EOL new purchase without subscription .VMC4030P

[hellop]

Hi, I currently have an Arlo VMC4030P  system and have been sent an EOL email. I am happy to purchase a new discounted system but am totally confused if any of the new systems provide 7 day cloud video storage without a subscription. I have never had a subscription and never will. If the pro4 or ultra 2 do not offer this can i record an event to a card in the base station from my phone and can i view all events on my phone live or otherwise? Am i correct in thinking that my current system will run as is until January 2024. Initially I thought it was all changing in April 2023.

And will the Arlo essential wireless door bell work without a subscription?

[DannyBearAgain]

The arlo 7days free cloud storage service ends at the end of this year.

This is when all of the arlo products that were sold with the promise of  7days free cloud storage will have been forced into EOL status by arlo.

Camera models released after 2018 which is after the pro2 model requires a subscription to record to the cloud including the doorbells etc.

Arlo offers existing non subscription customers with EOL equipment, the opportunity to buy a subscription plan to extend the cloud storage service when  the EOL date has passed. 

Without a paid subscription for cloud storage your cameras can still be live viewed from the app but you will not be able to record or take snapshots since they require cloud storage services.

The VMB4xxx Base stations can backup any event recordings to a USB flash drive, similar to the VMB5000 hub that uses a memory card. Only the 4540 and 5000 units support in app downloading of the video files to your mobile phone not the web.

[StephenB]

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@hellop wrote:

but am totally confused if any of the new systems provide 7 day cloud video storage without a subscription.

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All current/new systems  (including the doorbells) require a subscription for cloud storage. 

All legacy cameras will require a subscription for cloud storage when they reach the EOL date.  That is 1 January 2024 for the VMC4030P (Pro 2)

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@hellop wrote:

can i record an event to a card in the base station from my phone and can i view all events on my phone live or otherwise?

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The Ultra camera bundles generally include a VMB5000 base - which accepts a microSD card.  Pro 4 camera bundles include a VMB4540 - which supports USB storage.

Both of these bases support the direct access to local storage feature.

• https://kb.arlo.com/000062337/What-is-Direct-Storage-Access-and-how-do-I-use-it

IMO it's not a great experience.  That said, many here do use it instead of a subscription.

Limitations include

• recordings only accessible from the app (not the browser)
• recordings only accessible to the primary account (not friend accounts)
• no ability to take manual recording or snapshots
• no thumbnails - videos all need to be downloaded to see anything
• remote access requires router setting changes that some find difficult (and which don't work with some internet service providers).