Hubs & Cameras

[lashoe]

I'm confused why there is no "Hub" nor a "Base Station" shown under products and the hub/base station is also not an option when i try to build a custom bundle on the website.  The Ultra 2 "kit" *shows* a hub but it's not mentioned in the description?  So confusing!  I thought the hub was necessary for accessing the 7 days of recordings via the app, maybe that is no longer true?

I just want 3 or 4 cameras at 2k or 4k (depending on price) with the ability to review motion-activated recordings over the most recent 7 days of video via an app. What components do I actually need for this basic use case?

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

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@lashoe wrote:

I just want 3 or 4 cameras at 2k or 4k (depending on price) with the ability to review motion-activated recordings over the most recent 7 days of video via an app. What components do I actually need for this basic use case?

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To be clear, 7-day free cloud recording was a feature of old (legacy) Arlo cameras.  Arlo stopped offering this on new camera models back in 2018, and none of the currently sold cameras have that feature.

There is a direct access to local storage feature provided by the two smarthubs (VMB4540 and VMB5000).  The Ultra cameras (4K require a smarthub, since they do not connect to your home wifi.  Pro 5s and Essential Gen 2 cameras (2K) can also connect to those smarthubs.

There are limitations in the local storage feature

• recordings can only be viewed from the app - not the web interface (my.arlo.com)
• recordings can only be viewed using the primary account (not "friend" accounts).
• no thumbnails, so the recording needs to be downloaded to your phone before you see anything.
• no ability to make manual recordings or take snapshots.
• remote access requires router setting changes that some find difficult (and those settings won't work with some internet service providers)

More information is here:

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