IFTTT Virgin

[shoustonnz]

I have discovered IFTTT. Love that I can make widgets on Android home screen to Arm and Disarm. 

I am yet to try the "enter an area, disarm" and "leave an area, arm" modes, but I do not hold much hope. It does state IOS only, but you never know.

What I have noticed is.... When I do arm via IFTTT, it is not shown in the android app (this still says Disarmed). Yet if I walk around the lounge, I get notifications and emails saying motion detected.

How do I get them to sync up??? Is it possible to widget "custom modes". Can I share these widgets with my wifes phone??? Has anyone used the "Enter and leave an area" applets on android.

If I am being honest, this is a better way of arming and disarming my system.

Why does the Arlo app not have widgets???? And why is it so slow to react.

[steve_t]

Do you find IFTTT is better than the Geofencing mode in the Arlo app?

[shoustonnz]

Yes. It appears to work, which is 100% better. But... My wife left for work whilst I was at home. And it armed the system. So..... No last out first in. Just does as it is told. No intelligence.
So for all those people that live alone its awesome.

[shoustonnz]

Made a few tweaks , and early indications are positive.
I set up an IFTTT account in my name. Then under "My Applets/Services. Selected Arlo and logged into my base station (as the master account).
Then I made widgets to arm and disarm Arlo. Personally I made a green "Arm Arlo Button" and a Red "Do disarm Arlo Button". These are all pre made, just go to the "search" section, and search Arlo. I then Made widgets for the Arm and Disarm on my phones home screen.

 Also I created 2 Applets. "If you enter and area Disarm Arlo" and "If you exit and area Arm Arlo" Ignore the what it says about IOS, I have these working on Android. There are official Arlo made applets, I used the ones made by "Chromeuser 1" or you can make your own, its very easy.

When you have installed these, refine the map, default map is San Francisco. And turn on. 

So that is my phone sorted. But now to emulate Arlo's "last out first in" Geofencing function.

Create another IFTTT account for my wife (with her own login and password, not the same as mine)
Then, and most importantly. Go to My Applets/Services, Select Arlo, and login in as the master user.
The repeat making widgets and Applets as above.

Now, all you do is.... go out. If a user is still at home the system will not arm...untill either you use your "arm" button, or you leave the area (home). And it will not disarm untill a user enters the area. Or you use your Disarm button.

If you are like me, you will try to monitor the changes in mode, on you Android Arlo app. Do not waste your time, it is far to slow, and will crash. Log into a PC and you will see changes in mode happen live.

In conclusion this is so much better for arming and disarming Arlo, and a much better alternative to Geofencing.

Negatives.
Delay of about 5 -10 seconds in Arming and disarming system using widgets. But this is a thousand times better than the "waiting for status" and freezing of app in Arlo. Which can take minutes, rather than seconds.

Making the applets and widgtes per user is time consuming. Would be nice if you could export them. Maybe you can, I have not tried.

Can not make widgets for "Schedule" Modes, and "Custom" Modes.

Have not worked out how to notify other users, when Arlo is armed/disarmed.

Also I must metion that this can all be done at https://ifttt.com/. With the exception of refineing your map.

Overall... I am happy now.... Netgear have a conversation with IFTTT, and incorparate this into you app as I have described above. It makes it some much more useful and a lot less frustrating.

[steve_t]

Once you get the hang of IFTTT, check out Stringify. It has all the functionality of IFTTT but much more as well 🙂

[shoustonnz]

After a week of testing. Gps is not that reliable. It does work. But quire random as where and when it works. So now we just use the buttons to ARm and disarm the system. And share an account so all users know when its turned on or off.