion detection technologies are commonly used:
- Pixel-based motion detection like Swann EVO Pan & Tilt Wi-Fi Camera and Indoor Wi-Fi Camera rely on pixel changes in its field of view (FOV) to detect movement, meaning anything from shifting shadows to falling leaves can trigger an alert.
- Passive Infrared (PIR) detection, which is available on PIR cameras like Xtreem4K Eco™ Wireless Camera, require both motion and a heat signature to confirm activity, making them more resistant to environmental triggers like rain or swaying tree branches.
PIR add-on cameras like NHD-1200BE and PRO-4KMQB can still use pixel-based motion detection once adjusted in the recorder's setting.
Choose your system below
Depending on the model of your system, either it has:
- Enable / Disable which uses pixel-based motion detection, or
-
Motion / PIR and Motion / Disable where Motion is for pixel-based motion detection and PIR and Motion require both motion and heat source or infrared radiation to be detected.
- PIR and Person/Vehicle is another version of PIR and Motion, but the 'Motion' focuses on a human or vehicle-shaped object making the motion.
You can change this option when you access the Menu and then go to Alarm > Detection.
Stand-alone cameras only have Motion detection in its settings which is using pixel-based or passive infrared depending on how their built and model. Some may also have Sound detection which starts recording when it detected sounds but it is unrelated on how Motion detection and recording works.
To see what setting your camera has, open Swann Security app and open your camera's live view, then tap on the gear icon to go to its settings, then choose Detection Setting.
NOTE: Person Detection will only work if Motion Detection is ON.
Other Camera Setting
Every security camera allows for some level of customization to fine-tune its motion detection. Select your system below to see what are these settings:
The two most critical settings are that you will also see in Alarm > Detection are:
-
Sensitivity: A higher sensitivity level captures even the smallest movements, while a lower sensitivity setting helps filter out minor disturbances.
- AI Sensitivity - currently only available in MaxRanger4K™ system if you set to PIR and Person/Vehicle detection mode. You can also adjust on how sensitive the Power Hub detect human or vehicle-sized objects.
-
Detection Area (or Motion Zones): This lets you specify which parts of the camera’s view should trigger motion alerts, reducing false alarms from irrelevant areas like busy streets or tree-covered sections.
- To configure a camera's detection area, click Setup or the gear icon under Setup column.
- Click or click and drag to select an area and change the color of the cells; red boxes are the areas where motion will be detected and clear boxes
Adjusting Sensitivity, despite seeing it in the Detection Setting, must be done in Modes. You can learn how in this article: How to Set Up Modes in Swann Security App
To set your Detection Zone, go to the camera setting again, then choose Detection Zone.
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Select an area where you want to detect movements.
- Cover the area with red boxes to detect movements.
- Tap Add then select certain areas to put red boxes.
- Tap Remove then select a red box to remove it.
- Tap Fill to cover the entire view or Clear to remove everything.
- Tap Save to save all the changes.
NOTE: Getting the perfect settings takes time and patience. The default works for most, but if results aren’t as expected, feel free to adjust. A little trial and error can make all the difference—especially if moving the camera isn’t an option (more below).
How Surroundings Affect Motion Detection
While settings give you control, external factors play a huge role in how motion detection works. The impact varies depending on whether you’re using a standard motion-detecting camera or a PIR-enabled one.
| Surrounding Factor | Impact on Pixel-Based Cameras | Impact on PIR Cameras |
|---|---|---|
| Rain, snow, or fog | Changes pixels and can trigger false motion alerts. | Won’t trigger unless there’s a heat source moving. |
| Shadows and lighting changes | Sudden light shifts (e.g., headlights, sun movement) can trigger alerts. | No effect unless combined with a heat source. |
| Moving trees, bushes, or debris | Can cause frequent false alerts. | Won’t trigger unless they emit heat (unlikely). |
| Reflections (glass, water, mirrors) | Reflected movement can appear as motion and trigger alerts. | Unaffected unless the reflection contains a heat source. |
| Small animals (birds, cats, rodents) | Can easily trigger motion detection. | If the animal emits enough heat and moves within range, it could trigger the PIR. |
| Insects or dust near the lens | Can cause alerts if close enough to the camera. | Unaffected unless there’s a large enough heat signature. |
| Heat sources outside the camera’s view (e.g., heaters, running vehicles) | No effect. | If the PIR sensor detects heat even outside the FOV, it could trigger an alert. |
Reposition (adjust the camera angle) or relocate the camera. This is the only way to virtually eliminate external factors causing incorrect trigger.
Conclusion
By fine-tuning your camera’s motion settings and being aware of environmental factors, you can reduce false alarms and ensure your security system works when you need it most. Whether you’re protecting your home or business, understanding these principles will help you get the most reliable performance from your security cameras.
Here's a recap on how to improve your camera's accuracy in detecting motion:
- Adjust motion sensitivity based on your environment. If you’re getting too many false alerts, try lowering sensitivity slightly.
- Set up motion zones to exclude areas prone to frequent, irrelevant movement (like a tree swaying in the wind).
- Position the camera carefully to avoid direct light sources, reflections, and areas with rapid environmental changes.
- For PIR cameras, be mindful of heat sources such as outdoor heaters, air vents, or parked cars that have just been turned off. These can trigger detections even without visible movement.
- Regularly clean the camera lens to prevent insects, dust, or water droplets from causing false alerts.
NOTE: If your recorder is not recording at all after doing all of the above, it might have not been set yet 'when' it should record. Visit How to Set Your Recorder for Continuous or Motion Recording to set it up.
If your stand-alone camera (that has microSD card) is not recording, visit How to Delete Recordings of a Stand-alone Camera in the Swann Security App and follow the steps on how to format the Storage.
Otherwise, if your stand-alone camera still doesn't record OR has built-in storage, factory reset the camera then follow the pairing process again.