I currently have 4 Cameras and 1 Base station, I want to add cameras Help needed.

[JoeyRG]

Hi, I currently are running 4 Cameras and one base station. I have a spare base station can I add more cameras to mine or would it be better to add them to the other unused station?

Would I need to use another app or can I use current app? Would I have to switch accounts each time I needed to check a camera on a different base station?

DO I need a pay plan doing this?

Thanks

[StephenB]

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@JoeyRG wrote:

I want to add cameras

DO I need a pay plan doing this?

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Starting here...

All currently sold camera models require a paid subscription for cloud storage.  Arlo stopped selling 7-day free cloud storage on new camera models back in 2018.

If you need storage, then you'll either need a subscription or you'll need to get a VMB4540 or VMB5000 smarthub.  Those are the only two bases that support playback of locally stored recordings.  There are a lot of limitations with that feature (Arlo wants to sell subscriptions).  So post back if you are considering a smarthub.

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@JoeyRG wrote:

Hi, I currently are running 4 Cameras and one base station. I have a spare base station can I add more cameras to mine or would it be better to add them to the other unused station?

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Options here depend on what base you have

• https://kb.arlo.com/000062284/Arlo-SmartHub-and-Base-Station-Compatibility

Most of the new cameras can connect directly to your home wifi (no base needed).  But then you definitely would need a subscription for storage.

People have recently had some trouble installing (or reinstalling) legacy bases and cameras.  Not clear if Arlo will resolve that problem or not.

Note some cameras aren't available in all countries.  Where are you located?

[JoeyRG]

I have a VMB4500R2 Station, Storage for my set up is free and I am in the US.

I would buy a Smart hub if need be, rather not pay monthly. I use my Camera App to check live video and motion detection I usually erase all stored videos regularly. I have a blink system out in my horse barn so I am using three different apps, Hardwire in my Shop Blink in barn and Arlo on house. I would like to add Arlos to the barn. Maybe add better model cameras to house and move Pro 2 to barn.

[jguerdat]

The use of a second hub is usually to get a better signal to various cameras where the first hub is too far away. Your existing 4540 hub can support many more cameras but that distance to the barn may require a second hub located there. Depending on the distance between house and barn, you may need to use a WiFi extender to connect that 2nd hub although reusing the connection that's currently being used by your hardwired Blink (assuming that means you've run an Ethernet cable between buildings).

You can have as many hubs as needed in one app without needing to change anything. The big issue could boil down to editing your modes to get what you need. I don't have multiple hubs in my account so can't comment on any possible gotchas.

[JoeyRG]

The Blinks are wifi and they reach, Barn that has cameras is about 100 FT from house. I don't have a 4540 I have a 4500R2. This internet stuff isn't something I am well versed in. I will take one of my current cameras out there and see if they reach.

[jguerdat]

Ah, sorry, I misread the base's model. That means you have to eject the drive to view recordings. Use of a 4540 (or 5000) hub would solve that so you can use the app to directly view recordings. The catch is whatever base or hub that any camera is connected to is the one that will record so even adding a hub still would require that you eject the drive from the 4500 for viewing on a computer.

As for the distance, the closer you place a single base/hub to the barn (so only one wall per building for the signal to go through), the better your chances of success. Use of a WiFi extender (or a power line one) could make it easier for the signal to be maximized for all cameras.

Let us know the result of your camera distance check.

[StephenB]

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@JoeyRG wrote:

I have a VMB4500R2 Station, Storage for my set up is free and I am in the US.

I would buy a Smart hub if need be, rather not pay monthly. I use my Camera App to check live video and motion detection I usually erase all stored videos regularly. I have a blink system out in my horse barn so I am using three different apps, Hardwire in my Shop Blink in barn and Arlo on house. I would like to add Arlos to the barn. Maybe add better model cameras to house and move Pro 2 to barn.

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 (I think @jguerdat mis-read your hub model).  The VMB4500 doesn't support direct access to local storage, so you would need a VMB4540 (or perhaps a VMB5000), and use that with the new cameras.  You need to connect at least 16GB of storage to the smarthub.  I recommend using a thumb drive for the VMB4540 rather than a USB hard drive.  (The VMB5000 uses a microSD card).  128 GB is IMO enough (and is what I use myself). I don't recommend going over 512 GB.  Larger thumb drives and microSD cards are either quite a bit more expensive, or are scams.

The limitations here include

• recordings are only available in the app (not my.arlo.com)
• recordings are only available using the primary account (not friend accounts)
• no thumbnails, so you need to download a recording to the phone before you see anything
• no ability to make manual recordings or snapshots
• you cannot delete local recordings
• remote access requires router setting changes that many find difficult, and which don't work with some internet service providers 

If your app currently shows  "Library", then purchasing a Pro 5s or Essential Gen 2 camera will migrate your account to the new "Feed" interface.  That has some issues, but it sounds like with your normal usage you won't run into them.  The big challenge is getting scheduling+geofencing to work reliably.

