Arlo Pro & Smartthings in Australia

[Redmoonstar]

Thanks Brian,

                      I thought I had posted in the early hours of this morning but it didn't work. I have changed the recording time on camera 5 when it's triggered by Camera 3 but I don't want to set a minimum record time when it triggeres as my dogs quite often trigger this camera and I don't want to waste battery. I have audio on at the lowest setting on both these camera's but when it's windy it triggers constantly. Any work around would be helpful. I just really need the camera's to trigger a bit earlier so I can see whoever is there. I have my camera's set to record until motion stops sometimes they will record for 5 mins and I can't see any motion, other times they will record between 14 & 23 secs and there is still motion but they stop recording. Hopfully I'll get that sorted once I get the motion detection sorted. Thanks Monica

[brh]

@Redmoonstar

I looked at the videos from the other post early this morning, (US Time), This month Smartthings is going through some massive changes so I am not recommending Smartthings until I see what they are doing. 

Out of curiosity, why aren't you using the Arlo Solar panels?

There are problems with outdoor sensors, though, as they will trigger on sunlight changes, clouds, animals, leaves blowing, etc.

A couple of solutions, that you may not want to hear. 

1) In May the new Arlo lights with motion sensors are going to be available in the US, but I don't know when they will be available in Australia. These would be the ideal solution, but you would have to mount them on a pole or something within range of the Arlo radios. At night the videos would be much clearer and depending of the proximity of the object to the light, the photos might be in color.

2) Buy a couple of more cameras, but again to reach the farthest point in your road or driveway, you would have to find a way to mount them on some type of pole.

My suggestion is to purchase the Arlo Solar panels for the cameras you already have as you then won't have to worry about changing batteries and you could increase your recording times. I believe that would solve the problems on most of your videos. Secondly it would give you more mounting options. 

If you don't want to purchase another camera to be able to view the furthest points and pay the subscription fee and if you can possibly free up one of your cameras and mount it on a pole with a solar panel then move it out a little further.

Here is a link to how PIR motion sensors work so understanding this will help you position your cameras.

https://learn.adafruit.com/pir-passive-infrared-proximity-motion-sensor/how-pirs-work

As you will see, pointing the cameras at a downward angle will increase the field of view of the motion sensor, increase its sensitivity, minimize the delay and help block out unwanted motion.

I have posted all of this to help you utilize your cameras to their utmost, even if you have to mount the camera on a pole, etc. That way there should be almost no delay with the pro cameras.

An outdoor motion sensor even using one with Smartthings really won't help much. Where these sensors work best is under the eaves of a house where the changes in sunlight, etc. are minimal.

Brian

[Redmoonstar]

Thanks Brian,

                      I have one solar panel that works well however my husband isn't a fan of the cost in getting 4 more panels. I can use a step ladder for the 4 camera's to access them for charging at the moment so I'm happy to do that. The arlo lights sound like they may be a good option as I could mount them close to the camera's and hopfully they would then trigger the camera's. I can't put camera's any further down the driveway as the internet signal will be to weak and I mainly want footage of anyone going into our sheds or to the work vehicles. I will try a different position for camera no 5 and see if that is any better and will also check out some different mounts for the camera, I think if I could extend it a bit further out from the verandah it may be better able to detect the motion as I could point it further down towards the vehicles. The other 3 camera's I have seem to be working well and picking up motion I just need to tweak these 2 and hopfully will be all set then. I will change the recording time to a set time on both camera's and see how that goes as well. Camera 5 is around 12ft off the ground where it is currently mounted but I can reach it on a step ladder from my verandah ( I'm not a fan of heights) my husband wants the camera's but not to have to do any work with them once mounted so I'm in control of positioning and charging. I  wanted rechargable not wired camera's because I could move them around for the best coverage. Thanks for your time Brian and suggestions. 

