topic Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit in Arlo Baby

Arlo Baby HomeKit

Kellte2 — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 15:04:28 GMT

I'm having some occasional trouble using Arlo Baby through Apple's HomeKit app when on my home network. I'm using the Netgear Orbi (RBK50) as my router. My iOS devices are all up to date with the most current software update (11.4.1). The Arlo BAby is running 1.8.4.5_20140 (most current), and the Netgear Orbi is running 2.1.4.16 (most current).

The problem (see attached picture) is that the HomeKit app reports that the Arlo Baby "Camera Not Available - This camera is being viewed by someone else." I rarely get this error when I'm stationary in my house, but for example, when I go upstairs, I'll sometimes receive this error message, and I'm wondering if it has something to do with the Orbi handoff between router and satellite. It occurs both on my iPad and iPhone, and closing the apps on both devices does not fix the issue. Curiously, if it happens at night, the issue will have resolved itself by the time I wake up in the morning.

In either case, it is an irritating error, as no one else on my network even has the software installed to manage the Arlo/HomeKit, so it’s impossible, short of someone intruding on my network, for there to be someone else monitoring the Arlo Baby over the HomeKit app. I prefer the HomeKit app over the Arlo app due to the lack of pixilation and lag often present on the native Arlo app. There is no reason why the HomeKit app should perform better for live video monitoring than the native Arlo app, but that’s for a different post.

Is anyone else receiving the “Camera Not Avaliable – This camera is being viewed by someone else” error message when using the HomeKit app? Is there anything I can do with my configuration to avoid receiving this message?

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

JamesC — Fri, 13 Jul 2018 16:39:53 GMT

Kellte2,

Thanks for the detailed information. I will escalate this to the development team and try to find out if this is an issue. I will provide an update as soon as I know more.

JamesC

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

Kellte2 — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 03:53:07 GMT

Thanks. To the extent it is helpful, the issue just occured despite having stayed in the same room for the night, so it likely has nothing to do with switching between Orbi access points.

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

b_ran_don — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 13:03:34 GMT

I have the same problem with HomeKit connections to my Arlo Baby that you’ve described. I also have an Orbi RBK53 system.

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

Kellte2 — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 13:05:24 GMT

Any updates from the dev team, @JamesC?

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

JamesC — Wed, 25 Jul 2018 17:17:24 GMT

Kellte2,

I apologize for the delay. This is still being investigated. I will provide an update as soon as possible.

JamesC

Betreff: Arlo Baby HomeKit

Morpheus2002 — Sat, 28 Jul 2018 10:24:10 GMT

Having the same issue with my camera I found out, that if any other user is using the Arlo or the Homekit app for a live view of the camera nobody else can access the picture. Works only if using two Arlo apps parallel, but not working with 2 Home apps opened parallel.

Betreff: Arlo Baby HomeKit

questionmark32 — Wed, 01 Aug 2018 16:49:08 GMT

I'm having the exact same problem. I just got this camera yesterday and after setting it up on HomeKit it was working perfectly. But the next day I'm getting "Camera Not Available: This camera is being viewed by someone else". There is no one else viewing my camera. I don't want to constantly reset the camera to get it to work all the time. I'll easily bring this camera back if I'm going to have to reset all the time. I travel and I can't have this issue happen.

Betreff: Arlo Baby HomeKit

MWFD — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 20:46:09 GMT

Any update on this? I'm also experiencing this issue on my brand new Arlo Baby that I received yesterday.

Betreff: Arlo Baby HomeKit

Kellte2 — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 21:01:30 GMT

I don't want to take anything away from @JamesC but Arlo's support is abysmal. He created a case for me in late July, after I took the time to create an extremely detailed report on a significant glitch in the already unstable Arlo iOS intergration, and it has been completely SILENT as to follow through from Netgear/Arlo.

The iOS app is completely unstable. It crashes routinely. The HomeKit intergration is near broken. Neither the app nor firmware has been updated since June, despite the considerable bugs/errors clearly present and documented by end users on this community page.

You just went public. This level of support isn't acceptable. Fix your software or that public offering won't be worth much in the near term.

Betreff: Arlo Baby HomeKit

Morpheus2002 — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 10:12:26 GMT

Same here. Nothing is working properly. I have to reset the camera every 3 days. I gave it 3 weeks a try, but now I'm sending it back. I can't recommend this camera to anybody.

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

corristo — Sun, 12 Aug 2018 19:55:05 GMT

I’m having the exact same issues, although I’m using a third-party WiFi access point.

I wonder how Apple even certified the HomeKit integration.

Having seen this thread I’m also considering returning the camera.

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

Kellte2 — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 19:16:19 GMT

I wanted to provide a brief update on my case. I've been escalated from Level 2 to the Engineering Team, where I'm told that I should expect additional updates within the next 24-48 hours. The Level 2 representative, Goldmar, has been very patient and pleasant to work with, so I am hopeful that we will eventually reach a resolution on this issue sooner rather than later. Nothing promised, but it is trending well.

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

MWFD — Wed, 22 Aug 2018 02:08:38 GMT

Thanks @Kellte2. PLEASE keep us updated with your case. as I would love to hear of a fix or workaround. Thank you!

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

Nhott — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 00:24:05 GMT

I get that whenever someone is using the Arlo app to view the stream.

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

Tsloan27 — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 11:50:23 GMT

Any updates to this. Bought Arlo yesterday and already seeing this error. Would like to know how to fix it.

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

GuiBacon — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 18:29:54 GMT

Hi...i want to know if any other user is using the Arlo or the Homekit app for a live view of the camera nobody else can access the picture. Works only if using two Arlo apps parallel, but not working with 2 Home apps opened parallel.

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

Kellte2 — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 20:44:43 GMT

After two calls with the dev team - and field testing the trial firmware (which ultimately became the release version) - this issue was not resolved. I stopped hearing from my contact with Level 2 support, and I have absolutely no hope that this issue will be permanently fixed. The only workaround is to reboot the Arlo Baby device, if you receive this message.

Chalk this up to another fail on the part of the dev team.

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

Swiggles — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 02:36:03 GMT

Having the same issue. And I really don’t understand how the home, when working, has a half second lag but the AROL app has a 2.5 second lag at the minimum. And no sound with the arlo baby in the arlo app after most recent update.

Re: Arlo Baby HomeKit

MWFD — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 01:34:23 GMT

Same issue with HomeKit showing “Camera Unavailable” message after dreaming for roughly 10 minutes. This is a consistent error that happens despite no other device attempting to view the feed through HomeKit app OR Arlo app. And I can’t use Arlo app because it drops connection randomly despite my super strong and super close wireless setup. Why is this is so hard Arlo? When will we be able to monitor our babies without some BS issue?!