Ajax MotionCam Photo Verification: UK Installer Guide (2026)

Published 16 June 2026 · Last updated 16 June 2026 · Netview Technical Team

Ajax MotionCam is the photo-verification line at the heart of the Ajax wireless alarm range, and it is one of the easiest upsells a UK installer can make: a motion detector that also photographs whatever set it off. This installer guide explains how Ajax MotionCam photo verification works, the difference between the indoor and outdoor models, Photo by Alarm versus Photo on Demand, which hub and range extender you need, and how visual verification supports police response and UK GDPR. Every model named here is in stock at Netview for same-day dispatch.

At a glance

Ajax MotionCam detectors are wireless PIRs with a built-in camera that take a short series of photos the instant an armed detector senses movement.
There are two families: indoor (MotionCam Jeweller, MotionCam U, MotionCam U PhOD) and outdoor (MotionCam Outdoor, Outdoor PhOD, Outdoor HighMount).
Photo by Alarm is automatic and can reach the monitoring station; Photo on Demand (PhOD) is user-initiated, role-restricted and disabled by default.
Photo verification needs a photo-capable hub — Hub 2, Hub 2 Plus or Hub Hybrid — and only ReX 2 relays photos.
Visual verification supports UK police response (URN) and cuts false call-outs.

Ajax MotionCam photo verification installer guide hero — Ajax MotionCam adds a camera to a PIR so every alarm comes with photographic proof.

What is Ajax MotionCam photo verification?

Ajax MotionCam photo verification is a motion detector with a built-in camera that captures a short series of photos the moment an armed detector senses movement, so an alarm can be visually confirmed before anyone responds. Every MotionCam is a proper passive infrared (PIR) intruder detector first — the camera is an extra layer, not a replacement for the alarm. When the system is armed and motion is detected, the detector raises an alarm and the camera takes a burst of images that appear in the Ajax app event feed and, for monitored systems, at the alarm receiving centre (ARC). The result is that an operator, a keyholder or a homeowner can see whether they are looking at a genuine intruder or a curtain moving in a draught.

That visual confirmation is what makes MotionCam different from a standard PIR such as the Ajax MotionProtect U. For the wider PIR-versus-photo decision, see our Ajax MotionProtect vs Pyronix KX comparison.

How does Ajax MotionCam actually work — Jeweller and Wings?

MotionCam uses two Ajax radio protocols at once: Jeweller carries the alarms and events, while Wings carries the photos, and both are encrypted and use frequency hopping to resist jamming. Splitting the traffic means an alarm signal is never delayed waiting for a photo to upload. Ajax quotes a radio range of up to 1,700 m in open space between a detector and the hub or range extender, with photo delivery of up to 9 seconds at the default resolution when the hub is on Ethernet or 4G (MotionCam technical specifications). Each trigger can send a series of photos rather than a single frame, which gives an operator a sense of movement and direction across the scene.

Photo by Alarm vs Photo on Demand (PhOD)?

Photo by Alarm is automatic visual confirmation of an intrusion and can be shared with everyone including the ARC, whereas Photo on Demand lets an authorised user request a snapshot at will and is disabled by default for privacy. The (PhOD) models add three further modes on top, so the same detector can document a fire alarm, run to a schedule, or photograph arming and disarming. The table below summarises the five modes.

Photo mode	What triggers it	Sent to ARC?	Models
Photo by Alarm	Armed + motion detected	Yes (default on)	All MotionCam
Photo on Demand (PhOD)	User request, anytime / when armed	No (off by default)	(PhOD) models
Photo by Scenario	An Ajax fire detector triggers	Yes	(PhOD) models
Photo by Schedule	Set times (OS Malevich 2.19+)	No	(PhOD) models
Photo by Arming/Disarming	Security state changes	No	(PhOD) models

Photo on Demand is the feature customers ask for by name — 'let me check the shop from my phone' — but because it can photograph people at any time, Ajax keeps it disabled until a user with privacy rights switches it on, and those images are never sent to the monitoring station (Ajax: what is Photo on Demand).

