topic Re: Cobb, CA in Arlo Essential Security Camera 3rd Gen

Cobb, CA

Lar3ry — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 14:58:31 GMT

I’ve been using Arlo cameras with a Base Station with a subscription for several years now. I don’t use them for security but, rather, for observing animal activity in my forest setting. My question is: if I don’t subscribe will I still be able to use the system to view activity and save any videos I want to keep?

Re: Cobb, CA

StephenB — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:24:24 GMT

@Lar3ry wrote:

I’ve been using Arlo cameras with a Base Station with a subscription for several years now. I don’t use them for security but, rather, for observing animal activity in my forest setting. My question is: if I don’t subscribe will I still be able to use the system to view activity and save any videos I want to keep?

What model is the base station?

What model are the cameras?

Re: Cobb, CA

Lar3ry — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 23:32:42 GMT

Two cameras are Zpro 2 and three are Pro 3. The Base Station is…I don’t know, there’s no nomenclature on the unit. I got it along with my Pro 2 cameras.

Re: Cobb, CA

StephenB — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 17:17:16 GMT

@Lar3ry wrote:

Two cameras are Zpro 2 and three are Pro 3. The Base Station is…I don’t know, there’s no nomenclature on the unit. I got it along with my Pro 2 cameras.

Look on the bottom of the base station for a label. If you see "Feed" and "Dashboard" in the app, then you can also see it by pressing the base on the devices page, and then pressing "device info".

The Pro 2 cameras have free 7-day cloud storage (as long as there are no more then 5 unsubscribed cameras in the account).

The Pro 3 cameras require a subscription for cloud storage (as do all camera models introduced after the Ultra in 2018). You can still use them for livestreaming, and/or cross triggering (telling a Pro 2 to record when the Pro 3 detects motion).

But if you have a VMB4540 or VMB5000 smarthub, then you can see local recordings in the app (but not my.arlo.com).

VMB4000 and VMB4500 bases support local recording, but you need to eject the USB storage using the app and then connect it a PC for viewing.

VMB3xxx bases don't have any local recording features.