Does use of SmartHub/BaseStation negate the need for subscription?

[RegularJoe]

I don't quite understand.

  What changes if you drop the subscription (or never get one) and use a S.H/Base?

  Do us Wireless Essential Spotlight owners need a certain Hub/Base?

  If it came right down to it, it would be nice to have the storage at home on the base, instead of paying for the cloud storage. 

  In other words, what are the benefits.

How about an answer in plain english, not a "link" to an Arlo explanation... but words right from a moderator's mouth. I get tired of being directed to a link to another page full or possible answers to stuff.

[Dannybear]

You can private message an arlo moderator on the forum for advice. JamesC or ShayneS.

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

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@RegularJoe wrote:

How about an answer in plain english, not a "link" to an Arlo explanation... but words right from a moderator's mouth. I get tired of being directed to a link to another page full or possible answers to stuff.

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FWIW, this is a user-to-user forum, and most answers are not coming from a mod.  

While you might get tired of being directed to a KB article, folks who respond get far more tired of re-typing the answers that Arlo has already provided over and over.  

It is possible to search the KB yourself btw.  Just add "site:kb.arlo.com" to your google/bing search string.  Adding "VMC2030" to the search string will limit the search to articles relevant for your camera.

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@RegularJoe wrote:

I don't quite understand.

  What changes if you drop the subscription (or never get one) and use a S.H/Base?
 

In the specific case of the Essential combined with a base (not a smarthub), you lose all on-line access to your recordings.  You can see live video and get notifications.  But if you want to see what videos were recorded for a notification, you need to go to the base, eject the USB drive, and plug it into a PC.  Then try to find the video that you want.

In the specific case of the Essential combined with a smarthub (VMB4540, VMB5000), then you can see the video library in the app w/o a subscription if you configure the system to use direct access to local storage.  However, there are significant limitations:

1. You can only see the library in the app, not the browser.
2. "Friend" accounts cannot access the library
3. You will be unable to make manual recordings
4. You have to download a video to see it, taking up storage space on your phone, and slowing down access.
5. There are no thumbnails to help you determine what videos you want to download
6. Setting up the system so you can see your library when you are away from home requires router settings changes that some find difficult (and which actually can't be made for some internet providers).

The subscription includes other features beyond cloud storage.  For instance, you will also lose activity zones if you drop the subscription.  Plus you lose the smart notifications (people, vehicle, etc).  All you get is motion.

Also, the camera needs to connect directly to the base WiFi, and not your normal home wifi.  If you have a mesh system or use wifi extenders, then you might need to purchase multiple bases (or move your cameras closer to the base).

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@RegularJoe wrote:

  Do us Wireless Essential Spotlight owners need a certain Hub/Base?

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Some older bases aren't compatible.  And if you want to drop the subscription, you will need a smarthub (VMB4540 or VMB5000) to see the videos from your app.  The VMB4540 is generally cheaper, and uses USB storage.  The VMB5000 uses a microSD card.

[RegularJoe]

Well, what does "KB" indicate? Not everyone automatically knows what every abbreviation stands for. Don't take it for granted. As easy as it is to type a word on a computer keyboard, it might take 15.4 nanoseconds longer to type the complete word instead of the abbreviation.

 I get enough of that at work.... 🙂

[StephenB]

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@RegularJoe wrote:

Well, what does "KB" indicate? 

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Knowledge Base.

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@RegularJoe wrote:

As easy as it is to type a word on a computer keyboard, it might take 15.4 nanoseconds longer to type the complete word instead of the abbreviation.

 I get enough of that at work.... 🙂

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Please tone down the snarkiness.  I'm a user, just as you are.  Arlo doesn't pay me, I contribute here because I think it's important to help out other users.  If you don't want my help/advice, just say so - I'll stop replying to your questions.

[Dannybear]

@RegularJoe

There is a little known link shown below that can point you to arlo information from the knowledge base for the European market.

https://www.arlo.com/en_eu/support

[RegularJoe]

Ok... Well, the snarkiness stems from frustration.  Is it too much to ask that folks stop abbreviating words that don't need abbreviating, lol.

  I sat there and thought "What common phrase/pair of words is so well understood and commonly used by this ever-changing online group that it's too time consuming to actually spell it out, and, by the initials, I should just naturally understand what he's talking about?"  

  To be honest, the first thing I thought of when I saw "KB" was "Kelly Blue Book"... but that didn't make sense. I had to set there and read the sentence a few times and go back through and look at other stuff, trying to figure out whether or not I missed something somewhere back along the discussion somewhere.

  That shouldn't be the case, lol.
 
  Things like "WTH", or "SMDH", or "LOL"... most denizens of the online world universally understand.

But "KB"?  

  I get it now... I'm guessing "knowledge base", right?   

  Why abbreviate that?  

  Other than that... I appreciate your knowledge in all things Arlo.

  By the way, it's not just you, or this forum.... thus the frustration and snark, lol.