VMB4540 Not Resetting

[JBurmeister]

Hello,

Product is the VMB4540. Set up with three Arlo Pro 3 wireless cameras (and solar chargers).

Our ISP swapped out our modem/router to a modem with eero WiFi mesh system. All of my cameras started showing "not connected to the internet". Not surprised, as the WiFi changed over and had new SSIDs.

However, the base unit would not allow me to do anything from the app. I would have a blue light, and it would still say in the app "your base unit is not connected to the internet".

I tried a factory reset and, after 10 seconds, the unit would flash amber/orange and blue (pairing mode). After about 5 seconds, however, it would immediately go to blinking amber.

Can anyone help? What am I supposed to do to get this thing to stay in pairing mode and accept connection to my home internet? I have tried plugging it into the modem directly, into the eero, and into the network switch that is connected to the eero (modem > eero > switch). Even when the unit goes to blue, the app tells me there is no internet connection. Nothing is working. 

Thanks in advance for your help! Please let me know if any other detail is needed.

[StephenB]

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@JBurmeister wrote:

Product is the VMB4540. Set up with three Arlo Pro 3 wireless cameras (and solar chargers).

Our ISP swapped out our modem/router to a modem with eero WiFi mesh system. All of my cameras started showing "not connected to the internet". Not surprised, as the WiFi changed over and had new SSIDs.

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It should have surprised you, since the smarthub is connected to the internet using ethernet, and the cameras connect to the smarthub's wifi  - not using the eero wifi at all.  Normally all you need to do is connect the ethernet to the new router.

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@JBurmeister wrote:

I tried a factory reset and, after 10 seconds, the unit would flash amber/orange and blue (pairing mode). After about 5 seconds, however, it would immediately go to blinking amber.

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Well, not pairing mode.  The alternating blue-amber either means that the base is updating its firmware or that a reset is in progress.  I guess in your case it is about the reset.

But blinking amber means "The camera connection can’t be found, is out of range, or some other connection error has occurred." 

See https://kb.arlo.com/000039100/What-do-the-LEDs-on-my-Arlo-SmartHub-or-Base-Station-mean

1. Are you seeing the smarthub in the Eero's attached device list?
2. Have you also checked that the Eero is not blocking the smarthub's access to the internet?
3. Have you made sure the phone is also connected to the Eero's wifi, and that any VPN software on the phone was turned off?
4. Have you tried using a PC browser (my.arlo.com)?

[JBurmeister]

Thank you for the very prompt reply! I will make another attempt today and will provide an update. 

[JBurmeister]

Whelp, could not access any settings inside the Arlo base still. Not sure why I'm having issues suddenly.

This is a networking/eero question, I suppose, but maybe you have experience with it or a similar setup. 

I now officially have a mesh wifi system. We went ahead and bought a 3-pack of eero 6E Pro units during Prime day. I have them set up in various locations. One is labeled "gateway", and is the only unit plugged directly into the modem (it took the place of the ISP provided unit). I'm guessing this is now the main traffic router.

I moved the Arlo base upstairs to one of the secondary eero units. This was done in hopes of creating better connectivity to the cameras. They are now on the same level (Arlo base about 2' off the ground, cameras about 10' off the ground outside).

So the set up is now: eero "gateway" 6E Pro >> switch >> secondary eero 6E Pro >> Arlo base.

Still having same issues. Is the Arlo base allowed to be plugged into the secondary unit, and my problems are unrelated? Or is that going to have to move back into the basement and continue further troubleshooting elsewhere?

Thank you for your help so far!

[JBurmeister]

When all else fails, delete and redownload the app.

I had to re-add each camera, but I think I'm good. Need to set up port forwarding but that's more of an eero app question. 

For anyone else who needs to know -- YES you can hook up the base unit via ethernet to eero's OTHER THAN the designated gateway.

Cheers!