The Ajax MotionCam range at a glance

The fastest way to specify a MotionCam is to start with the location, then decide whether the customer needs Photo on Demand. The table compares every in-stock model.

Model	Use	Sensors	Detection	PhOD	IP
MotionCam Jeweller	Indoor	1 PIR	up to 12 m, 88.5°	No	IP50
MotionCam U Jeweller	Indoor	1 PIR	up to 12 m	No	IP50
MotionCam U (PhOD)	Indoor	1 PIR	up to 12 m	Yes	IP50
MotionCam Outdoor	Outdoor	2 PIR + anti-mask	up to 15 m, 90°	No	IP56
MotionCam Outdoor (PhOD)	Outdoor	2 PIR + anti-mask	up to 15 m, 90°	Yes	IP56
MotionCam Outdoor HighMount (PhOD)	Outdoor, high level	2 PIR + anti-mask	up to 15 m, 90°	Yes	IP56

Ajax MotionCam indoor and outdoor range with hub and Ajax app — Indoor and outdoor MotionCam detectors send encrypted photos through a Hub 2 to the Ajax app and the ARC.

Indoor MotionCam — when one PIR and a camera is enough

For indoor rooms, hallways and entry points, fit the Ajax MotionCam Jeweller or the newer MotionCam U Jeweller, and choose the MotionCam U (PhOD) when the customer wants to check in on demand. The indoor detector recognises movement up to 12 m when installed at the recommended 2.4 m height, across an 88.5° horizontal field, and captures images at up to 640 × 480 px in bursts of one to five frames (MotionCam specifications). It runs on two pre-installed CR123A batteries for up to four years, carries pet immunity for animals up to 20 kg, is rated IP50 for indoor use, and is certified to EN 50131 Security Grade 2. Both the white MotionCam U and black MotionCam U are stocked, as are both PhOD colours (black MotionCam U PhOD).

Outdoor MotionCam — perimeter photos without false alarms

Outside, the Ajax MotionCam Outdoor uses two PIR sensors plus LISA signal analysis and anti-masking to photograph intruders at the boundary while ignoring pets, weather and passers-by. Detecting an intruder before they reach the building is the single biggest step up in protection you can offer, and a photo at the fence line is far more useful to an ARC than one taken once the intruder is already inside. The outdoor detector covers up to 15 m across a 90° horizontal field when mounted at 0.8–1.3 m, with a 105° × 50° camera angle, an IP56 housing, and operation from −25°C to +60°C (MotionCam Outdoor specifications). It runs on four CR123A batteries for up to three years and is certified to EN 50131 Grade 2. Specify the MotionCam Outdoor (PhOD) for on-demand snapshots, or the MotionCam Outdoor HighMount (PhOD) where you need to mount the detector at high level — above gates, over loading bays or out of easy reach. Where a customer only needs detection without photos, the MotionProtect Outdoor is the camera-free alternative.

Which hub and range extender do you need?

MotionCam photo verification only works with a photo-capable hub — Hub 2, Hub 2 Plus or Hub Hybrid — and if you need to extend range for photos, only ReX 2 relays them. The original first-generation Hub, Hub Plus and the original ReX do not carry Wings photo traffic, so a MotionCam paired with them will still alarm but will not deliver images. For most jobs the Ajax Hub 2 Plus is the safe specification; smaller sites can use the Hub 2 (2G), and larger or RF-challenging sites add the ReX 2 range extender. Pair the system with an Ajax KeyPad for arming. Our Hub 2 vs Hub 2 Plus guide walks through the hub choice in detail, and the Ajax keypad comparison covers arming options.

Four step workflow for choosing an Ajax MotionCam detector — Choose a MotionCam in four steps: location, photo mode, hub and arming.

