Bandwidth - Upstream/Downstream

[mab411]

We're seriously considering buying one or more Arlo Pro cameras.

One concern I have is, our internet speeds are very slow out in the country...we're on the second-tier plan from our line-of-sight ISP, and it advertises 4Mbps downstream, and I can't find the exact upstream speed - likely 1 or 2Mbps.  Of course, the actual speeds are slower.

The Arlo cameras wouldn't affect the downstream speeds, would they?  As in, would our Netflix experience, already shaky, be affected?  I know any upstream data transfer would be slowed significantly.  That said, can the stream from the cameras be easily paused if we do need to upload a significant amount of data?

And while I'm at it...does the base unit set up its own Wifi network?  I'm concerned about my wireless router being able to handle all the activity.  Our media streaming boxes use the wired network outputs, but we do both have laptops and phones that use the Wifi.

Thanks in advance.

[Streak2]

1-2 Mbs upload speed is fine unless all cameras are streaming at the same time.

Each camera can be set on or off at any time if you want to conserve bandwidth.

Download speeds should not be affected.

The Arlo Pro sets up it's own wifi network between the base and the camera, the base is hardwired to your router.

If you're concerned, then start with a 1 camera system and then add extra cameras once you're happy things are working out.

[steve_t]

I would be concerned with the response time / lag, and functionality of the system if your upload speed is less than 1Mbps. Of course, using a USB drive in the Pro base station would allow you to have recordings stored locally

The downstream should only be affected if you're watching videos from your library. If your router has QOS enabled, hopefully your Netflix watching would have priority and remain OK

Yes, the base station sets up its own wifi network for the cameras. Your own wireless router doesn't communicate with the cameras. The base station needs a wired connection though

[jguerdat]

Check your speeds at speedtest.net and post the results.

[mab411]

Thanks!  Streak2, when you say, "unless all the cameras are streaming at the same time," do you mean to say that the cameras aren't sending data upstream all the time?  Are they only "streaming" if they detect motion?  Or if I use the app to look in on the house?

I'll have to run a speedtest when I get home.  But I'm leaving right now to go ahead and purchase a single camera.

[Streak2]

Yes the cameras only stream when they are activated. The rest of the time they just sit idle connected to the base.

If you were to manually live stream all of them at the same time then though would affect your bandwidth more.

When you remotely look in to the house you could either look at recordings in the library already stored as a result of motion or live stream.

Let us know how the installation goes.

[mab411]

Well, shoot.  Went to run a speedtest this morning, and apparently I don't have the latest version of Flash.  I was pushing the time to leave for work, so I'll have to do it later.

And, I got back home last night a little late to do anything with setting up the camera.  Should be able to do it tonight.

[jguerdat]

You can always use the SpeedTest app, too.

[mab411]

Good point.

[mab411]

Okay, ran the Speedtest.  Oof, not pretty.

Download speed was actually better than I anticipated...usually around 3.75Mbps.

Upstream, though?  .34 once, .17 another time, failed twice.  Makes me wonder if there's something affecting the upload test.

[mab411]

Sorry, double post.  Not sure how to delete.

[steve_t]

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mab411 wrote:

Okay, ran the Speedtest.  Oof, not pretty.

Download speed was actually better than I anticipated...usually around 3.75Mbps.

Upstream, though?  .34 once, .17 another time, failed twice.  Makes me wonder if there's something affecting the upload test.

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I don't think your upload is fast enough for the Arlo Pro system to function correctly. Can you upgrade your internet connection?

[mab411]

I can ...at double the monthly cost.

I might call them tomorrow, see if those speeds are normal.

[mab411]

Woke up this morning with a clearer head, and slapped my forehead.

Tried the Speedtest again, with the wired connection, since that's what's going to count when using the Arlo Pro cameras (right?).

3.93Mbps downstream, 1.04Mbps upstream.

[jguerdat]

That's minimal but workable.  If you may have multiple cameras recording at once you might want to use the Optimized setting for all cameras since it's less likely to swamp the upload capability which will cause the cameras to reduce resolution on their own or cause pixelization.

[mab411]

"Minimal but workable."  That is a perfect, concise description of the internet situation out here in rural East Texas!

Anyway, thanks.  I may still call my ISP to see if that's what I should be seeing.  I can't find the upload speeds listed for any of their service plans, but like I say, I'd figured it was 1Mbps...until Speedtest showed me 1.04.  Sorry to go off-topic, but is there any reason to think I'd see a speed faster than my plan advertises?  In other words, I wonder if this plan is supposed to be giving me 1.5 or 2Mbps.

(It was a long time ago that I signed up, and I just don't remember what they told me it would be)

[jguerdat]

My current connection is working above the specified speeds but there's no guarantee it will stay that way.  Using speedtest.net tells you what you are actually seeing regardless of what the ISP claims.  The ISP may also have a speed test site you could try - I've used both and get the same results.

Only contacting the ISP will tell you what your plan is.  You may be able to see it if you log into their web site and check your account.

[mab411]

I did forget, they do have a Speedtest somewhere on their page that they like for us to use, though I'm not sure what's different about theirs (it's still a Speedtest.net test, just embedded on their page).  I wouldn't have had time to find it this morning, though.  You're probably getting a pretty clear picture of how user-friendly their online presence is.

[mab411]

Got it set up last night...seems to be working okay so far.  I can view live video from my smartphone, though there's a pretty hefty lag - probably around 10 seconds.  That's okay, though, I just want to look in and see what's going on from time to time, I'm not coordinating a casino heist.  If I added more cameras, this effect wouldn't multiply, would it, since I'm only viewing one camera at a time (assuming the others aren't uploading video at the same time)?

I set up geofencing - cool - but I need to figure out how to set it so that it doesn't activate when I'm gone but my wife is at home.  Probably just need to poke around in some more submenus, I bet.

I got to thinking...my Wifi network is secured, but what security is in place to keep someone from getting on the hub's network and viewing the video feed?  I have no reason to suspect any of my neighbors would do that, nor do I think anyone would be interested enough to sneak up to our rural house to view our feed, but, you know...what's to keep someone from doing that, if they were?

[steve_t]

There's no way to log on to the base station. Even we can't access it despite wanting to.

There's no way to view the camera feeds without your login and password to either the website or the app