Smart trial ended and now the light does not activate

[dutch1060]

I understand all that; video recording, intelligence alerts, activity zones, animal detection.    But the LIGHT won't go on.   On the floodLIGHT.    I cannot find where that is part of the Arlo Smart description or that it would be required for the light to illuminate upon motion detection. 

[jguerdat]

The light is just a function of the camera. It won't light without the camera working. A subscription or having the camera connected to a base or hub with local recording enabled is needed.

[Kawika]

I can’t seem to get my light to come on automatically. I can turn it on manually. I have deleted it and reinstalled twice. I already have one light and it works fine. I made sure all the settings were the same.

[Sjohnson1215]

I am having the same problem. The camera activates on motion but the light will not turn on. I have checked under mode and it is checked to turn on. This started when my free trial for smart ended. Very frustrating

[jguerdat]

Have you removed and reconnected the camera?

[Sjohnson1215]

Yes. I have disconnected and reconnected. No change

[Kawika]

I have done it twice.

[dutch1060]

Same. the only thing that makes the light turn on automatically with detection is an active Smart subscription.

[Kawika]

I already have one floodlight that works. The other one will not turn on automatically. I already have a subscription.

[danwil]

My floodlight does not come on when trigger by motion any more.  It worked fine until 2 things happened:  1.  My trial subscription ran out for my Smart Plan and 2.  I attached a charging cable to keep it continuously charged.   I believe that it worked when the charging cable was attached, but stopped working when the plan ran out.  I have tried every setting to see if I could get it going again.  It may be that I need to have the Smart Plan for it to work properly.  Wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem and/or if they were able solve the puzzle.  Thanks. 

[JamesC]

For those experiencing this issue. What mode are you using for your floodlight?

Even without a subscription to Arlo Smart, you can set up a mode that tells the Floodlight to trigger on motion detection then turn on the floodlight for a duration. I've tested this and did not experience any issues.

Check your active mode or create a new mode and make sure you have the rules set to turn on the floodlight when motion is detected.

JamesC

[danwil]

I was using the "armed" mode and it was set to turn on floodlight when motion was detected.  I just added a new mode with those settings to see if that will work.  Thanks!

[dutch1060]

I can select the setting for the light to come on, but it does not.  Tried in the main rule list, tried setting up its own rule; nothing.  The only setting that allows the light to come on is an active Smart subscription for that product. 

[danwil]

That is what I'm thinking.  Nothing has worked to get it to come on without the subscription.  I just wish that it was easier to know these things.   The documentation and even the app shows that you can have the floodlight come on without the subscription.  I guess I have no choice but to get the subscription.  

[danwil]

I created a custom mode and it still does not work.  I guess my only choice is to purchase one of the "smart" plans.  

[JamesC]

The dev team was able to reproduce this issue when the floodlight is connected to vmb4000 and vmb4540 base stations. We're investigating a solution for these setups as this is not expected behavior.

For those experiencing this issue, you can connect the floodlight directly to your home router rather than a base station as a temporary solution while we wait for a fix.

JamesC

[JamesC · Accepted solution]

The latest base station firmware update should resolve this issue. Please make sure your base station is up to date and let us know if you're still experiencing this issue.

Arlo Firmware Release Notes

JamesC

[dutch1060]

Hi James, thank for the response and update.   

I checked my base station firmware and it's the most current - 1.16.4.3_3739_fbb05d3

When connected to the base station, my floodlight light is still not turning on.  I am getting notifications but not the light.  I have removed and disconnected the floodlight with no change.   

[dutch1060]

update: i still could not get it to work when connected to base station. but i connected it to wifi directly and it is now functioning properly; getting notifications and light activating.

[danwil]

It still does not work.  I had it set up on the work around - by connecting it to the network directly and it worked - but tried it back on the base after seeing this and it does not work again.  If I need to buy a SMART plan, just let me know so that I can decide what to do.  Thanks. 

[dutch1060]

make sure the base station has the most recent update. mine did finally work as it’s intended.

[danwil]

Thanks.  I checked and it shows that it is updated.  

[gomizzou]

Still no luck getting the floodlight to turn on with motion. I do not have a subscription. All firmware is updated. What now?

[JamesC]

The most recent firmware releases for base stations and SmartHubs should have resolved this issue.

Please let us know if you're still experiencing this issue after your system has updated to the latest firmware posted here: Arlo Firmware Release Notes

JamesC