The Worst Software Update EVER!

[RetNavy]

My cameras were working just fine. I was able to quickly access the phone app and set individual cameras on a schedule that I liked i.e Living Room camera on at 12am - 6am. I didn't want to capture family walking around the house during the day it'll midnight, so I could easily set it the way I wanted...NO MORE! These crazy routines they came up with especially "Standby", "Add an Automation" and "Add an Action" are so confusing it's super frustrating trying to figure this new software out. You need to take a class to understand the way this works.  

It's SLOW to load on my iphone unlike the previous version and the pictures don't load all the time on the "Dashboard".  I'm really pissed they forced us to use this crappy app. I WANT MY SCHEDULE'S BACK. Now I have to completely turn off certain camera's when family is over to prevent the batteries from draining, do to the horrible changes in this app. PAID customers should have the option to upgrade or NOT or down grade to the previous version. I have read the help files 100 times and still don't get it. Standby is super confusing. THIS IS NOT BETTER OR USER FRIENDLY. 

[StephenB]

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@Mobb wrote:

Have contacted support multiply times they have even elevated to higher technical support and still simple scheduling does not work

They state they will call following day at a specific time but never do

New app has severe issues wish did not have to upgrade with new camera addition

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If you can post the details of the schedule you want (ideally on a new thread), perhaps we can help.

Simple scheduling has been working reliably for me for several weeks.  But if your schedule needs more than three modes, then it is not possible (at least not yet).

[jguerdat]

The difference in the UIs and how they work is certainly an issue for folks who are used to the old UI's operation. However, the new one (generally) provides the same functionality but a different mindset. This FAQ may be useful:

https://kb.arlo.com/000062777/About-Arlo-Routines-Modes-Rules-and-Automations

An issue with the schedule is that, unlike the old UI, you now have to create 2 schedules at a minimum, one to start a mode with appropriate rules and a second one to start a different mode.

[Bkbaird]

i followed that info to the T and still, not working. It is not an FAQ it is a "how to"

let's ZOOM and you can see/show me where I am going wrong on setting up Automations, please.

[StephenB]

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@Bkbaird wrote:

i followed that info to the T and still, not working. It is not an FAQ it is a "how to"

let's ZOOM and you can see/show me where I am going wrong on setting up Automations, please.

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This is user-to-user forum, and neither @jguerdat nor I work for Arlo.  We don't provide direct support, just advice here.

In general, you first want to configure the Arm Home, and Arm Away modes.  Make sure Arm Away is set to arm all your cameras.  Check that Arm Home only arms the outdoor cameras (has no rules for the cameras you want to disarm on schedule).  The "modes" information here might help navigation:

• https://kb.arlo.com/000062777/About-Arlo-Routines-Modes-Rules-and-Automations

After you've done that step, make sure "Arm Home" and "Arm Away" both do what you want.

Then post back and we can help debug the two schedule automations you need.  You might also look at my reply on this thread (marked as the solution):

• https://community.arlo.com/t5/Arlo-Secure/ARLO-Po-model-VMC-4030/m-p/2423038

The automation in the reply isn't set up the way you want, but the principles in the reply might help.

[Bkbaird]

I believe I’ve everything correct yet, the automations do not seem to work. thanks is for an assist. 

 

 

  

 

[jguerdat]

What is it that isn't working? Your modes look right but we'd also need to see at least one of the rules. If they're all set the same, that one should be sufficient and doesn't matter as to which camera rule you're showing. In addition, we need to see how each schedule is set up. That should give us a good chance of figuring out what's up.

If you change the modes manually by selecting them in the Dashboard, do they work as expected?

[StephenB]

Do you always want to follow the schedule?  Or do you want to ignore the schedule when you are in "Arm Home"?

Can you post the screenshots for your two automations?

[Bkbaird]

I would like the schedule to run every day. 7 AM standby, no cameras,  and switch at 7 PM to “armed home,” all but indoor cameras. 

 both automations have all modes enabled 

 

 

 

 

[StephenB]

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@Bkbaird wrote:

I would like the schedule to run every day. 7 AM standby, no cameras,  and switch at 7 PM to “armed home,” all but indoor cameras. 

 both automations have all modes enabled 

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The screenshots look correct to me.

When you use the "test automation" in the two automations, do they change the modes correctly?

