What is eufy Security's Geofencing Mode?

Geofencing is a location-based technology that can trigger specific events or actions within a specific area. In the eufy Security app, geofencing is commonly used in determining and setting home and away modes, enabling users easier control of their home security. 

Home and away modes refer to the automatic activation of the security system when everyone has left, and the automatic shut off and disarming of the alarm. Geofencing technology can determine whether the user is home or away by using the GPS location of a smartphone or other devices.

Using Geofencing Mode

1. Enabling Geofencing Mode:

In the app, go to Security Tab - Security Modes - Device Settings - Geofencing.

 

2. How Does Geofencing Mode Work?

• Geofencing requires everyone living in the home to install the eufy Security app, and allow the app to know the phone’s current location.
• When the app detects that you have entered the defined location of your home, the security mode will switch to Home Mode automatically.
• When you leave the defined location of your home, the security mode will default switch to Away Mode automatically.
• Have family and guest users give the eufy Security app permission to access their phone's location.

Note: Geofencing Mode will be active for all family members, even on multiple devices.

• When someone enters the geofenced area of your home, the system will check if they are the first to arrive. If they are, Home Mode will be turned on. When all family members have left the geofenced area, Away Mode will be activated.
• If you use multiple phones, and each of them has joined Geofencing Mode, take them all with you to avoid preventing Away Mode from activating.

Geofencing Conditions

• Location Services: Geofencing Mode requires your device to have location services enabled, in order to obtain the device's location information. Typically, location services are obtained through the GPS, Wi-Fi, and mobile networks of your phone.
• Geofence: Geofencing Mode requires a geofence to be defined. This is a specified area, which is a circular range, and is set in the eufy Security app.
• Application Permissions: Geofencing Mode requires the eufy Security app to obtain the device's location information. In Android, location permissions can be obtained by allowing permissions for the application manifest.
• Network Connection: Geofencing Mode requires the device to be connected to the internet in order to work. If the device does not have an internet connection, Geofencing Mode will not work properly.

 

What Can Affect the Geofencing Mode Experience?

Factors that may affect the experience of using Geofencing Mode include location accuracy, network connectivity, application performance, battery consumption, phone model and software, and user privacy settings.

 

1. About Geofencing Accuracy 

The accuracy of geofencing technology is influenced by various factors. Here are some issues that may cause geofencing to be inaccurate or function poorly: 

• Extreme weather conditions, such as strong winds, rain, and snow may interfere with the GPS signal of the device and could affect the accuracy of geofencing. 
• Buildings and other large objects can block GPS signals and could affect the accuracy of geofencing.
• Signal interference from Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, cellular networks, and other similar sources may interfere with the GPS signal of the device and could affect the accuracy of geofencing. 
• Issues with a user's phone may also affect geofencing. For example, the GPS chip of the mobile phone may be malfunctioning, or the battery of the phone may be providing insufficient power, which could affect the accuracy of geofencing.

 

2. About Power Consumption on Phones While Using Geofencing 

• Geofencing Mode requires use of a device's location services including GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. When the device has Geofencing Mode enabled, it constantly uses location services to check whether the device has entered or left a specified geofenced area. This may increase device power consumption and could reduce battery life. 
• Geofencing Mode requires the device to maintain communication with the server in order to receive and process geofence information. This increases the device's communication with the network, which may increase device power consumption and could reduce battery life.

FAQs

1. Does geofencing work for multiple people?

• Geofencing Mode works for multiple people at the same time. If you share your devices with others, their phones will also be listed under the Geofencing Mode Enabled Devices. 
• Geofencing Mode supports multiple people and multiple devices.
• When at least one person is within the geofence zone, the system will act as though someone is home. 
• When everyone is outside of the geofence zone, the system will act as though nobody is home. 
• If you don’t want your phone to be in the geofencing group, disable it under Enabled Devices.

 

2. Why is there a delay when I enter or leave the geofenced zone?

• Geofencing accuracy depends on your phone's location and positioning accuracy. 
• Due to the battery saving measures of your phone, Geofencing Mode switches may be delayed by 20 seconds to 6 minutes.
•  In order to maintain geofencing accuracy, pay attention to the following:

• For Android devices, update the Google Play and Google Maps apps to the latest version. For iOS devices, update your phone's software to the latest version. 
•  Keep your operating system up to date. 
• Do not turn on the phone's battery saver mode. 
• Keep both location services and Wi-Fi switched on. 
• Grant the eufy Security app background location permission. 
• Do not close background apps. Some phones may turn off the geofencing function after closing background apps.

 

3. What can I do if it shows "Unavailable" or "Waiting..." on enabled devices?

 "Unavailable" means the system is unable to get the phone's current location. The phone may have disabled location services, and may not have granted location permission to the eufy Security app.

To solve this issue, have the phone's owner log into the eufy Security app, then enable the phone's location services and grant location permission to the eufy Security app.

"Waiting…" means the system has sent the geofencing invitation to a user's phone but it hasn't been accepted. Have the user open the eufy Security app and accept the invitation, then enable the phone's location services and grant location permission to the eufy Security app.

Devices with a status of "Unavailable" or "Waiting..." will not be used for geofencing.