Arlo Pro2 - Yes or No

[Vincent52]

Aboiut 6 months ago I was considering getting a home security camera set up amd it seemed like the Arlo pro 2 was going to be my best option. I finally am ready to move forward, but from reading reviews on Amazon, BestBuy and this site I am hesitant to consider the Arlo Pro2 4 camera system. Netgear typically has a good reputation and quality products, but the amount of negativity is scaring me off.

My question to the community is, would you buy it again, knowing what you know now? What other product would you also be considering? How confident are you that Netgear will resolve the issues (night vision, outdoor cable, advanced features on battery power, etc.)?

It's a big investment.

[Vincent52]

PC Magazine - March 20, 2018

https://www.pcworld.idg.com.au/article/634885/interview-netgear-ceo-patrick-lo-talks-esports-nbn-why...

[Vincent52]

Hey michaelkenward

My original comment was "They probably don't want to invest in fixing the issues if the spin-off is imminent. It will be interesting to see how the new units are branded and if the current Arlo products remain supported." 

I'm not sure if you understand how business works, but if you are really interested, you might like to read the article.

You see, companies have limited budgets for R&D (R&D stands for research and developement). It would be unlikely that a company would spend resources on products that are not alligned with their core competency and direction.

Therefore in the case of Netgear, which the CEO clearly states, will not play the current Arlo line of products, it is more likely that Arlo support will take a back seat. It will be up to the new company, Arlo (or whatever it may be called), to pick up where Netgear left off. The new company may also venture further into the home automation or home security markets, so their cameras may be rebranded as one of their many products. 

I don't agree that "conjecture gets us noplace". As a consumer interested in getting cameras for my property, I think it is important to understand the various products available and how they fit in the company that makes them.

In the example of Arlo, I see the intorduction of the Arlo Pro2, which many claim has inferior night vision to the previous generation, is advertised as having new features which turn out to only be available if the cameras are plugged in, but the power cords to plug them in are not available for sale, and the CEO says they are divesting the product line. All of that for a product that commands a premium price tag.

There are alternative products today that are every bit as good at litterally half the price. They are made by solid companies that will provide support and further development. 

My thread subject line is Arlo Pro2 - Yes or No? All I was looking for honest testimonials. 

[michaelkenward]

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@Vincent52 wrote:

You see, companies have limited budgets for R&D (R&D stands for research and developement). It would be unlikely that a company would spend resources on products that are not alligned with their core competency and direction.

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If I wanted to be really picky, I would point out that R&D stands for research and development. It is something that I have followed very closely since the 1970s. So am I am very familiar with how R&D works.

We know that Arlo products will branded, er Arlo.

If Netgear want to do an IPO on Arlo, it will have to persuade investors that  they are putting their money into a viable business. If anything, I'd expect Netgear to put more cash into Arlo's R&D because it needs to get as high a price as possible for the float. 

But this has little to do with current product issues. They all went into the R&D mill a year or so ago. (That's probably the current horizon for these things, although it used to be more like decades when I first wrote about it.)

As an aside, we recently had a major flap in the UK about the planned takeover of an old and established engineering business, GKN. The takeover merchants – a buyout fund that specialises in buying businesses that need a kick up the backside and then sells them on when they are back in rude health – had a hard time persuading investors that this wasn't an asset stripping deal. A key point was the R&D bill. The buyers had to insist that they would carry on spending on research.

So the investment community is well aware of the value of R&D. It will be one of the things that Netgear will have to explain when it makes its pitch for Arlo.

[RChobby]

What are the other wireless, battery powered, security cameras competing with Arlo?  Ones that have cloud storage, no monthly/yearly fees.

[steve_t]

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@RChobby wrote:

What are the other wireless, battery powered, security cameras competing with Arlo?  Ones that have cloud storage, no monthly/yearly fees.

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I don't think there are any that meet those criteria

[Vincent52]

Well, I was a bit hesitant in my previous post to name competive products on a Netgear forum, but since you asked there are a few. The one I feel is the best is the Blink XT. Blink is an Amazon company.

To answer you specifically:

• Wireless - yes, full wireless capability.
• Battery powered - Yes, uses Lithium AA batteries that can last "up to 2 years". Even if shorter, they are only about $1.00.
• Free cloud storage - Yes, No subscription fees or data storage charges.

Additionally:

• Esay set-up
• HD Video
• Temperature Sensor
• Motion Detection
• Weatherproof
• Instant Alerts
• Live View
• Outdoor Use
• Infrared Night Vision
• Very good app that provides full functionality (individual camera on/off, sensitivity, etc)
• Integrates with Echo and IFTTT
• Small size - less than 3" x 3" x 1.25"
• 1 screw mounting system

Cost:

• On sale this week
• 3 camera system - $255
• 5 camera system - $399

 I think they are at least equally as good and for the price a much better alternative. Again, I'm not bashing Arlo as I think they are very good cameras, but as a consumer buying TODAY, Blink XT seems to be a good option.

[michaelkenward]

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@Vincent52 wrote:

• Battery powered - Yes, uses Lithium AA batteries that can last "up to 2 years". Even if shorter, they are only about $1.00.

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The "up to 2 years" claim is meaningless.

The Arlo batteries could last "up to 10 years", perhaps even longer, if they sat there doing nothing.

As people have reported here, battery duration depends on camera use. Three or four months is my experience

The standard Arlo Pro battery delivers 2440mAh. Lithium ion batteries are in the same ballpark, so I'd expect them to have about the same working life. So, if that is a single battery, two or three battery changes a year, m ore for heavy duty users.

Apart from that, those specs look good. Arlo certainly comes in high up the price scale.

[steve_t]

I know a lot of the smartthings users returned the Blink cameras for a full refund after something to do with the Amazon purchase. I think they blocked ST integration