Arlo Essential Spotlight Incorrect Continuous Activity Recognition

[HennaHands]

I have two Arlo Essential Spotlight cameras set up in two very small spaces - approximately 24” circumference each that are shelters for my outdoor cats. I have them set up with a small activity zone at the entrance of the shelter so I'm aware of when they coma and go.

Regardless, the cameras keep showing constant activity even though there is absolutely nothing happening in these very small areas. In addition, when there IS activity in this space, it's not being recognized. I've had this system in place for two years without this issue. 

I have hard reset both cameras several times, reconnecting them to the base station closest to these cameras. I have hard reset the base station several times.

Both cameras are showing updated firmware.

One of the cameras, it is 10' away from the base station. Both cameras show strong signals. Both cameras are plugged into a power source and are usually at 100% charge level.

There are links to four photos below - three of them are from last year. One of them shows the shelters from the outside. Two show the shelters in use. One shows an empty shelter (as of today) that keeps showing repeated activity although the view you see here is the ONLY view every time it shows activity. When I say it shows activity, it shows new activity every single minute, nearly non-stop.

Please advise.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VbYB-5mQCiLMQGHOqH-k364pQi0Jd0GO/view?usp=sharing,

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zs36gdPmW-CWvQ2rMPZRVkG-gdBvc3oh/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/103CRwrqIFZ5AHRwE7_QEiLpbKR4_Y2hN/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1euTJ77wph9RSveIik3hmKZeCbrGHkJkn/view?usp=sharing

[jguerdat]

Assuming the outside shot is current, I'd be wondering about the sun's IR being reflected into the shelters off the snow. Does this only happen during the day or at night, too? If at night, is there any ambient lighting that could be causing this?

Bring one camera indoors and point it at a blank wall for testing. If it continues to trigger, it's a faulty camera. If not, it's something about the enclosure's environment. Repositioning the camera (perhaps right above the entry, pointing straight down) may help. Reducing motion sensitivity likely would be useful, too, since the motion occurs so close to the camera.

[HennaHands]

The outside shot is not current – it was from last winter, and was included to show the size of the coverage area of the cameras. The only current shot is the one of the empty shelter. The photos of the occupied shelters, also from last year, were included to show what the camera should be catching.

Both cameras were indoors for several weeks and functioning properly before they were moved outside.

Sensitivity has already been adjusted to the lowest setting.

Would it be common for both cameras to fail simultaneously? I wouldn’t think so.

[jguerdat]

I wouldn't think so, either. It would still be worth the test of bringing one camera indoors to point at the blank wall as a test to be sure. Also, what about day vs. night activation?

[HennaHands]

I have yet to pull these shelters apart to check the cameras in the way you suggested. They're difficult to reassemble and I have not had the time to disassemble and reassemble. As the cats use them on a regular basis, this needs to happen within the course of one day.

[jguerdat]

I suppose the same thing could be accomplished by closing the entry tightly instead of taking it inside. It would then be aimed at a dark blank wall while still being mounted.