# Outdoor Motion Detection **URL:** \ **Category:** Devices & Integrations\ **Tags:** security, alarm, motionsensor, motion, cameras\ **Created:** [December 5, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/outdoor-motion-detection/66537 "2016-12-05T01:18:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chris\_Schoepp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@Chris\_Schoepp](https://community.smartthings.com/u/Chris_Schoepp)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/outdoor-motion-detection/66537/1 "2016-12-05T01:18:21Z")
Hey all, I’m looking for a solution for outdoor motion detection. I’ll be pairing them with my Arlo Cameras to trigger motion detection as well as turn on lights and such. I’ve seen various suggestions, from using indoor sensors under covered areas, to some sort of beam motion detection to zoned areas with multiple sensors and making non smart sensors talk to ST with a bit of additional hardware. Ideally, I’d like to use a zoned setup with either smart or “made smart” sensors. Has anyone found a really solid solution for this? ---
**Author:** ![JDRoberts](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/smartthings/user_avatar/community.smartthings.com/jdroberts/32/56577_2.png) [@JDRoberts](https://community.smartthings.com/u/JDRoberts)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/outdoor-motion-detection/66537/2 "2016-12-05T01:38:05Z")
There’s an FAQ for this which discusses many different options. Different ones will work for different people. > [@FAQ: Do you know of an outdoor motion sensor?](https://community.smartthings.com/t/faq-do-you-know-of-an-outdoor-motion-sensor/1513/): > > I am looking for outdoor motion sensors to monitor my yard. I bought a pair of the Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Multi-Sensor and am quite unhappy with them. Even on the lowest sensitivity setting it randomly sends alerts, some perhaps due to clouds changing the lighting (even though PIR is not supposed to be susceptible to this) and others I can’t explain at all. With several false alerts a day this thing is just useless. The Smartthings Motion sensor works great, I have some in my house, but it is indoor rated only. The Schlage / Nexia motion sensor is also indoor use only. I am hoping someone has come across an outdoor rated motion sensor they have been able to pair with the Smartthings hub. Mike Maxwell has a very good smart app for putting sensors into zones: > [@Smart Zone motion detector (Zone Motion Manager) \[Deprecated -- no longer supported\]](https://community.smartthings.com/t/smart-zone-motion-detector-zone-motion-manager-2-1-0-release/24188): > > I built this to solve a number of motion related issues. –Reduction of false motion events in exterior applications (False Motion Reduction) –Represent a group of detectors with a single virtual detector (Motion Aggregation) –Enable a Motion Aggregation zone from various devices, switches, contacts ect (Triggered Activation) This is a parent/child application (like Smart Lighting) where the motion zones are created and edited from the parent application. When a new virtual zone is created, a virtual motion sensor is created for that zone. This virtual motion detector represents the states of the physical motion detectors that you configured for that zone. You can then use that virtual zone device in any applications that accept motion devices. Three co… Since you have the Arlo though, why don’t you just use the built-in camera’s motion sensor? It’s actually going to be better for outdoor use than pretty much anything that connects directly to SmartThings. > [@Arlo - Motion sensor trigger recording (replace IFTT)?](https://community.smartthings.com/t/arlo-motion-sensor-trigger-recording-replace-iftt/57129): > > Hi All, I have an Arlo camera monitoring the front of our house. I’ve always found the motion sensing to be a bit hit and miss and ended up installing a secondary outdoor smart things compatible motion sensor to trigger the recording via IFTT/Smartthings - it works well and makes sure I’m recording on the occasions when the camera didnt pick up the motion - but there is a delay in triggering the recording via IFTT. I understand that Arlo is now supported under smart things. I want to set up a rule to replace the IFTT integration. If motion detected by the motion sensor start recording. Ideally I don’t want to rely on smart things to do the recording or to use the security dashboard etc. Instead, just a direct replacement for the IFTT rule. On motion detected tell the arlo to start recor… ---
**Author:** ![BrianEliot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@BrianEliot](https://community.smartthings.com/u/BrianEliot)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/outdoor-motion-detection/66537/3 "2016-12-14T20:33:59Z")
Here is my solution for outdoor motion sensors. I have several neighborhood cats that prowl at night and narrowing the field of the PIR eliminates false alarms. > [@FAQ: Do you know of an outdoor motion sensor?](https://community.smartthings.com/t/faq-do-you-know-of-an-outdoor-motion-sensor/1513/50): > > Here is my solution to outdoor motionsensors. The PIR sensor doesn’t register heat if it can’t see it. Using Electrical Tape to block out the lower and upper field of view. So when the Sun is comes out the Sensor can’t visually see the ground. Also block out the sky so the sensor is less likely to trigger falsely. With these sensors the house is covered all the way around. Each sensor is setup with a Push Notification to my phone during Away or Good Night modes. With the WiFi Samsung Speaker (or Sonos) and Big Talker SmartApp to speak if a motion sensor is activated. In addition I’m using the Sonos Player with RCA Outs connected to a small speaker app powering Outdoor Speakers in the front and back of the house. The speaker amp is on a Z-Wave outlet switch that turns on during Away… ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Schoepp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b77776/32.png) [@Chris\_Schoepp](https://community.smartthings.com/u/Chris_Schoepp)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2017, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.smartthings.com/t/outdoor-motion-detection/66537/4 "2017-01-30T15:49:51Z")
I think you’re right. Arlo now supports zone as well and I’ve had reduced false alerts since solidifying my setup for the arlos. Thanks for all the detailed links 🙂