topic Re: Flashing lights like snow and clicking and fishbowl distortion in Arlo Pro 5S 2K

Flashing lights like snow and clicking and fishbowl distortion

Jo1215 — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:37:08 GMT

My new Arlo pro 5 cameras have two issues that I cannot figure out how to fix

1. all have a distortion around the edge, making images have a fishbowl or peep hole effect. None of the image examples online show this edge distortion.

2. When I put the cameras outside to check them out I found that in night vision I saw a swirling flashing light effect and constant clicks. I thought it was snowing or icing and I went outside to check - it was a perfectly clear night. I pulled out another new Pro 5 camera and it’s the same thing. I do not understand what these lights are and why there is constant clicking. I have videos showing this, but I’m not sure how to attach them or a photo to this post.
Note - I do not have a base station. Didn’t think I needed one to just view the outside areas around our house.

Please help. My two open cases have gotten zero attention. Thanks.

I have only a few days to return these cameras now after bumbling with them for a few days, so I need to make a decision to keep them or not.

Re: Flashing lights like snow and clicking and fishbowl distortion

StephenB — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 18:59:36 GMT

@Jo1215 wrote:
1. all have a distortion around the edge, making images have a fishbowl or peep hole effect.

Is the field of view set to 160 (wide)? Did you try 125 (standard) or 110 (full)?

@Jo1215 wrote:

2. When I put the cameras outside to check them out I found that in night vision I saw a swirling flashing light effect and constant clicks.

Is the spotlight turned on? Or are you using infrared?

If the spot light is on, is the behavior set to "Constant"? Or is it set to "Pulsate"?

Re: Flashing lights like snow and clicking and fishbowl distortion

Jo1215 — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 19:08:00 GMT

The spotlights on the cameras do work. I was able to turn them on/off with my phone from inside the house.

Spots are currently off and were off in the "snow storm" and clicking episodes. We have a spotlight on the corner of the house nearby so we don't need spotlights on the camera to be on. Yes, I think it is set to CONSTANT.

Angle of the cameras is currently at FULL. I tried all of these settings nd it didn't seem to change much on the side edges.

Do you know how I can add a video to this post?

Thanks.

Re: Flashing lights like snow and clicking and fishbowl distortion

StephenB — Mon, 30 Dec 2024 20:16:47 GMT

@Jo1215 wrote:

Do you know how I can add a video to this post?

There is a video icon in the toolbar over the text box. It requires that you enter a URL, so the video already needs to be available on the internet.

@Jo1215 wrote:

Spots are currently off and were off in the "snow storm" and clicking episodes.

Not sure here, but I suspect the clicking means that the IR filter was engaging/disenaging (so the system was switching between low light color and IR and back again). That could be because it wasn't fully dark.

You will see sometimes see spots in the IR recordings - dust particles near the camera will be captured, as will insects. Also rain or snow - which often is quite streaky due to the 15 fps frame rate used with Nightvision.