topic Re: Ultra 2 - menu pour définir les zones absent in Arlo Ultra 2

Ultra 2 - menu to define absent areas

KIKOF — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 22:59:16 GMT

Bonjour,
Je viens d'installer une Arlo Ultra 2 XL et je ne trouve pas le menu pour définir les zones d'activités

Re: Ultra 2 - menu pour définir les zones absent

StephenB — Sun, 10 Jul 2022 15:14:25 GMT

@KIKOF wrote:
Je viens d'installer une Arlo Ultra 2 XL et je ne trouve pas le menu pour définir les zones d'activités

Do you have the trial subscription?

If you click on the settings wheel on the camera on the main page of the app, you should see activity zones right under video settings.

If you are using a PC browser (my.arlo.com), then it is inside of video settings (not a separate option).

Re: Ultra 2 - menu pour définir les zones absent

KIKOF — Sun, 10 Jul 2022 19:19:21 GMT

Hi,

I don't know what kind of subscription I have but I don't want any subscrption.

I have purchased a SmartHub with SD card that's enough for my needs, no need for a subscription.

I have a Arlo Pro 4 + Arlo Dorbell and for both I can define activitiy zones, the entry is present on both.

But not on the Ultra Pro 2, the entry (activity zones) is not present on the Settings

Re: Ultra 2 - menu pour définir les zones absent

StephenB — Sun, 10 Jul 2022 22:35:06 GMT

@KIKOF wrote:
I don't know what kind of subscription I have but I don't want any subscrption.

I have purchased a SmartHub with SD card that's enough for my needs, no need for a subscription

Although the biggest subscription feature is cloud storage, it is not the only subscription feature. Cloud activity zones (used when the camera is on battery power) also requires the subscription.

@KIKOF wrote:

I have a Arlo Pro 4 + Arlo Dorbell and for both I can define activitiy zones, the entry is present on both.

But not on the Ultra Pro 2, the entry (activity zones) is not present on the Settings

The pro 4 supports hardware activity zones when it is AC powered.

But the Ultra 2 does not, so even if you could set them up, you wouldn't be able to get them to work without a subscription.

Re: Ultra 2 - menu pour définir les zones absent

KIKOF — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 12:51:37 GMT

Having to pay a subscription to be able to use functions that are supposed to be usable out of the box, this is called abuse

It's a bit like buying headphones and having to pay a subscription for stereo sound

Nothing justifies the need to pay a subscription to be able to define activity zones

I could understand that a camera would have to be permanently powered in order to use activity zones (like Pro 4) but not pay a subscription

And I can't believe that zones are firstly "analyzed on the cloud" before notifying the user on an Ultra2 while with the Pro4 zones are analyzed right away knowing that Pro4 is advertised as a lower product compared to the Ultra2

I also discovered that I'm unable to share SmartHub SD Card content with a guest and can't understand why (YES appropriate port is open on my router and I'm able to see SmartHub SD recordings from outside of my wifi/network but not my guest) WHY ???

Should I pay a subscription to let my guest view recordings on my SmartHub SD Card ?

Re: Ultra 2 - menu pour définir les zones absent

StephenB — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 16:04:09 GMT

Keep in mind that this is a user-to-user forum. I don't work for Arlo.

@KIKOF wrote:

I also discovered that I'm unable to share SmartHub SD Card content with a guest and can't understand why (YES appropriate port is open on my router and I'm able to see SmartHub SD recordings from outside of my wifi/network but not my guest) WHY ???

Should I pay a subscription to let my guest view recordings on my SmartHub SD Card ?

The subscription would let them see cloud storage, but not the SD card.

@KIKOF wrote:

I could understand that a camera would have to be permanently powered in order to use activity zones (like Pro 4) but not pay a subscription

And I can't believe that zones are firstly "analyzed on the cloud" before notifying the user on an Ultra2 while with the Pro4 zones are analyzed right away knowing that Pro4 is advertised as a lower product compared to the Ultra2

I agree it is odd. But it is the case that hardware activity zone processing is not in the Ultra / Ultra 2, but is available on the Pro 3 / Pro 4 (when AC powered).

https://kb.arlo.com/1001908/What-are-Arlo-Activity-Zones-and-how-do-I-create-them

Re: Ultra 2 - menu pour définir les zones absent

KIKOF — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 18:53:54 GMT

I understand that you don't work for Arlo and I'm sorry for the tone but I'm a little angry with Arlo's subscription policy

I will warn my friends/colleagues/family/relatives about issues with these Arlo products

I regret my purchase of these Arlo products but now it's too late to return them

I'll try to sell them on the classifieds because I can't sell them to my relatives

Of course, I don't expect any reaction from Arlo. They have a business model that's maybe acceptable to some people but not to others and I think I shouldn't be the only one upset with the business model adopted by Arlo

Thank you STEPHENB for your answers, I should have been more careful before purchasing these Arlo products ...lesson learned

Re: Ultra 2 - menu pour définir les zones absent

StephenB — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 11:38:14 GMT

@KIKOF wrote:
I think I shouldn't be the only one upset with the business model adopted by Arlo

You're not the only one, many people here are disappointed (and often surprised) at the drop-off in features when the trial subscription expires.

FWIW, I would have made some different choices if I worked for them.

But of course I don't anything about their costs. The cost of providing any cloud features that they offer for free needs to be covered by other revenues (either new camera sales or subscription revenues). And there will be less subscription revenue if more folks are happy with the free features.

Part of the problem is that people spend ~1000 USD on the cameras, and then feel stuck because they can't return them when the trial subscription runs out.

So it's a bit tricky on the business side. I'm thinking that one option for them would be to offer low monthly payments on the cameras if someone commits to a three-year subscription up front. Similar to what US mobile phone operators do.