Pro4 camera w/ VMB4000r3 hub; cannot view local recordings

[jdef]

I have an existing Arlo system with older Arlo ultra cameras.  i added a new arlo pro4.  it worked fine while the trial subscription lasted, but now it is not saving recordings to arlo cloud, although my older cameras are (but recordings don't last; whick is okay).  I have a USB in my VMB4000r3 base station.  I would like to either:

1) have my arlo pro4 camera write temp videos to the cloud so i can view them as I can with my arlo ultra cameras, using my iphone

or

2) view my local usb recordings from my iphone on my VMB4000r3 hub

Also, do I have to have a payed subscription to view recordings in the arlo cloud for my Pro4, even if I don't need them saved?   Works fine for my older Arlo Ultra cameras.    Thank you!!

[StephenB]

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@jdef wrote:

I have an existing Arlo system with older Arlo ultra cameras.  i added a new arlo pro4.  it worked fine while the trial subscription lasted, but now it is not saving recordings to arlo cloud, although my older cameras are (but recordings don't last; whick is okay). 

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I don't believe you have ultras - I believe you have older cameras (like Arlo Pro 2 cameras), which have 7-day free cloud storage.  Newer cameras (starting with the Ultra in 2018) do not have this.

If you open the camera, you should find a part number label inside that start with VM.  Look for it behind the battery.  Can you do that, and post the part number you find there.

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@jdef wrote:

1) have my arlo pro4 camera write temp videos to the cloud so i can view them as I can with my arlo ultra cameras, using my iphone

or

2) view my local usb recordings from my iphone on my VMB4000r3 hub

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The VMB4000 does not support direct access to local storage, so #2 is not possible.  (Note you are not seeing the local recordings from other cameras on the iphone either, you are seeing the 7-day cloud recordings).

#1 requires a subscription.

[jdef]

Thank you StevenB.  My older cameras have the p/n VMC4030.  They work fine, allowing me to view activity on my iPhone (although the activity does fall off after a few days).

So you are saying the the older cameras allow for 7 day Arlo cloud storage without a paid subscription, but this is not the case for the new Pro4 that I purchased?  In other words, in my current set up, the only way for me to view the recordings from the new Pro4 would be:

1) paid subscription for that camera

2)upgrade my base hub to a model that supports direct access to local storage?

Thank you so much for you help!!!

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

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@jdef wrote:

My older cameras have the p/n VMC4030. 

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Ok, those are Pro cameras - not Ultras.

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@jdef wrote:

So you are saying the the older cameras allow for 7 day Arlo cloud storage without a paid subscription, but this is not the case for the new Pro4 that I purchased?  In other words, in my current set up, the only way for me to view the recordings from the new Pro4 would be:

1) paid subscription for that camera

2)upgrade my base hub to a model that supports direct access to local storage?

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Correct.  The smarthubs you'd need for option 2 are either the VMB4540 or VMB5000.  MSRP for the VMB4540 would be $99 USD - though at the moment they are in short supply, and several sellers are charging a lot more than MSRP.

There are several limitations for option 2:

• Recordings only accessible from the app (not PC browsers)
• Recordings only accessible to the primary account (not friend accounts)
• No thumbnails in the library or in notifications
• no ability to make manual recordings or snapshots
• remote access requires router configuration changes that many find difficult  - and which don't work on some networks (starlink and tmobile broadband being two examples).

There are other subscription features you'd also lose - activity zones and smart notifications.

[jdef]

Thank you so very much!   That explains quite a lot!