topic Re: Geofencing is not working with Arlo Q in Arlo Q

Geofencing is not working with Arlo Q

ejahn — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 16:19:05 GMT

Geofencing used to work for my Arlo Qs, as recently as a few weeks ago. I contacted Arlo support, and they told me that only base-station connected cameras can be controlled by the geofencing mode. I didn't think to ask about when this policy changed, and why? Does anyone know the answers to these two questions. Cynically (and wastefully) I think it is a deiberate decision by Arlo to force upgrades to Arlo Essential Indoors, which can connect to a base station. I'm just considering switching to another brand, after being a customer since 2016, since I don't appreciate or tolerate manipulation of this sort. I pay a monthly fee for Arlo Secure, so Arlo gets ongoing revenue from me, and eventually I would probably have upgraded my outdoor cameras.

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

Dannybear — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 02:16:35 GMT

Sounds like you were given a miss direction.

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

ejahn — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 02:57:45 GMT

Why does it sound like I was given wrong information? Does your Arlo Q cam (or any direct wifi connected cam, not to a base station) work with geofencing still? Thanks, I hope I was given wrong info, because it used to work.

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

Dannybear — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 04:42:55 GMT

No can’t prove anything arlo related.

The information you’re given is incorrect, the arlo Q cameras were never able to connect to a arlo Base station.

The last major stuff up with geofencing on arlo Q was ignored by arlo who stated it was never reported but eventually pushed out a server update to resolve it.

https://community.arlo.com/t5/Arlo-Q/Arlo-Q-Geofencing-Not-Working/td-p/1802803

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

KremmenUK — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 06:38:30 GMT

My ArloQ cameras are still Geofencing

Geofencing is the red line for me. If that ever fails then I would switch brands.

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

Dannybear — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 06:53:49 GMT

@KremmenUK

Be wary these things have a habit of spreading between regional servers, this is an observational guess.

@ejahn

In the instance that this is a local user related issue, see attached article on troubleshooting geofencing.

https://kb.arlo.com/000062271/Why-isn-t-the-Geofencing-mode-working

My research on iOS geofencing does suggest a multitude of causes for the app failure, maybe start with rebooting the mobile device.

The key approach I have found is to get the push notifications to occur when the geofencing mode gets selected in the mode.

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

StephenB — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 10:45:57 GMT

@ejahn wrote:

Why does it sound like I was given wrong information?

This article says that geofencing is supported on the Q (the VMC4030 is listed at the top):

https://kb.arlo.com/1085093/How-does-Arlo-Geofencing-work-and-how-do-I-set-it-up

The article was recently updated (June 2022), so I am thinking that you were given wrong information by support. As @Dannybear points out, the Q can't be connected to a base - and FWIW, base stations aren't listed in the article.

I'm tagging the mods ( @JamesC and @ShayneS ) so they can clarify (and perhaps follow up with support).

What phone are you using, and what version of Android/iOS is it running? Was the OS recently updated?

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

Dannybear — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 11:35:00 GMT

@StephenB

This article says that geofencing is supported on the Q (the VMC4030 is listed at the top):

https://kb.arlo.com/1085093/How-does-Arlo-Geofencing-work-and-how-do-I-set-it-up

The article was recently updated (June 2022), so I am thinking that you were given wrong information by support.

You are likely correct as the hyperlink for the arlo Q’s VMC3040 in the article goes to an error page, which could be the reason the arlo tech said the Q is no longer supported for geofencing.

The base station only supports issue may have been some added spice to the reason given.

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

ejahn — Fri, 14 Oct 2022 11:43:35 GMT

@StephenB

Thanks, yes, agreed. I'm starting to feel I was given wrong information by support. Clearly there has been no geofencing policy change, and yes geofencing historically had worked on the Arlo Q. I agree, I need to troubleshoot a technical glitch with support. My wife and I run Android 12 on Pixel 3 phones. Software version 3.7.1 (latest available to me). Either phone can trigger the geofencing.

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

Cyndarella — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 17:20:22 GMT

Did you get yours working? My Q's (4) geo have all quit working suddenly as well for several days. Outside of deleting the app, reinstalliing everything from scratch, I have tried EVERYTHING! I've had mine for several years, 2 homes. I'm pretty familiar with how things work. I'm baffled at what's wrong. Frustrated to say the least. About done with arlo with this latest issue.

