Arlo = the new Sonos, can't reconnect doorbell

[ByeArlo]

So it looks like Arlo decided to copy Sonos and brick all their products. Like many other people, all my devices suddenly went offline and I had to do a base station reboot. That got my cameras back, but when trying to re-add my doorbell, it refuses to scan the QR code that's in the app. Anyone have any suggestions?

[StephenB]

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@ByeArlo wrote:

 That got my cameras back, but when trying to re-add my doorbell, it refuses to scan the QR code that's in the app. Anyone have any suggestions?

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What model doorbell?  Is there any chance it needs to be charged?

It can sometimes be tricky to get the doorbell to scan the code.  You can enter your network name and password ar https://qifi.org  and print the code it generates - that is the same as Arlo's.  Then shift the paper in front of the doorbell instead of your phone.

You might also need to do a factory reset of the the doorbell.  

[ByeArlo]

AVD2001. This is helpful input. May I ask if the battery must be fully charged to perform a reconnect?

[StephenB]

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@ByeArlo wrote:

AVD2001. This is helpful input. May I ask if the battery must be fully charged to perform a reconnect?

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It's best to make sure it is charged.  It doesn't need to be 100%, but the battery will drain fairly quickly when the doorbell is looking for WiFi.

[ByeArlo]

Appreciate that. Also, when I'm on the screen that says to manually enter the wifi network, how can I tell if the app/doorbell has connected? I.e., if I'm unable to reconnect, is there any way to tell WHY that's happening, and to rule out that the wifi connection isn't the issue?

[StephenB]

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@ByeArlo wrote:

Appreciate that. Also, when I'm on the screen that says to manually enter the wifi network, how can I tell if the app/doorbell has connected? I.e., if I'm unable to reconnect, is there any way to tell WHY that's happening, and to rule out that the wifi connection isn't the issue?

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The first step is to get past the chime.  If you print the code, then just move to the next step after you get the chime.

You can then check your router's attached device list and see if the doorbell shows up there.

I tm thinking this is NOT the network settings, since the doorbell was connected before.

[ByeArlo]

Apologies but I think there's a couple steps being missed. Please see the attached photo below, here are my notes:

• These are the app screenshots of every single step to follow to add the doorbell.

• As shared before, when it gets to "enter your wifi credentials" -- how can I tell that's been accepted properly? Nothing shows up in my network as a new device at this point, nor do I think it would because the doorbell still hasn't been added at this stage. This is where I believe the problem may be, but given the app setup, there's no way to tell if this step has been completed properly.

• For the qifi page you shared, at what step would I even use that option?

• Where things break down is "hold your QR code in front" of the doorbell, the last screenshot (I blurred the code FYI). I've tried this so many different ways and the doorbell simply refuses to give a confirmation chime.

[StephenB]

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@ByeArlo wrote:

• For the qifi page you shared, at what step would I even use that option?

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Where the doorbell scans the QR code.  Instead of putting the one one phone in front of the doorbell camera, you use the printed code from qifi.org.

Either way, it can be helpful to slowly move the phone around in the field of view - including moving closer and further away from the doorbell.  If you hold the code too close, the camera won't be able to focus on it.

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@ByeArlo wrote:

• As shared before, when it gets to "enter your wifi credentials" -- how can I tell that's been accepted properly? 

 The credentials are used to create the QR code (just like qifi.org).  Nothing is added to your network until you hear the chime after the code is successfully scanned by the doorbell camera. 

The doorbell extracts the network name and password from the QR code.  Then it chimes, and joins the wifi network that you entered.

It is important to type it correctly.

[ByeArlo]

Thanks for the clarification. I re-re-re-tried the steps and still no luck. Just FYI the qifi QR code that generates is different than the one the app generates, so not sure if that's the issue, but regardless neither QR code gets the doorbell to chime.

I'm guessing this is something deliberate by Netgear to force everyone to think their products are broken and upgrade. Really malicious stuff.

[ByeArlo · Accepted solution]

FINALLY! This video solved the issue for me: https://youtu.be/4sIR7FPsggU?feature=shared

It looks like you have to do the QR pairing while the doorbell is in factory reset. Then you have to factory reset the chime and go through the whole ordeal of muting the video calling, setting up the chime, etc. What a day.