vs.

Triton ULTRA vs. HALO Smart Sensor

Triton ULTRA vs. HALO

Triton ULTRA and HALO are two options schools consider for vape detection. Their feature lists look similar on paper, but differences in detection, software, installation, and ongoing costs affect daily use.
Use this side-by-side comparison to identify what matters to your school. We recommend trying both in your own building, because the best fit depends on your environment and your staff.
Triton ULTRA is purpose-built as a school safety sensor, shaped around how schools monitor restrooms and locker rooms and respond to incidents.

See Triton ULTRA in action

Triton ULTRA vs. HALO at a glance

Capability

Triton ULTRA

HALO Smart Sensor

Vape and THC detection

Vape detection with separate THC detection capability

People counting

Built-in radar people counting

ULTRA Advantage

Requires 3C-PC or HALO 4 Occupancy Counter model; not included in base models

Live occupancy visualization

Approximate positions and dwell time, with a floor-plan background option

ULTRA Advantage

Occupancy counts documented; confirm live-position, dwell-time and loitering functions for the exact model, firmware and accessories

Loitering detection

Built into ULTRA’s occupancy capabilities

ULTRA Advantage

Available through the Amplify accessory; confirm whether the quoted model and firmware also provide timing alerts without it

Emergency keywords

Standard keywords; custom words/phrases available with Triton Cloud

ULTRA Advantage

3C/4: spoken-keyword alerts; customization options not documented

Environmental monitoring

Air-quality and environmental readings

Video management integrations

Supports multiple VMS platforms, including an RTSP occupancy stream

3C: VMS integrations and dashboard streams. HALO 4: ONVIF M/T and Avigilon integrations; licenses vary

Incident review

Triton Cloud Evidence Room brings supported camera footage and sensor events together

ULTRA Advantage

Camera and event review available through supported security integrations

Operation without cloud subscription

Included local software; Triton Cloud optional

Local operation available; HALO Cloud optional

PoE daisy-chaining

Up to five sensors with sufficient PoE+ power

ULTRA Advantage

3C/4: two sensors total

Standard hardware warranty

10 years without a cloud subscription requirement

ULTRA Advantage

Five years standard. 10 year warranty offered with 10 year cloud software purchase

Cell phone detection

Included; detects active phone signals within configured coverage

Not supported

Email, SMS, and app alerts

Local email; Cloud SMS and app push. Collaboration alert routes documented

ULTRA Advantage

Local email and Cloud mobile alerts; SMS advertised. Confirm delivery route, availability, and terms for the quoted configuration

Cybersecurity documentation

SOC 2 Type II audit reported; security reports through the Triton Trust Center

ULTRA Advantage

3C: disclosed 2025 password/firmware flaws; fix released. HALO 4: secure boot and signed firmware

Detection accuracy and false alerts

A feature checklist doesn’t show how reliably either product performs in your school.
Compare real vape detection alongside the ability to reject body spray, cleaning products, and other everyday sources.

2,861 of 2,900

Vape events detected

5,454 of 5,500

Non-vape events
correctly rejected

98.9% across 8,400 events

Reported overall accuracy

What Triton’s published testing shows

These are Triton’s test results, not a head-to-head HALO comparison. Performance varies with placement, airflow, distance, and source. Test both products under comparable conditions, using the settings your school will actually run.

In September 2025, FOX 5 reported that Montgomery County school administrators described excessive HALO notifications and false alerts. Motorola said the feedback was collected before full calibration and did not represent product performance.

Read the testing methodology and results

Occupancy information beyond a headcount

Restrooms and locker rooms have always been hard for schools to monitor. Cameras can’t go inside, and staff can’t supervise them the way they do hallways and classrooms, so students know these are the places they’re most likely to get away with vaping, fights, or bullying. Triton ULTRA was designed to monitor these spaces while protecting student privacy, without a camera. Its radar powers Triton’s patented occupancy monitoring and visualization (U.S. Patent No. 12,290,365), which counts people, shows each person’s approximate position and dwell time, and alerts on extended stays, all in one sensor.

Occupancy counts are documented for HALO 3C-PC and HALO 4 Occupancy Counter models; confirm live-position, dwell-time and loitering functions for the exact model, firmware and accessories.

Triton ULTRA’s occupancy map can use a floor-plan background to put approximate positions in context. Staff can check activity and crowding before entering, and a small team can cut routine rounds. The anonymous view can also stream into a supported VMS over RTSP.

HALO loitering is available through the Amplify accessory; confirm whether the quoted model and firmware also provide timing alerts without it. Triton ULTRA’s loitering detection is built in.

