Arlo|Smart Home Security|Wireless HD Security Cameras

No two-way audion on model Q

Reply
Discussion stats
  • 11 Replies
  • 5199 Views
  • 0 Likes
  • 7 In Conversation
KhanhLam
Follower
Follower

Hi,

 

I just purchased two Arlo-Q units. So far, i have only set one up to test it out and i was only getting one way audio coming from the webcam and not from my smart phone to the camera. Can somebody who got this issue solved please show me how to set this feature up? Thank you for your time.

 

KL

11 REPLIES 11
JamesC
Community Manager
Community Manager

KhanhLam,

 

What smart device are you using?

 

Check your settings to make sure both the microphone and the speaker are enabled on your Arlo Q. Log in to your Arlo account > Settings > My Devices > Select Arlo Q > check the toggle for microphone and speaker.

 

JamesC

Monica502
Aspirant
Aspirant

Same here. Settings are correct. Firmware is updated. Microphone doesn work on an S5, Galaxy Note, S7 , or my iPod, so I'm certain it isn't an issue with the smart device. I've restarted the camera. I've toggled the settings back and forth. Nothing works. It worked fine when I first got it, but the microhpone hasn't worked for weeks.

jguerdat
Guru Guru
Guru

Just to be certain, you've checked both the mic and speaker settings, right?  Dumb question but...

Monica502
Aspirant
Aspirant

Yes, I have double-checked all of the settings. Last night I tried another reset of the camera. I changed the wireless connection to use my signal booster instead of directly to the router to see if that helped. I can still only get it to load the microphone from a device if I am in my house and connected to the same wifi signal. It will not connect if I have my device connected to another wifi signal such as in my office or in a hotel when I am traveling. It will SOMETIMES connect if I try from my phone using my cellphone service rather than wifi, but even that isn't reliable. 

Cassidy
Luminary
Luminary

Monica502 ,

I saw you on my post "Push to talk don't work...need help" and I think I understand YOUR problem , it is at the level of technical understanding of the functioning of Arlo cameras .To make cameras work well, you need a upstream bandwidth that supports well the upload transfer of data in the Arlo Cloud of Arlo cameras, unfortunately all Netgear experts forget Always to ask people what are their upload bandwidth and after  reading you I understand your problem better. I'll put a image to explain what i am saying.

 

Each Arlo Q need a upstream bandwith of 1.5mbps minimum...you have 2 Arlo Q...so you need minimaly 3.0 mbps upload bandwidth to make your cameras working great...At home, normaly if you are many people, your Internet provider sell you a package to make work all of your equipment..In Hotel or when you're travelling, the normal upload rate for them for the upstream bandwidth is .9mbps(less than 1), so this is to low to make your audio and video from Arlo Q to work properly. So in those case your button "Push to talk cannot work".

 

You can check your upload value with a free program called Speedtest, you also can download it for free for Windows,Apple and Android system at http://www.speedtest.net/?a=1

 

Also, if you have a 3g/4g connection (i think this is for cellular), this is supposed to work (expert can answer that part,i don't have cellular)...If you try with Arlo android program , maybe it don't work for now, we think it is a programming error in the Arlo application...This is what I am expecting right now for myself..(we= me and Netgear expert)...They are working on this...If you check my image, you can see I have 10.36mbps as Upload, this is the double of my real needs. So in my case, i know than the problem is not on my side...So, checking your upstream bandwidth is the first thing to do....if your upload is OK, problem is on ther side..You probably have a better download bandwidth than me if you are a family...As I am alone, I don't need more...With the program Speedtest installed in yours devices, you can test and see the bandwidth everywhere you are...You can also take your router program to make the speedtest like I did...

 

I hope what I wrote help you ....Sorry for my english, this is not my langage..please give us a feedback.

 

Cassidy

 

 

Screenshot_2016-05-14-18-41-46.png

Cassidy
Luminary
Luminary

If somebody want to argue what I wrote, don't be shy...i like to learn.

 

Also, for people who want more tehnical information to have the better connection possible you can go read those articles..

 

http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/23783/related/1 For more informations on channel http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1027/related/1

 

You don't need to have a Netgear router to do this...just check in your Internet router FAQ to see how to procede.

