topic Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000 siren in Arlo Pro 2

VMB4500 vs VMB4000 siren

tr2088 — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 19:50:02 GMT

Hi, just bought a new set of 4 Pro 2 cameras including the base station which happens to be the new VMB4500. At the installation i updated the firmware.
All good so far - however the siren is a joke and definitely NOT 100db as advertised. Funny enough also all pictures on Arlo.com etc show a different model, i assume the older VMB4000 which i trust has a proper siren.
Any help or advise vs simply returning the product? thanks

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

JLX — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 02:50:22 GMT

Well I have not tried the siren yet so I can't answer that. However, I to ordered the pro2 4 camera system and it came with the 4500 and not the 4000 base station that is shown. I called Arlo and was first told that the 4000 is the latest model which apparently isn't true? Wondering myself which base station is the latest/better one. Looking forward to the responses and hopefully there is a definitive answer.

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

michaelkenward — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 10:34:57 GMT

@JLX wrote:
Well I have not tried the siren yet so I can't answer that. However, I to ordered the pro2 4 camera system and it came with the 4500 and not the 4000 base station that is shown. I called Arlo and was first told that the 4000 is the latest model which apparently isn't true? Wondering myself which base station is the latest/better one.

Some time during the production life of this Pro 2s, Arlo seems to have changed the base station to the same shape as the later Ultra and Pro 3 ranges. I guess it makes sense to have a production line making the same bits of plastic.

Old promotional material, and web sites, may well show the older device. Unfortunately, the official documentation may also be out of date on things like specifications. The new version of the manual does show both base stations. But the data sheet does not seem to have caught up.

As to which is better, that raises the question in what sense? These things evolve and generally improve as bugs get ironed out and enhancements added.

We need Arlo to check out the specifications for the alarm volume.

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

michaelkenward — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 10:39:06 GMT

@tr2088 wrote:
All good so far - however the siren is a joke and definitely NOT 100db as advertised.

Is it on full volume?

You can adjust it in the rules.

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

tr2088 — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 15:26:22 GMT

Volume is positively at max level and checking with a db-meter it’s only at 70db whilst my smoke detector is at blasting 100db. I assume the even if there might be some technical upgrade of the 4500 base the siren is definitely a down-grade! Can someone who has the 4500 can check the db level as well (via eg an iphone app)?

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

Sircoynie — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 16:27:10 GMT

I still don't understand which is better to be honest?

Arlo state that VMB4500 doesn't do 2K here:

https://kb.arlo.com/000062284/What-is-the-difference-between-each-Arlo-SmartHub-and-base-station

Yet they say they have the same functionality here:

https://kb.arlo.com/000062207/What-is-the-difference-between-the-new-Arlo-Base-Station-with-Siren-VMB4500-and-the-old-Arlo-Base-Station-with-Siren-VMB4000

This so Arlo! Its like buying products from a political party who only ever tell you half truths and change their story all the time!

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

JLX — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:33:57 GMT

I have read the same thing. What is frustrating is that the Representatives don't even know how to answer this question. Depending on who you talk with you will get answers that contradict the others.

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

bluefoam — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 19:30:18 GMT

I have two boxes in front of me, one with the vbm4000 and the other with the vbm4500... I need to return one. Even though the older model does 2k, I'm not planning to subscribe for Pro 3 cameras... Mine are Pro 2. So I'm thinking I'll keep the newer model (4500), as I'm hoping there's some under the hood improvements....

Any thoughts on which one to hold onto?

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

JLX — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 03:55:33 GMT

Honestly I would stick with the 4500. It's not confirmed yet that it doesn't do 2k and it is apparently the newer base station. The whole 4000 vs 4500 thing is still a bit confusing and I am still trying to get accurate info from the company. Hope this helps and I will post when/if I get some definitive answers.

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000 siren

tr2088 — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 18:11:42 GMT

Thanks for all the replies. issue is not solved and i continue harass Arlo with my topic....let’s see what comes out

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

StephenB — Sun, 15 Dec 2019 23:53:28 GMT

@JLX wrote:
It's not confirmed yet that it doesn't do 2k and it is apparently the newer base station.

It's clearly stated here that the 4500 is limited to 1080p. https://kb.arlo.com/000062284/What-is-the-difference-between-each-Arlo-SmartHub-and-base-station

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

JLX — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 00:50:43 GMT

Well aware, however depending on which Arlo representative you speak to they claim the units are the same with the exception of design changes.

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

StephenB — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 14:19:37 GMT

@JLX wrote:
Well aware, however depending on which Arlo representative you speak to they claim the units are the same with the exception of design changes.

I think the KB articles are better vetted than something a support person might say. FWIW, I also heard the the VMB4500 had the same features, but that was before the Pro 3 came out.

@JamesC : can you clarify whether the VMB4500 is limited to 1080p with the Pro-3 camera [or not]?

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

JLX — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 16:34:18 GMT

So I tested the speaker on the cameras and when I talk it is so low you can barley hear anything. Any suggestions? It also sounds like alot of static behind the super low voice that comes through.

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000

StephenB — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 16:50:10 GMT

@JLX wrote:
So I tested the speaker on the cameras and when I talk it is so low you can barley hear anything. Any suggestions? It also sounds like alot of static behind the super low voice that comes through.

It's not a feature I use, but it appears to be a common issue with some Android phones (particularly Samsung). Headsets apparently work better.

There is no way I know of to change the phone's microphone level, so I don't think there is any workaround.

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000 siren

JAFOJAFO — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 12:52:32 GMT

Same problem the siren is not giving more that 70dB.

No data avliable for the model on the web either.

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000 siren

Starfight — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:26:49 GMT

Hi. Same low volume on base station siren. Didn’t even scare my dog. My base station is revision 2. VMB4500r2.

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000 siren

Starfight — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:36:02 GMT

Found this!

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000 siren

JAFOJAFO — Fri, 10 Jan 2020 18:49:12 GMT

It is a low price copy for consumer market. The 4500 does not even have holes in the enclosure to let sound get out in the compersion pictures on web the 4500 pictures have been removed to hide this fact 4500 have less ports less LED indications and a toy siren then 4000. Explains a lower price but to get a new base it seem we have to phurshaee a new set with base and 2 camera.

Re: VMB4500 vs VMB4000 siren

Kmperry86 — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 02:43:40 GMT

What is it? Looks like your link is dead or got pulled.