The first thing I wanted to test with Agent DVR was email notifications when the camera detects motion.
If you're new to Agent DVR and the layout feels confusing, you can follow along with this video
Configure SMTP
Go to General → SMTP and enter the SMTP details for your email provider. These will vary depending on which email service you use.
In Advanced Settings, I enabled Embed Image, so the camera image is included directly in the email. For this setup, I'm just sending one image.
Use the Test option to make sure Agent DVR can send email successfully before setting up the motion alert.
Set Up Motion Detection
Edit the camera and configure the Detector. I've created Zone 1, which is the area I want Agent DVR to monitor.
The schedule can also be configured here, so you can decide when motion detection and alerts should be active. For example, you might not want notifications being sent during certain hours.
Create the Email Action
Under Actions, create a new action and give it a name. I've called mine Mail Me.
Set the Alert Type to Motion Detected, select Zone 1, and choose a repeat timeout. I'm using 120 seconds for this test.
Then add the Send Email task, enter the email address that should receive the notification, and choose how many images to send.
That's the basic setup. When motion is detected in Zone 1, Agent DVR sends an email containing the camera image.
Use iPhone Notifications Instead of Another App
I don't particularly want another app installed on my phone, so I've used the email address Agent DVR sends from as a VIP contact on my iPhone.
That means the email produces an iPhone notification as well as arriving in my inbox. It's a simple way of getting an obvious motion alert without installing the Agent DVR app.