Photo verification and UK police response

Visual verification from MotionCam gives a monitoring station the confirmation it needs to request urgent police attendance and helps protect a site's URN. To receive a Level 1 (immediate) police response in the UK, an intruder alarm must hold a Unique Reference Number (URN) issued by the local force, be professionally monitored by an NSI- or SSAIB-certified company, and use an approved alarm-confirmation method under the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) Security Systems Policy — and visual verification is one of those methods (Farsight: what is visual verification). Just as important, photos let an ARC filter out false activations before they call the police; under NPCC rules a run of false calls in a rolling 12-month period can see a URN downgraded so police no longer attend, so anything that reduces false dispatches protects the customer's response level. Pairing MotionCam detectors with cameras such as the Hikvision range, or with the Hikvision AX PRO on hybrid sites, gives belt-and-braces confirmation.

Photo verification and privacy (UK GDPR)

Because MotionCam can photograph people, treat the images as personal data and design the system to match. Photo by Alarm only fires when the system is armed and motion is detected, which keeps capture proportionate, while Photo on Demand is disabled by default and limited to named users with privacy rights — a privacy-by-design default that helps installers and customers meet UK GDPR expectations (Ajax: photo verification features). On site, angle outdoor detectors so they photograph the customer's own boundary rather than a neighbour's property or the public footway, and brief the keyholder on who has been granted Photo on Demand rights.

How to choose the right Ajax MotionCam

Match the detector to the location first, then decide whether the customer needs Photo on Demand. In practice the decision comes down to four questions:

Location — indoor room or outdoor perimeter? Indoor takes a MotionCam Jeweller or MotionCam U; outdoor takes a MotionCam Outdoor.
Photo mode — does the customer want to check in on demand? If yes, specify a (PhOD) model; if it is purely alarm confirmation, the standard model is cheaper.
Mounting — standard height or high level? Use the Outdoor HighMount where the detector must sit above reach.
Hub — confirm a Hub 2, Hub 2 Plus or Hub Hybrid, and add a ReX 2 if photos must travel further.

For retrofits onto a wired panel, the Ajax MultiTransmitter guide shows how to bring MotionCam photo verification to an existing system, and new domestic jobs can start from a kit — see the Ajax StarterKit guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a special hub for Ajax MotionCam?
Yes. MotionCam photo verification requires a Hub 2, Hub 2 Plus or Hub Hybrid; the original Hub and Hub Plus do not support photos, and only ReX 2 relays them.

What is the difference between Photo by Alarm and Photo on Demand?
Photo by Alarm is automatic when the system is armed and motion is detected, and can go to the monitoring station. Photo on Demand is requested by an authorised user, is disabled by default, and is never sent to the ARC.

How fast does a MotionCam photo arrive?
Up to around 9 seconds at the default resolution when the hub is on Ethernet or 4G, according to Ajax's specifications. Higher-resolution images take a little longer.

Can MotionCam Outdoor cope with pets and weather?
Yes. It uses two PIR sensors with LISA analysis and anti-masking, has pet immunity for animals up to about 0.8 m in height, and is rated IP56 for permanent outdoor use.

Does MotionCam help with police-response systems?
Visual verification is an accepted alarm-confirmation method under NPCC policy, so MotionCam supports a URN provided the system is professionally monitored by an NSI- or SSAIB-certified ARC.

Is Ajax MotionCam EN 50131 Grade 2?
Yes. The MotionCam and MotionCam Outdoor are certified to EN 50131 Security Grade 2, suitable for most domestic and commercial intruder systems.

Order Ajax MotionCam from Netview

Netview is a UK trade supplier for the full Ajax range, with the MotionCam indoor and outdoor models held in stock for same-day dispatch. For specification help or trade pricing, call the trade desk on 01163 800 838 or browse the brands we stock. Related guides: Hub 2 vs Hub 2 Plus, Ajax keypad comparison, MotionProtect vs Pyronix KX, Ajax MultiTransmitter and the Ajax StarterKit guide.

Sources: Ajax MotionCam Jeweller technical specifications; Ajax MotionCam Outdoor (PhOD) technical specifications; Ajax photo verification features; Ajax Photo on Demand; Farsight: alarm visual verification and police response.