Pro 4...endless basic issues

[Bazza1973]

Hi. Apologies in advance for the length here.. desperately looking for some practical help after getting nowhere with multiple support tickets (ignored and auto-closed, despite me actioning them beyond the help docs), multiple calls to the UK helpline where i am based (I hold for 5 mins and then always get auto-cut off). I'm at a loss for what next, short of just putting the camera in the bin:

• I bought two Pro 4 cameras - one works perfectly well (wifi connected and each with a solar charger) and zero issues
• The other was set up exactly the same at the same time. It worked well for a couple of months, then the issues started:
  • Despite having a solar panel (in clear line to sunlight), it didn't hold a charge for more than 48 hrs from full. It had 10-15 motion alert events a day, so not crazy usage. Its on sensible power/video settings
  • I've reset the camera multiple times to see if that would help. In doing that i had issues reconnecting with my home wifi network. This was resolved by turning off my phones Bluetooth, mobile data and VPN and all was fine
  • Once reconnected though, the holding a charge situation didn't improve, so despite trying to get help multiple times and not being able to access anything beyond the written help pages, i bought a new Arlo battery to see if that would make a difference
  • It did! and it worked much better.... for 24 hours (so not a huge time test)... and now it has disconnected itself from the home wifi network and wont reconnect no matter what i do. I've been through the same routine that worked before but it fails - interestingly at different points in the connection process, including getting all the way through the connection process, adding the camera, but it then says the camera is disconnected and it wont connect even if I go round the connection cycle again
  • My wifi network is very strong and this camera is much closer to my router than the other one that works fine and consistently
  • The cameras firmware is up to date

What's the view from the community please? Is this just a duff camera? Am i missing something? Will Arlo replace or am i stuck with buying a new one? Any help and thoughts appreciated

Thanks, Bazza

[jguerdat]

@JamesC , @ShayneS , @BrookeN ?

[Bazza1973]

Update: for no reason (everything was the same as before), it has now reconnected. It now works. So set back up and I will test the new battery again properly 

[Bazza1973]

Hi…update: the battery continues to drain after 48 hrs. Here’s a thought…

I have an activity zone defined to only be triggered on this problem camera when people enter my garden. That’s working and all that’s being recorded. 

….however, the camera view outside of the defined activity zone includes a busy main road with lots of cars. Is the battery perhaps being drained by tracking (and discounting from recording) all the background movement that’s happening outside the defined activity zone??

[StephenB]

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@Bazza1973 wrote:

….however, the camera view outside of the defined activity zone includes a busy main road with lots of cars. Is the battery perhaps being drained by tracking (and discounting from recording) all the background movement that’s happening outside the defined activity zone??

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Yes.  When the camera is triggered (either by motion or audio), the video is streamed to the Arlo Cloud.  The cloud determines if the motion is in-zone or not.  If the motion is not in the zone, then the recording and notification is supressed.

The camera operates exactly the same way as it does w/o activity zones.  So setting up zones does not change the power use.

Options are to

1. Reduce the motion sensitivity.  Use the motion detection test while walking around in the area of interest to determine the lowest threshold that works reliably.
2. Reposition the camera to reduce the amount of unwanted activity in the field of view.
3. Power the camera with an outdoor AC charger.

[Bazza1973]

Thank you very much for the input. Much appreciated