Halo Smart Vape Detector Tested

By: Rob Kilpatrick, Published on Jan 16, 2020

The Halo Smart Sensor claims to detect vaping, including popular brand Juul and even THC vapes. But how well does it work in real world applications?

IPVM Image

We bought and tested a Halo sensor to see how it performed, testing it in multiple locations, examining:

Does Halo detect vaping in small, mid-sized, and large rooms?
How quickly is vaping detected?
Does the type of vape device impact performance?
Can it properly detect popular vape brand Juul?
Does it accurately detect THC and non-THC vapor?
What methods can be used to circumvent the detector?
What configuration and optimizations are required?

*** **** ***** ************ ** ****** ******, including ******* ***** **** and **** *** *****. But *** **** **** it **** ** **** world ************?

IPVM Image

** ****** *** ****** a **** ****** ** see *** ** *********, testing ** ** ******** locations, *********:

**** **** ****** ****** in *****, ***-*****, *** large *****?
*** ******* ** ****** detected?
**** *** **** ** vape ****** ****** ***********?
*** ** ******** ****** popular **** ***** ****?
**** ** ********** ****** THC *** ***-*** *****?
**** ******* *** ** used ** ********** *** detector?
**** ************* *** ************* are ********?

[***************]

Key ********

**** ******** ** ***** And ******** *****:** *** *****, *** Halo ***** ****** ******** vaping ** ***** *** mid-sized *****, ** ** ~350 ****** ****, **** subjects **+' **** **** the ********, ***** ******** 12'x12' **************.
******** **** ***** ********:******* ***** ** **** were ******** ************, ********* Juul, ***-******* ***** ** different *******, *** ******* THC ****.
**** ******** ******* *****:****** *** ***** ******** when ******** ********* ** defeat *** ******** ** exhaling ******* ***** ***** (though ***** ******* ***** defeat *** ********, ********* below).

** *** **** ******* key ********* ******:

********** ******** *********** ******** For ******* ***********:** ***** ** ***** false ** ****** ********** in *** *******, ************* were ****** (**** ******* Corp's **********) ** ****** thresholds *** ******** ******** level ******** *** **** room.
************ *** ******:*** ****** **** ************, triggering ********** ** ****** nicotine ** ******** ***** or ******* *** ***** totally. ***** ****** ***** be ******* ** ********* settings (***** **** ******* Corp's **********), *** ***** fully **********.
**** ******* ******* ******* And *****:**** ******* ***** *** vape *** ********** *** alarm ***** ******* ******** was **** *** *******. After ********* **********, ***** time *** ******* ** about *** ******. *******, this ** ***** * significant ****** ** **** and *** ***** ********* about *** ********* *** alarm ** * **** traffic ****.
****** ********** ** ****:**** ***** ********** *** detect **** ***** ** the **** ** *** user ***** **** **** the **** *** ****, even ***** ******* ************* with * ****** ****** ~5 -*' ****.
***** ****** ** *****:***** ***** (***** * clothing *******) ********* **** with **** **** *** vape ***, ********** ** settings *********. *******, **** level ** ***** ** unlikely ** ** *******, even ** ****** *****.
** ********** **** ***** out ****** ** ** Bottle:**** ***** **** ** the ******* **** ** properly ******, ** ** could ** ************ ** blowing ***** *** * window ** **** * bottle.

Halo *******

**** *** ** ********* directly **** ******* *********** for ************* ~$*,*** *** MSRP.

Competitive *******

***** *** *** ***** commercially ********* **** ********* options. ****'* **** *********** is***** ************' ******** ********, ***** *** ******* specs ** **** *** vape ********* (**' ***** on *' ********) *** is **** ** * subscription *******, **** ***** alerts *** **********.

**** *** *** ****** Soter ** ***** **** detectors.

Vape ******** *** ***** ****

**** ** ********* ** detect ****** ** * 12'x12' ****. ** *** tests, **** ******** ***** specifications, ********* **** ** a ****** **'***' ****. Halo *** **** ** detect **** ***** **** in *** ***** ** the **** **** *** subject *** *** ******** trying ** ********** *********.

