Arlo|Smart Home Security|Wireless HD Security Cameras

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Kammfam
Luminary
Luminary

For the last 2 days, every time I sit down at desk to access my cameras from my PC, I notice that the base station light is blinking orange. Last night, it would blink for a while and then go back to blue, then blink for a while again. I thought maybe it was a firmware update based on the info on this page, even though I didn't see a firmware update listed for yesterday's date- https://kb.arlo.com/000039100/What-do-the-LEDs-on-my-Arlo-SmartHub-or-base-station-mean.

 

This morning, it was just blinking orange, so I did the restart option from the website, and it didn't seem to do anything. I unplugged the base station and plugged it back in, and it kept blinking. About 5 minutes later, it was back to blue. I just got home and sat down, and it's blinking orange again.

 

My cameras all seem to be working fine, though. Every time I see it blinking, I try Live View on a couple cameras, and it works. Anyone have an idea why my base station keeps blinking???

32 REPLIES 32
Kammfam
Luminary
Luminary

Yeah, this is crazy. My Ultra camera that is 6' away from my base went down to 2 bars, and all the other Ultras are at 1 now. My Pro2s on the same base station are fine though. I think they must have done firmware upgrades or something on the cameras.

Whops
Apprentice
Apprentice
 
 
 

 

Any help from support on this issue?   I have been trying to get help and no response from support.  Promised they were going to call me,  gave them best day and my cell number.  Waited all day no response. 

 

Below are the questions I have asked of support,  with no response.

 

Hello XXX,

Thank you for using our online portal. We have created a new case #41221797 for your request and assigned it to our support team.

An Arlo Support expert will review your query and respond within 1-2 business days.

 

Case Description
Here it is three days later,  still no response from Arlo Support.  
Still waiting for that call back from Neil,  that was to happen over a
week ago.    I purchased a Ring Door Bell Pro after reading the reviews
Ring vs Arlo.    I did have a small issue with it and sent an email to
Ring support,  they responded back within a couple of hours and their
support corrected the problem.   Then they  followed up the following
day to make sure the issue was resolved.

I can only wish that Arlo had that kind of support for their cameras.  
So lets review a few of the issues I am having with the Arlo Ultra cameras.

First is that all reviews and your specs state you can have the camera
up to 300 ft from the smart hub.   I have two cameras (I was planning on
having 4, but willl not buy any more until my issues are resolved) one
camera is 45'  from the smart hub  but yet only has a signal of 1 red
dot.   The second camera is only 30' from the smart hub  it has 2 bars. 
(I would think it should have more being that close)

The smart hub has an LED on the front of it,  starting first week in
October 2019,  the light started flashing amber,  then it will go back
to blue for while then back to flashing amber.  Neil the support person
I talked to said The problem is the camera is two far from smart hub. 
If that is the case,  your product is no good and I want a refund!  I
know the signal strength is contingent on many things,  but if I should
be able to be 300' away for sure 45'  it should be working well.   But
then when it is flashing amber, and I check my phone camera is always
connected.   Live view is working ok.   So what gives with that?

Now on to another issue,  when I first installed the cameras and I have
made no changes to settings since then.   I am now experiencing where it
is missing events.  For example  When I go into the back yard it will
record me as soon as I step out the door and as walk across the yard. 
But strangely when I turn around and walk back it does not record me.  
It use to but has stopped.

Same thing is happening with the second camera in the front,  I can walk
down my driveway,  does not record,   when I come back up the driveway
it is recording me.

Also,  during these events that it is missing recording I am getting
notifications but no video is recorded.

What good is a security system that is missing events?   But the issue
here is,  that it was working just fine.  So what has changed?  Updated
firmware?

The real problem is Arlo apparently does not care as no one is responding to
my issues,  and it is not just me having these issues,  I was reading in
the arlo community forum on your web site and there were many people
that started having issues around the same time as me.  I sent links of
this to Neil,  but of course he never responded.   Here are the links
again hopefully someone will take some action.

https://community.arlo.com/t5/Arlo-Ultra/Base-Station-lights-keep-blinking/td-p/1713546

https://community.arlo.com/t5/Arlo-Ultra/Weak-signal-after-latest-firmware-on-Smarthub/td-p/1730874

Another issue is when ever motion was detected,  I would get a
notification on phone and the video would be there.  Now there is a
delay of 25-45 minutes before it shows up.   I have a 200 Mbps internet
connection,  and a Netgear Nighthawk R7800 router. Seems that another
update by Arlo must have happened to screw this up.

Also,  apparently Arlo made another change that when you log into My
Arlo Account on the computer it logs you out on my smart phone.  I use
to be able to log on to both at the same time.   And I still would
prefer to be able to do that.

