System information
English
34
Alarm: Motion
How Motion Detection Works
The way that the DVR looks for motion is quite straight forward 
- it’s a process where it compares one frame (that is, a single 
image taken approximately a 25th/30th of a second from the 
previous image) with the next. A certain amount of “dierence” 
between these two “frames” is interpreted as motion.
As a result, the DVR is able to detect when there is a change 
in the picture. However, this does not necessarily need to be 
something moving in the frame. For example, a light being 
turned on or o, a lightning ash or even the sun coming out 
momentarily on a cloudy day might be enough to trigger the 
motion detection on the DVR. However, as these events last 
only a moment (and are relatively rare) they will only create 
a few very short redundant clips, which will not take up too 
much space or pose a problem with scanning through footage.
This method of motion detection can, however, become 
problematic when using wireless cameras. As wireless 
technology is susceptible to interference, the static and image 
distortion common to wireless systems is often enough to 
trigger the motion detection inadvertently.
As a result, we strongly advise against using wireless 
cameras with any of our motion sensitive recording 
equipment, and advise the use of hard wired cameras. If 
you simply must use wireless technology, we advise using 
digital wireless technology as this technology is much more 
resistant to interference from other wireless equipment and 
environmental causes. However, any wireless technology, 
digital or otherwise, has serious limitations when combined 
with motion detection.
For a similar reason, don’t use PTZ systems and motion 
detection simultaneously. The DVR will interpret the 
camera moving as ‘motion’ and record. This is particularly true 
when using Cruise Mode - as the camera is moving almost 
continually, so too is the DVR recording almost continually! 
Here, you’ll be able to set the motion detection features of 
the DVR for each channel. We suggest that motion detection 
is, under most circumstances, the most practical recording 
method for the DVR to employ.
How it Works: Once motion detection has been enabled for a 
channel, it will register to the DVR as an Motion Event. Thus, 
you can use the Motion recording mode in the schedule to 
trigger the DVR to record when motion detection triggers an 
alarm signal. 
Enable: Whether or not motion detection is enabled 
on a specic channel. Each channel can be congured 
independently of one another. 
Motion Detection: Click the applicable Set button to setup 
the motion detection area for that channel. See “Alarm: Motion 
Detection Conguration” on page 35 for details on how to do 
this, and what it means.
Say, for example, you are trying to monitor your front yard, 
whilst in the background there is a busy street, and the cars 
driving past continually set o the motion detection. What 
can you do about it? Setting only part of the camera’s view 
to be motion sensitive might be the answer. This is useful in a 
number of circumstances, such as monitoring one particular 
door at the end of a busy hallway, or a backyard with a tree 
that keeps blowing in the wind.
Action:  Here you can dene what will happen when the 
camera you’ve selected detects motion.
Note: If you’ve used the Copy-To feature to copy from 
one camera to another, remember that the Action will be 
copied across, too! You will need to re-set the action for 
each channel.
If you’re planning to use Motion 
Detection as the primary (or sole) 
recording mode for the DVR, you must 
ensure it’s properly congured.
If the motion detection sensitivity is 
too sensitive, then the DVR will record 
too frequently or continually - any 
benet of motion detection will be 
lost.
If the motion detection sensitivity is 
not sensitive enough, then the DVR 
will not record when it should and 
may not record anything at all.
We think that motion detection is the 
best way to get your DVR to operate 
almost autonomously for long periods 
of time (typically weeks to months) 
without you having to worry about 
losing old footage.
However, it is VITAL that it’s 
congured correctly!










