VMB4000 will not record using a floodlight

[LWEEKS]

I am curious if I need to upgrade my VMB4000r3 is works great with my cameras, I replaced one of the 3 cameras with a new floodlight and everything was perfect until the cloud expired. Now I get alerts and can see live video but will not record to my library this is only on my floodlight camera. Any ideas?

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

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@LWEEKS wrote:

I am curious if I need to upgrade my VMB4000r3 is works great with my cameras, I replaced one of the 3 cameras with a new floodlight and everything was perfect until the cloud expired. Now I get alerts and can see live video but will not record to my library this is only on my floodlight camera. Any ideas?

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The only way to view the local recordings with a VMB4000 base is to eject the USB storage, plug it into a PC, and review it manually.

You are seeing cloud recordings for the older cameras in the app (and browser) because they came with free 7-day cloud storage.  The floodlight (like all new Arlo cameras) doesn't come with that.

Options are 

1. eject the storage, and review it on a PC when you want to see them
2. Purchase a VMB4540 or VMB5000 smarthub, and use the direct access to local storage feature
3. Purchase a single camera subscription for the floodlight.

There are limitations to the local storage feature

• access to recordings only in the app (not the browser)
• access to recordings only from the primary account (not friend accounts)
• no ability to make manual recordings or snapshots
• no thumbnails
• remote access requires router settings changes that some find difficult (and remote access isn't possible with some ISPs - for instance Starlink, or T-mobile's broadband internet service).

Given the limitations, I personally think the single-camera subscription is your best option.

[LWEEKS]

As I suspected, the New floodlight I  added to my VMB4000 will not record unless I replace it with a new HUB. So I looked into the subscriptions for one camera and if I am reading it correctly a 14-day subscription is 9.99 per month and a 30-day subscription for 19.99 per month per camera. Is this correct?  Do they charge $20.00 per camera per month?

[LWEEKS]

I purchased the 30-day license for the floodlight but it is still not showing up on my phone in the library and I still don't see any recordings. I also plugged in a USB drive into the vmb4000 just to see if it made any difference and it did not. still no recordings. I get notified of the motion and I can see live video but no recordings. I need tech help. 

[StephenB]

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@LWEEKS wrote:

I purchased the 30-day license for the floodlight but it is still not showing up on my phone in the library and I still don't see any recordings. I also plugged in a USB drive into the vmb4000 just to see if it made any difference and it did not. still no recordings. I get notified of the motion and I can see live video but no recordings. I need tech help. 

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Did you check the subscription area in the app, and make sure that the floodlight camera is in the subscription plan?  It sounds to me like it might still be in the "no plan" list.

As I tried to say before, you won't see any local recordings from any camera in the app unless you have a smarthub (VMB4540 or VMB5000) - which you don't have.  You have to eject the USB drive, and connect it to a PC to review recordings.  Also, the drive needs to be at least 16 GB.

[JamesC]

LWEEKS,

Are you sure you have an Arlo Secure subscription associated with this camera? Note that a CVR subscription allows for constant video recording, not library recordings.  To receive library recordings, you will need an Arlo Secure subscription plan. For more information on subscription plans, take a look here: https://kb.arlo.com/88/What-are-the-available-Arlo-subscription-plans-and-how-much-cloud-recording-i...

JamesC