Camera not picking up motion at night

@emily_s​ - hi there!

So this seems to be a newer issue. When i first set the doorbell camera up, it recorded day or night and i was able to leave night visions on auto. At some point, i noticed that it stopped recording at night so it kept in night mode. Now it doesn’t record at all at night even when it is set to night vision on.  If i check it live, i can see the night vision is working.

@ASprickman​ You mention that this issue just started occurring, so I would try resetting your Video Doorbell to see if that helps. To perform a reset, hold the black button on the back of the doorbell for 30 seconds and then release it. After about one minute, the doorbell will reboot and go into setup mode.

I have been not receiving motions at night on either the outside camera or my video doorbell. This has been ongoing for almost 2 years. I have replaced the video doorbell, got the Wi-Fi extender that Simplisafe suggested, tried changing settings etc. As soon as my system is armed at night, I get no motion until the system is turned off on the morning. It's been escalated and I still can't get this resolved. It USED to work!!! I have not changed my internet provided. The router is in the same location. Please try to resolve this issue!!! One agent suggested that there may be an issue in the software. I think my issue started when the outdoor camera was introduced. Please, please, please help resolve this!!!!

@emily_s​ 

I am having this same problem. In the daytime when it detects motion, it makes a recording and sends a notification. Perfect.

At night, this is what happens:

1) when I put it in spotlight mode, it detects motion and the spotlight comes on, but it doesn't make a recording or send a notification

2) when in night vision mode, the leds blinks to indicate motion detected, but it doesn't make a recording or send a notification

There is a security light about 60 feet away from the house. The light itself is not in view, but some of the area is partly lit.

 What do you suggest? 

@psmullen1​ thanks for the question. I see you also posted in this thread, so we'll be answering there.

@madnmarshall​ What is the environment around your Outdoor Camera and Video Doorbell like? Are there any street or porch lights in its field of view? If there are, that could prevent the cameras from turning on Night Vision, which would hinder their ability to record at night.

No, there isn't any street lights in its view. The environment hasn't changed. It used to work. Now nothing at night. Need more help to resolve this. The escalating team can't even solve this issue.

@madnmarshall​ If you have a porch light, or any solar-powered light that comes on after dark, I would recommend turning them at night to improve the cameras' motion detection.

My new camera the one they just released does not work at all at night.  No motion no nightvision.  They have me resetting, turning upside down, moving etc etc etc.  I put back the old camera which worked fine.

@madnmarshall​ Again this isn't the problem. Our motion activated front door light and video doorbell camera were working just fine before my problem started. I have tried changing the settings for the camera and it still won't pick up motion at night. Need more help. 

@fredbatchelder​ Are there any "white" areas in the Smart Alarm's field of vision? This could be anything like a white wall, ceiling, or shelf. If there are, I would try slightly adjusting the placement of your camera to remove some of this material from its view to improve the white balance of the image.

And if you haven't already, I would reset your Smart Alarm by pressing and holding the small pinhole button on the top of the camera for 2 seconds. This article in our Help Center also lists out the steps to reset the camera.

@emily_s​ Yeah they tried that "fix".  The Problem was my ceiling is white???  My old camera works fine even with a white ceiling.  The listing for new camera did not have a disclaimer stating if there is any white in your room it will not work.

@galeboisvert​ Has anything changed in the environment around your camera? Are there any new lights directly in its path? It may also help to reset the camera, and toggle its Night Vision setting off and back on again in the SimpliSafe mobile app to ensure that it's entering Night Vision properly. 

@mbroadbent1​ What is the environment around your camera like? Are their any street/porch lights in the camera's line of sight, or does it face something like a darker field that doesn't get much traffic? If it's facing a darker area without other light sources, that can impact its motion detection.

If there is a porch light, or any type of outdoor lighting near your camera, it can help to turn that light on at night.

Emily-you make a great point.  I will be  adding a light and repositioning camera. It is dark around here for sure.  When I go to the camera on my computer  at night to look around, the light works and I see everything pretty well. When I go outside and stand in front of the camera, the blue light on the camera  indicates to me the camera detects something,but light does not come on. And nothing gets recorded. This is a work in process. Maybe I will figure this out. Samplisafe should have more than one camera option. These cameras at best suck.

@emily_s​ lights help a lot----but cameras do not get close up  enough to see a persons face. Samplisafe needs better cameras or  camera options. Needing a camera every ten feet is  ridiculous.

Just read an article of the five  best outside security cameras.  Samplisafe did not make the list.  Time to wake up now...

@mbroadbent1​ How high up are your cameras installed? We recommend placing them 6-8 feet high. If your cameras are up higher than that bringing them down can help with seeing those finer details.