Why does my Essential Spotlight Camera say it is hooked to solar when it is not, and is not?

[crazyeddie]

I have the Essential Spotlight Camera H9 camera, that I added to a 3 cam system with solar panels, and a doorbell, making it a 5 cam, 1 doorbell system connected to a hub with USB storage.

Why does it say it is solar charging, when it doesn't have a panel, and is not even compatible to utilize a solar panel?

I love the systems, Arlo, but they are really buggy.

I have to reset cams after the rain sometime, which with being away at times is impossible.

Like I said I love the system, but I see a lot more room for improvement to it.

I mean I know if I go reset this cam it will fix the that error, but how would I do that or even reset a cam that is telling me it has an error, and is just dead from Florida if I am am in New York or vice versa. This poses a huge issue for me because I am powerless to do anything being that far away from the system location to do actually hardware trouble shooting.

I am not complaining, I do like the system for the cost, I am saying this is an issue that could be addressed better, does create a minor blind-spot in my system at these times. I will catch the video but not in the way I wanted to one way or the other because I have overlapping  zones in the site picture, but it is still a frustrating thing to see from so far away, and not be able to trouble shoot from that distance.

And don't say restart the hub, or update firmware, it doesn't work, I tried it.

I am using the following components on this system btw.

VMB4540r3- Hub station

3 pro 4 h4 cams with solar panels

2 Essential Spotlight Camera h9

and a Arlo Wireless Doorbell 1.4

[crazyeddie]

I also just thought of another issue, had I mounted these cams on the second story like I had at first intended but didn't because I didn't feel like going 20 feet up on a ladder, and mounted all of them so I can access them from a step ladder. I would have to go and get my 20 foot ladder every-time I had to reset a cam. Wouldn't I?

Now that would tend to make me wanna buy another system I suppose.

[StephenB]

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@crazyeddie wrote:

I have the Essential Spotlight Camera H9 camera,

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H9 is a hardware revision code, not a model.

Essential Models include 

• VMC2020
• VMC2030
• VMC2032
• VMC2040
• VMC2050
• VMC2052
• VMC3060
• VMC3062

Similarly the doorbell models are

• AVD1001
• AVD2001
• AVD3001
• AVD4001

So not 1.4

It'd be helpful to know what you actually have.  If you go into the support center and scroll down to the Product field, you will find the model number there.

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@crazyeddie wrote:

Why does it say it is solar charging, when it doesn't have a panel, and is not even compatible to utilize a solar panel?

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All the Essential Outdoor camera models can be connected to solar panels (though they are different panels than the Pro 4).

Are you seeing the Sun icon?

Or something else that suggests the camera is connected to a panel?

• https://kb.arlo.com/000038930/What-do-the-Arlo-camera-battery-level-icons-and-notifications-mean

[crazyeddie]

Stephen,

These are the models

3 x vmc4050p

2 x VMC2230-100NAR

1 vmb4540

1 avd 2001

But the problems I am stating are clearly not hardware issues, they are clearly software/firmware issues, and physical issues. Yes I am seeing a sun icon in my hud, on the vmc2230-1nar but that unit is not compatible with the solar panels i have if at all, so i don't see how me clarifying model numbers is relevant to the real issue which clearly is firmware.

I really don't care about the little sun icon if the cam runs.

What I want as a fix is this:

 I have houses in both florida and in new york both having arlo systems, so i wake up one morning in fla. turn on the hud, i see rt side and drive way cams displaying ! icon. or vice-versa. How do I reset them from 1,149 miles away?

Or if i mount the cams in the eves of the house, mine being two stories up which is around 20 feet, when they error and i see ! on the cam hud, I really have to go to the shed get the ladder and climb up there to pull a battery for ten seconds to reset it every-time, they error every two to 3 days so that would be rather inconvenient.

Do u see the real issue I am putting forth now?

[crazyeddie]

that article has no relevance to the questions I am asking since the cam is not hooked to a solar panel, and I dont even think it is compatible since it older.

Thanks thou.

[StephenB]

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@crazyeddie wrote:

2 x VMC2230-100NAR

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Actually two  VMC2030 cameras sold as a bundle (the second 2 is the count in the bundle).  And it is does have a solar panel accessory.

