Amber and blue flashing. Camera dead?

[ArloYo2]

Hi

One of my wireless Pro 2 cameras will not connect or charge.
Was connected, but then on a recharge all that happened was the amber and blue light flashed about 20 times then stopped. 1 minute later they flashed 20 times again. Left it charging overnight. Not responsive.

Removed it from the Base station and tried to reconnect it. However it is no longer able to synch.

Plug it in the charge and the amber and blue flashing happens again. Leave it plugged in. Come back later and still is totally non operational and can not synch.

Have tried fully charged batteries from other cameras and still the same response.

Any ideas or is the camera dead after a firmware update ? The online chat was not able to help me.

Cheers

[Dannybear]

You could try moving the camera near the base station with the battery removed and externally powered by the arlo charger. Power cycle the base station and wait 10mins to see if it can be added again. Use the arlo web portal on a pc browser connected to your local network to add.

[ArloYo2]

Hi

Thanks.

I have the camera and the base station on the table near each other and I have removed the battery from the camera to only be powered by the Arlo charger (when it plugged in the same happened with the amber and blue flashed a number of times, stopped, then flashed again a few times, stopped, then flashed again, then nothing).

I power cycled the base station, waited, and then the same issue.  The sync button on the camera does not seem to be able to do anything.  No response with no sign of any blue flashing lights.

The base station is not able to locate the camera.   

Any other ideas ?

Cheers

[Dannybear]

To do a manual sync to the base station, you need to momentarily press the top button on the base (vmb4000) then press the camera top button momentarily to sync.

You can also try using the arlo web portal on the pc to add the camera?

[bobcfo1]

Same thing just happened to me.  Flashes blue & amber continuously.  Tried synching manually and thru App.  Neither works.  Manual says its updating but it goes on forever.  Broken?

[Dannybear]

The likely cause for the camera to be stuck in updating mode is that the battery is too low or went low during the update or it lost connection.

https://kb.arlo.com/2160/What-do-I-need-to-know-about-Arlo-camera-firmware-updates

If the camera is stuck after reading the above you may need to access arlo support.

[ArloYo2]

Yes, I realise this is how to synch, however this method is not working on this camera as the amber and blue is constantly flashing.  Pressing the sync button has no longer has any affect on anything.  

The web portal is not able to add the camera in this instance due to the amber & blue flashing.

[ArloYo2]

Thanks - I have read through   https://kb.arlo.com/2160/What-do-I-need-to-know-about-Arlo-camera-firmware-updates

the issue is that because the camera can not sync, then it seems impossible for it to be able to update the firmware without it being connected to the Base anymore.   

Arlo support chat was not able to assist me and the product is out of warranty.

Therefore, it appears it is now just an expensive piece of plastic waste unless there is another fix out there to try.

[Dannybear]

Just to add another idea, I have not tried this myself but try pressing the camera sync button for 15 seconds. I recall a knowledge base document that said that you can now factory reset the camera by performing the above, be aware that this may also be a typo in the document.

https://kb.arlo.com/000062438/How-do-I-factory-reset-my-Arlo-wire-free-camera

Regards to the following document, I noted the need to disable the base station mode.

https://kb.arlo.com/000062679/How-to-troubleshoot-Firmware-Update-Error-4208

[ArloYo2]

Yes, definitely have tried the 15 second technique.  Still the same response of amber blue flashing.

Have tried also with the base station turned off.  Same error occurs of blue and amber flashing.

[Dannybear]

Just to confirm that you tried to resync the camera to the base station with the base mode function set to disable, I.e. not armed or other.

[ArloYo2]

Yes, have tried to synch with Base 'not armed', ie 'disarmed' setting.   The other 2 cameras I am able to synch with no problems.  I have 'unsynched' all of them and started again one by one.  Only one of the cameras has the blue amber and can not connect using all the same methods as the other two with no problems.

[Dannybear]

The only option now would be to contact arlo support which would require a subscription plan.

As the camera firmware updates get pushed out in the early morning so you could try leaving the camera on external power without the battery and near the base station for a few days in case it gets recognised somehow.

Most likely the camera is now dead and so I can’t understand how arlo would not be able to repair this unless they have a factory reset feature in-house.
Worst case would be a discount on a new or refurbished camera.