Pairing Guide
The Abode Cam 2 requires a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network to pair and operate correctly.
Pairing the camera as a stand-alone device (no hub)
Pairing the camera as a stand-alone device (no hub)
You can use the Abode Cam 2 as a standalone device which does not require an Abode hub. A smartphone with the Abode App installed is required to perform setup. Search for "Abode" in the Google Play or Apple App Store to download the application.
Open the Abode app and create a new account
Power up the camera using the included USB Cable and AC wall adapter or a 5V USB port. Wait up to 30 seconds for the device to warm up.
Navigate to your devices list and select “Add Device”
Choose Abode Cam 2. Follow in-app prompts to add the camera to your account.
After successfully adding your Abode Cam 2 to your account the camera may be powered down and re-installed in desired location and re-powered. Video stream and recorded clips from the camera will be accessible on the Abode app Dashboard, provided you have a suitable Plan active.
Pairing the camera to an existing Abode system (Iota Hub or Security Hub)
Pairing the camera to an existing Abode system (Iota Hub or Security Hub)
Open the Abode app and login to your account
Power up the camera using the included USB Cable and AC wall adapter or a 5V USB port. Wait up to 30 seconds for the device to warm up.
Navigate to your devices list and select “Add Device”
Choose Abode Cam 2. Follow in-app prompts to add the camera to your account.
After successfully adding your Abode Cam 2 to your account the camera may be powered down and re-installed in desired location and re-powered. Video stream and recorded clips from the camera will be accessible on the Abode app Dashboard.
Parts Overview
Lens
Microphone
Wall hook
USB power port
Status light
Reset button
Speaker
Adjustable mount
USB power cable (6 feet, 1.8 meters)
AC wall adapter
Mount screw & wall anchor
Using Abode Cam 2
The Abode Cam 2 can be used and access in a variety of ways as follows:
Live Stream - bring up a live stream of the current field of view of the camera - from the mobile app tap on the thumbnail on the main dashboard, or navigate to to Devices and locate the camera there.
Record Clips - Short video clips can be recorded for later viewing, or downloading to an external device. Clips can be manually actioned by the record button from the Live Stream view, recorded based on motion events, or triggered by a CUE automations.
24/7 Recording - An additional add on for Standard and Pro Plan customers, this services allows the camera to be continually recording, and up to 10 days of footage stored and reviewed. Clips can be saved from the footage.
Motion Detection and Clip Recording
The Abode Cam 2 has a motion detection feature that is different than a traditional PIR motion sensor. It will detect movement based on pixel changes to the image in the field of view. Due to this, you may find that a change to lighting in the field of view is reported as 'motion' due to the change of color in the pixels.
The camera has 3 motion settings - Off, All Motion and Smart Detect.
Off will not record any clips from any motion detected
All Motion will record a clip based on enough pixels changing in the field of vision to trigger the camera to report motion. The area viewed can be restricted to a key area through use of the Detection Zone, if you need a specific are monitored only.
Smart Detect will operate in the same way as All Motion, but prior to reporting an event, will process the change, and only report if it detects a human presence. This is useful if the area being viewed has a lot of other traffic and you want to minimise reports to only human movement.
Clip Recording
The Abode Cam 2 requires 3 separate events to record a clip:
Start Motion Event - motion being detected
Stop Motion Event - motion NOT detected
Cool Down - time between Stop Motion, and ready for next clip
Understanding these events can answer come common questions such as "why did my camera only record one clip when I walked by 3 times" or "my camera is not recording clips"
A Start Motion Event is defined by motion being detected - as per the section above.
A Stop Motion Event is defined by the opposite of the section above - i.e. A person has moved through and out of the image, therefore the pixels cease to change.
Cooldown - after each clip, there is a 90 second cooldown before the camera is ready to capture another clip.
If there is constant motion - i.e. a tree constantly swaying in the wind - you may find you only have minimal clips recorded, as there is constant movement in the clip, and a Stop Motion Event does not occur.
If there is Start and Stop Events, you need to be aware of the cooldown timer - you are unlikely to have clips in consecutive minutes. A camera set to record a clip, requires the following as an example:
Start Motion at 02:00:00pm
Clip triggered to record until 02:00:15pm
Stop Motion Event within the time frame
Cooldown of 90 seconds until 02:01:45pm
A new Start Motion Event to record another clip
Some users may be concerned about missing footage through the cooldown period (for example). For those situations, we recommend activating the 24/7 recording feature, which allows cameras to record at all times, with up to 10 days storage.
This does come at an additional add on cost, due to the large amounts of storage required for this service.
Reducing Recorded Clip Clutter
Cameras located in high traffic areas, or areas subjected to a lot of movement, may be subject to a large amount of clips being recorded that need to be reviewed, taking up a lot of time.
There are 2 key features within the camera settings to help reduce this.
Detection Zone - the use of a detection zone allow the user to reduce the detectable area of the camera. By using this, you can eliminate areas in the field of view that may report movement - trees moving etc, and allow focus only on key areas that you want monitored.
Detection Zones are only applicable when the camera is set to 'All Motion'. Smart Detection Events outside of the Detection Zone will still be reported/captured.
Smart Detection - By using this feature, rather than the "All Motion' setting, you can specify what you want recording and reported through to the app, rather than having every single Motion Event recorded.
This service can be set to recorded/report any combination of People, Pets or Packages, depending on your requirements, and reduce a lot of the unnecessary clips recorded.
Using Cameras in certain Modes Only
Cameras can be set to not be active in Standby mode, due to privacy, and also to reduce notification and clip recordings at certain times with the use of CUE Automations.
All cameras, or only individual cameras, can be set to be active in Home, or Away modes, or both if needed.
Cameras on in certain Modes only:
Ensure Cameras are set to the desired Motion Detection (All Motion, or Smart Detect)
Create a new CUE Automation
Set Trigger to [System Mode] and select Home, Away, or both. A Geo Location Trigger here can be used as well - i.e. When All Phones leave the Geo Fence. this sets when the cameras will be active
Set Action to Streaming Cameras [select cameras] to turn on. this sets which cameras will be turned on
Cameras off in certain Modes only:
Create a new CUE Automation
Set Trigger to [System Mode] and select Standby, other modes as needed. A Geo Location Trigger here can be used as well - i.e. When All Phones enter the Geo Fence. this sets when the cameras will be inactive
Set Action to Streaming Cameras [select cameras] to turn off. this sets which cameras will be turned off
Color Night Vision
The Abode Cam 2 carries a night time colour feature. This is dependant however on the amount of ambient light present in the field of view.
The camera will calculate the amount of light available, and make a choice for the best image based on this, and swap to either colour, or a crisp monochrome image.