Wyze, a popular smart home security camera company, offers a wide range of features to help you monitor your home effectively. Two of these key features are motion tagging and motion tracking, which are designed to work seamlessly with Wyze security cameras for better surveillance.
Key Takeaways
- Motion tagging highlights moving objects, while motion tracking allows Wyze Cam Pan devices to follow the movement.
Table of Contents
Wyze Motion Detection Fundamentals
One of the key features of Wyze Cams, including the Wyze Cam Pan and Wyze Cam V3, is their motion detection capabilities. Understanding the basics of Wyze motion detection can help you optimize your camera’s settings to best suit your needs. In this section, we will cover Motion Detection Settings, Detection Zone, Sensitivity Adjustment, and Green Box Illustration.
Motion Detection Settings
Wyze cameras come equipped with various settings to customize the motion detection experience. To access these settings, open the Wyze app, tap “Home,” then select your Wyze Cam. Tap the “Settings” icon on the top right, and then choose “Detection Settings.” You can enable or disable motion detection and customize other detection features.
Detection Zone
To optimize motion detection, the Detection Zone feature allows you to define a specific area within the camera’s field of view to focus on. This ensures that any activity outside the designated Detection Zone is ignored and won’t trigger Event Videos or Motion Tracking. To set up a Detection Zone, go to “Detection Settings” and select “Detection Zone.” You can then adjust the zone’s size and location within your camera’s view.
Sensitivity Adjustment
Wyze cameras allow you to adjust the sensitivity of motion detection to suit your preferences. Increasing the sensitivity will make the camera more responsive to motion, while decreasing it will result in fewer alerts for less significant movements. To change the sensitivity setting, navigate to “Detection Settings” and move the slider left or right to lower or increase the sensitivity. Your changes will save automatically.
Green Box Illustration
When Motion Tagging is enabled, a green box will appear around any detected motion within the video. This feature helps users quickly identify areas of activity in the footage. The green box is independent of Motion Tracking, which makes the Pan Cam move to follow moving objects. To enable or disable Motion Tagging, go to “Detection Settings” and toggle the “Motion Tagging” option on or off.
Wyze Motion Tagging Vs Motion Tracking
Key Differences
Motion Tagging is a feature that highlights moving objects in a video with a green box. It is useful for identifying the source of motion in a video and can work with any Wyze camera models including Wyze Cam v1/v2/v3.
Motion Tracking, on the other hand, is exclusive to Wyze Cam Pan devices. It utilizes the pan and tilt features of the camera to automatically follow moving objects detected in the video, capturing their movement until it stops.
Use Cases
- Motion Tagging is particularly useful in situations where you want to quickly identify which objects are moving in your camera’s field of view. Examples include monitoring pet activity, detecting potential intruders, or identifying areas where motion occurs most frequently.
- Motion Tracking is ideal for those who require continuous visual monitoring of a moving object or person. This is especially helpful in scenarios such as keeping an eye on active children or pets, tracking the movement of wildlife, or monitoring employees in a work setting.
Remember that both features can be toggled on and off using the Wyze app, allowing you to choose the appropriate setting for your specific needs.
Getting Started with Motion Tracking and Tagging
Wyze App Configuration
To begin with motion tracking and tagging, you need to configure your Wyze Cam settings in the Wyze app. First, download and install the Wyze app on your smartphone and sign in with your Wyze account.
For motion tagging, access the settings by tapping the gear icon. In the Detection Settings, you will find the motion tagging options. Toggle the switch to enable or disable motion tagging based on your preferences.
Motion tracking is available on Wyze Cam Pan v3 devices. To enable motion tracking, go to the camera settings, side-scroll to the right, and tap on “Track Motion”. This will activate the camera’s ability to follow moving objects in its field of view.
Setting Up Rules and Schedules
Wyze allows users to create rules and schedules for specific actions on their Wyze Cam devices, which helps in automating the motion tracking and tagging features.
Rules let you set conditions, such as time of day or motion detection, to trigger a particular action (e.g., turn on motion tracking when motion is detected). To create a rule, follow these steps:
- In the Wyze app, go to home and tap the
+sign. - Select “Add Rule”.
- Choose “Device Trigger” or “Event Trigger”.
- Select your Wyze Cam and configure the triggers.
- Choose the action to be performed (e.g., enable motion tracking).
- Save the rule.
Setting up schedules is another way to automate your Wyze Cam’s motion tracking and tagging features. To set up a schedule:
- In the Wyze app, go to home and tap the
+sign. - Select “Add Rule”.
- Choose “Schedule”.
- Select your Wyze Cam and the action you want to perform (e.g., enable motion tracking).
- Set the days and time when the action should run.
- Save the schedule.
By following these steps for configuring your Wyze Cam via the Wyze app and setting up rules and schedules, you can effectively use motion tracking and tagging to enhance your home security. Please remember to keep the system updated and regularly check for any changes in device settings.
Advanced Features and Capabilities
Pan Scan Functionality
Wyze cameras offer a feature called Pan Scan that allows users to set up to four predefined waypoints for the camera to automatically scan. When Pan Scan is enabled, the camera will rotate between the set waypoints, providing coverage of a larger area. This feature is particularly useful for those who want to monitor multiple areas without constantly adjusting their camera’s position manually.
Live Stream and Field of View
The Wyze cameras are equipped with a live stream feature, enabling users to view real-time video footage of the monitored area. A wide field of view (FOV) gives users a more comprehensive view of their environment. Field of View is the extent of the observable area that the camera can cover at any given time. Wyze cameras typically boast a wide field of view, allowing them to capture a larger area and reducing the need for multiple cameras.
