topic Smarthub storage options VMB4540r3 in Arlo

Smarthub storage options VMB4540r3

Default105 — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 14:11:09 GMT

I’m trying to use an intel M.2 2TB drive with an external dock to use as my local storage. The Arlo app doesn’t recognize that anything is plugged into the hub. But the hard drive LED on the dock is blinking which means something is going on. Am I missing some thing or doing something wrong or is there a process that has to go on before it can recognize it as a drive.

Re: Smarthub storage options VMB4540r3

jguerdat — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 14:26:08 GMT

That's rather out of spec compared to use of thumb drives and microSD cards but in principle I don't see that it couldn't work. One thing I'd suggest if you're not already doing it is to externally power the hub and drive rather than using the USB-supplied power which is only USB 2.x power.

You may want to connect the hub/drive to a computer and use a 3rd party program to force the format to FAT32 since no other format will work. Also, verify that there's only one partition on the drive - if not, remove all and then format.

A far easier method is to use a cheap thumb drive which doesn't present as many possible constraints. 64GB holds an awful lot of recordings unless you're constantly recording.

Re: Smarthub storage options VMB4540r3

Default105 — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 17:08:20 GMT

I mean how much storage would be enough for constantly recording for 5 cameras?

Re: Smarthub storage options VMB4540r3

StephenB — Sun, 01 Oct 2023 22:11:45 GMT

@Default105 wrote:
I mean how much storage would be enough for constantly recording for 5 cameras?

You don't get continuous recordings - you are only storing when motion or audio is detected. In most situations you actually get 5 minutes or less footage per day per camera. So typically less than an hour total per day for 5 cameras.

Arlo says the 2K cameras require a 2 megabit/second internet upload speed - in my experience, that number has some margin, we can use it anyway to estimate capacity. A 2 TB drive holds 16,000,000 megabits - about 2200 hours of storage.

FWIW, I use 128 gigabit microSD cards in my smarthubs, and they have all the capacity I need (months).

Re: Smarthub storage options VMB4540r3

jguerdat — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 12:40:57 GMT

@StephenB wrote:

FWIW, I use 128 gigabit microSD cards in my smarthubs, and they have all the capacity I need (months).

I sure hope they're 128 gigaBYTES... 😄

Re: Smarthub storage options VMB4540r3

StephenB — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 18:34:20 GMT

@jguerdat wrote:

@StephenB wrote:

FWIW, I use 128 gigabit microSD cards in my smarthubs, and they have all the capacity I need (months).

I sure hope they're 128 gigaBYTES... 😄

sure are...