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Tapo C660 does not always record or send notifications for background motion

Tapo C660 does not always record or send notifications for background motion

Tapo C660 does not always record or send notifications for background motion
Tapo C660 does not always record or send notifications for background motion
a week ago - last edited a week ago
Model: Tapo C660 KIT  
Hardware Version:
Firmware Version: 1.1.3 Build 250822 Rel. 1035n.

Hi Everyone,

I recently purchased a TP-Link Tapo C660 camera and I’m experiencing a problem for which I’d like to get some help or feedback.

The camera generally works fine, but it does not record or send notifications about traffic passing on the road in the background—unless the Tapo app is open and I’m watching the camera in Live View. When the app is open, notifications arrive normally.

Important details:

  • Notifications work perfectly for all other areas even when the app is closed, so push notifications in general are functioning.

  • The camera is set to monitor the entire frame (no excluded zones, times, or motion types).

  • If a person is detected in the foreground while a car or cyclist passes in the background at the same time, I do receive a vehicle notification as part of that event. But if only a car passes in the background, no alert or recording occurs unless the app is open.

  • The area in question is roughly the upper fifth of the image (the road in the distance).

What I’ve already checked:

  • All phone notification permissions are correctly set, battery optimization and background restrictions are disabled.

  • Tapo app motion detection and notifications are enabled, detection zone covers the full frame, and sensitivity is set to maximum.

  • I am running the latest available firmware: 1.1.3 Build 250822 Rel. 1035n.

In summary, this is not a general notification issue. It only affects background traffic in the upper part of the image.
It seems as if the camera only detects/records/sends notifications for distant motion when the app is active or when another foreground event triggers an alert.

Has anyone experienced something similar with the C660 or found a workaround?
Any advice or confirmation would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

d.

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1 Accepted Solution
Re:Tapo C660 does not always record or send notifications for background motion-Solution
a week ago - last edited a week ago

  @decision6 

Hi, 
For the sake of power saving, the Tapo battery-powered camera is usually in a sleep state (low power consumption). The camera can be woken up when performing certain operations on the Tapo app, such as viewing the live feed, and it can also be activated by the PIR sensor. For a detailed explanation of the PIR sensor's work mechanism, please refer to the following article.
What is the Wake-up Sensitivity of my battery camera/doorbell?
 

In your situation, it seems the traffic passing on the road in the background can't wake up the camera when it's in a sleep state, so the camera won't record and send notifications when the event occurs.
Below is the instruction to test the detection range of your camera, you can adjust your camera's location or viewpoint, ensure the events on the area you are interested in can wake up the camera from sleep mode.
Detection Range Test: test the activity detection zone of the Tapo Battery Camera

Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
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Re:Tapo C660 does not always record or send notifications for background motion-Solution
a week ago - last edited a week ago

  @decision6 

Hi, 
For the sake of power saving, the Tapo battery-powered camera is usually in a sleep state (low power consumption). The camera can be woken up when performing certain operations on the Tapo app, such as viewing the live feed, and it can also be activated by the PIR sensor. For a detailed explanation of the PIR sensor's work mechanism, please refer to the following article.
What is the Wake-up Sensitivity of my battery camera/doorbell?
 

In your situation, it seems the traffic passing on the road in the background can't wake up the camera when it's in a sleep state, so the camera won't record and send notifications when the event occurs.
Below is the instruction to test the detection range of your camera, you can adjust your camera's location or viewpoint, ensure the events on the area you are interested in can wake up the camera from sleep mode.
Detection Range Test: test the activity detection zone of the Tapo Battery Camera

Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
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Re:Tapo C660 does not always record or send notifications for background motion
a week ago

  @Solla-topee 
 

Thank you so much for your reply and for taking the time to help me.
The wake-up sensitivity is set to the maximum. Our house is about 6 meters behind the fence. The camera is mounted just under the edge of the roof at the highest point, so it can easily see over the 1.8 m high fence.

I tested the detection range, and the camera clearly does not detect anything happening beyond the fence. The very first alert only came when the street door was opened or when I stepped into the yard. No matter how much I moved outside the fence or even raised my hand above it, it still didn’t detect anything.

This is partly positive, because it ensures I won’t receive unnecessary notifications. :)
But it’s negative as well, because it won’t record even if a car stops in front of the house or somebody comes by walk. In practice, the camera only covers the roughly 30 m² area (the front yard) between the fence and the house.

Do you think this might improve in the future (for example with a firmware update), or is this a hardware limitation that I just have to accept?
Thank you so much.

d.

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Re:Tapo C660 does not always record or send notifications for background motion
a week ago

  @decision6 

Hi,

The detection range of the Tapo battery-powered camera is influenced by several factors, including the camera's settings (such as wake-up sensitivity), the installation location and angle, the PIR sensor's hardware specifications, and environmental factors. Based on the information provided, you can try adjusting the monitoring angle of the Tapo C660 by tilting the camera's viewpoint upward. After making this adjustment, check whether the camera can detect events occurring beyond the fence. Please ensure that there are no obstructions (such as trees) between the camera and the events that may affect the PIR sensor's operation. 

Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
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Re:Tapo C660 does not always record or send notifications for background motion
a week ago

  @Solla-topee Hi,
I can’t tilt the camera’s viewpoint upward any further because it’s already at the maximum angle. I also can’t mount it any higher, as it’s installed at the highest point, under the roof/eaves. There are no trees or other obstructions—the view over the fence is completely clear.
Thank you very much for your help.
d.

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#5
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Re:Tapo C660 does not always record or send notifications for background motion
a week ago

  @decision6 

Hi, 
In your specific usage scenario, I have no more suggestions to provide about the Tapo C660. You may consider purchasing an outdoor Tapo camera, which is powered by a power adapter rather than a battery, to use in your usage scenario and check if it helps. The Tapo non-battery-powered cameras won't enter sleep mode and will remain on at all times. 
You can refer to the link to find an outdoor Tapo camera that interests you.
Best Regards

>> What to do if the Detection feature is not working on the TP-Link Camera. >> Enhance Video Clarity: Troubleshooting Tips for Improving Camera Video Quality. >> General questions about the TP-Link camera's Pan & Tilt feature.
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