topic Re: Help with vmb3500 base station Installation in Arlo Home Security System

Help with vmb3500 base station Installation

Tony-TH — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 20:49:28 GMT

Hello,

Just checking if anyone is still using the vmb3500 base station?

I last used this device in the spring of 2021 with two vmc3030 cameras.

When I try to configure the vmb3500 it continually fails on the last step with

”Firmware status could not be checked”. I then see the device in the app but it is offline and will not turn online. The Internet led is green and I can see it has an ip in the router table and I can ping it from a pc on the same Ethernet network. I can monitor traffic from the router and there are packets being sent and received by the vmb3500 during the configure phase. I believe I manually synced a vmc3030 camera to the base station based on the led activity, the sync led stays green on the base and the blue light on the camera flashes if I restart the base. The camera does not show in the app though, only the base station is there in offline mode.

I tried Arlo support but as it is end of life they will not look into the problem.

i understand the firmware is out of date as the latest release is apparently dated the 30May2023. Perhaps this is the problem?

I have tried two different routers and am always using 2.4Ghz. I even tried a different internet provider at another location and still get the same issue. I have deleted, renamed, reconfigured and set to factory defaults and used different Arlo accounts many times.

I noticed used vmb3500 and vmb3000 devices for sale so I am thinking they may still be functioning out there?

I am thinking of buying a used vmb4xxx or vmb5000 just to see if I can make use of the two vmc3030 cameras.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Tony.

Re: Help with vmb3500 base station Installation

Edinburgh_lad1 — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 06:56:38 GMT

EOL or not, it should function. They've made it clear that it may not receive updates but it can't stop working as the situation would be similar to that by Apple, where older devices were deliberately affected by software to prompt users to buy a newer model; it cost Apple a fair penny in the end. Mine is still working ok.

Re: Help with vmb3500 base station Installation

jguerdat — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 12:06:16 GMT

FWIW, NO base stations are EOL. A possible issue here is that the old firmware can't be updated since it was out of service for so long, leading to missing updates that ultimately allow the latest version to be installed. You can argue this is planned but it's also equally possible that taking a device offline for a long time may not be able to be updated.

Re: Help with vmb3500 base station Installation

Tony-TH — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 10:47:21 GMT

Thanks for the quick reply and confirming you have a working vmb3500. Sorry I did not reply sooner as I thought I would be notified by email when there was a posting. I have just selected the “keep me signed in” option on the community login so perhaps that will feature will work now.

As the superuser pointed out my device is likely stuck in “firmware update limbo” as I suspected.

I hope other people do not run into this issue by buying older used end of life devices (in a state like mine) especially new old stock.

I could contact support again to discuss the firmware support issue of older devices but I would have to work up the energy to do that.

i might buy a used newer model base station but I would want proof that it is actually working in the app beforehand.

My vmb3500 will be dismantled before going to electronic recycling so that it cannot be reused.

Thanks again. Tony

Re: Help with vmb3500 base station Installation

eljosemari — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:29:47 GMT

This company is shameful. They don't let you update your devices to the latest working version; it's better to just leave them unusable and... tell you to buy a new one? Hahaha. Of course not from Arlo, seeing how they operate, and I certainly won't recommend the brand to anyone ever again.

Re: Help with vmb3500 base station Installation

Edinburgh_lad1 — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:04:07 GMT

I think there is a difference between the latest version and a product still working without the latest version. Although Arlo have no obligation to update all devices like EOL devices to the latest firmware, any device should continue working as intended at the time of purchase or whenever the warranty ran out. So, while I wouldn't expect older base stations to work with the newest cameras, I would expect such devices to continue working with cameras sold with them at the time. For example, although there is no expectation for VMB4500 to work with Pro 6 or Pan and Tilt, I'd expect it to work with HD, Pro and Pro 2 or such like. At the moment it isn't, and that's wrong.

Re: Help with vmb3500 base station Installation

eljosemari — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:10:19 GMT

That's the problem: VMC3030 cameras sold with the VMB3500 base station aren't working because the camera has been updated to its latest version, while the base station hasn't been updated in a long time. Even now, when you try to pair them, it's not possible. You should at least allow the base station to be updated to the latest version compatible with your camera. Both products are EOL (End of Life), but they need to be in their latest versions to work together.

Re: Help with vmb3500 base station Installation

jguerdat — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 15:20:35 GMT

FWIW, while we can't see firmware version tables anymore, they likely haven't been updated for any EOL camera since like 2021 (I think that's the approximate year listed when we could see the tables). Since the cameras are EOL, it's specifically stated that there would be no further updates and that future software/firmware would potentially cause them to stop working. So far, as reported here, that hasn't happened but there are a number of folks having problems with EOL cameras that won't be addressed other than by generic suggestions, such as remove and reinstall. Windows 10 and older have the same issues as well as many other devices and software products.

Re: Help with vmb3500 base station Installation

StephenB — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 16:28:12 GMT

@jguerdat wrote:

Since the cameras are EOL, it's specifically stated that there would be no further updates and that future software/firmware would potentially cause them to stop working.

Yes. Though of course Arlo could still update the firmware if they chose to. But they have no obligation to do so.

@jguerdat wrote:

there are a number of folks having problems with EOL cameras that won't be addressed

FWIW, I think the most problematic is not being able to install shrink-wrapped cameras and bases with very old firmware.

But EoL is EoL and as you say there are similar issues with devices from other vendors.