VMB4540 & VMB5000 Base Station

[HopperPilot]

I have been having intermittent problems with having my Arlo Pro 4 camera storing video in my Arlo Secure video library. Sometimes I will get a motion detection trigger (either via IFTTT or Alexa, depending upon what I am using), but no video will be recorded after that event. I am considering purchasing either a VMB4540 or VMB5000 Base Station to see if that improves things. If I do this, and connect my Pro 4 camera to the base station for locally stored video, does that mean I will give up motion detection (i.e., is Arlo Secure required for motion detection)? Furthermore, aside from the VMB4540 using a USB stick and the VMB5000 using a MicroSD card, are there any differences between these two base stations?

[ShayneS]

The newer Smart Hubs VMB4540 & VMB5000 do not have an integrated Siren as well. You can find more info here: https://www.arlo.com/pl_pl/support/faq/000062284/What-is-the-difference-between-each-Arlo-SmartHub-a...

[StephenB]

---

@HopperPilot wrote:

Furthermore, aside from the VMB4540 using a USB stick and the VMB5000 using a MicroSD card, are there any differences between these two base stations?

---

The VMB5000 is dual band (designed to go with the Ultra, which also is dual band).  The VMB4540 (and all other bases) are 2.4 ghz only.  FWIW, single band usually works out better.  Most cameras are too far away to use 5 ghz, and if the cameras are in a transition area they might keep switching bands.

---

@HopperPilot wrote:

(i.e., is Arlo Secure required for motion detection)? 

---

No.  It gives you smart notifications and cloud activity zones.  

Of course you can continue to use Arlo Secure with the smarthub, and I would recommend that you do that (at least initially).  Note you can still check for local recordings if you don't get the expected cloud recordings. 

Direct Access to local storage has several limitations:

• Recordings only available in the app (not the browser)
• Recordings only available in the primary account (not friend accounts)
• No ability to make manual recordings or snapshots
• No thumbnails, you need to download the recording to view it.
• remote access requires port forwarding or a VPN that can connect to your router.

[HopperPilot]

Thanks for your help, @StephenB. A few more questions, if I may. The information about the VMB4540 and VMB5000 says that using a Base Station will result in a longer lasting battery in my camera. It appears that the camera will communicate with the Base Station using WiFi, so is there a reason that the camera is more efficient in this way? As well, must the Base Station be connected to my router via an Ethernet cable, or can it connect via WiFi?

Many thanks for your help.

[StephenB]

---

@HopperPilot wrote:

must the Base Station be connected to my router via an Ethernet cable, or can it connect via WiFi?

---

It has to be connected with ethernet.

---

@HopperPilot wrote:

It appears that the camera will communicate with the Base Station using WiFi, so is there a reason that the camera is more efficient in this way?

---

The closed WiFi in the base is adjusted/tweaked with power efficiency in mind.

I haven't tested the difference recently, though I definitely noticed some improvement in battery life when I connected my Pro 3 floodlight to my smarthub.  But that was many firmware updates ago.