Arlo Pro 5 connection issues

[Retired_Member]

Hi, I have a mesh network with an ASUS RT-AC5300 AP and two ASUS CT8 AiMesh nodes running 1GB Ethernet backhaul. The network has two 5ghz channels and one 2.4ghz channel. I also have a VMB5000r4 smart hub. Everything connects to the internet via a small PC running PFsense.

I had three arlo pro cameras connected to the smart hub previously and these worked fine until recently. I assumed as they were end of life something wasn't allowing them to work any more and figured it was time to upgrade and so I bought two Arlo Pro 5 cameras.

The good news. In my lounge room they will connect to 2.4ghz and 5ghz networks and seem to work OK. The bad news. Outside they refuse to connect. I have done a wifi survey and there is plenty of signal strength in the 50-60dbm range. I have tried just about every wifi network change I can think of to no avail including turning off the mesh nodes, turning off 5ghz, fixing the control channels to avoid overlap etc... The batteries drain quickly so I am assuming they are continually trying to connect with no luck.

If I setup the smarthub it doesn't find the cameras at all. I have factory reset the hub and added it again. Factory reset the cameras an manually hit the sync button from 3 ft to 5m away. Won't find them.

Anyone got any tips on advanced troubleshooting I could try? I have a working knowledge of wireshark. Willing to have a go at most things.

So far these have been the most frustrating network devices I've ever owned. Everything else on the network works flawlessly.

All tips, info etc appreciated.  

[Retired_Member]

Update: looks like the arlo cameras are hopping around the nodes. Am playing with roaming settings to see if I can make them stay connected to just one.

[StephenB]

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@Retired_Member wrote:

Update: looks like the arlo cameras are hopping around the nodes. Am playing with roaming settings to see if I can make them stay connected to just one.

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The app has no roaming settings - so you must be playing with router settings.  If you can sort it out, it'd be good to post the results.

It might also be useful to

• measure upload and download speeds at the camera locations (using the OOKLA speedtest app)
• disable 5 ghz as a test, and see if it makes any difference.