Essential spotlight vmc2030 Should I connect to my current hub vmb4500

[Smithlss50]

I have just purchased 4 new Essential Spotlight cameras. I currently have 2 Arlo pro2 cameras and a VMB station. My question is “How should I hook the new Essential spotlight cameras up? Thru my base station or thru WiFi?  I do not currently have a subscription since the Pro2 did not require one. My current service notify me of motion and records a short video of same. Then I can review back 30 days before it is deleted. Do I still have that option if I connect the new cameras to the base station? Or does it matter?  Will I need to get a subscription for the new cameras to work the same way? 

[StephenB]

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@Smithlss50 wrote:

I do not currently have a subscription since the Pro2 did not require one. My current service notify me of motion and records a short video of same. Then I can review back 30 days before it is deleted. 

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Actually the free cloud storage with your Pro2 cameras is 7 days, not 30.

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@Smithlss50 wrote:

Do I still have that option if I connect the new cameras to the base station? 

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No.  All the newer cameras (starting with the Ultra in 2018) require a subscription to get cloud storage.  It doesn't matter whether you connect the cameras to the base or whether you connect them to home wifi.  Either way, you will need a subscription for cloud storage.

If you upgraded the base to a smarthub (VMB4540 or VMB5000), then another option would be direct access to local storage: https://kb.arlo.com/000062337/What-is-Direct-Storage-Access-and-how-do-I-use-it

There are some downsides that the above article doesn't tell you about:

• Direct Access only works with the app - not with the web browser
• Only the primary account can see the recordings - not "friend" accounts.
• Manual recordings are not supported
• Thumbnails are not available.
• Remote access is possible, but can be difficult to set up.

[Smithlss50]

You are correct. Only 7 days. Don’t know what I was thinking. Thanks for the great information.
And if you don’t mind I have another question. Should I hook my new Essential spotlights up to the old base station or go directly to WiFi.

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

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@Smithlss50 wrote:
Should I hook my new Essential spotlights up to the old base station or go directly to WiFi.

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If it's in range of the base, then I'd connect it to the base.

I have three reasons:

• If everything is connected to a base, then some functions become simpler (disarming, schedules, geofencing)
• You can get local backup recordings if you use a base. 
• Homekit requires a base (only applies if you want to use that feature of course).

But if the connection to the base is marginal, then see if WiFi works better.