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

ejahn — Sun, 16 Oct 2022 22:31:39 GMT

No, my Arlo Qs still don't geofence. But, at least now I know it's due to a glitch and not an implied policy change, as I was incorrectly informed by support that "direct wi-fi connected cameras can't geofence". I need to file a support issue with Arlo tomorrow about my Qs not geofencing any more. This started about a month ago maybe?

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

Cyndarella — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 16:18:46 GMT

If you wouldn't mind, please keep this thread informed (me lol). I've not done the complete uninstall etc yet, but that's all that's left. Curious to hear what you find. Good luck with your tech.

Arlo Q not geofencing (2022 version)

ejahn — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 18:45:10 GMT

I have multiple cameras, 3 of which are Arlo Qs. The other cameras (all connected to a base station) correctly adjust with my location, whether inside or outside the geofence area. None of the Arlo Qs geofence correctly, thought they are set to the geofence mode. This used to work as of the summer 2022. Now it does not work.

Re: When did the Arlo geofencing policy change to work for only base-station connected cameras (not

ejahn — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 18:47:02 GMT

I created a new discussion topic here: https://community.arlo.com/t5/Arlo-Q/Arlo-Q-not-geofencing-2022-version/m-p/1882411#M11742 . I created a new topic, because this current topic was to debunk the erroneous support advice that "non-base station connected cameras could no longer geofence".

Re: Arlo Q not geofencing (2022 version)

Cyndarella — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 19:59:07 GMT

Having the same issue, as stated from pre - thread we came from. I have gone thru all steps in the article that was shared to confirm settings. I am also android. As stated, I've had my Q's for years. Never a problem with Geofencing. Mine quit after this last arlo update is what I believe happened with me.

My last ditch effort will be complete uninstall if everything, resetting cameras - the while 9 yards. But I'm waiting for what you learn, or other community input. I'm fairly tech savvy. I've always been able to eventually fix issues. But this one is a stunner.

Re: Arlo Q not geofencing (2022 version)

motomax — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 03:51:43 GMT

Every now and then arlo breaks the geofencing on the Q cameras. It’s happened a few times over then many years that I’ve had these. Your only option is to convince support to forward the bug to the correct people.

Re: Arlo Q not geofencing (2022 version)

Cyndarella — Wed, 19 Oct 2022 22:17:57 GMT

Have threads been combined or remerged back together? Trying to get this situation over to Arlo Tech is not a solution in my eyes. He has already tried to do that and was obviously told that information. I've tested a couple more things since I last posted and it's clear the geofencing is not working on my Arlo Q's. Tiring this is.

Dreading it, but I will be doing one other techy thing outside my Q's first, then taking the time do the COMPLETE KILL AND REINSTALL. That will be that. I have ruled out everything else.

Re: Arlo Q not geofencing (2022 version)

ejahn — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 00:56:17 GMT

Yeah, they remerged them even though they are different issues, the first of which was resolved. Oh well. I wouldn't bother with a reset/resync/ of your Arlo Qs. I just did that for an Arlo Q, and even removed a custom "Home" mode it used, and it still didn't work. The base station connected wireless Arlo cams (original version, older than the Qs) still geofence perfectly. It's an Arlo glitch no amount of re-installing/resetting will fix, in my opinion.

Re: Arlo Q not geofencing (2022 version)

ThenBobsays — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 03:23:58 GMT

Has anyone replaced a phone recently? I broke my old phone synced to the system. Got a new one, and logged it in to the system. Geofencing works for my base station devices. But it shows two iPhones (old and new) enabled. The Q shows “iPhone - this device” (the new one or old one?) enabled only, and geofencing does not work. There is no way to delete the old phone or add or removed devices that I can find.

Re: Arlo Q not geofencing (2022 version)

motomax — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 14:10:29 GMT

@Cyndarella unfortunately pushing your way past the front line tech support is your only option. I’ve dealt with several arlo bugs before and the front line support is always kept in the dark. They have no idea what bugs are active and can only recommend support documents.
feel free to reinstall apps, cameras, whatever. It’s not going to work. I’ve been through this about 3-4 times already. The proof is that it affects all Q cameras and nothing else. If you select geofencing it will pretend it’s geofencing but stay on the previous mode even if that mode isn’t one of your geofence modes, which is proof #2 that this is a bug you can’t fix on the user side.