Explore ULTRA’s occupancy visualization

Software and integrations your staff will use

Both products run locally without a cloud subscription. Triton Cloud and HALO Cloud add centralized management and cloud notifications. Compare what stays available without a subscription.

Triton ULTRA can display its live occupancy visualization in a supported VMS. HALO 3C/3C-PC offers an MJPEG or H.264 dashboard of readings and alerts, not people’s locations. HALO 4 offers an H.264 dashboard stream. Ask to see the exact view your staff will use.

Both can show alarm events in a compatible VMS. Evidence Room, Triton’s incident-review workspace in Triton Cloud, brings Triton events, supported camera footage, readings, and notification logs into one place. Authorized staff can review evidence without navigating the VMS, including staff without VMS access, when the integration and permissions are configured for it.

Compare alert delivery as well as the dashboard:

Triton

Local SMTP email and documented routes to Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Google Chat

Triton Cloud adds SMS and app push notifications

HALO

Local SMTP email and cloud mobile notifications

SMS Alerts for Halo Cloud users are described as being “in beta” and can be requested to be turned on by contacting a Client Account Manager

Cybersecurity and privacy

Triton reports completing a SOC 2 Type II audit and provides security documentation through its Trust Center.

In August 2025, WIRED reported that HALO 3C flaws allowed attackers on the same network to make roughly 3,000 password guesses per minute. Combined with a firmware vulnerability, administrator access could enable eavesdropping, disabled detection, or fabricated alerts. Motorola released firmware fixes for affected HALO 2/3 devices.

Ask both vendors for current security reports, firmware support, and patching procedures.

Compare installation and long-term costs

A lower device price can still mean a higher installed cost, or a higher cost over the life of the system. Compare the full upfront quote and projected spending over five or ten years.

Triton ULTRA supports up to five sensors on a PoE+ chain, compared with two total for HALO 3C. Suitable layouts may need fewer long cable runs and switch ports. Inter-device cabling is still required.

Triton ULTRA includes a standard 10-year hardware warranty without requiring Triton Cloud. HALO has five-year standard coverage, extending up to 10 years with qualifying cloud subscriptions.

Request quotes covering the same rooms and capabilities, including:

Hardware, accessories, cabling, and installation.

Software subscriptions and any integration licenses.

Maintenance, warranty exclusions, and replacement labor.

Compare both the installed price and projected spending over five or ten years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which vape detector has fewer false alarms?

Triton reports 98.9% overall accuracy across 8,400 tests covering vape detection and rejection of non-vape sources. That figure is not a false-alert rate or a head-to-head HALO result. To compare performance, test both systems after proper installation and calibration, recording missed events and false alerts under the same conditions.

Does HALO offer people counting?

Yes. Occupancy counts are documented for HALO 3C-PC and HALO 4 Occupancy Counter models; confirm live-position, dwell-time and loitering functions for the exact model, firmware and accessories. Amplify is a separate accessory offering loitering monitoring. Triton ULTRA includes counting, live position visualization, and loitering detection in one sensor.

Do Triton ULTRA and HALO require a cloud subscription?

Both offer local operation without their optional cloud services. Triton Cloud adds SMS and app push alerts, centralized reporting, and Evidence Room. HALO Cloud adds centralized tools and mobile notifications. Avigilon advertises SMS alerts; confirm the delivery route and terms for your configuration.

Will either sensor work with our existing security system?

Both support integrations, but compatibility does not mean every function is available in every platform. Confirm your VMS and version, supported alerts and visualizations, and any additional licenses. Ask for a demonstration of how staff receive an alert and retrieve relevant evidence.

Is Triton ULTRA more expensive than HALO?

Compare equivalent quotes over five or ten years, including hardware, installation, subscriptions, maintenance, and replacements. ULTRA includes a standard 10-year hardware warranty without a cloud subscription, and its five-sensor daisy chain may reduce cabling costs where the layout permits. The lower-cost choice depends on the complete configuration and installation.

Can I test Triton ULTRA against my existing HALO sensors?

Yes. We recommend evaluating both systems in the same environment using appropriate placement, current firmware, and normal operating settings. Record actual vape events, nuisance-source alerts, missed detections, and alert delivery. Include occupancy and software tasks that matter to your staff.

Triton ULTRA vs. HALO

Triton ULTRA vs. HALO at a glance

Detection accuracy and false alerts

What Triton’s published testing shows

Occupancy information beyond a headcount

Software and integrations your staff will use

Cybersecurity and privacy

Compare installation and long-term costs

A school’s experience with both systems

Why RSU 16 evaluated Triton

Compare the systems in your own school

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources and review notes