[Bkbaird]

What exactly is supposed to happen when I hit test? All I see happening is that it changes to a checkmark and then back to “test automation”

That doesn’t seem very helpful

[StephenB]

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@Bkbaird wrote:

What exactly is supposed to happen when I hit test? All I see happening is that it changes to a checkmark and then back to “test automation”

That doesn’t seem very helpful

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It runs the automation.  So if you test the one that switches to "standby", you can

1. set the mode to Arm Home
2. test the automation
3. then go to the dashboard screen and confirm that the mode has changed to standby.

[RetNavy]

We’ll need to take a Master Class to figure this crappy software out.  I’ve been with Arlo for years and this is what I get. More complexity? How about some UTube DETAILED videos on building schedules. Not your normal GENERAL setups. It should have been done before you released this version. 

[Bkbaird]

So, in the automation screen should the automations be grayed out or not to be active? 
grey = on?

 

[Edinburgh_lad1]

See the last message in this post and hopefully it'll be helpful:

https://community.arlo.com/t5/Arlo-Ultra/New-Arlo-GUI/m-p/1933612#M22291%3Fcid=052517_arlogoNPI_us_e...

[jguerdat]

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@Bkbaird wrote:

So, in the automation screen should the automations be grayed out or not to be active? 
grey = on?

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No, being gray means it's disabled (although it should also show "disabled"). You might want to remove and recreate that schedule.

[Bkbaird]

it may have worked...? will wait till 7pm to know

[Bkbaird]

testing....

[RetNavy]

OK, I'm at it again, can ANYONE for the love of God please tell me how to setup a schedule for my indoor camera to ONLY come on at 12pm and disable at 6am.  I continue to read these instructions and the scheduling does not make since. I need STEP BY STEP instructions. Every time I try and set up a schedule in "Armed Home", it captures all of my devices and not my  Indoor camera I'm trying to disable during the day except for the times listed above.  Another thing, when I try and setup a schedule on my iPhone, it never shows Sundays????

[StephenB]

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@RetNavy wrote:

Every time I try and set up a schedule in "Armed Home", it captures all of my devices and not my  Indoor camera I'm trying to disable during the day 

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If a camera has no rule in the mode, then the camera is disabled when you use that mode.

So in your situation, you want Arm Away to include all cameras, and Arm Home to include everything but the camera you want to disable.

Then schedule "Arm Home" during the day, and "Arm Away" at night.

[pontuss]

Can I have geo fence active on one camera for the home option? I think the update really changed too much, an instruction how to keep the same setup should have been sent out before the update... Have 7 cameras, two bases and thinking about selling the whole package to be honest, will give it a month or so to see if I can get back to the way it was.

[Edinburgh_lad1]

Rather than getting uncontrollably frustrated, did you have a look at the link I posted above? Did you follow the instructions there, illustrated by screenshots? 

[StephenB]

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@pontuss wrote:

Can I have geo fence active on one camera for the home option? 

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With "Feed", the modes control all the cameras at the location.

If you are asking whether you can use geofencing to change the mode to Arm Away when you leave, and to change it back to Arm Home when you return, then the answer is yes.

There is one limitation at the moment - if you return at night, the system will still switch to Arm Home, even though the schedule you want should be using Arm Away.  It will follow the schedule going forward.  But if you want "Arm Away" to kick in immediately, you'll need to change the mode manually.

[Bkbaird]

I can not say for sure but it would seem that deleting the automations and recreating "fixed" them not working at all. They are working now and, from here, i will experiment a bit on the app. 

It still does not offer the flexibility of the previous app regarding individual camaras, time, schedules etc. I would sure like to have the previous capability as the three offered, standby, home, and away are NOT ENOUGH!

[RetNavy]

AGAIN, with all the cameras active in the "Armed Home" mode and the indoor camera disabled, there is no way to setup JUST my indoor camera in the "Armed Home" mode to come on at 12am and shut off at 6am like the previous version. I think it's unanimous, WE WANT THE PREVIOUS VERSION BACK. I guess if my home gets broken into during those times when my family is sleeping there is no way to just trigger the indoor camera to come on based on the times above. I use to recommend these cameras to all my friends, NOT ANY MORE. Fire your engineers, they obviously don't use this system. I've setup home networks easier than this.

[pontuss]

Hi again, You finish the reply by saying there is one limitation now, but already the first sentence and the last sentence limit the possible setup compared to the old. So, there are two limitations in that sense. Arlo engineers...Re do and quickly thanks... /Pontus