topic Re: Activity zones in Arlo Pro 4

Activity zones

Andrewjl — Sun, 28 May 2023 15:18:16 GMT

HI,

I am using a Pro 4 outside on the internet and it has been working well. However recently it strted to display "Activity zones inactive please plug in power supply" Yet the battery is at 99-100% .

Only by plugging it into the mains power do i clear the fault error.

Is this a camera or a battery issue? Any clues as to what I can do?

Re: Activity zones

DannyBearAgain — Sun, 28 May 2023 22:18:42 GMT

Check if you have a subscription, the camera needs external power otherwise.

Re: Activity zones

Andrewjl — Mon, 29 May 2023 16:30:06 GMT

A change in the rules? Thanks though

Re: Activity zones

StephenB — Mon, 29 May 2023 16:57:56 GMT

@Andrewjl wrote:

A change in the rules?

No. Activity zones when on battery power requires a subscription.

Some cameras (including the Pro 4) have activity zones implemented in hardware, but that requires too much power to use on battery.

Re: Activity zones

Andrewjl — Mon, 29 May 2023 18:00:13 GMT

Interesting.

I have a mix of Ultras and Pro4s (x2) the 2 Pro4s are out side on direct internet and solar Panels. I only noticed this feature when one of the Pro4s notified me that the activity zones were inoperative. The other one remains quiet like the Ultras. Again two of the Ultras are on solar panel power.

The solar panels take the batteries to 100% , but the Pro4 only removed the notification when I added direct mains power

Re: Activity zones

StephenB — Mon, 29 May 2023 18:55:26 GMT

@Andrewjl wrote:
I have a mix of Ultras and Pro4s (x2) the 2 Pro4s are out side on direct internet and solar Panels.

Ultras don't have hardware activity zones, so you just lose them on battery power if you don't have a subscription.

As you learned, solar panels aren't enough to get the hardware to engage.