ARLO Pro 4 - Model VMC4041P - Workaround to address an unexpected multiple software errors.

[kesARLO2015]

Model VMC4041P - Firmware 1.080.19.2_40_a462be1  Hardware: VMC4041PAerH4

Viewed on App via Android SW system and/or Windows 10 Desktop environment.

Ran into a situation with multiple failures on 3 of 4 Arlo Pro Wireless Cameras.  The latest situation occurred after a power outage.  All cameras were communicating via a residential Xfinity Wireless Internet Router and a Xfinity wireless extender.   Following the outage the cameras went offline. Each had 80 to 100% battery power before the outage, but went to zero to 7% immediately afterward.  After charging and reconnecting the cameras to the wifi network, they would go out again.  In fact, the Video Bandwidth strength, found under the Camera Positioning section of the Device Utilities section of each camera's Settings, always remained Poor, even if the camera was adjacent to the wifi router.  The battery fully charged LED light failed to operate as well, so it was difficult to determine the level without getting into the Settings of each device to check the battery level. 

Numerous attempts were made to made to restore the cameras to service, using the Arlo support instructions, but failed either immediately or after a period of hours.   Attempts to Restart Device and/or Remove Device only made the situation worse.  After several days, found one option that has brought some stability to the cameras.

I finally found the small reset button (with the battery in the cameras) in the bottom of the inside frame of the affected Pro 4 cameras and went through the process of resetting the cameras (as if they were being first installed for use). The process worked and the cameras have been operating normally, maintaining some level of battery and wifi strength stability.

The impacted cameras were found either inside or outside, with at least of one of the cameras receiving additional charging from an Arlo solar panel.

Strangely, the one camera not impacted at all was outside on a solar panel and the farthest from the wifi router.

I am not sure whether an abrupt loss of wifi signal caused a cascade software action (battery level, device settings, video bandwidth strength monitoring) in each device, but the only resolution that has worked after multiple attempts was to do a hard reset on the impacted device to restore functionality. 

This situation may become a non-issue with further software/firmware upgrades, but it may be something to watch for if you experience a catastrophic camera failure, regardless of possible scenarios (power outage, wifi loss, etc.).