Pro 5S Camera - No Recordings with Activity Zones

[rbsteffen]

Arlo Pro 5S - No recording of scheduled events; manually records only; my subscription is current.

The device only records after deleting all Activity Zones. I've tried many, many different times. There's no point in having a subscription if it doesn't record. Also, I spent an hour on the phone yesterday (and several hours the day before) trying to fix the issue with Arlo techs and a supervisor. Oddly, it worked on and off yesterday, and now does not, once again. I saw in this forum that this was a problem in 2019 as well.

[JamesC]

rbsteffen,

How far away is the motion you're trying to capture?

JamesC

[rbsteffen]

The area to capture is directly in front of the camera. The camera itself is about 10 ft. off the ground and pointing down the path towards the house - so anything between 5-30 ft.

It's quite simple: if there is an Activity Zone, it does not record any automation for scheduled event at a certain date/time; it only notifies. Delete the zone and immediately it records and notifies.

But this issue has nothing to do with motion detection. It captures and records motion fine. This is about the "scheduled run" in automations under Routines to capture specific times of the highest tides threatening the house. 

I also see this message, “Custom Schedule: Your Automation may not run correctly due to the following: ____"  
The space for the answer is completely blank. 

[jguerdat]

10 feet up and pointing down the path may be the basic issue. A screenshot of the camera view would be useful as well as a description of the motion needed to be detected.

[rbsteffen]

Hmm... I just don't understand what motion detection has to do with scheduled events not recording if there is an Activity Zone. My camera records motion just fine with or without an Activity Zone.

Here's the camera photo perspective. Without an Activity Zone on the path and door entry, I get alerts/recordings repeatedly for sunlight reflecting on the water. Hence, the need for a zone without water in it.

Maybe there are clues from the 2019 Arlo Community thread, "No Recordings with Activity Zones." What they describe is the same thing I experience. That fix ultimately took Arlo to update the software. 

[jguerdat]

My supposition is that there's too much distance for detection (the PIR sensor only works out to ~25 feet for people) and motion appears to be virtually directly at the camera which PIR sensors have a hard time with (motion has to be detected between adjacent portions of the sensor). 

What is the motion detection sensitivity in your modes and rules? Increasing that could help some. Repositioning the camera could also help if you can move it to the right (relative to the camera view) so motion is more across the FOV. If you could move it to the left and aim it so the water isn't in view, that could be yet another solution.

And, of course, it could be a software issue.

[rbsteffen]

No change in the behavior. And I don't understand why motion would have anything to do with it not recording a scheduled event ONLY if and when an Activity Zone is created. It identifies objects and records all other motion fine. The Activity Zone can be any size, any location in the frame, and it does not record scheduled events. As soon as it is removed, it records the scheduled event. 

Bummer. Really needed this right now to record how high up the highest tides early in the mornings are for this month and next.

[rick-wr]

My cameras recently (in the past two or three weeks) record very little and when they do it is for one or two seconds with awful playback quality. Also live view is hit and miss. Sometimes it works and other times nothing. I am very disappointed in the direction Arlo has gone. I have been a user since Vuezone. I have already started replacing Arlo cameras with other manufactures.

[rbsteffen]

I can understand that. What other brands? 

[jguerdat]

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@rick-wr wrote:

My cameras recently (in the past two or three weeks) record very little and when they do it is for one or two seconds with awful playback quality. Also live view is hit and miss. Sometimes it works and other times nothing.

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That's a strong indication of a poor connection to your router or hub. Could be either signal strength or wireless interference - or both. Anything new or moved that could be the issue? Have you rebooted your router and/or hub?

[rbsteffen · Accepted solution]

Thanks, All. The recording of scheduled events is now working with the Activity Zone. Hooray! I saw the tide this morning 🙂 No idea what did it. Maybe these posts!

Nothing changed with router or wifi. That has been strong from the start. Thanks!

[rbsteffen]

And now it's not working with Activity Zones and also not working without them!

Come on, Arlo.

[jguerdat]

It may just be a faulty camera. Use the app and go to Settings, Support, choose your camera and start talking to official support for a possible RMA.

[rbsteffen]

Will do. Thank you for the suggestion.