Activity Zone not working

[Hemanta]

Hi,
Activity Zones in my Arlo Ultra is not working. It keep sending a notifications from out of zone. It keep sending and sending because of that battery reducing down and down. I think I have set the activity zone properly but still keep send and recording out of zone. Is there any thing I need to do more to setup it properly or its camera fault? I have one year smart subscription. It suppose to send motion dection only from activity zone, isn't? Can anyone please give a suggestion regarding activity zone settings.
Thank you.

[JamesC]

Hemanta,

When motion is detected, your camera sends video to the cloud for processing to determine if motion occurred in the Cloud Activity Zones that you created. When your camera is operating on battery power, you might notice your battery depleting more than usual even though you don’t have many recordings in your library.

The accuracy of the activity zones could be impacted by the positioning of the camera. Could you provide a screenshot from your cameras perspective showing the activity zones you've created? This might help us better understand the issue.

JamesC

[Nooms162]

I'm experiencing the same exact problem. And I have the zone setup correctly but the vehicles being seen from my porch camera are
showing up when they're definitely in a zone.

[Hemanta]

I tried like by repositioning camera, changing activity zones, changing wide, etc but still sending and recording from out of zones. I read many post from this forum. And tried all those. But didn't work so I post this post to know is there any new way to work activity zone correctly?
Thank you.

[Hemanta]

Still my camera sending notifications from out of zone activity. About 80 in one day. Battery gone down 30% in two days. Any solution? Or am I using old software? Do I need to update my camera software? How do I know whether my camera is updated or not?
Previously, I had other brand wireless camera but that camera didn't have activity zone control so I bought this ultra? Is there any other solution that I can fix my activity zone in my camera? How do I know whether my camera is updated or not with latest software update?
Thank you.

[JamesC]

Hemanta,

This latest firmware update had fixes addressing the accuracy of activity zones.

Your camera will automatically receive new firmware updates. Information on the latest version can be found here: Arlo Ultra VMC5040 - 1.070.41.1_80_9996bd9 - 15th July 2019

You can check to make sure your camera received the latest version by logging in to your Arlo account and navigating to Settings > My Devices  > select your Ultra camera > Device Info

JamesC

[Hemanta]

Hi James,

Thank you for your reply.

I checked my camera software. It is updated with new update that you send to me. But still its keep sending motion detection notification from out of activity zone. I have setup activity zone upto my drive way. But it still sending from out of activity zone. I tried to change activity zone many times like rectangle, triangle, zigzag etc but still sending out of zone.

I have selected all motion alerts in smart alerts. Is that impact on motion activity zones. What motion alerts will receive from -All other motion? How do i do any other things to make accurate activity zone control? Any thing that i missed in my settings? I want to make it accurate beacuse my battery down to 10% within 6 days because of many alerts and also when alerts receive , i have to look each and everyone; which one is the person, which one is inside my drive way? which one is outside? So, Any thing that i missed in my settings? 

Thank you.

[Mrpersonallity2]

Hey been on phone with Arlo for over an hour on july 26,1019 and they don’t know when a fix is coming. All they know how to say I’m sorry for the inconvenience but don’t offer any resolutions at all. But they haven’t pulled the ultra cameras off the shelf they still selling systems that don’t operate the way they were designed to. It’s a shame!!!!! Almost a ripoff!!!

[martinhj]

I also have been trying to use activity zones to better effect with no joy.

I have an Arlo doorbell and an Arlo Ultra above the door. I would like to use the Ultra light as a substitute PIR for the door. Reason being we have a path with high traffic across the front of the door so I want to restrict motion detection to people at my door and also have the ultra set to use the light when dark.

I have set this up on the Ultra with a motion detection zone at the door and the light comes on and motion is recorded. Problem is that it is still triggering outside the zone when people walk along the path.

I assume the camera light should onl come on if motion is triggered by the zone?

[JamesC]

Late last night , a back end fix went out to address this issue. Please test activity zones again to see if you still experience the same behavior.

Thank you,

JamesC

[charith]

Late last night , a back end fix went out to address this issue. Please test activity zones again to see if you still experience the same behavior.

Still not working. Too bad, this is unbeliable that Arlo keep selling products that aren't working as per description. These cameras are not suitable for my purpose. At least arlo should provide 24/7 cloud recording free for all of their customers until they sort this issue. I am seriously considering to return these cameras and request a refund. Or they will be clearly in trouble if I go to Fair Trade Australia. Not a fair trade at all for a very expensive product.

[JamesC]

charith,

Try removing and recreating all of your activity zones, then test again to see if you experience the same behavior.