IPVM Image

Long ******* ** ******* ******

** *** ***** ***** was *********** ******* **** the **** *** **** is ******* ** *** time ** *****. **** was, ** *******, *** minutes *** ****** ******* using ******* ********. **** to ***** ***** ** reduced ** ~* ****** by ********** ********* **** 50 ** **.

**** **** ******* ***** cause ********* ** **** areas, ** *** ******* triggering *** ***** *** have ******* **** ** the **** ** ** triggered. **** ***** ***** facility ***** ****** ** determine *** ******* ********* the *****.

Frequent ***** ** ****** ****** ** ***

***-*** ***** *** ******** detected ** *** ** our *****. **** ***-******* and **** ***** ********* these ***** ********** ** about *** **** *****. Shown ***** ** * false *** ***** ** vapor **** **** *** contain ***.

false alarm vape thc Video

********* ** ******* ****, these ***** ****** *** caused ** * ***** up ** *******, * major ********* ** *** smoke, ** *** ******* rooms. ***** ****** ***** be ******* ** ********* settings **** ***** **********, but *** **********.

************, ** ****** ********* using * ******* *** vaporizer (***** * ******* with ************* ******* ********* ****). ** *** *****, THC *** ******** ***** default ******** (****** ***** alerts ** ***-*** **** were *********), *** **** sometimes ****** ** ***** on ***, **** **** it *** ******** ******* towards *** ********.

Wistia Video

Missed ********** ** **** ****

* ******** **** ********* among *****, ****, *** missed ** *** ***** due ** *** **** creating **** ***** ***** exhaling *** *********** ******. Halo ********** ***** *** pick ** *** **** device **** ** *** used *** **** **** a ****** *** ~*-*' away, **** *** ** more ***** ******* *** enough *** * **** alarm.

Juul miss Video

Vape ***** ******** ** ******* **** *****

******* ***** **** * shirt, * ****** ****** used ** ****** ***** exhaled, ***** ****** ** alarm *** ** ***** quantities ** ***** ***** being ********.

Vape in shirt alarm Video

False ****** ** *****

***** ******* **** * clothing ******* *** ****** to *** *** * false **** *****. *******, the ******* *** ** be ** ***** ********* to *** **** ****** due ** *** ***** dissipating *******. ** **** applications, ****** ** ***** this **** *** *** likely, ****** **** ***** use ****** ***** *** be ** *****.

vape steam detected Video

Defeated ** ******* *** ****** ** ** ******

** *** *****, **** could ** ******** ** simply ******* ***** *** of * ******. ***** amounts **** *** ****** to ******* ******. ******* of ****, ***** ****** carefully **** **** ********(*) and ****** ******* ** needed.

** ***** **** * person ***** **** **** their **** ***** **** a ****** ** ********** detection ** *** **** device.

IPVM Image

VMS ************

**** ********** ****** **** Exacq, ** *******, *** Milestone, *** ** **** not *** ********* **** Genetec ** ********. **** informs ** **** *** in ***** **** ***** manufacturers *** ****** ***********.

*******, *********** ** *** three ***** ***** ******** some ****** ***** ** TCP *** **** ******. It ** *** ****** plug *** ****.

Exacqvision ***********

**** ********** **** *********** through *** ****** ******, which *** ** ******** on ***** ** **** to ******* ******. ***** may *** *** *** interface ** *** ******** to **** ****** *** each ***** ** **** time.

IPVM Image

Milestone ***********

******* ** *****, **** integrates ** ********* ***** TCP ****** *******, ***** may ** **** ** trigger ******/****** ** *********, shown *****.

IPVM Image

Nx ******* ***********

**** ********** **** ** Witness ** ****** ******* detections ** ******* ****** to *** ** ******* server. ***** *** **** add *** ********'* ***** stream ******* ********* ****** as * ****** ***** HTTP *********.

