Arlo Pro cameras not detecting motion since going to new App and Arlo Secure

[IdahoTowerMan]

I just realized today that the Arlo Pro cameras I have are no longer reliable in detecting motion. The Arlo Pro 2 and the 5S seem to be doing ok. I tried deleting and reinstalling the Activity Zones, but I can almost walk around the entire area in front of these cameras and 'maybe' get one or two notices.

My system goes through the Base Station VMB4000r3.

I had no issues before the new app release and moving to the new Arlo Secure plan.

Anyone else experience this?

[jguerdat]

The app and plan don't affect motion sensitivity. Have you tried increasing motion sensitivity in the camera settings under Default Mode Settings?

[IdahoTowerMan]

I mentioned the app and the plan change merely because things seem to be quite different since the new implementation. The camera positions have not changed but notices have decreased significantly. I can walk in and out of my front or back doors, move around in circles, and I will get not one single notice. The cameras are pointed in a way to catch multiple doors, but to even get a notice, I have to almost be directly in front of the camera now. It's like the activity zone is a useless function.

The test mode is no longer in the app either, where I used to be able to watch the amber light to see if the camera responds. It seems no matter what I've tried, the camera only responds to activity at a minimum, and not throughout the entire activity zone like they did before.

I have a second 5S that I am going to try to replace where one of the Pro cameras are now currently. I am curious if the newer camera will work throughout the entire activity zone. I'm charging up that camera now. I was going to use this in a different location, but if the older Pro cameras don't function like they used to, they are basically not worth having in the system.

[jguerdat]

Check the Pro cameras' settings in Default Mode Settings and increase the motion sensitivity. Any better?

[IdahoTowerMan]

Ok. I did increase the sensitivity but it did not change. 

I changed out the Pro to the 5S, and I’m getting similar result's. 

I also found the motion test option, completely missed it. The amber light does not activate in areas when I move around. 

I have to leave for work now, but I have a couple of photos to post when I get back to inquire about the activity zones. 

[IdahoTowerMan]

 this would be my activity zone. Most notices come from the sidewalk to the stairs. And it’s random for anything that happens on the deck. Sometime I can walk out the front door, which is in front of the stairs, and go back in and never get a notice. 

[StephenB]

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@IdahoTowerMan wrote:

 this would be my activity zone. Most notices come from the sidewalk to the stairs. And it’s random for anything that happens on the deck. Sometime I can walk out the front door, which is in front of the stairs, and go back in and never get a notice. 

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How far away is the deck from the camera?

[jguerdat]

Also, much of the normal motion would seem to be rather AT the camera rather than ACROSS the FOV. PIR sensors have a hard time with that.

[IdahoTowerMan]

17 feet from camera to center of the deck stairs

[IdahoTowerMan]

Oddly enough, and only because I decided to investigate and post here, the camera picked me up walking in and out of the front door all three times this morning! 🙄 Yesterday it was a lottery chance if it noticed me or not.

[StephenB]

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@IdahoTowerMan wrote:

17 feet from camera to center of the deck stairs

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Well within the detection range, but the deck is pretty high up in the field of view.

You could try raising the camera. 

Alternatively, invert it, and use the invert image control in the camera settings.  That will shift the most senstive detection area to the top (losing sensitivity at the bottom of the stairs).