Notification and Alert Customization
Notifications play a vital role in keeping users informed about any activities or motion events happening within the camera’s field of view. Wyze camera owners can easily customize their notification settings to suit their preferences. For example, users may choose to receive notifications only when the largest moving object is detected, which can help filter out smaller, insignificant movements. Similarly, they can set up alerts to trigger after a specific period of inactivity, ensuring they don’t miss any essential events. Overall, Wyze cameras offer a flexible and customizable alert system that can be tailored to users’ specific needs.
Storage and Playback Options
Cloud Storage Vs SD Card
Wyze offers two storage options for your recorded videos: cloud storage and local microSD card storage. The cloud storage provides free 12-second event videos with a 14-day rolling storage, while the continuous recording and longer event videos can be stored on a microSD card.
- Cloud Storage: Wyze’s cloud storage automatically saves detected events without needing a physical storage device. This allows you to access these clips from anywhere using the Wyze app. However, only short, 12-second videos are saved that may not cover the entire event.
- SD Card Storage: For more extensive and continuous recording, using a microSD card allows you to store longer event videos and continuous footage on your Wyze camera. This option provides more flexibility in the duration of recordings but may require manual management of storage space.
It’s important to note that both options can be used simultaneously, giving you the benefits of both cloud and local storage.
Event Video Access and Management
Managing and accessing your event videos is simple through the Wyze app. For both cloud and SD card storage options, the app allows you to:
- View event videos in a timeline format, making it easy to find and review specific events
- Filter events by type (motion, sound, etc.) and date for easier navigation
- Download clips directly to your phone or share them via social media and other platforms
- Delete event videos after you review them, freeing up storage space
To access event videos from cloud storage, you can simply open the Wyze app and navigate to the “Events” tab. For SD card stored videos, you’ll need to tap on the “View Playback” button in the live stream view of the camera.
In summary, Wyze offers flexible storage and playback options through cloud and SD card storage. The management and access to event videos are streamlined via the Wyze app, making it an excellent choice for a home security camera solution.
Wyze Security Cameras Comparison
In this section, we will compare the features and affordability of two popular Wyze security cameras: Wyze Cam Pan v3 and Wyze Cam v3.
Wyze Cam Pan V3 Vs Wyze Cam V3
The Wyze Cam Pan v3 comes with advanced pan and tilt features, allowing it to track and follow motion within its field of view. This feature is exclusive to the Wyze Cam Pan series and not available in the Wyze Cam v3. On the other hand, the Wyze Cam v3 is a stationary camera with a wider field of view, suitable for monitoring a fixed area.
- Pan and Tilt Features: Wyze Cam Pan v3 utilizes its pan and tilt capabilities for motion tracking. When motion is detected, the camera moves to follow the motion until it stops. Wyze Cam v3 does not have this feature.
- Motion Detection Zone: Both cameras support motion detection zones, allowing users to focus on specific areas in the camera’s field of view for motion detection.
- MicroSD Card: Both Wyze Cam Pan v3 and Wyze Cam v3 support local storage through a MicroSD card, enabling continuous recording and playback.
Additional Features
Beyond their differences in motion-tracking capabilities, Wyze Cam Pan v3 and Wyze Cam v3 share several features that make them stand out:
- Color night vision: Both cameras offer color night vision, enhancing the visibility of details in low-light conditions.
- Weather resistance: Both the Wyze Cam v3 and Wyze Cam Pan v3 are designed to resist the elements, allowing them to function well in various weather conditions.
- 2-way audio: The built-in microphone and speaker on both cameras enable communication between the user and the monitored environment.
- Integration with smart home devices: Both cameras can be integrated into existing smart home ecosystems, providing seamless automation and control.
By understanding the distinctions between Wyze Cam Pan v3 and Wyze Cam v3, you can make a more informed decision when selecting the Wyze security camera that best suits your needs.
Troubleshooting and Common Issues
Motion Detection Inaccuracies
Sometimes, motion detection may not work as expected, causing false alarms or missed events. A common cause for inaccurate detection is the presence of moving objects, such as tree branches, which can be detected as motion. To minimize such inaccuracies, adjust the camera’s field of view or Detection Zone feature in the Wyze App to avoid including these objects.
Another possible reason for inaccuracies could be when motion stops momentarily and then resumes. In this case, adjusting the motion sensitivity settings may help reduce false alarms and improve detection performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key differences between motion tagging and tracking on Wyze?
Motion tagging highlights the moving object in the footage by drawing a green box around it, while motion tracking allows the Wyze Cam Pan to physically follow and record the motion of the detected object until it stops.
How do I set up detection zones with my Wyze camera?
To set up detection zones with your Wyze camera, open the Wyze app and tap on your camera. Side-scroll to the right and tap on the Detection Zone option. Enable the feature and adjust the detection area by resizing and moving the box accordingly.
What are the benefits of Wyze Cam v3 motion detection?
The Wyze Cam v3 motion detection offers improved accuracy, better sensitivity control, and lower false alarm rates compared to previous versions. Additionally, it has a color night vision feature that enhances image quality in low-light conditions.
How does Wyze Pan Scan improve motion tracking?
Wyze Pan Scan feature enhances motion tracking by automatically panning and scanning pre-set waypoints, allowing the camera to cover a larger area and providing a more comprehensive view of the surroundings.
Can you turn off motion detection on a Wyze camera?
Yes, you can disable motion detection on a Wyze camera by opening the Wyze app, tapping on your camera, and side-scrolling to the right until you find the Detection Settings option. Inside the settings, you can toggle the feature off.