Teardown *** **** ********

** **** **** *** Halo ***** ** *** what ********** ** ****. The ****** **** ********** ** * (*+)*** **********:

IPVM Image

*** ** ******** ***** a ********** ***** *** quality/particulate ****** (********* ***.*).

IPVM Image

*** ******* **** */*, Ethernet, *** ***** ********** are *** ********* ** a *********** *****, ******* by ****.

IPVM Image

** ***** **** ***** their ********* ********* *** they ******* **** ******** on ***** ***** ********** off *** ***** **********:

** **** ** *** design ******** *** ************* process ******* ******** ********* top-quality **********, ** **** manufacturers **, ** **** our ********** ************. ** have ****** ** ***** our ******* ********* *** development ********* ****** *** firmware *** ********, ********** and *** ****** ****** board ** **** ** the ******* ****** *** air ****, ********** *** durability. *** ****** ***** is *** *** *********** design *** ******** ***** of *** *** ******* to **** ********* *** presence ** **** *** many ***** ******* ********** in ******** ** ***** analytics ************. ** *** specifically ****** *** **** sensor ***** ** *********** some **** ******** **** allow ** ** *** many *** ********** *** capabilities ** *** *********** roadmap.
******** **** *** *********** software, ***** ******* ******** “signatures” ***** *** ******** to ******** *** ****** of *** ******** *** personnel ***** *********** *******. As *** *****, ** do ******* * ******** off *** ***** ********* to *** *** ******** as ** ** * non-critical ********* ** *** operation. ****, ***** ****** HALO ** **, ** and *** *** *** certified. ** ********, *** product ** **** *********, WEEE *********, ****** ***** and ****** **** *****.

Device *****

******* ** **** ****** requires ***** ** ******** the ****** ***** ****'* setup ****. **** *********, the *** ********* *** be ******** *** *************.

IPVM Image

**** **** ** ************* was ******** *** ** the *** ** ****** vaping. *** ****** ****** needed ** ** *******. However, ** ******* ***** alerts *** ****** **********, further ************ *** ********.

Installation ******* ** ** ******

**** ************ *** ******* to * ******* ******** IP ******. *** ****** requires * * **** hole ** *** *******, with **** ** ********/*** connection. **** ****** ** the *******, *** ****** are ********* ** ****** wings ** *** ****** which ******* **** ** the ******* ********.

IPVM Image

Versions ****

*** ********* ******** **** used ****** *******:

**** ******* *.**

****: **** ******* ** Halo ***** ****** ** a **** ******* *** is *** ** ******* early **** ***** ********* to ****.

Comments (33)

Undisclosed Distributor #1

01/16/20 05:16pm

**** *'* ******* *** of **** **** ** that ******* *** **** to ****. *******.

*** ***** *** ****** with **** ** **** systems ******** *** ****** effectiveness?

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed Distributor #1 | 01/16/20 06:20pm

** ****'* *** *** issues ** *** ******* when ** *** ********* according ** ***************** *****, **** **** **** exhaust *** ****** *****. If ***** *** ******* in *** **** **** a ****** *** **** open ** ***** **** ~30 ******* ****** *** the ***** ** *******.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 01/16/20 05:27pm

*** ***** **** ********?

Undisclosed #7

In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 01/18/20 06:56pm

**** *** *******.

Undisclosed End User #3

01/16/20 05:55pm

***** *** **** *** cons, **** **** ********* Halo?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #3 | 01/16/20 07:20pm

**** **** ********* ****?

** ********* ***'* ** specific ***/** ******** ***************. As *** *****, ***** the **** *** ****, our ******** ** **** readers ****** ********** *** tradeoffs *** *** ** it ***** ***** ** one's *** ***********.

**** ** *** ***** about **** *** ******** #3?

Undisclosed End User #3

In reply to John Honovich | 01/16/20 07:24pm

** **** ****** ********* (busy *****), *** *********** latency **** *** *********** in ******* ***** ** a **** ******.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed End User #3 | 01/16/20 08:00pm

** ******* **** *** latency *** ******** *** detection ***** **** **** big ******, *** ** talked ** * ****** principal *** **** ****'** had ** ***** ********* in ***** ** *** school ******* **** **** known **** ********, *** Halo ***** ** ***** the ***** ** ***. The ********* ******* **'** getting **** ****** ************** is **** ****** ** such * ********** *******, they're ********* *** *** sort ** ******** ****'* even * ****** *** of * ***** **********.

