geofencing isnt working anymore

[Molch]

Hello everyone, my geofencing doesn't seem to be working anymore. I've already tried everything (rebooting the base station, camera, and smartphone) - no success.

Does anyone know who can help with this, or if there's a solution for it?

[BrookeN]

I have reached out to the development team with the information you provided. Can I get the app version you all are using as well please. Thank you and I will update as soon as possible. 

[StephenB]

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@MichaelT90 wrote:

You're more than welcome to take a look, and thank you 🙂

 

 

 

 

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Generally, if you want to combine geofencing + scheduling, you need to reserve "Arm Away" for when you are away.  Then schedule mode switches between "Arm Home" and "Standby" when you are home.  The sometimes requires you to repurpose "Standby" (enabling some cameras).

The schedule automations are enabled in "Arm Home" and "Standby", but disabled in Arm Away").  "Arrive" is only enabled in "Arm Away".  "Leave" can be always enabled, but it is also fine to enable it only in "Arm Home" and "Standby".

[MichaelT90]

Thank you for this, this setup is completely new to me. 

Over night, it went to arm away, and now won't switch back, if I switch it, it goes back to arm away. This is the usual behaviour but I used to get a few days with it working in my originally provided config. It's like once it's done each mode once it gets stuck in the last mode.

I think I've now (as of about 09:10) set it up as you've said, screenshots below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[StephenB]

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@MichaelT90 wrote:

Thank you for this, this setup is completely new to me. 

Over night, it went to arm away, and now won't switch back, if I switch it, it goes back to arm away. This is the usual behaviour but I used to get a few days with it working in my originally provided config. It's like once it's done each mode once it gets stuck in the last mode.

I think I've now (as of about 09:10) set it up as you've said, screenshots below:

 

Some have reported that geofencing doesn't reliably trigger when you enter/leave the radius.  This might be specific to some phones, or maybe GPS (hard to tell from the forum posts). 

If the system doesn't realize someone has arrived the system will stay stuck in "Arm Away".  Similarly, if the system doesn't realize that everyone has left, the system will continue to run the schedule.  FWIW, some people reported similar issues with geofencing when using the old "Library" interface.

Hopefully Arlo is working on those problems. In the meantime, you either need to keep an eye on the system mode, or just manually set the mode when you leave and return.

[MichaelT90]

Went out for lunch, and the system has indeed armed... Took it a while though. 

I'll keep everyone posted, as I believe documenting this config is important and if it does somewhat work some of the time that's better than where we were at before. 

Thank you for your help on this @StephenB 

[MichaelT90]

Unfortunately, I'm still running into issues, I've been home for some time now, logged out and into the app, reloaded the app, tried to put the system into another mode, it seems to reset to away. 

I just tried to set geofencing and it's correctly identified my location from GPS, so it knows I'm home, it just won't change. Which unfortunately is the issue I had before, once it goes to away mode, it can't seem to set itself back to anything else without disabling the automations. 

This I guess goes back to the bug that has been going on from what I can see for over a year now (I've personally suffered since June).

But don't worry, the UK customers have shouldered a price increase for the USA to get ai features they don't want, and the UK gets a widget for the home screen (so support tell me) so it's fine 😉 

[MichaelT90]

hi there, do try Stephen B's recommendations to me... For some it works and others it doesn't, but I suspect it's the bug you're suffering with.

[alex_loo]

@MichaelT90 , if it's just geo fencing not working---- fyi I have disabled all arlo geo fencing routines here, and used google home automation's geo fencing feature to trigger arlo mode changes.  Correctly. 

A bit of hassle with the additional configuration, but it's peace of mind to me, while waiting for ARLO to fix its bugs.

Alex

[StephenB]

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@MichaelT90 wrote:

I just tried to set geofencing and it's correctly identified my location from GPS, so it knows I'm home, it just won't change. Which unfortunately is the issue I had before, once it goes to away mode, it can't seem to set itself back to anything else without disabling the automations. 

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What happens when you change the mode to "Arm Home" or "Standby" from the dashboard?  Does it refuse to switch?  Or does it switch, but then switch back to Arm Away?

[MichaelT90]

Thanks Alex! Ive set this up, save the Google automations trigger perfectly, they do everything they should... But Arlo will picks and chooses, it will only pass each command on once, then it simply stops working until I delete and recreate it again 😞 

It feels like this rules out that the phone has anything to do with it, and that the issue must be server side?

[MichaelT90]

Hi Stephen thanks, 

Sometimes the dashboard makes it look like it's switched, the feed shows an entry, so I close the app and go back in, and the away mode has reverted and the feed entry is missing.

Other times it just doesn't change, doesn't even register. 

Other times it works fine with a manual switch... It seems like a lottery...

It's worth me mentioning I work in IT support, and we have a solid full fibre connection with decent WiFi, so it's not likely that. I've also changed phones and this issue followed to the new phone as well.

[alex_loo]

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@MichaelT90 wrote:

Thanks Alex! Ive set this up, save the Google automations trigger perfectly, they do everything they should...

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good to hear that mate!

It feels like this rules out that the phone has anything to do with it, and that the issue must be server side?

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affirmative!  It was also my intention to find out whether GPS location service or Android or iPhone or ARLO is the root cause of the geofencing issues.  Given Google Home automation is running flawlessly on my same devices, my conclusion is that the bug has to be only with ARLO only.

The exercise also gave me the best opportunity to pick up writing scripts on google home automation (GHA).  Now for the "anyone arrives" scenario, I actually have GHA switching my ARLO to standby first (all cameras off so I won't get caught by them), then wait 15 minutes before switching ARLO to ARM HOME (cameras on, I should already have settled inside)

Alex

[Saphod]

I experience similar issues with the “Arlo Geofencing Lottery” and have written it all down here:

https://community.arlo.com/t5/Arlo-Secure/Geofencing-not-working-for-secondary-account/m-p/2437430

Would be great if this could somehow be sorted out by Arlo. Currently, it’s just a nice feature in theory. 🤷‍♂️ 

[MichaelT90]

I'm glad that we're confirming this, the gaslighting from support has you doubting if you're doing it right lol

Interestingly, this morning all the arm home and arm away tests are now in the feed, every one of them with the right times attributed to them as well...

Unfortunately, it appears without a subscription they completely brick the cameras and doorbell now, and I refuse to pay as much as they're charging now for a half baked solution.

[StephenB]

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@MichaelT90 wrote:

Hi Stephen thanks, 

Sometimes the dashboard makes it look like it's switched, the feed shows an entry, so I close the app and go back in, and the away mode has reverted and the feed entry is missing.

Other times it just doesn't change, doesn't even register. 

Other times it works fine with a manual switch... It seems like a lottery...

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Very strange behavior.  Are you using iOS or Android?   What version of the app?

I am wondering if my.arlo.com (on a PC) is better behaved?

I'm tagging the mods - @BrookeN , @JamesC , @ShayneS - as I think this particular issue should probably be escalated.

[MichaelT90]

Subscription has finished today, so all my footage had been deleted and my devices, frankly, bricked and unusable.

I have my opinions of such business practices which I've shared elsewhere on this forum regarding creating e-waste... 

Anyway, the reason I'm mentioning this, is because remarkably, all my arms, and risen tests are now showing in the feed... Every single one, with the correct time stamp on them... The cameras didn't actually disarm, it's very interesting to see that Arlo did receive the commands, but didn't pass them back...

Hopefully this info helps with diagnosis, but sadly I can't help with it anymore, as my cameras have more been rendered paperweights.