topic Re: sync failure in Arlo

Camera no longer syncs with Base Station. Tried replacing battery and removing everything.

DEMcK — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 17:25:03 GMT

I have 4 Arlo wire-free cameras, purchased ~3 years ago. Starting about a week ago, the cameras will no longer sync with the base station. All four stopped on the same day. When I pull/replace the batteries, the camera LED shows blue for 3-4 seconds, then goes off, and blinks amber 2x every 15-20 seconds. When I push sync button on the base station, the corresponding LED blinks green; pressing sync button on the camera has NO result -- supposed to blink blue, but now does nothing. All four cameras the same. Tried removing my whole network from the account, swapping to a new base station, updated the firmware in the base, then tried re-installing the cameras, and still no sync. Arlo Support insists the problem is the non-rechargeable batteries; but come on -- all 4 cameras on the same day? And with new batteries straight off the shelf? Nonsense. Has anyone else had sync failures?

Re: sync failure

Concrete_Pete — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 09:33:16 GMT

I have the same problem. No warning of battery failure, and it dropped the cameras and doorbell. I have removed and then re-installed them and the system has recovered.

Re: sync failure

jguerdat — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 14:00:28 GMT

Thee slow amber blink is normally an indication of weak/dead batteries. Have you checked them with a voltmeter? Also, when placing them in the camera, just lightly insert them in the slots and let the battery door do the pushing.

Re: sync failure

DEMcK — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 03:27:48 GMT

Have done this (replace batteries) many times of the years, and again this week. Not the solution -- new fresh batteries, and also the 2 cameras with month-old batteries also stopped syncing on the same day as the 2 with brand-new batteries. Any chance the firmware upgrade isn't compatible with my older base station or cameras?

Re: sync failure

jguerdat — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 14:06:17 GMT

Unlikely that a firmware update has changed anything, especially since the last base station update for the VMB3000 was almost 2 years ago and the cameras about 6 months ago. It's hard to say if you have failing hardware but certainly something has changed. It could be your account but I don't see how. Try a new account with a second email address. If possible take the system to a different location and try setting it up. WHen you're trying to sync the cameras make sure you only briefly press the base sync button - don't hold it for 2 seconds.