topic Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected in Arlo Essential Wire-Free Cameras

Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

kodpkd — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 14:54:15 GMT

I keep reading all the issues with the essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected, BUT I haven't seen a fix yet.

How do I fix this, get a different system?

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

kodpkd — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 16:16:18 GMT

So after 1 hr. on tech support I did a factory reset on my camera, then reinstalled it from scratch.

Is this going to solve the problem?

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

kodpkd — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 14:56:06 GMT

SO,,,,, I disconnected the camera, uninstalled it from my app. Updated the app. Did a full update to the camera then reinstalled it to my system.

So far all works and the camera shows a full signal.

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

kodpkd — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 17:04:56 GMT

SO after 4 days the camera dropped off line again. There is something really wrong with the essential cameras.

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

jguerdat — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 13:03:40 GMT

If the camera is brought closer to your hub or router does it do the same thing?

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

kodpkd — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 13:10:14 GMT

I am testing that now. I switched two of my cameras with the essential closer now. So far so good. But when the signal showed 4 bars why would it disconnect?

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

jguerdat — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 12:55:10 GMT

The WiFi icon shows strength but not possible interference. Sounds like something near the camera that also uses the 2.4GHz band is causing the issue.

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

kodpkd — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 13:29:59 GMT

I have thought about that. It was on the outside of my garage, nothing near it.

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

jguerdat — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 13:39:48 GMT

What about neighbor's WiFi? You may want to use a WiFi signal scanner on your phone or laptop to see what shows up at the camera location.

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

kodpkd — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 14:50:49 GMT

Every neighbor has WIFI........ If this camera is that bad, I will send it back!

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

StephenB — Sat, 29 Apr 2023 15:23:44 GMT

@kodpkd wrote:

Every neighbor has WIFI

Of course. And that doesn't necessarily mean there is interference. It depends on how close the neighbor's wifi is to the garage.

I personally don't think the number of bars shown in the app is all that useful. I suggest measuring the speed of your wifi connection at the garage with your phone. The Ookla speedtest app (free) is a useful way to do this. You'd want an upload speed of at 2 megabits or more (Arlo says 1 for the Essential, but I think you need some margin). Signal quality can vary, so it'd be good to take a couple of measurements in a row, and then do it again at a different time.

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

kodpkd — Mon, 01 May 2023 03:56:53 GMT

SO,,,,,,,, It has been just a few days. The essential camera is mounted on the side of my house, less than 10 feet from my base. It just lost connection again. WHY? Is this a faulty camera? What should ARLO do about this?

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

jguerdat — Mon, 01 May 2023 13:15:35 GMT

While it certainly could be a faulty camera, what is the house construction? How many walls does the signal pass through and what's on/in the walls in the straight line between the base and camera?

If you have a subscription of any sort use Settings, Support to select the camera and start communicating with official support. They may determine the camera is faulty and replace it if so.

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

kodpkd — Wed, 03 May 2023 00:08:58 GMT

I have been on support hours,,,,, they are terrible.

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

kodpkd — Mon, 15 May 2023 12:48:06 GMT

So, the same camera is still disconnecting. Now, what I can't figure out, if I leave it disconnected for a few days, it reconnects all by itself.

I can reconnect it if I do a reset or reinstall but I don't get how it connects by itself.

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

Lee_MSgt — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 17:53:59 GMT

And you’re a “Guru”? Linking a camera either straight in to the computer or through a base unit us a lock. Outside WIFI cannot interfere unless there is a fault/defect with the camera or base. Simple logic demands that. This is why I hate using this forum - no technicians providing a concrete fix

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

Jo060 — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 12:13:20 GMT

You should update your name to, "keyboard warrior".

However, why not help the person having issue with their camera(s)?

Re: Essential camera VMC2030 not staying connected

kodpkd — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 12:29:11 GMT

To end this thread. ARLO sent another Essential camera. It doesn't have any issues. It has stayed connected for the weeks now. I have remounted it on my garage with no problems.

Thank you ARLO.