VMC2030 will not wake up or sync

[Nekokame-kun]

I am trying to add a third VMC2030 Essential Spotlight Camera to my network, which consists of two VMC2030s that I have been using for months with no issues.

The camera was unresponsive out of the box.  I let it charge for 24 hours, after which the LED turned solid blue.  At that point I thought I was fine.

However, pushing the button on the bottom of the unit for one or two seconds does not wake up the unit or start the flashing-blue syncing process. The unit is unresponsive.

If I unplug the camera, the solid blue LED will turn off after a minute or so.  When I plug the camera back in, the LED flashes blue quickly for 2-3 seconds, then turns to solid blue.  

If I try a factory reset by holding down the button for 20 seconds, the LED eventually flashes orange about eight times, then turns off.  Then the camera is completely unresponsive.  At that point, all I can do is plug it in, which causes the LED to show solid blue after a few hours, and the whole process starts over.

Having successfully synced two VCM2030s already to my network, I am baffled at what is going on.  Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[StephenB]

Was this camera purchased new, or was it used?

[Nekokame-kun]

This camera was purchased used. Hope this helps with the diagnosis!

[StephenB]

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@Nekokame-kun wrote:

This camera was purchased used. Hope this helps with the diagnosis!

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It's possible that the previous owner didn't remove it from their account before sale.  Hopefully that is not the case.

Did you try doing the hardware reset  - holding down sync until the LED flashes amber  (about 15 sec)

[Nekokame-kun]

Hi Stephen: When I hold the button down, the camera blinks amber eight times (I just did it now and counted the flashes) and then goes off. Afterwards, pressing the button again for 1-2 seconds to wake or sync does nothing, and plugging it back in does not cause the blue LED to come back on.  However, if I wait a few hours with it plugged it, the lamp will again turn blue. Any ideas on what is happening here? Thanks again! This is my third VMC2030, all of which were purchased used, and I haven't seen this behavior before.

[StephenB]

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@Nekokame-kun wrote:

This is my third VMC2030, all of which were purchased used, and I haven't seen this behavior before.

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I don't know what's happening either - maybe one of the mods ( @BrookeN , @JamesC , @ShayneS ) will have an idea.

[Nekokame-kun]

Stephen: Thank you for the steer. I would welcome any insight from the moderators. It's frustrating because there are only two variables with this camera: pressing the button for some length of time, and having it plugged in or not.  Nothing else to tweak to try.

[BrookeN]

It doesn't appear that it is synced to another account. I am unsure where you bought it, is there any chance you can get a refund from the seller?

[Nekokame-kun]

Thanks for checking the registration info. I bought it on eBay and it's a no-return item. It was complete in the box and appeared unscuffed and unused with all parts so I assumed it was unused or reconditioned and that syncing would not be an issue.

One (encouraging?) new development: After I held down the button this morning for 1-2 seconds, the camera has blinking amber occasionally -- once every minute second or so. Is this indicative of anything?   

[jguerdat]

Yup - dead battery. Use this procedure if normal charging doesn't work (the key is to plug in and unplug many times to get enough charge into the battery to then allow it to charge normally):

https://kb.arlo.com/000052305/My-Arlo-Pro-or-Arlo-Pro-2-battery-is-dead-what-do-I-do

[RegularJoe]

  I bought 2 cams off Marketplace a while back. One acted odd and I was afraid it was defective. The body of the cam was a little distressed, but the other looked new.

  The new one linked right up to my system.

The distressed unit... didn't seem to be taking a charge. Amber and blue lights did things that the other didn't do, didn't seem right. I charge these on the USB output port of my desktop, not with a regular wall-wart charger. The new looking cam charged right up and showed it with the continuous blue light on it's front when full.
  Anyhow.. finally connected a real charger and short cord to bad camera... got it to take a full charge.
  Tried for 3 days to get it to link up. Wasn't acting right. Amber light stayed on constantly at times.
I tried the "hard reset" thing a number of times. Finally gave up and figured it was defective.
   Day 4, I tried again. (I hate to give up and lose $35 dollars).
  I'd get the cam to acknowledge the QR code, but the blue light wouldn't blink for very long and then go out. System wasn't linking.
  I did that over and over... sometimes the light would stay blinking, sometimes it would go out after just a few blinks. 
  I wasn't sure if the light actually had to be blinking for the process of linking to be working or not. So, I'd push the button to try to get it blinking again.
 The thing wouldn't link.
  The final time I did it, left the cam alone and let it set there with no lights blinking... and pretty soon I looked at the phone and it had linked!!!
   So, moral of the story is:

 It's not necessary for the blue LED to remain blinking during the link up process to bring a camera into your system. It's still trying even if the light goes out.

[Nekokame-kun]

Thanks for the tip! I'm a bit confused about the explanation in the link, which references "removing" and "reinserting" the battery or "inserting" a fresh one. Does the Essential Series VMC2030 have a removable battery? I didn't think so, but maybe I'm not looking in the right place... Sorry if my question is a no-brainer!

[Nekokame-kun]

This is great advice. If I can get the unit charged again, I will attempt to sync without worrying whether the LED is flashing blue or not. I will report back soon!

[StephenB]

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@Nekokame-kun wrote:

Thanks for the tip! I'm a bit confused about the explanation in the link, which references "removing" and "reinserting" the battery or "inserting" a fresh one. Does the Essential Series VMC2030 have a removable battery? I didn't think so, but maybe I'm not looking in the right place... Sorry if my question is a no-brainer!

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The link is for a different camera.  The VMC2030 does not have a removable battery.

That said, the procedure can sometimes be helpful with other controls.

[Nekokame-kun]

I came agonizingly close to getting the camera to work thanks to your advice.  I just left it plugged in with the solid blue LED showing for two days. I wondered if maybe the battery is defective/old and there is some charging threshold that the camera is struggling to get to in order for the sync mode to work. Today I pushed the bottom button for 1-2 seconds as I had done countless times before and -- to my utter disbelief -- I saw the slow blue flash for the first time ever!  In a supreme irony, however, my iPhone was out of juice. By the time I scrambled to get my the iPhone plugged in and it finally came alive, the slow blue flash had been replaced by the quick amber flash -- telling me the camera had not detected anything -- and then it shut down.  I have been unable to replicate this glimmer-of-hope moment and am back to sold blue with no responsiveness.

My plan now is to leave the camera plugged in for two or three days without touching it and try again.  If I can get it to sync, I assume I will have to leave it permanently plugged in, as there is clearly an issue with this battery holding a charge. I welcome a reality check of my amateur analysis of this encouraging but still frustrating turn of events.

[StephenB]

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@Nekokame-kun wrote:

 my iPhone was out of juice.

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You can install the Gen 1 essential from a PC (browsing to my.arlo.com).