topic Re: Can’t start subscription in Arlo Essential Indoor Camera

Can’t start subscription

Dingopuppy — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 16:22:50 GMT

So I’ve had a Verisure alarm system with Arlo cameras for four years. I recently moved into an Apartment with great security including an alarm. So I cancelled Verisure. However I have the 9 Arlo cameras still, I thought five would be good as doggycams. I can’t speak to anyone about setting them up and the subscription or equipment needed (I presume there’s some base unit?) there’s no email or phone support and that idiot chatbot freezes and will not connect to anyone.

Re: Can’t start subscription

StephenB — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 19:21:01 GMT

Can you tell us what model cameras these are?

If the housings open, then open one up and remove the battery. There is a label inside.

Otherwise, look for some printing on the camera shell (or the gasket around the charging port) that starts with VMC

Re: Can’t start subscription

Dingopuppy — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 20:16:49 GMT

I can’t get the housing off any of them- feels like they will break!
there is a code under the flap by the charging port with A5D1087TA4812 written on it on one of them

Re: Can’t start subscription

Dingopuppy — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 20:19:36 GMT

What I want to do is use four cameras around the apartment as doggy cams and be able to see what my dog is up to, and have a library like I did when they were part of the library but the Arlo website keeps telling me my subscription is with Verisure- but that’s been cancelled for six months this now. I’m an older person and I just want someone to talk me through the contract any equipment I need and how to get it all working. Every other company does this service somehow!

Re: Can’t start subscription

StephenB — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 21:36:42 GMT

@Dingopuppy wrote:

I can’t get the housing off any of them- feels like they will break!
there is a code under the flap by the charging port with A5D1087TA4812 written on it on one of them

Your camera doesn't have a removable housing.

The code you found is the serial number. Look carefully at the other side of the flap - there is a VMCxxxx part number on it. It can be hard to see, and you might need to clean the flap (and angle it to get some reflection off the letters). I believe it will say either VMC2020, VMC2030, or VMC2032 - but it would be good to know for sure:

If I am correct, you have one of the Essential Gen 1 models. If you were to purchase a VMB4540 and connect a USB thumb drive to it, then you could use the direct access to local storage feature without a subscription. This would handle all four of your cameras. An Amazon UK link is here:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08516SJZ9

This would need to connect to your router's ethernet port.

There are limitations with direct access to local storage - in particular you might find it hard to set it up so you can watch the recordings when you are away from the apartment. Remote Access requires router setting changes that many folks find difficult. Also, while you'd be able to see them on the phone app, you would not be able to see them on my.arlo.com.

If this sounds acceptable, post back and I can give you more details.