Help with vmb3500 base station Installation

[Tony-TH]

Hello,

 Just checking if anyone is still using the vmb3500 base station?

 I last used this device in the spring of 2021 with two vmc3030 cameras.

When I try to configure the vmb3500 it continually fails on the last step with

”Firmware status could not be checked”. I then see the device in the app but it is offline and will not turn online. The Internet led is green and I can see it has an ip in the router table and I can ping it from a pc on the same Ethernet network. I can monitor traffic from the router and there are packets being sent and received by the vmb3500 during the configure phase. I believe I manually synced a vmc3030 camera to the base station based on the led activity, the sync led stays green on the base and the blue light on the camera flashes if I restart the base. The camera does not show in the app though, only the base station is there in offline mode.

 I tried Arlo support but as it is end of life they will not look into the problem.

i understand the firmware is out of date as the latest release is apparently dated the 30May2023. Perhaps this is the problem?

I have tried two different routers and am always using 2.4Ghz. I even tried a different internet provider at another location and still get the same issue. I have deleted, renamed, reconfigured and set to factory defaults and used different Arlo accounts many times.

I noticed used vmb3500 and vmb3000 devices for sale so I am thinking they may still be functioning out there?

 I am thinking of buying a used vmb4xxx or vmb5000 just to see if I can make use of the two vmc3030 cameras.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you, Tony.

[jguerdat]

FWIW, NO base stations are EOL. A possible issue here is that the old firmware can't be updated since it was out of service for so long, leading to missing updates that ultimately allow the latest version to be installed. You can argue this is planned but it's also equally possible that taking a device offline for a long time may not be able to be updated.

[Edinburgh_lad1]

EOL or not, it should function. They've made it clear that it may not receive updates but it can't stop working as the situation would be similar to that by Apple, where older devices were deliberately affected by software to prompt users to buy a newer model; it cost Apple a fair penny in the end. Mine is still working ok.

[jguerdat]

FWIW, NO base stations are EOL. A possible issue here is that the old firmware can't be updated since it was out of service for so long, leading to missing updates that ultimately allow the latest version to be installed. You can argue this is planned but it's also equally possible that taking a device offline for a long time may not be able to be updated.

[Tony-TH]

Thanks for the quick reply and confirming you have a working vmb3500. Sorry I did not reply sooner as I thought I would be notified by email when there was a posting. I have just selected the “keep me signed in” option on the community login so perhaps that will feature will work now.

As the superuser pointed out my device is likely stuck in “firmware update limbo” as I suspected.

 I hope other people do not run into this issue by buying older used end of life devices (in a state like mine) especially new old stock.

 I could contact support again to discuss the firmware support issue of older devices but I would have to work up the energy to do that.

i might buy a used newer model base station but I would want proof that it is actually working in the app beforehand.

My vmb3500 will be dismantled before going to electronic recycling so that it cannot be reused.

Thanks again. Tony