HomeKit Homekit camera unable to detect a person in reasonable distance

[eddjedi]

I am using an Aqara G100 camera with Homekit, and after setting it up I am disappointed to find that it can never detect a person, and sometimes even a car, in the area marked red either during the day or at night when night vision is on. It can detect people coming through the black gate, so I know it is working correctly.

I understand Homekit is limited to HD resolution, this is a 2k camera and through the Aqara app the quality is much better, so this seems to be a Homekit limitation rather than the camera. The only way I have managed to get it to trigger motion from this area is setting it to detect any motion, but this records hundreds of clips a day whenever even the slightest shadow occurs, so again I know the camera is not faulty as it detects motion in that area then.

Has anyone else had this problem with Homekit's apparently inadequate motion sensitivity? I would understand it not picking up motion in the far distance, but this is not an insignificant area.

Alternatively, has anyone got a camera that does detect people that are outside the immediate centre / front of the camera? I don't mind buying a more expensive one, but I feel like this isn't the cameras fault.

(In case anyone asks I have deliberately blurred the top half, that's not a fault.)

 

[StumpyBloke]

I would say the visible area is far too small to be reliably detectable. Camera is far too far away especially when working at lower resolutions like HomeKit is limited to.

 

[eddjedi]

Yes maybe so, but I'm interested to hear how other people get on in similar situations.

 

[StumpyBloke]

Well I can speak from experience with my 14 HomeKit cameras. Not one of them will accurately pick up specific motion when are too far away. Very accurate within perhaps 3 or 4m. After that, take your chances.

 

[srl7741]

I've noticed a few similar things occur occasionally but I don't have any G100 cameras. HomeKit is not exactly cutting edge up to date. I don't rely on HomeKit near a much as the Aqara software. The HomeKit front end is a nice to use convenient way to navigate the smart home.

I use numerous G5 Pro's and they pick up everything that is selected within a zone (60'+). HomeKit seems to be sleeping on the job sometimes but I just jump over to the Aqara app to check or verify.

I never rely on one to confirm anything.

 

[eddjedi]

Thanks, maybe I'll try the Aqara software instead, I just liked the idea of using HomeKit and staying in the Apple eco-system.