topic Re: Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking? in Arlo Ultra

Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking?

ms_kiby — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 23:28:47 GMT

Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking?

Or does it suffer from the same range limitations of the pro and pro 2, where by you can only have the camera within range of the base station.

Re: Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking?

st_shaw — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 23:29:16 GMT

No mesh. You could install multiple base stations to reduce the distance to the cameras though.

Re: Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking?

ms_kiby — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 16:24:59 GMT

i'm aware of the multiple base stations, but seems archaic when people have mesh routers that will extend wifi and / or other devices in my smart home use mesh to extend capability of devices

to have a hub a spoke setup (ie. depend on the base station) is a poor network

Re: Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking?

jguerdat — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 17:28:51 GMT

If you could attach the cameras to your network, they could be more easily intercepted. Having a private WiFi helps secure the system.

Re: Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking?

st_shaw — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 18:00:15 GMT

@ms_kiby wrote:

to have a hub a spoke setup (ie. depend on the base station) is a poor network

There are technical reasons for the architecture.

Since you say the design is poor, what would you propose as a good solution?

Re: Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking?

ms_kiby — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 18:09:38 GMT

i dont see why arlo can't do a mesh network, other brands utilize the reach of these ...

especially when user want to cover larger areas, or multiple sides of a building

the more camera in the mesh network, the stronger the coverage / reach

Re: Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking?

jguerdat — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 22:14:14 GMT

For all intents and purposes, multiple bases is essentially the same thing as a mesh router with satellites.

Re: Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking?

st_shaw — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 02:45:10 GMT

@ms_kiby wrote:

i dont see why arlo can't do a mesh network, other brands utilize the reach of these ...

especially when user want to cover larger areas, or multiple sides of a building

the more camera in the mesh network, the stronger the coverage / reach

It sounds like you're talking about having each camera be a node in the mesh network.

That would work if each camera was AC powered. It would not be very feasible if the cameras were battery powered, because each camera would need to be always-on and listening in order to relay the video data, and that would deplete the battery quickly. Also, each time the video data passed through another camera in the mesh it would deplete that camera's battery to receive and retransmit the video data. That's why you don't see battery-powered WiFi mesh networks.

So, having a network with multiple distributed hubs is a decent approach when you consider the technical details.

Re: Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking?

jguerdat — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 12:36:08 GMT

A much better response than mine... +1000 ^^

Re: Does anyone know if the ultra has mesh networking?

st_shaw — Sat, 09 Feb 2019 14:32:12 GMT

@jguerdat wrote:

A much better response than mine... +1000 ^^

Thanks. I was also going to write that an Arlo system with multiple hubs was very similar to an Orbi "mesh" but you beat me to that point.