Arlo Pro 2 cameras go offline too often. Have to reset the base station. Tried removing batteries.

[8711]

I notice that one of my four cameras go off line too often.  I bring up Arlo on my phone and can not see a live picture on one or more cameras, until I reset the base station.  This is not acceptable . I hope this can be resolved.

These are all plugged into 110.  Have removed batteries to try and reset each camera, but nothing works until I reset the base station!

[Dannybear]

Try running the cameras on battery only to eliminate the external power mode as causing the issue.

[StephenB]

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@8711 wrote:

I notice that one of my four cameras go off line too often. 

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In addition to @Dannybear's suggestion, try swapping the problem camera with one that stays on-line.  See if the problem moves with the camera, or stays with the location.

[8711]

Thanks, I will try your suggestion!

[8711]

This problem of going off line is not just related to one camera or location.  I do not think that particular camera that I unplugged from the power and used battery only solved the problem either.  I just plugged it back in, and will see if it stays on and is accessible with my iPhone for a live video, when needed.  I really do not want to have it on battery mode, since I would not be able to use the activity zone feature. 

Everything goes back to normal after I reset the system.  However, you have to be at home to reset the system.  This is not acceptable!

I am still experimenting!

Thanks!

[Dannybear]

If running the cameras on battery stops the issue described then it eliminates the wifi causing it.
Next step would be to reconnect external power and remove any activity zones and zoom adjustments made on each camera. If the issue goes away then it would be the firmware bug related to the external power mode.

Generally the bug will return in a day or two after the activity zone or zoom adjustment is reapplied.

To assist with testing you are able to remotely restart the base station from the arlo App under the device’s settings.

[8711]

Running the particular camera that seems to "freeze" up more often than the others, on just the battery, seems to eliminate the problem.  I plugged it back in yesterday and it "froze" up and thus I could not get a live video.

I removed the activity zones and zoom adjustments as recommended. 

I did not know that you could restart the base station from the app, under settings. It was a little difficult to figure that out.  I went to settings, my devices, ARLP, restart.  I take it that I do not want to hit the "Remove Device", is this correct.  If I would remove the device, I would guess that I would have to bring in each camera close to the base station station and re sync each unit.  Is this correct?

Thanks for all your help!

[Dannybear]

Using the arlo App you can also access the base restart button from the devices page, choose “smarthub...”, choose your base, to get the settings page to show the “restart “ button further down.
Removing the base device will remove it from the account and only recommend as a last resort although this will be asked by the arlo support group on their “things to try” list to make you start from scratch.

What is lacking is a feature to restart individual cameras so that their settings can be refreshed from the base station as well as their hardware. Although stopping it happening in the first place is better still since the bug has been about for more than a year.

[8711]

Since I removed the activity zone and zoom adjustment, it sounds like you think I have a better chance to not loose connectivity of my camera..  Time will tell.  This is a feature that is needed, however!

It sounds like others have this problem and it has been going on for awhile.  Hopefully there will be a fix soon, 

I am in the market for a camera door bell, but not sure I want another Arlo product with all the problems I seem to have to go through!

Thanks,

[Dannybear]

The activity zone feature is available for battery mode only camera via a subscription hence the lower priority of a fix I suggest.

I use smart switches to power cycle my battery cameras that are externally powered, scheduled daily to work around the issue. This way I maintain the free activity zone features.
I also have smart switches on my bases too in case the base stations locks up after a mains outage.

Regards the door bell, always a good idea to diversify brands to spread the failure risk although you have to manage more Apps.