[JoeyRG]

My App currently shows library, Would my 4 Pro 2 cameras still save in the cloud if I add some new cameras ? and the new ones save to base station? are the new cameras that much better than the Pro 2?

Which Smart Hub is better?

GeoFencing is something I really do like and would want to keep, What changes may affect that?

Thanks

Maybe I can just add some more Pro 2 Cameras.

I see some of my friends systems, Ring, Blink and what not and I feel they have a better picture.

[jguerdat]

Generally, to get the most utility from the app, you would want to buy a SmartHub (I suggest the VMB4540 for cost reasons but also to be able to use a thumb drive for local recordings rather than a microSD card as used in the 5000). Your existing base would allow new cameras to connect to it and record locally but you'd need to eject the drive to view those recordings on a computer while with the 4540 the app can see them directly (as long as you're on your home WiFi although there are ways to allow you to see them remotely, too).

"Better" videos is relative. Checking specs can offer some insight but it's also a rabbit hole to get lost in. The newer cameras offer as much as 2k or 4k videos but the wider FOV can reduce the usability for details. I'd stick with any of the FHD or 2k models (and they'll be cheaper). BTW, you would likely only be able to buy used Pro 2 cameras since Arlo hasn't sold them for years.

Geofencing is available but the new cameras cause your account to migrate to a new user interface that still has some issues. If your setup and needs are pretty simple, things should work fine - it's the more complex setups that can cause issues.

[JoeyRG]

So If I get new cameras I won't be able to see them if I am not home? Currently I can view them any where I want?

If I add cameras can I keep the system currently the way it is set up and only the new cameras would be affected?

Would My system currently send 4 or five to cloud and anything after that just be stored local?

I see Pro 2 Cameras on ebay.

Sorry for all the questions.

[StephenB]

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@JoeyRG wrote:

So If I get new cameras I won't be able to see them if I am not home? Currently I can view them any where I want?

If I add cameras can I keep the system currently the way it is set up and only the new cameras would be affected?

Would My system currently send 4 or five to cloud and anything after that just be stored local?

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If you get a subscription, then all the cameras will save to the cloud, and you can easily view them from whenever you want.  Though this costs, it is the simplest path and gives you the most features.

If you connect Ultra 2 cameras to a smarthub, then you could use local storage instead of a subscription.  As I noted above, remote access can be tricky to set up.  It requires either port forwarding or a VPN - and some internet service providers don't support port forwarding.

[JoeyRG]

If I am currently remote viewing could it stop with new cameras?

[StephenB]

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@JoeyRG wrote:

If I am currently remote viewing could it stop with new cameras?

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Today you are viewing recordings in the Arlo Cloud.  That is taking advantage of the free 7-day cloud storage that was included with your cameras.

The new cameras don't have that.  So you can either get a subscription, or you can try to set up a different method of remote access using local storage to view the recordings.

Another factor is that the free storage you are using today is limited to 5 unsubscribed camera per account.  If your new cameras take you over the 5 unsubscribed camera threshold, then you would lost the cloud storage for your old cameras.  There is a way around that - which is to create a new account for the new cameras, and use the friend account feature to share the old cameras with the new account.

Livestreaming would continue to work as it does now (both when you are home and when you are away).

[JoeyRG]

I'll have to look into the friend account option, I could set up my other base station and hook up cameras to that and log in as a new account or a friend account and have the cloud storage? Would this work with the used Pro 2's I buy? I'll pay for an account if I have to but at the moment not sure why I would if I have a free set up now.

Sorry guys for all the questions.

[StephenB]

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@JoeyRG wrote:

I'll have to look into the friend account option, I could set up my other base station and hook up cameras to that and log in as a new account or a friend account and have the cloud storage?

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Information is here:

• https://kb.arlo.com/000039122/How-do-I-add-friends-on-my-Arlo-Secure-App

You would only need this strategy if you go over the 5 unsubscribed camera ceiling, and want to keep cloud storage for your legacy cameras.

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@JoeyRG wrote:

Would this work with the used Pro 2's I buy?

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Yes.  And you could still get the free cloud storage with all the legacy cameras as long as you stayed below the 5 camera threshold.   Camera settings still would have to be changed using the primary account for the camera, but you shouldn't need to do that very often.

A couple of potential issues with used cameras that you should keep in mind.

1. Several folks have recently reported that they can no longer install  (or reinstall) Pro 2 cameras to their account.  While I personally hope Arlo will fix that, they might decide not to (since the cameras are no longer supported).
2. You can only add a used camera to your account if the previous owner remembered to remove it from their account before they sold it.
3. Arlo made Pro 2 cameras between 2017 and 2019, so anything you purchase now would be 6-8 years old.
4. Arlo no longer carries batteries and most other accessories for these cameras.  So you would need to either track down old inventory or find a third-party accessory.