Undisclosed End User #3

In reply to Ethan Ace | 01/16/20 08:04pm

** *** ****** ********* for * ********, *** at $** **** ** need ** ** ******** responsible ** *** *** payers.

*** **** **** ******* exist *** ** ** being ********* ** ****?

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed End User #3 | 01/17/20 05:56pm

**** ******** ** *** latency *****:

** **** ***** ** takes **** *** *** vape ***** ** ***** from ***** ***** **** the ******* ******* ******, where ** ** **** analyzed ** *** ******* and ********. **** ******** are *** ****** ****** a ****** **** *** walking ****, * ***** assume **** *** ** the ******** *** ******* at * ****, ** there *** ******** ******** opportunities ** ****** **** / **** *** **** each ********.
******* ********* *** ******** in **’* ** *******, the ******* ** ************* 30 ** **. **** is ********* ****** **** for **** ***** ****** to ***** * **** signature *** ******** * notification (*****/***) ** ***** that *** ** ******** by ********* *** *******. The ******* ** ****** the **** ***** ********* from **** *** **** video **** ******(*) ** close ********* ** **** is * ******** ****** of *********** ***** ******** are ********. **** ********** the **** ** ***** the ******** ** *** act. ** **** ******** very ******** ******** **** educational ********* ****** *** nation **** **** ******** is ******* ***** **** for ****.

Undisclosed Manufacturer #4

01/16/20 06:59pm

** *** ***** *** would **** *** ****** capture ** *** **** was ******* **** *** ceiling ** **** ** being ******* ****** ***** the ****?

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Undisclosed Manufacturer #4 | 01/16/20 07:57pm

**. ** ******** **** it ******* *********** ** the *******, ***. *********** has **** ****** **** the ****.

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ethan Ace | 01/17/20 12:53am

***** ** ****** ***** on ****** *** *** looking ** ** ********** ;)

John Honovich

IPVM | 01/16/20 08:05pm

*** *******,**** *** *** **** / ***'* **** *** Product *** ****, ***** ** ******, they *** *** ****.

**** ** *** **'* important ** **** ****** to **** *** ** actually *****, ********* *** is **** ******* ** the *******, *** *** execution.

Michael Miller

01/16/20 08:10pm

** *** ****** * lot ** ******** **** HALO ******* ** ******* We **** **** *********** them **** ******** *** linking *** ****** ** video *** **** ****** the ****** ********** **** ACC ******.

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 01/16/20 08:14pm

****, *** *** *** handling *** *********** ****** involved? ** ******* ** issue *** ***? *** false ******? ***.

Michael Miller

In reply to John Honovich | 01/16/20 08:54pm

****** *** ***** **** to *** ******* ****** helps * ***. **** an ***** ***** ** they *** *** *** came ** *** *** of *** **** *****. Over **** *** *** the **** ****** ** groups ** ****** ********/******* the **** ***** ***** they **** *******.

Dave Gideon

IPVMU Certified | 01/16/20 08:21pm

***** ****, ***** ***. Perhaps *'* *** ************* but *** **** *** device ********* ** ******** devices **** *** *** VMS's- ***** ****** ** other *****-***** **** *******?

Steve Beck

In reply to Dave Gideon | 01/16/20 09:31pm

*** **** ***** ****** has *** ******** **** or ****** ****** ***** can ** **** **** an ***** ******. ** you **** ** ** reporting ***** *****, ** can **** ******/*****

Dave Gideon

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Steve Beck | 01/16/20 09:34pm

**** ** ****** *** it ** **** *****/******? An ******* **** *** manufacturer? **** ** **** a ***** ** *** server?

Steve Beck

In reply to Dave Gideon | 01/16/20 09:51pm

** ** * *** is ****** ** *** bathroom, *** ********** *** SROs *** * ************ there ** ****** *****. They *** *** ****** outside *** ******** ** determine *** ***** *** restroom ****** **** **** so **** *** **** down **********.