JamesC

[charith]

Thanks for your reply JamesC,

I have deleted the existing zone and created a new one. But still no luck. I have tried all following scenarios but no difference at all. I get notifications for vehicles going even on the other side of the road.

1. Square shape zones

2. Created zones from iOS app and also from web application (one zone at a time)

Attached is the zone I have at the moment which it completely ignores.

[JamesC]

Charith,

Please contact the Arlo Support Team to further investigate this issue. You will find several options for contacting support in the provided link.

JamesC

[Mrpersonallity2]

I spent hours on phone with support and they have yet to offer a solution/fix for the zone issues. So I would say don’t waste your time on support phone call. It’s down right terrible!

[charith]

I agree. I have spoken to the support and it only waste time.  I can't believe they keep selling these buggy and obviously not working products around the world without getting into any trouble!

[Aklare]

Arlo has informed me that they changed their policies and reneged on the activity zone feature that I specifically purchased the product for. They wait to take it away until after the return period has passed so if you are unhappy there is nothing you can do. I have had several calls with support for support or returns and they have all been fruitless. One support ticket told me to call back and ask for a refund which i had already done. GET OUT ASAP. This is not a trustworthy company... sadly, i did my homework, was excited, and the really, really, let me down..

[GregPR]

If I’m reading the manual correctly, it says zones don’t work unless you are on AC power, not battery. Which of course isn’t in their advertising...

Note: Connecting your camera to the Arlo Solar Panel (sold separately) to charge the battery does not provide AC power. To use activity zones and CVR, you must plug the camera into an AC power outlet.
If you set up activity zones or CVR on your camera and the zones aren’t operating, make sure that your camera is plugged in. As soon as the camera is plugged in, activity zones, CVR, and prebuffering are available again.

[StephenB]

---

@GregPR wrote:

If I’m reading the manual correctly, it says zones don’t work unless you are on AC power, not battery. Which of course isn’t in their advertising...

You aren't reading it correctly (though the kb articles are confusing).

There are two types of activity zones:  Local and Cloud.  Both share the same settings in the app and web client.

Local activity zones are available on some cameras (including Pro and Ultra).  The pixel processing is done in the local camera, and they do require AC power.  Of course CVR requires AC power too.

Cloud activity zones are available on all arlo cameras, but require a smart subscription.  Whenever motion is detected (using the PIR sensors), video is streamed to the Arlo Cloud.  The pixel processing is done in the Cloud, not the camera.  If the Cloud determines the motion was inside the zone the recording is kept.  Otherwise it isn't saved.

[GregPR]

Thanks for your clarification.

So just to be 100% clear, the Ultra (which I have) requires AC power to do local zone detection. But you say that it doesn’t need AC for zone detection, so I assume it doesn’t need AC for cloud processing?

And if they share the same settings, what decides whether it uses local of cloud – I assume an AC power connection? i.e. it defaults to one or the other depending on AC status?

Lastly, what’s the approx. lag on cloud processing assuming a 50/20Mbit internet and strong wifi connection? 

Thanks, Greg

[StephenB]

---

@GregPR wrote:

So just to be 100% clear, the Ultra (which I have) requires AC power to do local zone detection. But you say that it doesn’t need AC for zone detection, so I assume it doesn’t need AC for cloud processing?

---

Yes, that is what I said above.  

---

@GregPR wrote:

And if they share the same settings, what decides whether it uses local of cloud – I assume an AC power connection? i.e. it defaults to one or the other depending on AC status?

---

If you have no subscription, then you'll get local activity zones when AC powered and no activity zones when battery powered.

I think that if you have a subscription, it will use local activity zones when AC powered, and cloud when not AC powered.  But it also uses the cloud for smart notifications, so there might some overlap.

---

@GregPR wrote:

 Lastly, what’s the approx. lag on cloud processing assuming a 50/20Mbit internet and strong wifi connection? 

---

That I don't know - it's not something I've ever tested.

[Bbeckkt22]

The answer is simply that the activity zones don't work!

[StephenB]

---

@Bbeckkt22 wrote:
The answer is simply that the activity zones don't work!

---

They work.

[Aklare]

They worked for me until Arlo turned them off without warning causing much confusion and an hour or two on the phone with support, and requiring me to reinstall one camera. I had a flag and the zone would ignore it when it waved, until they turned it off. First I was told they changed their terms of service and support hing up on me, then I was told a trial ran out and it was my fault for not knowing I accepted a trial. There is no indication a trial is underway, when it will run out, or that it has run out. It just stops working and you have no idea why..

[StephenB]

---

@Aklare wrote:
There is no indication a trial is underway, when it will run out, or that it has run out. It just stops working and you have no idea why..

---

FWIW, There is an indication if you look at the subscription info in your account.

Was this with an Ultra camera or a different camera model?