Base station (mode number: VMB4540R3) stopped recording

[NZ7508]

I have three Arlo Pro 4 installed and my base station mode number is VMB4540R3. The issue I am having is that the base station stopped recording since 10/8/2023. The error message says: “Video stored on Base station are not available. Please check your connection settings.”

Here are steps I have taken without avail:

1. Unplugged Ethernet connector and power plug and reconnected all connections.

2. Replaced the USB flash drive.

3. Restarted all devices.

Here are some of my observations:

1. My cameras are working because once motion is detected I will receive the alert.

2. The Base Station connection is fine because I can retrieve all recordings prior to 10/8/2023.

Please help.

[StephenB]

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@NZ7508 wrote:

I have three Arlo Pro 4 installed and my base station mode number is VMB4540R3. The issue I am having is that the base station stopped recording since 10/8/2023. The error message says: “Video stored on Base station are not available. Please check your connection settings.”

2. The Base Station connection is fine because I can retrieve all recordings prior to 10/8/2023.

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These two things sound contradictory.  Are you saying that you can retrieve some (older) recordings from the base, but you cannot retrieve new ones from the base?

Also, if you have a subscription (either paid or trial), did it possibly expire on 10/8?

Have you tried ejecting the USB storage from the base, and connecting to a PC?   If you can find the more recent recordings, then you have a retrieval problem, and not a recording problem.

[NZ7508]

Thanks for replying to my post.  Here are my answers to your questions:

1. I don't have subscription. I always use local storage to store and retrieve images.

2. Right now I can only retrieve recordings prior to 10/8/2023.

3. After reviewing the flash drive in PC I can't find any MP4 files dated after 10/7/2023 in regular folders but I can find metadata files dated after 10/7/2023 under metadata folder.

Not sure what does it mean.

[StephenB]

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@NZ7508 wrote:

Not sure what does it mean.

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Unfortunately, I don't either.

Do you have another flash drive you could test with?

How full is the flash drive?

[NZ7508]

1. Yes, I tested with a new flash drive with the same result. My current drive only uses 14.95 GB of 115.4 total storage. 

2. I don't think subscription is an issue because according to Arlo policy local storage can be used without subscription and I have been used this setup for more than a year.

3. My software version is 4.9(6942). It was installed 9/22/2023. The base station stopping recording started on 10/8/2023 so firmware updates should not be issue.

[StephenB]

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@NZ7508 wrote:

I don't think subscription is an issue

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Agreed.

[NZ7508 · Accepted solution]

Update:

I have the latest Arlo software (version: 4.9.1 (6960)) installed on my IPhone on 10/13/2023. I can locate all latest (up to 10/15/2023) images MP4 files and metadata files on the USB flash drive using PC but I still can’t view those images from my IPhone Arlo app. I can only retrieve the images dated prior to 10/8/2023.

Please help.

[NZ7508]

Update:

Started from yesterday (10/19/2023)  I was able to view the videos from my local drive again. I don't know what happed but I am sure Arlo must have done something to fix it so everything is OK now. 

Thanks to Arlo and everyone who let a help hand.

[Aleier]

I have the exact same problem that started the same day. 

[BrookeN]

@Aleier Did you try the steps mentioned within the post?

[Aleier]

Which steps are you referring to @BrookeN ? The three steps that he had already taken that didn't work or the step where one day it started working all by itself? I don't see any other steps in the 10 replies.

I can look at my live camera feeds via the mobile app, I get notifications when the cameras are active, I get phone calls when someone rings the doorbell, but since 8 Oct, the videos do not show up. 

If you have additional information that would get my system back up and running, it would be greatly appreciated..

[StephenB]

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@Aleier wrote:

I can look at my live camera feeds via the mobile app, I get notifications when the cameras are active, I get phone calls when someone rings the doorbell, but since 8 Oct, the videos do not show up. 

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Did your subscription expire?  You do need an Arlo Secure subscription to get cloud recordings for the doorbell (like all currently sold Arlo cameras).

[0721]

Pictures no longer stored on local usb

[StephenB]

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@0721 wrote:

Pictures no longer stored on local usb

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It could either be that they aren't being recorded, or that they can't be accessed for playback.

I suggest ejecting the storage and looking at the drive on a PC.  Then see if the recordings are missing [on not].

Many folks combine a subscription with local recording - it would be helpful to know if you also have a subscription (or if you had a trial subscription that recently expired).