Thumbs up for separate IR illuminators.

[longedge]

For anyone having problems with motion detection at night as I was, this might be the solution.

The way I use my Amcrest cameras isn't what they were really designed for being interior cameras but looking out through windows. OK so I can switch off the IR illumination to stop glare back from the window but then you have to rely on whatever light there is outside. In my case the Amcrest cameras are duplicating the view from my outdoor cameras connected to my NVR which of course have their own IR illumination and that works up to a point.

The camera that is trained on my driveway was recording motion detection several dozen times every hour through the night and reducing the sensitivity or increasing the threshold isn't the answer as I don't want to miss genuine activations.

I installed a standalone IR illuminator yesterday and the improvement is better than I had expected. Last night the few activations that occurred were 'genuine' (neighbour's cats) with none of the 'incorrect' ones I normally get.

Instead of just thinking about it I should have done this a long time ago. Separate IR illuminators get a big thumbs up from me and, as a bonus, it has also improved the picture from the camera attached to my NVR.

[amcrest168]

hi @longedge, can you share which ir illuminator you have installed? i had thought of playing with external ir illuminators but i have not narrowed down on a choice.

[Revo2Maxx]

Just remember when looking into a Ir blaster you may not always get away with the same I have or even the ones he has because of FOV and the area your trying to light they have some that have Remote control ability most times the remote is a add on. Some of them are good because you can adjust the output. They do work well and great option for keeping like 841, 941 or 1051 in a window inside and still have it outside to light the way.

[longedge]

@amcrest168 Yes sure, I bought https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07MXBKT7X (in fact I have got 2 one fron and one rear of house).

A comparison at roughly the same time of day. The pool of light on the left which is in both snapshots, is from my external camera and that from the illuminator is on the right.

before_after.jpg (340.98 KiB) Viewed 749 times

[amcrest168]

@longedge, wow very nice. thanks for sharing.

[longedge]

If I didn't know better, looking at the example snapshots I would say that the camera settings had been altered between the two images but they haven't. The second one was captured about two minutes later which more or less takes account of the lengthening days. The only difference I can think of is different cloud cover.

Although it's not obvious from the images, the additional light actually casts shadows on the hedge and bus shelter on the far side of the road as people walk past. All in all a well worthwhile addition .

[Revo2Maxx]

Well I can remember the Video you posted some time ago where your area had an issue with Car prowler and the Amount of light that was in that video to the light you have in both of these pictures are 100 fold. So I am going to guess that the Pictures are taking with a Camera that has no ir on. I wonder what the Spread would have been with that IR on the location of that area. It almost looks like it would need to have more power if it was cast from the Capturing camera area?

[longedge]

@Revo2Maxx Yeah that car thief showed up well enough when he was on my neighbour's driveway and he triggered my neighbour's standard floodlight. Obviously the IR on my camera is switched off as it's behind glass but the IR illumination from the outside camera on my NVR has been improved on many times over by the new IR illuminator that I just installed outside in the last couple of days. An unexpected bonus is that the constant snapshots that were being triggered before have stopped completely.

[longedge]

A comparison (time of day different so not entirely fair) of the difference it's made on my NVR.

before_after_NVR.jpg (338.51 KiB) Viewed 731 times

[Revo2Maxx]

Very nice. What camera is the one with the IR? It almost looks like it isn't on Smart IR or using the Smart IR feature?