Newbie Startup Question - How do I hardwire Ultra 2? - What base station do I need?

[Telemacchus]

Forgive my ignorance, I am still learning about these Arlo systems...

My plan is to install 1 Arlo video wired doorbell 4k, and two Ultra 2 cameras with 4K.

I have 3 questions...

I'm  a retired senior and the winters here are cold and long.  Climbing up on ladders in ice and snow to change batteries is nuts, and simply won't do.  Once I install two these Ultra 2's in the fascia under the gutters, they are staying there forever.  I have no problem hiring an electrician or security specialist to install, but can these cameras be permanently hardwired (without a solar panel) or set up as U.S. voltage plug-in? If so, can someone explain in detail how?  The ad copy and the manual make no mention of how to do this, but people have told me it can be done.  I just don't see where it says that.

I plan to buy the Ultra 2 two-Camera kit.  The photo for it shows the 2 cameras and a white box in the background.  The tech specs talk only about the camera, and there is not a single word anywhere about what the other object is in the photo.  What is the white box?  A smart hub?  An antenna? An NVR?

I understand my doorbell and 2-camera setup requires a smart hub.  There are FIVE models listed as compatible.  Which one is the right one for me?

There's no such thing as too much detail in your answers 🙂  

Any assistance sincerely appreciated.

[StephenB]

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@Telemacchus wrote:

I understand my doorbell and 2-camera setup requires a smart hub.  There are FIVE models listed as compatible.  Which one is the right one for me?

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Actually four.

Generally Arlo bundles the VMB5000 with the Ultra 2, but the VMB4540 will also work.  Get one of those.

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@Telemacchus wrote:

I plan to buy the Ultra 2 two-Camera kit.  The photo for it shows the 2 cameras and a white box in the background.  The tech specs talk only about the camera, and there is not a single word anywhere about what the other object is in the photo.  What is the white box?  A smart hub?  An antenna? An NVR?

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Scroll down to the bottom, and expand "what's in the box".

But if you mean the object the arrow is pointing to here:

That is a VMB5000 smarthub.

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@Telemacchus wrote:

I have no problem hiring an electrician or security specialist to install, but can these cameras be permanently hardwired (without a solar panel) or set up as U.S. voltage plug-in? If so, can someone explain in detail how? 

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The simple way is to purchase one of these for each camera:

• https://www.arlo.com/en-us/accessories/VMA5600C-100NAS.html

This is the Arlo outdoor charger for the camera.  The end you see has the proprietary magnetic connector, the other end in the power adapter (with plug).  This is fully integrated - the power adapter cannot be removed.  The power cabble is 25".  You can either plug this into an outdoor outlet, or run it through a hole indoors and plug it in there.  One challenge is that the hole needs to be large enough to push the magnetic connector through (unless you hire someone to cut the cable, and then splice it after you thread it through the hole).

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@Telemacchus wrote:

I'm  a retired senior and the winters here are cold and long.  Climbing up on ladders in ice and snow to change batteries is nuts, and simply won't do.  Once I install two these Ultra 2's in the fascia under the gutters, they are staying there forever. 

 There are scenarios where you need to access the cameras.  For instance, if the camera locks up (which can happen), you will need to remove the battery, or even open the housing and do a hardware reset of the camera.  So I personally wouldn't mount the cameras in a spot where you cannot get to them.