Smart hub vs Subscription for Arlo Pro 4

[TerryTak]

Can the Smart Hub replace the subscription for the Pro 4?  For example, with the Smart Hub, will I get notifications when the Pro 4 detects movement, will it record to Hub when activated, can I view those recordings from an offsite location after the movement is detected and can i live view any time I want to if I'm away from home?

[StephenB]

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@TerryTak wrote:

Can the Smart Hub replace the subscription for the Pro 4?  For example, with the Smart Hub, will I get notifications when the Pro 4 detects movement, will it record to Hub when activated, can I view those recordings from an offsite location after the movement is detected and can i live view any time I want to if I'm away from home?

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https://kb.arlo.com/000062337/What-is-Direct-Storage-Access-and-how-do-I-use-it

Note this applies only to the smarthubs (VMB4540 or VMB5000). 

Some people do use this instead of a subscription.  That said, IMO, the user experience isn't great. 

Limitations include

• recordings are only accessible from the app (not the browser)
• recordings only accessible using the primary account (not friend accounts)
• no ability to make manual recordings or snapshots
• no thumbnails, so videos need to be downloaded to view anything
• remote access requires router setting changes that some find difficult, and which aren't available with some internet service providers.

[TerryTak]

Thank you for your reply.

How about notifications?  Are notifications tied to a subscription?  

[StephenB]

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@TerryTak wrote:

Are notifications tied to a subscription?  

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No. 

But you won't get a useful thumbnail in the notification, you will need to download the video to view it. 

[TerryTak]

Can you view recordings on the Smarthub away from home?

[StephenB]

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@TerryTak wrote:

Can you view recordings on the Smarthub away from home?

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I answered that above.

• remote access requires router setting changes that some find difficult, and which aren't available with some internet service providers.

On the ISP bit:  You won't get remote access at all on Mobile Broadband (T-mobile, Verizon), or Starlink.  Some landline ISPs are using a technology called CGNAT which also will prevent remote access.  But at least some of those can disable CGNAT (likely at a cost).

[MikeJK]

I have been working with Arlo support for weeks. I bought the original Arlo cameras and HUB and was able to see stored videos on my HUB when away from home. Since I bought the Arlo Pro4 cameras which required another SmartHUB, viewing videos on my SmartHub is only available if you have a subscription. I can only assume this was a feature change by Arlo to get customers to go to subscription service. The alternative is to go to port forwarding, which is not a secure networking setting. How Arlo support could recommend this is beyond me. I thought Arlo was in the security business? I do not recommend Arlo cameras now unless you don't mind paying for the subscription.

[jguerdat]

Not true. You can view local recordings on the hub regardless of subscription. The difference is that cloud recordings require the sub. 

As for remote viewing, port forwarding is one way but if you read the text nearby you'll see that use of a VPN is another way to do this. Many current routers supply a method for you to connect with the appropriate software (Netgear supplies OpenVPN, dunno about others) which allows you to view anything on your network including local recordings on your hub. WHich method you choose is your decision alone.

[MikeJK]

Thanks for the update. I have a VPN router for secure encryption connected to the Arlo Hub. I cannot view videos remotely. However, I think you are talking about another type VPN that allows network access. I will have to try that. 
It’s unfortunate that Arlo changed their Hub support for remote videos. It use to be plug and play. Now it requires subscription, VPN or port forwarding. I still will not recommend Arlo. 

[jguerdat]

Arlo didn't change anything for remote access of local recordings. I suspect you're mixing the issue of remote access to cloud recordings with that of local ones. Local recordings have always required that you're somehow connected to your home network for viewing, whether being physically preset at home and connected to your network or to use port forwarding or a VPN. 

And the VPN usage is of the sort supplied by the router manufacturer so you can connect remotely as opposed to a system-wide connection so your whole network is covered for any Innternet access.

[StephenB]

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@MikeJK wrote:

 I have a VPN router for secure encryption connected to the Arlo Hub. I cannot view videos remotely. However, I think you are talking about another type VPN that allows network access. 

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The VPN you need is one that allows your phone to connect to your home network.

Note this assumes that your ISP allows inbound connections to your router (mobile broadband services don't, neither do landline services that use CGNAT).  It also requires IPv4.

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@MikeJK wrote:

It’s unfortunate that Arlo changed their Hub support for remote videos. 

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They didn't change this.  

To clarify: 

Legacy cameras (pro, pro2, etc) were sold with 7 days of free cloud storage, which is still available with those cameras.  Arlo stopped providing that feature on new camera models back in 2018 (starting with the Ultra).  Those new cameras need a subscription to get any cloud storage.

As far as local recordings go, the only bases that support direct access to local recordings from the app are the two smarthubs - VMB4540 and VMB5000.  Older bases require you to remove the local storage and connect it to a PC for viewing.  The direct access to local storage feature was addedto the smarthubs back in 2018, when Arlo started requiring subscriptions to cloud storage.  It has always required either a VPN or port forwarding to use remotely.  It's also not the best user experience.

Many users are a bit confused on this, and assume that they are looking at local recordings with the legacy cameras, when in fact they are looking at recordings stored in the Arlo cloud.