From Wi-Fi to Spy-Fi—we test Plume’s new motion detection feature

In the live view of Plume motion, you can get a rapidly updating idea of how much movement the kit sees. You're looking at my kids wandering around the living room right now. [credit: Jim Salter ]

At CES 2020, Wi-Fi mesh kit manufacturer Plume announced the addition of motion-sensing capability to its newer Superpod devices. Before we go any further, let's be clear about what we're talking about—this is not detection of a device you're holding, like a phone or tablet. Instead, Plume is doing real-time analysis of extremely low-level RF data pulled from the Superpods' radios. This is real motion detection, with no gimmicks involved.

Plume Motion requires Superpods—at least for now. The Superpods can also use stationary devices—including any original generation pods, or computers or IoT devices connected to the Wi-Fi—to further refine their detection.

Plume co-founder Adam Hotchkiss explained to us that, although any Wi-Fi device could theoretically be used to sense the data necessary to analyze motion, not all Wi-Fi chipsets actually expose that data. The Qualcomm IPQ4019 chipset used in the Superpods exposes the necessary RF data, but the older QCA9557 chipset used in the first-generation pods does not.

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