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General Tips

MTR-1 PCB with Sensors

MTR-1 main board with the ESP32-C3, Boot and Reset buttons, RGB LED, and buzzerMTR-1 with the HLK-LD2450 radar module laid out beside the ESP32-C3 boardBack of the MTR-1 board with the Apollo logo and USB-C port

Light Sensor (LTR-390UV)

MTR-1 case render with the light sensor opening at the top circled in red

When mounting the MTR-1 be sure to position the device so that the large hole at the top is not covered. This allows more light to enter and will ensure better accuracy

The onboard RGB LED will trigger the light sensor. Be cognizant of this when making automations based on light/LUX.

Mounting

LD2450 datasheet diagrams of wall mounting at 1.5 to 2 m, mounting angle, and tracking range

LD2450 Performance and Electrical Parameters

LD2450 Datasheet

LD2450 datasheet table of performance and electrical parameters

Expanding Horizontal Distance as Target Moves Further Away

The detection is 60 degrees from center on each side. So it is a cone when you are close to it but at 4 feet away to the side you might not be visible. If you are further from the wall it can detect further in a horizontal distance.

HLK-LD2450 demo app tracking two targets inside the wide radar detection cone

Increased ESP Temperature

If you are experiencing higher than normal ESP temperatures ~140+ degrees F then changing the Wi-Fi power save mode option might help decrease the temperature. Here is the link to the ESPHome WiFi Component Power Save Mode.

Improve Wi-Fi Connection

The Wi-Fi interface of all ESP32 devices offers three power save modes to reduce the amount of power spent on Wi-Fi. While some options can reduce the power usage of the ESP, they generally also decrease the reliability of the Wi-Fi connection, with frequent disconnections from the router in the highest power saving mode. Switch to "none" to get the best Wi-Fi performance!

wifi:
  # ...
  power_save_mode: none