 

 

Cassidy

jguerdat
Guru Guru
Guru

No arguments here. 🙂 I have limited upload speeds - Time Warner is only 1Mbs for the standard speed. I get pixelation on occasioln but few other issues. I have one Q and 3 wireless cameras which sometimes record together. I agree that faster upload speeds are desirable but they're not absolutely mandatory as long as you're not recording all cameras at one time. I may have 3 total cameras recording at one time and it generally is fine. YMMV.

Cassidy
Luminary
Luminary

Jguerdat..

you are right...it can work but please pay attention to not misinform peopleyou can not enjoy the best of your cameras with only 1mbps but you already know it...a lot of people don't...

 

As I say,  what I wrote  it  is for the world to understand the technical side and the real need from the cameras so that way they can understand why it does not always work as they wish.

 

When i bought my first wireless package of 4 cameras,  I did not know that it required a certain flow in upstream bandwidth because cameras send motion capture video in a cloud. The Arlo company suggest a high-speed Internet connection minimum 1 Mbps upstream recommended to avoid problems with wireless cameras.

 

For my own needs, I also buy a Arlo Q camera and if like me you want the camera working  at the best you really need a minimum of 1.5 mbps as upload.(• 1080P. 1500 kbps or• 720P. 700 kbps). So if you have a CVR plan, you absolutely need 1.5 mbps + I presume another 1.5 mbps if you also check and use LIVE your Arlo Q camera. (Here , technical support could tell us more)

 

The needs of all people are different, I use the cameras to monitor what is happening to my mother house who receives daily support of many people in order to stay at home and I have to maximize this network regardless of the situation . Everything must work number  1 and this is the same for people that monitors their children, their parents, their pets or just to themselves secures the camera Arlo Q must operate at 100 percent ... not a half with pixels problem and with no bi-directional audio possibility...This is WHY I inform people...

 

For people and the world who use their cameras for filming motion detections only the need for bandwidth is lower and I know it but to use the cameras to their full possibilities, I prefer to rely upon the technical requirements of the Company....I forgot, if you use the live camera , do not forget that you possibly have any other Wi-Fi devices at home that also require a certain flow upstream ,it is necessary to have more upstream bandwidth than is required for your cameras.

 

So, still hope I help Monica and other people with cameras due to poor bandwidth...If you don't understand my english, please you complain to google translator....

 

(P.S. Arlo wrote in their informations : The bandwidth values are for each individual camera. To learn how much bandwidth
your Arlo system uses, multiply the number of cameras that are streaming video at the same time by the bandwidth for the video quality setting)...

 

(Even if I wrote this, I still have a camera problem...but we work hard Netgear Expert and me to resolve it...i only know this is not my side problem..i meet all technicals exigences...)

 

Cassidy

Cassidy
Luminary
Luminary

Monica502

 

"Push to talk" seem to work with the new Android  update of May 17 on Google Play Store...I don't receive anymore any error message and I can hear my message when I use CVR to replay it.

 

But...one of my tablet cannot be upgrade...android 4.2 ..

 

Cassidy

 

TheDobber
Aspirant
Aspirant

The push to talk feature does not always work on our Arlo Q setup.  Arlo upload speeds at home are 12.33.  It seems that there are more problems when wifi is not available when trying to use push to talk away from home.  I have updated to the latest firmware during setup 2 days ago.

 

I need to know the status of this issue to decide if I need to return my systems and try another vendor or purchase additional Arlo Q's to complete my setup.  We use android and ios phones on verizons and tmobile.  I hope there is some solution because other than this issue I am impressed with what you offer.

 

Also, is there any way to make the audio at home louder when push to talk is used.  If not is there any way to use an external speaker.

TomMac
Guru Guru
Guru

SI've had a little trouble with audio 2way with the Q.... It was Chrome browser causing problems... So maybe try a diff browser.

 

I am not aware of  any method to make the audio louder ( mine was loud enough ) tho maybe raising the mic gain could help  the if possible with your device.

 

There is no external speaker that I know of for the Q nor jack

--------------------------------------
Morse is faster than texting!
--------------------------------------