Seeking advice - upgrade from VMB4000 to VMB4540 to get access to USB stored video

[dipstick22]

I purchased an Arlo package in 2019 consisting of VMB4000 and four (4) Pro2 cameras.  We do NOT use it for home security, rather for remote monitoring of an elderly parent we care for in our home.  Typically, when away, I login to the Arlo app and turn on cameras to verify where she is and that she is OK. We do not use motion detection.  We are considering enabling the motion detection feature and storing the videos on local USB storage attached to the base unit. 

From my reading, this is where the VMB4540 or VMB5000 upgrade would help.  While away, I would be able to connect to them via Arlo app and search/view stored video via the Library feature.  However, I am not comfortable trusting the Arlo documentation as my sole source.  I'd like to get some actual experiences from Arlo forum members --- will what I want to do work with the VMB4540 or VMB5000?  If yes to both, is there any advantage of the VMB5000 over the VMB4540?

[StephenB]

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@dipstick22 wrote:

I'd like to get some actual experiences from Arlo forum members --- will what I want to do work with the VMB4540 or VMB5000?  

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You have 7-day free cloud storage until 1 January 2024, so you don't need to rush and upgrade the base to get recordings.

Direct Access to local storage does work, but has several restrictions:

• recordings only available in the app (not the browser)
• recordings only available from the primary account (not shared accounts)
• no ability to store manual recordings or take snapshots
• no thumbnails - all videos need to be downloaded to the phone for viewing
• remote access requires router setting changes that some find difficult.  They also don't work with some internet providers (mobile broadband, starlink, or other providers that use CGNAT).

IMO Arlo doesn't have much interest in having this feature work well.  It works on one of my smarthubs, but not the other.  It's possible that resetting the one that doesn't work would resolve it, but since I do have a subscription I haven't bothered.

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@dipstick22 wrote:

is there any advantage of the VMB5000 over the VMB4540?

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Not with Pro 2 cameras. 

The VMB5000 storage is a microSD, the VMB4540 is USB. Either way, 128-256 GB offers a lot of storage, you likely wouldn't need any more.

The VMB5000 has dual-band wifi (2.4 gHz and 5 gHz).  The VMB4540 is single band (2.4 gHz).  But the Pro 2 camera is also only 2.4 gHz.