Ultra 2 Model 2 cam and Smart hub. Model VMS5240

[Ron11a]

I have Soooooo many questions about this product. I'll address just the make or break questions.

 My Information for this "system"

Model Number on the box. #(VMS5240)#

Iphone app Version 4.0.1 (5272) Nov 30, 2022

Web app. version 4.0.1_3  Dec 2, 2022

Questions

1. Apparently I was automatically enrolled in the Secure plan?  I didn't activate it.

2. Where do I find a current user manual that matches this Equipment?

There is NO VMS5240 manual on the site!  The manual I downloaded (dated May 2021) from the site does not ever remotely match what I see. Even both app versions are different.  Very difficult to setup when the screens you see (on either app) does not match the Manual. Hard to tell what features you may or may not have.  

Example A: I can't record a live view on the phone app but can on the web app. Why?? 

Example B: the Phone has three modes, Arm Away.  Arm Home. Standby.   The manual has something totally different.  No idea what they mean

Example C: Some video was recorded on the iPhone feed and other video was recorded on the Smarthub local storage but I have no idea why they don't match or even if they should. I would think todays videos would or should appear in both.

3. Why does one app logout the other. You can only be on one at a time?

4.  I see the Siren mode BUT no way to use or turn it on.  I even have setup options for it in the app.  BUT apparently Arlo packages it with a Hub that does not support a Siren?  And none of the packages have an option to get the Hub that does support it?  Why???

5. I realize paper manuals will become out of date quickly BUT online info should have updates that match what they change.   Where do I get current information?

6.  Maybe I just have outdated info. So far this has been a cluster gaggle!  It seems these are excellent camera's BUT I'm wondering if the juice is worth the squeeze?

[StephenB]

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@Ron11a wrote:

1. Apparently I was automatically enrolled in the Secure plan?  I didn't activate it.

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Cameras are automatically opted into the trial subscription.  You can cancel that if you don't want it (though I suggest not doing that until you understand what features you would lose).

• https://kb.arlo.com/000062312/What-options-will-I-have-when-the-Arlo-trial-ends

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@Ron11a wrote:

2. Where do I find a current user manual that matches this Equipment?

There is NO VMS5240 manual on the site!  

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VMS5240 is just a system sku for a 2-camera system.  The actual cameras are VMC5040, and the base should be a VMB5000.  You'll find a label on the base with the part number.  If you remove camera from the housing and remove the battery, you'll find the label for the camera model inside.

The most recent manual is the one you downloaded:

• https://www.arlo.com/en-us/images/Documents/ArloUltra/Arlo_Ultra_User_Manual_US_2.pdf

One challenge right now is that Arlo is rolling out a brand new app interface.  Some are using it, others aren't yet.  

Based on your Example B, it appears like you are using the new interface.  Manuals haven't been updated yet, and I suspect some of the knowledge base articles might not be published yet.

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@Ron11a wrote:

Example A: I can't record a live view on the phone app but can on the web app. Why?? 

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You should see controls at the bottom of the video window when you touch the window when live streaming.  The center circle one should start recording.

Manual recording only is available if 4K livestreaming.  So if you have enabled that option, try turning it off.  (Livestreaming is always 1080p to the web app, even if the 4K livestreaming option is enabled in the app).

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@Ron11a wrote:

Example B: the Phone has three modes, Arm Away.  Arm Home. Standby.   The manual has something totally different.  No idea what they mean

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This suggests you are using the new interface.  More info is here:

• https://kb.arlo.com/000062819/How-do-I-add-edit-or-remove-rules-in-my-Arm-Away-Arm-Home-and-Standby-...

The basic idea is that you might want different cameras armed when you are home than when you are away.  So they are providing two modes.  I don't know how Standby is set up by default, but you can edit it (as described above) to make it function like Disarmed if you like.

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@Ron11a wrote:

Example C: Some video was recorded on the iPhone feed and other video was recorded on the Smarthub local storage but I have no idea why they don't match or even if they should. I would think todays videos would or should appear in both.

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There are cases where recordings will appear in the local storage but not in the cloud storage.  All motion recordings should be in local storage.  But if you use activity zones, the cloud storage will only show recordings where motion was in the zone.  Notifications are also supressed when the motion is out of zone.

As an aside - since the camera always records when it detect motion (whether in zone or not), activity zones will not improve battery life.

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@Ron11a wrote:

4.  I see the Siren mode BUT no way to use or turn it on.

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The siren is in the camera(s), not the smarthub.  The link above shows you how to activate it when motion is detected.  

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@Ron11a wrote:

5. I realize paper manuals will become out of date quickly BUT online info should have updates that match what they change.   Where do I get current information?

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Since I don't work for Arlo, I don't know when the manuals will be updated to reflect the new UI.   You can search the knowledge base by adding "Arm Away" site:kb.arlo.com in a google search string (or bing).  The "Arm Away" bit should filter out articles that don't apply to the new user interface.

You can also look here:

• https://www.arlo.com/en-us/support/products/arlo-ultra.html

The "Arm Away" part is early in the articles, and should show up in the tiles on this page.

[Ron11a]

@StephenB 

  Thanks for the reply. It does help some and answers a couple of questions.  Problem is most responsible companies would call this new interface a Beta and give people an opt in option. It's not ready for prime time yet!  I can't speak for the older interface but from pics in the manual it seemed way more user friendly and many of the functions on one screen. 

 I did look over many of the "tiles" on this newer version and it looks the same as mine BUT still many things don't line up. Sometimes things are there and then you go back later and they are gone.  Live view recording and snapshots are one example.  Soon as you hit live view they disappear, other times they are not there at all.

Many time I get multiple notifications for a single event and usually in threes, Motion detected, person detected, person detected.   

 I am still in the basic setup mode and nowhere ready to set rules in each mode. Basic functions shouldn't need rules.  

As for cloud vs local storage it has it's own issues.  From what I can tell so far everything in local storage is called "motion"  no matter what is actually is.  Cloud storage calls live view and snapshots  "manual".  Motion detection is sometimes a "Animal" or "Person" even a "Vehicle" once.  Spoiler alert... they were all a dog but it in fairness it was a Big Dog.  

I will play with the apps and give Arlo a few more days BUT my guess is it will end up in the return bin.   

[StephenB]

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@Ron11a wrote:

From what I can tell so far everything in local storage is called "motion"  no matter what is actually is.   

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That is because the classification is done in the cloud.

[Ron11a]

@StephenB  

I think I'll will call Arlo the "sorta" camera's.   Kinda, sorta a good camera system

They make claims that are sorta accurate.

Yes HomeKit compatible....sorta... you can view but no Apple secure video on it.

Yes the manuals are accurate....sorta.....someday

Yes you can record in 4K.....sorta... but only if you wireless signal is super strong.

Yes Motion is categorized....sorta... on the cloud usually, local storage no

Yes you can directly view locally stored videos without removing the card and plugging it into your computer.....sorta.... except videos older that 30 days and oh.. you can only delete them if you plug the card into a computer.  Also local storage don't do live or snapshots. You need a premium service for that.

on and on.  Remind me again why they call it a "smart hub"  

I see a trend here!!!

[Ron11a]

 So to conclude I have returned the Arlo system.  What broke the camels back was the buggy software and the newer version appeared to be less versatile.  Also the new hub lost features like function, siren and USB ports. Why!!

  I can say the Cameras were impressive and with added solar panels would have been nice to have but like a new computer with no software it is just a paperweight.

I expect other "systems" to have its faults as well so the struggle is real!   Maybe I'll just wait for more Matter capable gear or move on to a DVR system.

Thanks for the assistance and help.