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.
Add Cameras to Alarm System
To set up a motion zone for one of your cameras, you must first add a camera to your alarm system. Follow the instructions below to add a camera to the alarm system.
Note: If subscribed to Professionally Monitored Video Alarms, you are limited to 5 cameras at a time (see Alarm Camera Package for more information).
To add a camera to your Solink alarm system:
Navigate to the Alarms page > Alarm Configurations > Enable Alarm Cameras.
Select any of the grey toggle buttons displayed directly underneath any of your location's cameras:
Tip: Use the filter on the right side of the page to narrow down the displayed cameras (only show indoor cameras, only show outdoor cameras, etc.).
Configure Motion Zones
Once you have selected the toggle button as outlined in the previous section, the motion zone window is displayed. To configure a motion zone for your alarm camera:
Ensure the Highlight button is selected:
Draw in the area where you wish to detect motion for your alarm.
Determine if this camera is Indoor or Outdoor and select the appropriate option. Please note, outdoor cameras are currently not supported with Professionally Monitored Video Alarms.
Select Apply to save your changes.
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.
For more quick tips on alarm motion zones, see Alarm Motion Zones: Quick Tips.
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 iOS + Android
You can configure, enable or disable motion zones from the Solink mobile app (iOS and Android apps).
Configure Motion Zones on Mobile
To configure a motion zone for one of your cameras using the Solink mobile app:
Tap 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.