Arlo Subscription/Storage

[ceddes]

Hello...I have an old Arlo camera. It works great for what I use it for. It gives me free 7 day storage of video which is plenty for me.

I am looking to buy a few more chargeable cameras and I am getting mixed information about subscriptions from various sources. I do not want to pay for a subscription, I would just like the same free 7 day video storage, I don't need a bunch of bells and whistles.

Can anyone tell me with some sort of certainty if there is a way that with just the camera and any free service they now give if it gives a 7 day library of storage OR if there is something else in their line I can buy that will interface with the camera and store video for 7 days??

Obviously if all these cameras do under the free service is alert you to movement and your only option is to go live to try to catch it that doesn't work for me. I will however consider investing in an interface product that will store video for a short period to work around a monthly subscription.

Appreciate any input, thank you.

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

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@ceddes wrote:

Can anyone tell me with some sort of certainty if there is a way that with just the camera and any free service they now give if it gives a 7 day library of storage OR if there is something else in their line I can buy that will interface with the camera and store video for 7 days??

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All the currently sold cameras require a subscription to get any cloud storage.

The VMB4540 and VMB5000 smarthubs have a "direct access to local storage" feature that some use instead of a subscription.  You'd add a USB thumb drive to the VMB4540, and a microSD card to the VMB5000.

Either way, there are several limitations:

• recordings can only be seen in the app (not my.arlo.com).
• records can only be seen from the primary account (not friend accounts).
• there are no thumbnails - everything needs to be downloaded to your phone before viewing.
• there is no way to make manual recordings or take snapshots
• remote access requires router setting changes that some find difficult to make, and which do not work with some internet service providers.