** *** ******. ******* to ** ***** ****** but ** **** **** it ** ******* *** signal *** ***/****

Lynn Harold

01/16/20 11:50pm

*** ****** ******** * 5 **** **** ** the ******* ******, **** **** ** Ethernet/PoE **********.

** **** *** ******** Halo ************* ********, *** we **** ************ **** that *** **** **** be ******* ** *** ceiling. ** *** ******* is ****** **** * feet, * **** ** lower ** ****** ** used (***** **** ***** it * ******).

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Lynn Harold | 01/17/20 06:13pm

****** *** ******** **** out, *** **** ****** is ******* *******, * updated *** **** ** reflect ****.

David Soltesz

IPVMU Certified | 01/17/20 03:01pm

**** **** ** ******** was ******** ** ***** the *******? ******** *** default ************ **** **** two ******* ** ***** one ****** ***** ** very ********** ** * school ******* **** ***** minutes ******* *******.

*** *** **** **** details ** ** **** you *** ** ** to ******* *** *******? The ****** **** "********** threshold **** ** ** 30." ** **** *** it ****? **** ******** one ******* ** **** there ***** ****** *** had ** ******?

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to David Soltesz | 01/17/20 05:53pm

***, ********** *** ********* is *** **** ** took ** ***** *** latency ** *** *****, you *** **** ***** the ********* ****** ** by ****** ** *** area *** ******** *** bar ****. **** *** inform ** **** ******* the ********* *** *** (~10 *** *****) ***** result ** ***** ********* when *** **** ***** on.

Undisclosed #5

01/17/20 07:01pm

**** ** *** ******* size ** * **** school ********?

Undisclosed Integrator #6

01/18/20 02:20pm

**** *** ******* *****, does ** ******* ** cleaning ******** ** ***** chemical *********?

Undisclosed #2

IPVMU Certified | 01/18/20 07:12pm

*********** *** ******* ****?

Undisclosed Integrator #8

01/20/20 03:12pm

**** ** *** ***, we **** ** **** the ***** **** * bottle **** *** **** stuffed **** ***** ******. Not **** *** **** to *** **** ** your ****, *** ***** there's * ****, *****'* a ***.

Undisclosed Integrator #9

01/20/20 06:59pm

** **** **** ******* this ** * ** bathroom *** * ******. They *** ****** ****** but *** ******* ** almost *** **** *** using **** *** *** amount *** **** ***** is ****** *******. **** product ** *** * good *** *** ********* JUUL *******. ***** "****" like ******* **** * much ****** ****** ** vapor *** *** **** reacts ** ***** **** effectively.

Undisclosed Integrator #10

02/14/20 01:08am

** *** ******* ** this ******: ******** - How **** *** ** take *** *** ******** to *********, *.*. *** you **** *** ******** of *** ** *** sensor ************ ******* ************ test *******. ** **** I **** *** ************* sensors **** ***********, ********, CO2, ***** ******, ****, etc?

** *** **** ****** needs ** ** ** detect *** "*********" ** the *** **** ****** is *******, * ******* the ******** ** *** of ***** ***** ******* is **********, *** ** still ***** ** ******* to **** ** *** on-board ******* *** ******** and ** **** *** actually ********* ** *** they *********** **** ** the ******?

******

Tom McVey

IPVMU Certified | 03/09/20 05:38pm

**** *** ****** ******* on **** ******** (******) that *** ** **** in *** *********? ** have *** **** ******** from ******* **** *** looking *** * ********.

Rob Kilpatrick

IPVM | IPVMU Certified | In reply to Tom McVey | 03/09/20 05:51pm

** *** *** **** specifically **** **** ******** but ** *** *** alarm ** ****** **** air *********. ** ***** keep *** **** ****** up ** * *** test **** * *** of ********* ** *** body ***** *** *** back ** ***.