Cameras time out, web page auto logs out, motion detection inconsistent, etc.

[jake44]

I am a new customer with a 3-pack Pro 4 camera setup. I picked Arlo because of the claim that there is a web interface and I am not forced to use an app to use the cameras.

1. Nearly 9 out of 10 times trying to view a live camera feed with any camera using Safari the live feed says request time out. This is bait and switch, the functionality does not work. I have plenty of bandwidth and almost no interference on the three major 2.4 GHz non-overlapping frequencies (1,6,11). It doesn't matter which I use.

2. The web page auto logs out frequently. How is anyone supposed to monitor their cameras on a live feed if the web page logs you out while viewing the cameras? This is bait and switch.

3. I have tried just about every video mode to get motion detection. If the object is a few feet in front of the camera there is no problem. If it is 20-30 feet away or more it does not work. Track and follow/zoom works for the most part but an image is never captured and stored. Out of dozens of opportunities to capture motion the only ones that capture are the ones close to the camera. All of the cameras have this problem. They have all upgraded to the lastest firmware as well.

I am comparing this setup to an Amazon Cloud Cam which is supposed to be inferior technology. The Amazon Cloud Cam has been fantastic and just works and has not failed me in years. The quality is not as crisp which is why I have upgraded to Arlo. The only thing that worked was the Arlo credit card machine when I placed the order. The cameras as useless to me at this point in so many ways. 

[StephenB]

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@jake44 wrote:

I have tried just about every video mode to get motion detection. If the object is a few feet in front of the camera there is no problem. If it is 20-30 feet away or more it does not work.

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The passive infrared (PIR) sensors are limited to 20-25 feet.  That's not to say they will never pick up anything further away, but they will miss a lot of distant motion. 

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@jake44 wrote:

The web page auto logs out frequently. How is anyone supposed to monitor their cameras on a live feed if the web page logs you out while viewing the cameras?

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One aspect here is battery life.  If you are continually livestreaming, the cameras will be constantly needed to be recharged.  Though when the cameras are powered, it'd be better if you could continuously livestream.

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@jake44 wrote:

Nearly 9 out of 10 times trying to view a live camera feed with any camera using Safari the live feed says request time out.

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Is the app also doing this?

[jake44]

The cameras are powered with the USB cord 24/7. They are always at 100% charge.

I am not using the app. They Arlo service supports web page access. I do not see an easy way to use the phone app 24/7 for live stream monitoring of multiple cameras. This post is about the subpar web interface and bait and switch of buying a product and signing up for service and getting a broken implementation that does not live up to the claim. At best the Arlo service is a hack to be used a few minutes at a time for spot checking. It does not offer any serious ability to monitor an environment despite the claims made.

[StephenB]

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@jake44 wrote:

I do not see an easy way to use the phone app 24/7 for live stream monitoring of multiple cameras. 

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True, and there is no way to do that from my.arlo.com either.  As I said, it'd be better if they did support 24/7 livestreaming for AC powered cameras, but so far they haven't addressed that use case.

If you are still in the return window, you probably should return them (rather than wait/hope that Arlo will add the features you want).

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@jake44 wrote:

I am not using the app.

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Understood.  Though it would be helpful to know if the livestream failing 90% of the time is a Safari issue, or if there is something else going on.

[jake44]

I am outside the return window. I will cancel my subscription and only use the free account and leave the cameras in place. I still have the Amazon cloud cams installed and they are working great. I will leave them up until the service dies. The Arlo can sit as they are barely functional. I will do as I surmised which is use them for a few minutes at a time for higher quality video. It is an expensive toy and I now have sunk costs that won't cost much to continue to use.

If Arlo ever takes this market seriously I will have an install base to start from. I will renew my subscription at that time and expand cameras. Otherwise, they will get no positive press from me as the solution is not even mediocre. Their marketing people should get bonuses though because they suckered me compared to all the other solutions on the market.