• https://www.arlo.com/en-us/accessories/VMA3600-10000S.html

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@crazyeddie wrote:

so i don't see how me clarifying model numbers is relevant to the real

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The firmware runs on the cameras, and the bugs/issues are often camera-specific.

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@crazyeddie wrote:

Yes I am seeing a sun icon in my hud, on the vmc2230-1nar but that unit is not compatible

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hud???  What is that?

Are you seeing it on both of these cameras, or just one?  Do either of the cameras have anything connected to their microUSB port?

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@crazyeddie wrote:

 I have houses in both florida and in new york both having arlo systems, so i wake up one morning in fla. turn on the hud, i see rt side and drive way cams displaying ! icon. or vice-versa. How do I reset them from 1,149 miles away?

Bottom line here is that you can't.  A reset requires physical access to the cameras.  So you'd need the help of someone you trust in the remote location.

Likely you do need to make sure the cameras are powered (assuming you spend several months in Florida over the winter).  Arlo does make outdoor chargers for the cameras you have, though with effort you can also run power cables  through the walls to the cameras.  You can also get UPS systems to keep the base and your home internet running during a power outage.  That will reduce the odds of the cameras needing a reset.

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@crazyeddie wrote:

Or if i mount the cams in the eves of the house, mine being two stories up which is around 20 feet

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The motion detection range is only about 25 feet, so this isn't the best option for camera placement.

Personally I keep mine within reach.  While that does make them easy to steal, on balance it is the best option for me.  They cover the areas I want covered, I can recharge them easily, and don't need to mess with ladders (particularly an issue in the winter).

[crazyeddie]

Sure I understand this.

That is why I am pointing out the flaw, and asking if Arlo can write a fix in the firmware whether it be a hub fix or a cam firmware fix.

I wasn't aware the the VMC2230-100NAR was solar capable thank you.

let me illustrate the issue the best I can.

              ft door

A________B_________________C
:                                                    :
:                                                    :
:hub                                             :
:                                                    :
:                                                    :
:___________D_______________:E

:
:F
:
:
:<......fence

this is my layout the letters abdef being my cams.

so therefore if abc go down and are not reset-able from a distance my whole whole front zone with overlapping site picture is vulnerable, and i am in fla and have noone to go to the house I am basically screwed. I think that is unacceptable. There has to be a firmware fix that arlo could write. '

this is the flaw that I am pointing out, there has to be a way to fix it. if not i will roll with arlo for a bit, and investigate other systems if arlo can't figure out a work around. I like the system for the money but think it has room for improvement in this regard.

Thanks Stephen I learned something about the system today, but the answers ur providing don't solve my real issue.

[crazyeddie]

I actually also question why i am getting the shutdown ! error so often?

its every 2 to three days.

[crazyeddie]

HUD=heads up display

[crazyeddie]

look i am not trying to argue with u stephen. i am looking for answers and possible solutions.

its not the hub that is an issue with this either, when the power goes out we have solar so it is still powered.

its is a number of things i question, and the manual reset is the biggest one, and why i am getting so many shut downs as often as I do.

that's what i am looking for answers for from an arlo tech actually.

thanks u taught me a few things with this regarding range, and compatibility of solar.

but unless u cant write the code to fix the manual reset from a distance. i dont think u are capable of answering my questions.

[crazyeddie]

i could get this cheaper and it would solve all these issues for half what i paid for the whole package

https://www.amazon.com/ANNKE-Security-Channel-Weatherproof-Playback/dp/B00L3W2QJ2/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1R...

and all my issues would be solved.....i just like the arlo stuff and being able to see it on my phone. I am asking arlo to fix it, not get excuses as to why it is the way it is.

[crazyeddie]

i off this thread, if arlo wants to contact me regarding this they can email me.

arlo u should have users answering ur product flaw questions, that should be done by the tech from ur company.

am frustrated and really think i am going another route, and maybe getting a hardwired system with a proven track record.

[StephenB]

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@crazyeddie wrote:

I actually also question why i am getting the shutdown ! error so often?

its every 2 to three days.

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I agree that is far too often.  Do the batteries need charging before you can bring things back on line? 

Or is removing/reinserting the battery enough?