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?

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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?

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

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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 ***.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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 ** ***.

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