Once you have activated a new alarm system, follow the steps listed in this section to set up your alarm system from start to finish. For reference, the following image shows a newly activated alarm system in Solink without any configuration:
To fully set up your alarm system, ensure to:
Additionally, you can configure the following optional alarm settings:
Once you have completed the alarm setup, you can learn how to use and configure video alarms from the Video Alarms Overview section here.
Assign Contacts
You can have an alarm contact receive a notification via text and/or email if an alarm is ever triggered at one of your locations.
Note: With the basic self-service video alarm feature, you can assign one contact per location to receive alarm notifications. With a Video Alarms Monitoring Service, you can assign multiple contacts to receive alarm notifications.
To assign a contact to receive alarm notifications:
Select Assign Contacts.
Choose a contact from the left column.
Drag and drop the contact into the right column.
You may optionally type the contact's phone number into the Cell Phone Number field.
Select Save to save the assigned contact.
Watch the example below for a demonstration of how to assign a contact:
Additionally, the video below provides an overview of how to assign a contact:
Tip: To unassign a contact, either select the x icon for that contact or drag and drop the contact from the right column to the left. Select Save to save your changes.
Select a Camera
You can choose any of your existing cameras to capture video for your alarm system. Any motion detected in specified areas of the video feed triggers an alarm.
To select a camera, or multiple cameras:
Select Add Camera to Alarm System.
Select all of the cameras you want to add to the alarm system.
Select Add to save the cameras in the alarm system.
Watch the example below for a demonstration of how to select cameras:
Tip: To remove a camera from the alarm system, highlight the camera and select the X button. You can re-add that camera or add additional cameras by repeating the Select a Camera instructions above.
Configure Motion Zones
Each of your cameras can detect motion. Whenever motion is detected in an area you have specified (during a scheduled or active alarm period), the alarm triggers and the alarm contact receives a notification.
Note: Ensure you have added cameras to the alarm before setting up motion zones (see previous section: Select a Camera for more information).
To set up a motion zone for one of your cameras:
Select the camera you want to set up motion zones for.
Ensure the Highlight button is selected:
Draw in the area where you wish to detect motion for your alarm.
Select Apply to save your changes.
Watch the example below for a demonstration of how to set up motion zones:
Tip: When viewing a camera, select the Erase button and move your cursor over any highlighted areas to remove motion detection for those areas.
Tip: Select the Reset button to remove all motion detection from the camera.
Motion Zone Tips
It is very important to configure motion zones to capture the right kinds of motion (suspicious activity) and avoid triggering false alarms due to irrelevant motion.
Highlight pathways where someone could walk, as shown in the image below. This can help capture suspicious movement in these areas when your alarm is armed:
Avoid highlighting reflective surfaces such as computer screens and glass containers. Light can move on reflective surfaces and trigger false alarms. See the areas highlighted in red in the image below for an example of the types of areas you should avoid highlighting:
Look at the estimated number of motion alarm items (more information on this in the following section). The closer the number is to 0, the more effective your motion zone will be at capturing suspicious activity and avoiding false alarms.
Estimated Number of Motion Alarms
The estimated number of motion alarm items helps you determine how effective the area you highlighted will be at capturing motion.
Data is pulled from the previous calendar day to inform you of:
The number of motion alarms estimated to have occurred in the highlighted area during the alarm schedule.
The number of motion alarms estimated to have occurred in the highlighted area outside of the alarm schedule (ignored by schedule).
Note: You may receive the following message if you do not have an alarm schedule in place: "Unable to estimate the number of motion alarm items." Please ensure to set up an alarm schedule for motion zone functionality.
Video Tutorial
Motion Zones on Mobile App
Motion Zones on Mobile App
Each of your cameras can detect motion. Whenever motion is detected in an area you have specified (during a scheduled or active alarm period), the video alarm triggers and the alarm contact receives a notification.
While you can set up motion zones from the Solink platform, you can also configure, enable or disable motion zones from the Solink mobile app.
Configure Motion Zones on Mobile
To configure a motion zone for one of your cameras using the Solink mobile app:
Select the Video tab.
Next, select one of your locations (tap on the location name).
Select a specific camera at your location from the list of cameras.
Once you are viewing the camera feed for a location, select the "more options" icon in the top right.
From the dropdown menu, select Motion zones.
Draw in the areas of the grid where you want the camera to detect motion. The alarm will trigger when there is motion detected in the specified area during an alarm period.
If you want to save your motion zone selection, select the Save button to save your changes.
Select the "shield" icon near the bottom of the page to enable motion zone detection for your alarm system.
Enable and Disable Motion Zones
You can enable and disable motion zones for each of your individual cameras using the Solink mobile app. There are two methods to enable or disable a motion zone for your camera:
Follow Configure Motion Zones on Mobile to configure a new motion zone and enable it.
Or, follow the steps below:
Select either the Video or Live tab.
Select a location.
A list of all your cameras is displayed. Slide one of the list items to the left using your finger.
Depending on whether the camera has a motion zone enabled or disabled, you can select to enable or disable motion zones for that specific camera.
Note: You will be prompted to configure a motion zone if you select Enable for a camera that does not have a motion zone configured yet.
Create a Schedule (Optional)
You can choose specific days and time periods when your alarm is armed. For instance, you may want your alarm to be armed Monday-Friday during a certain time and Saturday-Sunday during a different period of time. You can configure active alarm periods using the Schedule feature.
Tip: It is highly recommended to set your alarm schedule so that the system is armed one hour after the last employee is expected to leave and disarmed one hour before the first employee is expected to arrive.
For example, if the first employee is expected to enter the location at 8 A.M., configure the alarm schedule to disarm at 7 A.M. If the last employee is expected to leave at 11 P.M., configure the alarm schedule to arm at 12 A.M.
This helps ensure the alarm system does not trigger a false alarm because an employee arrives early to work or remains on site after their shift.
To configure a schedule for your alarm:
Select Create Schedule within the Alarms user interface:
A list comprising all seven days of the week is displayed. Choose the days on which you want to arm the alarm using the sliders:
Choose a day and specify the period of time you want the alarm to be armed. For example, you can choose to arm the alarm on Sundays between the hours of 12:00 AM to 7:00 AM. If you wish to arm the alarm during the evening or night, a second time period is available for configuration by default. In the example below, the alarm is armed on Sunday from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM:
Once you have configured your alarm schedule, select Save to apply all changes.
Select the Schedule icon in the main Alarms user interface to ensure the alarm is armed during the dates and times you specified:
The video below provides an overview of how to configure an alarm schedule:
Note: You can also configure alarm schedule exceptions so that the alarm system is armed or disarmed during a period of time not defined in your current alarm schedule. For more information, see Alarm Schedule Exceptions.
Dispatch Instructions(Optional)
You can add dispatch instructions to help security or emergency services address the situation when an alarm is triggered due to suspicious activity.
To add alarm dispatch instructions:
In the main Alarms user interface, select Edit next to Dispatch Instructions:
Type instructions in the text box to assist first responders and/or authorities in the event of an emergency situation at your location.
Select Save to apply the changes.
Assign Guest Access
See Access Codes for Guest Access for more information on how to configure Guest Access.
Phone Arm/Disarm
See Phone Arm/Disarm for more information on how to configure Phone Arm/Disarm.