Activity Zones Are Not Working

[Slewis45]

I am having the same issue. This has been extremely frustrating. I am paying for the Arlo smart but the whole purpose of the smart features isn’t working. I have done all trouble shooting possible and the problem isn’t fixed. This isn’t an issue with our end it started happening after the last update. Right after the mobile app changed I noticed the “AC not connect zones disabled” message. 

[rudyr123]

I set up my system this weekend and signed up for Arlo smart soon afterwards. I set up the cloud activity zone within my driveway/front walkway however I'm getting alerts for cars passing by in the street. I've reset the basestation and adjusted the motion sensitivity down to 55% and I'm still getting these alerts. I have pointed the camera down so it's not pointed directly to the street but I'm still getting motion alerts.. 

In the arlo app with my iphone I see it states "Highlight areas in your camera's view where you want to receive or ignore motion and sound alerts."

Am I reading this wrong or is there a way to set zones where you want to ignore motion? Reason I ask if I set the activity zone in my driveway and the camera completely missed the UPS delivery guy yesterday. Sensitivity was set to 80. I set the activity box on the street and palm tree and motion in the driveway works now.. I'm at a stump here. 

The reason I purchased the Arlo system over Nest was the ease of use between wireless and these activity zones. Now that it's not working I'm contemplating my purchase. If anyone could be of assistance I'd much appreciate it.

[rudyr123]

Here is the zone set up for my front camera and side camera. You'll see the cars in the library as well.

[Drewsky]

Sorry for the [extremely] delayed response. I have since canceled the smart subscription as that service still needed some serious work on the back end. The rich notifications were nice but the zones were completely useless and failed to work no matter what I tried.

[ralfyguy1]

This never worked since it's inception.

[Baked]

Just to piggy back on same issue. Just bought my system yesterday, everything set up nice and worked well. Motion detection on the cameras worked fine until today when I added the activity zones after upgrading to the Smart Subscription. From that point on the cameras would recognize motion (seen on the device screen), but would not record. Once I removed the zones everything works again, but obviously I am not getting the value of the paid subscription. Will cancel my free month trial unless I see this featur actually works. It is the reason I picked Arlo over others.

[ShayneS]

@Slewis45,  Have you tried contacting customer support regarding this issue? I have attached the link below for you - Arlo Tech Support

@Baked, Have you tried to reboot your base station & est again? Can you create the zone on the web portal and test your activity zones again.

[Baked]

@ShayneS
Yes I have unplugged and restarted the Base. I also disconnected my cameras, and reconnected. I have been using both the iOS app, and the PC web app to make changes and set up. The only fix was to stop using the activity zones. Like others have said as soon as I tried using the option to use the activity zones I had the issue. Also, received the message that activity zones are not possible unless powered by AC. These are pro2 cameras and base.

[ShayneS]

rudyr123,

  Have you tried contacting customer support regarding this issue? I have attached the link below for you -  Arlo Tech Support

[rudyr123]

Hi Shayne,  I did contact Arlo support via the phone. The lady on the other end told me that the cameras would still record motion and that the activity zone is just to minimize notifications.. If that's true at all I will be cancelling the Arlo monthly subscription as that's not what I originally thought the cloud zones were.

[ShayneS]

rudyr123,

Did you create these Zones on the Arlo Mobile App? Is it possible to create these over the web portal & monitor/test again.

[ShayneS]

Baked,

  Have you tried contacting customer support regarding this issue? I have attached the link below for you - Arlo Tech Support

[Trichomes]

Can staff please confirm if this is correct?

"The lady on the other end told me that the cameras would still record motion and that the activity zone is just to minimize notifications"

I too want to ignore the outside of the zones completely so my camera is not recording every car that drives past. please advise.

[Muir]

Would like to know as well since I am experiencing the same issue
Not going to pay for a subscription if it’s useless

[kjrst9]

Yes, I would like to know as well.  I get an average of 70 recordings a day, almost all of which are outside my activity zone.  This kills the battery.  I certainly appreciate not getting 70 notifications "thanks" to the subscription, but the recordings defeate 1/2 the purpose.

[Micaamry]

I’ve had the exact same issue off and on. I tried to use support chat 3x but just got a blank screen. Called US support line 2x. Got disconnected the first time. Second time the rep took 6 minutes to re-state this issue, tell me she couldn’t help and then transfer me to “subscription” services. I was on hold there for an additional 15 minutes before I finally hung up. When I went back to the app, everything was working. Not sure what is causing this issue, but it’s really annoying. Arlo customer service is pretty bad. It makes it hard to recommend Arlo to my neighbors.

[zharif2]

If you have arlo pro and not arlo pro 2 then the activity zone will not work. 

[jguerdat]

The Arlo Smart zone will work but that is an extra cost option.

[Micaamry]

I have the Arlo Pro 2.....

[Micaamry]

I have the Arlo Pro 2 and Smart Premiere....they are working now but I can’t figure out why they’ve gone out several times and how/why the come back.

[thanse]

Hi arlo, Jessica,

Do you have an update on this? I've recently bought two arlo pro 2 and signed up for arlo smart to be able to use activity zones. Getting similar error message to others, 'AC power has been disconnected from your Arlo device. CVR and Activity Zones are currently unavailable'. It would be great if you could find time to respond and give us all an update so we can decide what to do. Having a wirefree camera that needs charging every 4 days is not a good solution

Thanks,

thanse

[ShayneS]

Hi @thanse

What troubleshooting steps have you previously performed? I do not want to suggest anything you may have already done.

[thanse]

Hi ShayneS,

thanks for following up - I've restarted base station, checked latest firmware, tried to swap my two cameras to move the other one onto arlo smart in case it is the camera (doesn't seem to be possible to do). I can see the activity zone in the app though the camera ignores the zones and records everything. Which means the battery lasts 3-4 days at the moment. I'm still getting the same error when viewing in the browser, to connect power.  Unless arlo fixes it, I'm left to either change the direction of the camera to reduce the area it records/activates or find a way to connect to power. Which defeats the purpose of wirefree and having arlo smart.

[bigpermPDX]

Try turning off the "zoom tracking" feature. I did and it fixed the problem. Hopefully, we will be able to use both features in the future. 

[danigardiner]

I have the Arlo cameras. I setup activity zones. I didn't like it so I removed them. Now I get sometimes constant notifications with the name of the activity zones. No video and often they are back-to-back. Today I got over 50 notifications in the space of 2 hours. Chatted with support twice. Was told to reset everything. I removed all the cameras and reset the base station. Even reset my phone. Activity zones still show up. Confirmed that activity zones don't exist in the app or online. Yet I can walk all the way across my back yard (big yard), walk back to my door, go inside and sit down on the couch and it finally gives me notification of the motion. Once I stood right in front of the camera and talked to the neighbor for 15 minutes. Not a single notifications. Yet constant notifications from removed activity zones. I'm at my wits end. I was told they have been updating the software for weeks.