Arlo Pro 4 Cameras with Mesh Systems

[PTUxTOO]

I own four Arlo Pro 4 cameras, an Arlo Essential Indoor camera and an Arlo Doorbell camera. I purchased these components because they are all advertised as Wi-Fi-capable. The four Pro 4 cameras are connected to either of two individual Arlo base stations (NOT my preference), and the indoor camera and doorbell are connected directly to Wi-Fi (a Netgear Orbi mesh system). Overall the system works okay but I have a simple question for the Arlo community since Arlo Support seems unable to stay focused on the topic long enough to actually answer the question. It’s a simple one. My essential indoor camera and doorbell work seamlessly using my Orbi mesh system, but the Pro 4 cameras (despite the advertising that they are Wi-Fi–capable) will not stay connected to the SAME system (thus the addition of the base stations). I have initiated several online support requests with Arlo Support and provided them with log files, but they continually try to get me to repeat troubleshooting while occasionally advising me to reconfigure my Wi-Fi system. But, I want my SIMPLE questions answered first. Why do the wired Arlo products (indoor camera and doorbell) work just fine while the wireless (Pro 4’s) do not USING THE EXACT SAME SYSTEM? I have even co-located a Pro 4 camera side-by-side with the indoor camera with both “connected” to Wi-Fi. The Pro 4 drops out continuously and is essentially unusable while the indoor camera does not. Why??? Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

[StephenB]

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@PTUxTOO wrote:

the Pro 4 cameras (despite the advertising that they are Wi-Fi–capable) will not stay connected to the SAME system

I do have several cameras connected to my Orbi, but not a Pro 4.

What do you mean by "same system"  Are you saying that they switch their connection to another Orbi mesh element?  Or something else?  

In general (any wifi connected client), the client can roam to a different Orbi mesh element whenever it chooses.  Normally it will only do that if it sees a stronger signal. The  Orbi also can send a "hint" suggesting that the client switch.  Most clients will switch when they get that hint.  So this can be tricky to figure out.

Is the Orbi channel selection set to "auto", or have you chosen a specific channel for it?   If it is auto, have you tried selecting a channel (either 1, 6, or 11).  I am wondering if the problem is triggered by the Orbi switching to a different channel.

[PTUxTOO]

So, it is difficult for me to answer your questions on configuration as I have already reverted back to using base stations for camera connectivity. I asked the question because I would prefer to use WiFi. But, I can tell you that when I have connected my Pro 4 cameras to my Orbi Wi-Fi (a router, 2 indoor satellites and an outdoor satellite), they do not stay connected like the doorbell or essential indoor camera do. And I did not make any configuration changes to make the doorbell or indoor camera function properly. Plus, I can move my Arlo essential indoor camera anywhere on my property (and assume when I do it connects to the satellite providing the best signal) and it continues to remain connected regardless of which satellite it connects to. So - my simple question: Why don’t the Pro 4’s do the same? Also, I do not understand the discussion about roaming. The cameras are not roaming on my property. They are placed and should remain connected to the best satellite signal for their connection, correct? It’s not the same situation as me walking around my yard with the phone in my pocket.

[PTUxTOO]

Oh, and yes, the channel selection setting on Orbi is auto for 2.4 GHz. It is set to channel 48 for 5 GHz.

[StephenB]

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@PTUxTOO wrote:

Also, I do not understand the discussion about roaming. The cameras are not roaming on my property. 

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Your devices (including the cameras) can connect to any of your mesh elements, so they can roam from one to another of them.  The term refers to switching to another element, it does not require the client to be physically moved.

Even when the cameras are not physically moved, there can be times when a different mesh element appears to have a better signal.  There are several situations where that can happen.  One is that each Orbi can steer its transmission (directing it towards a specific client).  So there are times when the transmission might be aimed away from your cameras.  Another is when something is blocking the signal path.

And the Orbi also can "suggest" that the camera switch to another mesh element.  I don't know exactly when the Orbi will do that (and the reasons might depend on which Orbi model you have).  Possiblities include

• when the mesh chooses to re-optimize itself,
• when a mesh element gets overloaded with clients,
• when the mesh element thinks another mesh element is closer to the client

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@PTUxTOO wrote:

So, it is difficult for me to answer your questions on configuration as I have already reverted back to using base stations for camera connectivity. I asked the question because I would prefer to use WiFi. But, I can tell you that when I have connected my Pro 4 cameras to my Orbi Wi-Fi (a router, 2 indoor satellites and an outdoor satellite), they do not stay connected like the doorbell or essential indoor camera do.

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If your connections are all stable now, then it might be best to leave well enough alone.

But if you want to do more experirmenting, try setting the Orbi 2.4 ghz to a specific channel, and switch one of the Pro 4s to your home wifi network.  Not sure that will fix the connection behavior, but it is a reasonable next step.

[PTUxTOO]

In a previous post, you mentioned channels 1, 6 or 11 for the Orbi 2.4 GHz channel setting. Is there a benefit to one of those above the others?

[StephenB]

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@PTUxTOO wrote:

In a previous post, you mentioned channels 1, 6 or 11 for the Orbi 2.4 GHz channel setting. Is there a benefit to one of those above the others?

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None have an advantage over the other two.

Those are the three non-overlapping 2.4 ghz wifi channels 

[PTUxTOO]

Okay - thank you for the help. With the exception of the channel setting, we arrived at the same idea - I was planning to move one of my Pro 4’s off the base station and onto WiFi to see if it would maintain a connection. 

BUT - I still do not understand what the essential indoor camera and the doorbell are doing differently such that they maintain a solid WiFi connection with no changes to my Orbi settings. 

[StephenB]

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@PTUxTOO wrote:

BUT - I still do not understand what the essential indoor camera and the doorbell are doing differently such that they maintain a solid WiFi connection with no changes to my Orbi settings. 

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They are almost certainly using a different wifi chipset.