topic Re: Bootloop after Firmware Update - base is offline in Arlo

Base Station Firmware Updates Forced, Then Base Station No Longer Contactable

alisterr — Mon, 30 Sep 2019 20:26:45 GMT

In what represents a new low in my far-too-long dealings with the Arlo system, I checked my Arlo app this morning only to be told that a base station firmware update was required. I really, really didn't want to do that, as I'm not in the same country as the system, so if anything bad happened, it'd be potentially impossible to resolve.

Anyway, the vastly irritating app refused to carry out basic functionality like viewing live camera feeds, so I bit the bullet and selected 'update' from the Android app. Some time later, it returned to say that the system needed updating again. This never changed, so I couldn't really use the cameras from the app. The base station firmware version hadn't shifted at all - clearly the app-initiated action wasn't getting the job done.

I then tried the web app on my laptop, and got the same "needs updating" message, with accompanying crippling of the user interface for no obvious good reason. However, this time clicking the update did achieve something - the base station firmware appears to have now updated to a special version that doesn't work at all. Thanks for that, Netgear. There is no chance that the power went during the firmware update process - I have other systems in place to monitor stuff like that.

Obviously I'd love to be able to power it off and on again, sacrifice a goat, press 'sync' ten times to the rhythm of the Bee Gees' "Staying Alive" or whatever else nonsense people seem to be told to do when their expensive system goes off in a huff, but I'm not anywhere near it to do so.

On my next flight over, I'm going to be taking an alternative vendor's cameras with me (that don't depend on a base station with short range proprietary wifi and don't have serious self-image issues), bringing this junk back to the UK, then sending it back from whence it came.

Seriously - I've worked in embedded systems myself for quite a long time, and have seldom seen such a cavalier approach to system updates - this is hardly the first instance.

Has anyone else experienced this issue?

EDIT: the base station has re-appeared - YAY. The interfaces show "A firmware update is required for your base station and camera. Let’s start with the base station." - BOO.

So functionality almost entirely crippled again, but the cameras should still record if a motion event occurs. Clearly I'd be insane to attempt the update again. Grrrr.

Current base station firmware version: 1.12.0.0_27099

Evil version that they insist I install: 1.12.0.1_27940

Strangely, I don't see any release notes for 1.12.0.1_27940.

Bootloop after Firmware Update - base is offline

Voruk — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 11:50:32 GMT

Hello,

my arlo app forced me to make a basestation Firmware Update. Now the basestation is offline. It seems to be in a continuous bootloop. The power led is orange, turns green and then turns off. The camera led turns green for a short period and then power led turns orange.

Any suggestions how I can get this fixed?

Re: Bootloop after Firmware Update - base is offline

TomMac — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 14:43:22 GMT

Try a power button reboot first ( off - on )

You may have to do a factory reboot ( hold in reset for 10 secs till leds all flash amber ) and then reclaim the base ( start as if new )

Re: Bootloop after Firmware Update - base is offline

FerhatC — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 16:47:06 GMT

Ihave same issue, bootloop after trying to install new firmware...........

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

FerhatC — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 20:38:52 GMT

I have exacly same issue, my base is in bootloop now........ cant cancel the update

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

alisterr — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 20:58:14 GMT

Good luck - mine's not boot-looping now at least... it's settled into its "A firmware update is required for your base station and camera. Let’s start with the base station." state.

Hopefully your base station will revert to previous known good firmware like mine seems to have done (for certain values of 'good').

I guess I could use the not-very-published Arlo API, which would presumably permit me to ignore this firmware update request and stream live cameras, etc. Actually, I'm wondering if producing an entirely different client interface might be the way to go - one that just does things properly. But writing software for a system that I've already spent > £1000 on is a bit hard to swallow...

Re: Bootloop after Firmware Update - base is offline

jguerdat — Sat, 05 Jan 2019 21:16:50 GMT

And did you try the suggestion above your post?

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

alisterr — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 09:44:00 GMT

... and now it appears that everything's fine - the base station reports the firmware version that it wanted to install is now operational. How could you trust these things?

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

FerhatC — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 11:35:19 GMT

Did u done anything specific ? My camera is OK now but i cant see live.

Because vase station wants that stupid upgrade 1.12.0.1......

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

alisterr — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 11:58:28 GMT

No, nothing at all - it just started working having upgraded itself. Of course, now there's a new problem (recording times are wrong by several hours). And yes, I checked the timezone in the configuration. Ireland in winter is not known for being the land of the midnight sun - it struggles during daytime often.

Good luck, and don't forget to complain to them on twitter.

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

jguerdat — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 15:09:45 GMT

Reboot your base - that usually fixes timestamp issues.

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

Roblt — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 18:51:02 GMT

Omg! I’m having the same issue every morning for the last two days. Is your finally working properly?

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

PVjohn — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 19:27:36 GMT

I am having the same issue. Logged into iOS app to find nothing was functional based on "Base firmware upgrade required", I have attempted this and when it seems to be complete, my cameras are still not functional, and I keep getting the same notification to upgrade firmware starting with the base. I am curious if anyone with the same issue has been able to resolve and how? Seems like everyone here is still stuck with the issue.

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

alisterr — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 21:17:34 GMT

I'm guessing the unit might have rebooted itself. It was exactly -8 off UTC, so presumably its default is pacific time. My settings in the web interface weren't showing that though - perhaps the base station hadn't applied those settings until a reboot or some other scheduled event that checked it. You'd think / hope that if it were necessary, it would happen a lot faster than it did (but of course I don't have access to the unit's logs to determine this).

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

alisterr — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 21:19:18 GMT

Yes, for now everything is working fine again... hopefully yours will sort itself out too.

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

alisterr — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 21:21:59 GMT

I got around the repeated "firmware upgrade required" message by using the web client. I get the nasty feeling that the additional "are you sure" step that appears from the web client side is necessary, and that the Android / iOS apps just don't present that so it never really does anything. Can't say for sure though. I would be careful if you do apply the update though, as my system was then down for some time before it sorted itself out.

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

Roblt — Sun, 06 Jan 2019 21:42:13 GMT

I don’t know whats going on. Every morning mines is all messed up and it’s just frustrating. It also tells me that my router isn’t connected to my internet.

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

Roblt — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 11:28:58 GMT

Again today! This is annoying. I don’t know what to do.

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

jguerdat — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 14:13:31 GMT

Likely the best and fastest thing to do is to reset the system. Remove all devices from Settings, My Devices. Hold the base reset button until the LEDs flash amber. Wait for the base to reboot with green power and Internet LEDs. Claim the base normally and sync the cameras, updating firmware as you go if prompted.

Re: Base station firmware updates forced, then base station no longer contactable

Roblt — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 15:43:13 GMT

Ok I will try that tonight. Thanks!