                                                                                                               Monica

[brh]

@Redmoonstar

I currently have a Netgear wi-fi range extender that was fairly inexpensive, (under 60 USD), and a second base station so that I have a strong signal at both ends of my house. The reason for the second base unit is that the base station must physically connect to the internet through an ethernet  cable, thus the range extender needs an ethernet plug. Since the base station use a totally different frequency communicating with the cameras, just the wi-fi extender by itself would not work. Some of my cameras are synced with one base station and others are synced to the other base station. There is one slight down side to going this route if you are using Arlo modes and rules, and that is that you must setup the modes and rules separately.

Possibly a much less expensive solution?

Brian

[brh]

@Redmoonstar

I have read that people with a power outlet outside actually putting the range extender and base station outside inside a weatherproof enclosure. You could always put some potted plants on top of the enclosure to disguise what the purpose of the enclosure was. LOL

Brian

[Redmoonstar]

Hi Brian,

               I have the Orbi router and satellite system and have my arlo base plugged into the satellite via ethernet cable and this is in the end room of the house closest to the sheds that I am monitoring. I have good wifi strenghth on all camera's except camera 3 that is on the furtherest shed and I have 2 bars on the computer but it has 3 bars on the arlo app. I don't have any camera's at the other end of the house as it backs on to our paddock and it's unlikely that anyone will come through the paddock ( 60 hectares ) and the people we have had trouble with come up the service road and in via our driveway. My camera 3 seems to pick up motion on the driveway on the other side of the garden better than the side closest to the camera, I have attached a video from my husband arriving home this afternoon so am thinking I may shift that camera to the middle of the shed higher up and pointed downwards so I can see if anyone goes into any door of the shed. Is there a magnetic mount for the pro that would also magneticaly attach to the shed??

https://arlo.netgear.com/hmsweb/users/library/share/link/A300D338B35F9D77_201803

I have also attached a photo of the house where I am trying to position camera 5 on the far left corner of the verandah so you can sort of see  where I have it (this is an old photo so no camera) and maybe can suggest another position (one I can easily reach) to try. Thank you for the help and suggestions I'm hoping I never have to use any footage but would like to get set up just in case.

                                                                                          Monica

[brh]

@Redmoonstar

I think while I am trying to position the camera I would just use some strong double sided tape to attach to the bottom of the original magnetic mount. Once you have determined the best location, you can purchase one of Arlo's threaded mounts and screw the mount in place. If you are mounting the camera under the roof, the screws for the mount should not be a problem. If you are mounting the camera to the top of the roof, you might want to place some silicone over the mount screws to prevent water entering the holes. 

Brian

[Redmoonstar]

I have actually got them mounted to the shed with double sided tape at the moment so I could shift them around as needed. Once I got camera 4 in the correct position my husband mounted it with the outdoor mount and mounted the solar panel as well. I have mounted camera 5 with the screw mount as I got my husband to do it while he was mounting the shed one ( I wanted to get it done while he was in the mood) before I had the camera so now it's trial and error to get it positioned correctly. It actually picks up movement on the end of the verandah but not at the front of the vehicles see attachment. Camera 3 also picks up movement further away from the camera I have attached that in second attachment. I'm now sure I need to change the position of camera 3 I just need to find the right spot.

https://arlo.netgear.com/hmsweb/users/library/share/link/2232D0935C4CA22E_201803

https://arlo.netgear.com/hmsweb/users/library/share/link/89BB8F0189F21167_201803

                                                                        Monica

[brh]

@Redmoonstar

I think the cars are radiating too much energy, thus overpowering a human walking past or near them. I would try to position camera 5 a little further to the right so that if there is a 4th vehicle parked there, it will still be in view of the camera and the walkway will be slightly more at an angle to the camera's sensors. Other than that, the current placement is about as good as you are going to get.

Also, the sensitivity should be better with the lights off as there is less energy for the cars to radiate.

Brian

[Redmoonstar]

Thanks Brian I will try shifting it to the right and see how it goes. I have been looking at mounts and thought I may be able to use any extension on my current mount to change position will have to do more research first. It's 1.15am here so I'm off for some shut eye as I have work in the morning. Will let you know how I go with positional changes. 

           Monica