Temporarily disable/deactivate CVR option

[hacos]

I like the idea of CVR for the Arlo Q but it has what I consider one major limitation. Once you subscribe to CVR, the camera I am told records 24/7. This is ok for certain locations but since Arlo Q is an indoor camera, if it is say in your living room, kitchen, family room etc, it means you are being continuously recorded even when you are at home. Personally i don't like the idea of "being on camera" all the time in my own house, even if it's not a sensitive/private room (ex bedroom).

It seems to me the feature would be much more appealing if I could be in control of when I want CVR and when I don't. For example, when I leave home I may like CVR rather than just motion detection and I would turn it on. But when I come back home I may want to temporarily disable/deactivate the CVR option and restart it whenever I please.

I was surprised that this is not possible, especially with many people having posted concerns about privacy. For this reason I chose not to subscribe to CVR ( I otherwise would have).

Seems like and easy software addition though. Hope someone reads this and makes it happen.

[masterbeat]

I couldn't agree more.  I'm shocked and surprised that I just added the CVR plan for an Arlo Q camera, and i thought (and want) to only use the CVR function ocassionally when i want to montior a location when I'm away for a period.  Other than those times, I want to use the Arlo Q just like I do my other cameras, I want it to be controlled manaully, sending me alerts or on a scheudle when I want, just like an Arlo Q would act before adding the CVR function.  THis is a MAJOR BUG!  Now I'm stuck with CVR always if I want to use this Arlo Q?

HATE IT!  Now i've just paid for a CVR plan and I can't use my Arlo Q unless I'm in CVR mode?

HORRIBLE DESIGN.

Please fix Netgear!   Make it so CVR can be turned on and off just like a switch!

[masterbeat]

  I'm shocked and surprised that I just added the CVR plan for an Arlo Q camera, and i thought (and want) to only use the CVR function ocassionally when i want to montior a location when I'm away for a period.  Other than those times, I want to use the Arlo Q just like I do my other cameras, I want it to be controlled manaully, sending me alerts or on a scheudle when I want, just like an Arlo Q would act before adding the CVR function.  THis is a MAJOR BUG!  Now I'm stuck with CVR always if I want to use this Arlo Q?

HATE IT!  Now i've just paid for a CVR plan and I can't use my Arlo Q unless I'm in CVR mode?

HORRIBLE DESIGN.

Please fix Netgear!   Make it so CVR can be turned on and off just like a switch!

[JamesC]

masterbeat,

You still have access to all the features that come standard with the Arlo Q when you subscribe to CVR. You can still set a mode or schedule and produce library content. Subscribing to CVR enables the CVR feature in addition to the existing features.

Please let us know if you continue to have trouble!

JamesC

[irongremlin]

JamesC,

That is neat. But is there a way to just turn off CVR altogether while we are at home?  it's always on!

[JamesC]

irongremlin,

To temporarily disable CVR, navigate to Settings > Subscription > Manage Cameras. Here you will be able to drag your Arlo Q device from the "active" slot to the "inactive" slot. This will allow you to enable/disable the CVR feature. You can then move the Arlo Q back to the "active" slot and enable it without the CVR feature.

JamesC

[Cip726]

I know CVR records 24/7 currently. There needs to be an upgrade where we can tell the camera when we want it to record continuously, because I only need it for 12 hours a day. I do not need it for 24. Also it saves wear and tear on camera and data stored on online. Benefits everyone.

[TS101]

Has there been any progress on this issue? I just got an Arlo system (3 Arlos, 1 Arlo Q). When I added CVR, I realized that CVR doesn't disable when the Arlo Q is Disarmed. This is silly. JamesC's suggestion to move the Q from the CVR subscribed slot to the inactive (non CVR) slot in the "manage cameras" section works but deactivating a camera deletes previous CVR recordings. This sucks and is the only disappointment so far with this otherwise great system.

Netgear Product Managers/Developers: Come on! Please add some sane disarming integration to the CVR. Just a little bit more coding work for you.

[blushark]

I totally agree. This is a basic and predictable function that the Arlo team should have foreseen. Please add control to the CVR so that It can be configured to record only during schedules, modes, or geofencing.

[blushark]

Arlo Netgear team needs to add functionality so that users can program CVR to be turned on and off using rules. Allow users to set this through geofencing and modes. I think its pretty safe to say that most users are not comfortable with having no control over CVR and its continuous 24/7 recording. My Nestcams allow me to stop and start CVR recording based on schedules and geofencing. No reason why this wasnt offered from the launch of arlo Q, and its way over due...do we really need to earn a bunch of "kudos" be for any consideration is given to this idea? Please, this is a no brainer. Thanks.

[pjt85]

Agree this is a great feature that should be available. I would also like to access the CVR recordings for storage should something happen. (not sure if this is already possible and i couldn't find it, but all i could seem to access was the timeline)... Also high speed scrubbing during swiping through the timeline would be a great feature please Arlo! If i needed to provide the CVR footage to law enforcement for example, how would i do it if i can't download it from a library somewhere?

Below is just a little PSA for the general population before considering CVR based on my experience;

After using CVR for just 12 hours I cancelled the subscription as there was no way for it to be toggled off/on (contrary to the advice provided above by dragging from active to inactive [i didnt have that option - may have just been me though]. Arlo have confirmed i will be refunded the CVR cost, so kudos to them given i only had it running for 12 hours to test it out on one camera. 

I wanted to toggle it off as the CVR just crushed my bandwidth which uncovered a few immediate issues for me;

• Arlo Camera/Basestation couldn't get recordings during the time CVR was active to the cloud (i found the recordings on my SD Card - thanks Direct Access!!), and after cancelling the CVR plan they still don't show up in the cloud library.
  • 1 recording did, but was a thumbnail and the recording was 0 seconds, yet the local copy was for 10 seconds
• Using other internet services like Netflix and Kayo became impossible while CVR was active. 

I know these issues are to do with my own internet speeds [current 10mbs/750kbps [ADSL2+]), and i get a much better connection in 28 days (moving to 100mbps/40mbps [FTTC]), so will retest CVR impact then.

Perhaps a warning on the subscription page Arlo of expected bandwidth consumption for the consumer to consider before taking on the plan? I knew it would need bandwidth, but had no idea it would be so hungry... A notice would be especially important for those who don't have 'unlimited data' on their internet plans, as they may not realise this contributes toward their data usage.