Choosing an mmWave Sensor¶
Apollo mmWave sensors detect the moving and still energy of people and animals, which makes them excellent for presence detection in a room. They are not meant to detect vehicles, so for a car an ultrasonic sensor is a better fit. This guide compares our three current mmWave sensors so you can pick the right one for your space.
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MSR-2
Best still detection, for one person.
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MTR-1
Tracks multiple people across zones.
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R-PRO-1
Best of both worlds, plus PoE.
Compare¶
| MSR-2 | MTR-1 | R-PRO-1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Targets tracked | 1 | Up to 3 | Up to 3 |
| Multi-zone tracking | 3 zones | 3 zones | |
| Still detection | Excellent | Limited | With LD2412 add-on |
| PoE / Ethernet | |||
| Horizontal FoV | 120° | 120° | 120° 150° with LD2412 |
| Vertical FoV | 70° | 70° | 70° |
| Power | USB-C | USB-C | PoE, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, USB-C |
| mmWave module | LD2410B | LD2450 | LD2450, optional LD2412 |
Field of view¶
Each sensor watches a cone that fans out in front of it, like the beam of a flashlight. The cone is wider side to side than it is top to bottom.
Zone tracking (MTR-1 and R-PRO-1)¶
The LD2450 module tracks up to three moving targets and reports each one's X and Y position. You draw rectangular zones in those coordinates to decide where presence counts.
Setting LD2450 zone coordinates
- X1 must always be less than X2, and Y1 must always be less than Y2.
- The X axis is where you can get tripped up, especially when both values are negative: -3456 is less than -2345.
- The Y axis is easier since it is never negative.
- The Plotly chart still draws the rectangles even if the X1/X2 or Y1/Y2 values are reversed, so double-check the order.
- Zones cannot overlap.
To set up zones, follow the guide for your device: MTR-1 zones or R-PRO-1 (LD2450) zones.
Beta: try the Zone Mapper
We are beta testing Zone Mapper, which makes drawing LD2450 zones much easier. It pairs a Home Assistant integration with a Lovelace card, so you can draw rectangular, elliptical, or polygonal zones right on a grid, watch your tracked targets move in real time, and get an occupancy sensor for each zone. Both install through HACS.
Check it out on GitHub: Zone Mapper integration and Zone Mapper card.
Still detection (MSR-2 and R-PRO-1 with the LD2412)¶
The MSR-2, and the R-PRO-1 once you add the optional LD2412, detect a single target using gates: fixed distance bands rather than X and Y coordinates. This is what makes them so good at catching someone who is barely moving, like sleeping or sitting still. To add the second module to an R-PRO-1, follow Add the LD2412 to your R-PRO-1.
Reducing false triggers¶
mmWave detects motion, so things that move or reflect the radar signal can trigger a sensor even when no one is there. Common culprits include:
- Mirrors and other reflective surfaces
- Fans and spinning blades
- Moving air from HVAC vents and registers
- Curtains, blinds, or plants swaying in a draft
The MSR-2 (LD2410) and the R-PRO-1 with the LD2412 let you tune the sensitivity of each gate, so you can dial down the distance bands where a fan or vent sits and tune these false positives out. With the LD2450 (MTR-1 and R-PRO-1) you can instead draw your zones to exclude the problem area.
See the Radar Tuning guide to adjust sensitivity.