*Now As I have been trying to get support help for several weeks now
with only getting case number assigned and promises someone will contact
me with 1-2 business days.  But that does not happen.    So I guess if
no responses again this time,  I will be posting my review of how bad
support is for your cameras,  and how they do not perform as promised. 
I will post these reviews on all on line vendors I can find that are
selling arlo products.   I do not want to go down this route,  but if
you have no desire in helping resolve the problem, then I need to warn
people before they put out $700 plus dollars,  in my case I have spent over
$1000 dollars so far and am not happy.   I guess I should have went with
Ring Camera. *

On 10/21/2019 4:31 PM, Arlo Support wrote:
> arlo <https://www.arlo.com>
>
>
>
> Hello ,
>
> Thank you for using our online portal. We have created a new case
> #41215736 for your request and assigned it to our support team.
>
> An Arlo Support expert will review your query and respond within 1-2
> business days.
>
> *Case Description*
> Neil,
>
> What the Hell Happened?   I sent you desired date and time,  and I
> waited around all that day for you to call me.   Nothing same as usual
> from Arlo!
>
> Plus you never responded to any of my questions.   I guess you are
> afraid to put into writing.
>
> Time for me to start leaving my Very Truthful reviews on various web
> sites about the real problems with Arlo Ultra camera systems and how
> Arlo will ignore pleas for help or to fix the problems. Perhaps it wll
> save others from spending thousands of dollars on Arlo and then find out
> warranty and support are worthless.
>
>
>
> On 10/13/2019 11:04 PM, Arlo Support Case Update wrote:
> > arlo <https://www.arlo.com>
> >
> >
> > Hello ,
> >
> > Your case has been updated by Arlo Support.
> >
> > *Your Case Details*
> > Case Number: 41186422
> > Subject: we're not able to access your library
> > Product: VMB5000
> >
> > *Update from Arlo*
> > Greetings from Arlo.
> >
> > Hi, Mr. . I am Neil, the Arlo expert who assisted you regarding
> > your concern on summary of concern, with case ID 41186422.
> >
> > Please give me your preferred time and date, Time Zone and preferred
> > phone number to call you back.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Neil
> > Arlo Technical Support
> >
> > To send a follow-up response, please click on the “Update Case” button
> > below.
> >
> > Update Case
> >
> <https://www.arlo.com/portal/onlinecaseupdate.aspx?val=5NC0FlXQCnCPoikJdAW5ZNlSvWnkEXKF92rnGZNvPE2xYz...>
>
> >
> >
> >
> > If the above link does not work, you may reply to this email to update
> > your case.*Please note: do not change the subject line of the email
> > when replying.*
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Arlo Support
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > © Arlo Technologies, Inc. 3030 Orchard Pkwy San Jose, CA 95134
> >
> > Arlo and the Arlo logo are trademarks of Arlo Technologies, Inc. in
> > the United States and other countries. Other brand names mentioned
> > herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of
> > their respective holder(s). Information is subject to change.
> >

> >
> --
>

>
> You will receive an email notification when your case is updated.
> Please refer to your case number in any correspondence with Arlo Support.
>
> PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS AUTOMATED EMAIL.
>
> Thanks,
> Arlo Support
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> © Arlo Technologies, Inc. 3030 Orchard Pkwy San Jose, CA 95134
>
> Arlo and the Arlo logo are trademarks of Arlo Technologies, Inc. in
> the United States and other countries. Other brand names mentioned
> herein are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of
> their respective holder(s). Information is subject to change.
CSS415
Aspirant
Aspirant

Having all the same issues. Very disappointed in my purchase. 

ArloWatcher
Luminary
Luminary
Just a note that I also am seeing the orange/amber flashing led on my smart hub. Everything was fine with a blue led, but now I have the flashing amber/orange one also. It's 2020 and this problem is still happening
ArloWatcher
Luminary
Luminary
I was able to to get the led back to blue by turning my cameras off in the app, waiting a minute or two and then turned the cameras back on. Not sure how long the led will stay blue.
ArloWatcher
Luminary
Luminary

Well still having this happen.

 

@JamesC 

Does Arlo still consider this a problem?

 

Just another discussion I'm following to try to fix my Arlo problems

 

Shovrider
Aspirant
Aspirant
Same here any advice appreciated lights intermediately blinking orange, also every now and then I'm unable to access live footage from any of my four cams all within 30ft distance. Seems to rectify itself after time but problem keeps on happening periodically!! Really frustrating
dcfox1
Master
Master

@Shovrider  Not saying this is your problem with going amber but I see that about 3-4 times a day but all my internet goes out but comes back in a couple of minutes.  But when hub comes back to green everything  is fine. So for me thats an ISP thing. The live view may be different.