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 (802.3af) or 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.
Draw zones on a live map
Instead of typing coordinates, you can draw zones over the radar's live targets and get an occupancy sensor for each one. In Home Assistant, the Apollo mmWave dashboard has a zone map for every MTR-1 and R PRO-1, where you draw rectangles, ellipses, or polygons.
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.