Arlo configuration clarification - Location and sharing/grant access

[FLSII]

So I have found many "happy" customers and posts related to these 2 items, but wanted to ask and clarify if anyone can.

1) The new Arlo Secure app can NOT have multiple "locations" defined in the 'Dashboard' to group different cameras regardless of locations unless you SETUP AND PAY for additional accounts/subscriptions for each 'location'.  Correct?

2) For an account owner in order to 'share' a location/cameras to someone, BOTH users/accounts/gui MUST be on the same or 'newer' versions of Arlo Secure, correct?  I imagine there might be version differences if one user is iPhone and the other is Android, not sure.

[StephenB]

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@FLSII  wrote:

1) The new Arlo Secure app can NOT have multiple "locations" defined in the 'Dashboard' to group different cameras regardless of locations unless you SETUP AND PAY for additional accounts/subscriptions for each 'location'. Correct?

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You can have multiple locations in one account.

There are situations where you don't need a subscription for all the locations. For instance, if you have legacy cameras, then you can still get 7 days of free cloud storage for those cameras as long as you have 5 or fewer unsubscribed cameras in the account. So if you have a mix of cameras, you could put all the legacy cameras at one location, and avoid purchasing a second subscription.

If you have a smarthub, then you could also use local storage at one location, and get a subscription for the other.

That said, if all your cameras need a subscription to get the features you want, then you would need to pay for one subscription for each location.

(FWIW, I don't think that was the right decision on Arlo's part. I'd have allowed two locations to be covered by one subscription, and only required additional subscriptions if you have 3+ locations).

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@FLSII  wrote:

2) For an account owner in order to 'share' a location/cameras to someone, BOTH users/accounts/gui MUST be on the same or 'newer' versions of Arlo Secure, correct? I imagine there might be version differences if one user is iPhone and the other is Android, not sure.

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All the accounts either need to be using "Feed", or all need to be using "Library" in order for the friend account feature to work.  

The app version isn't very relevant though. Arlo put support for both user interfaces into the app about 2 years ago - so if you are using an app version released in 2023 or later, then you are running an app with both interfaces. Which interface you get depends on how the account is set up in the Arlo cloud - NOT which version of the app you are running.

All new accounts are set up to use "Feed". And newer devices (Pro 5s and Essential Gen 2 cameras, and the home security system) all migrate your account to "Feed" when you install them.

[FLSII]

Appreciate the reply and information, some makes sense, some does not.

All of the cameras (mixed models) prior to update to secure gui version were able to be seen and were 'grouped' by each base station/location.  After camera change out to Essential XL which cause gui upgrade, still all the cameras can bee 'seen', the cameras are just all grouped together and all the access granted was removed (because of the location changes).

To define more than 1 "Location" in new gui/version there has to be an associated account and the "functionality" of the Arlo Secure app.  From what I am experiencing that or each "location" (group of cameras) has to have a paid account.  I tried to associate existing account, no deal.  I will look more into the 'Feed' and what it controls.

Figuring out the 'Feed' might solve both issues, the grouping and access granted.

To the point of decisions around changes and lack of communication to users, you know the "customers" that pay Arlo's wages...extremely poor.  "Tricking" and forcing users/customers with changes like this...well I think lots of folks (from what I read) will choose a different platform, maybe Arlo can pay their bills with that.

I appreciate the information and will continue with research, 1 option will be to choose some different cameras.

[StephenB]

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@FLSII  wrote:

All of the cameras (mixed models) prior to updating to secure gui version were able to be seen and were 'grouped' by each base station/location. 

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Not exactly. The old "Library" UI has no concept of location. In the old UI, cameras connected to home wifi are individually controlled, and all the cameras connected to a base are controlled together.

With the new "Feed" UI, all cameras in a location are controlled together. It doesn't matter how they are connected.

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@FLSII  wrote:

To define more than 1 "Location" in new gui/version there has to be an associated account and the "functionality" of the Arlo Secure app. From what I am experiencing that or each "location" (group of cameras) has to have a paid account. 

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No. You can add as many locations to an account as you like. Each subscription covers only one of these locations. But all the locations are set up in the same account (one username and password).

If you are already using "Feed", you add a location by

1. pressing the profile icon in the upper left
2. pressing the "+" sign next to "Locations and Plans"

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@FLSII  wrote:

I tried to associate existing account, no deal.  

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What do you mean by "associate existing account"??? Are you trying to get a "friend" account to see the cameras? Or something else?

[FLSII]

Uhhh....the old "Library" concept/functionality is 'exactly' how controls worked.  Camera(s) were defined under a base station (which is a 'location'), connected to an internet connection.  The camera(s) could be controlled individually via 'Devices' and/or all cameras could be armed/disarmed via "Mode".

Trying to figure out the new "Location" concept via the dashboard is what I would think could be done.  If I can see ALL my cameras (that really are in different locations), what does it matter if I put them in groups "locations" to control arming and disarming?  I am already paying for the cameras, storage and whatever.  If I want to group or configure by 'location' I have to buy another subscription for what I already have.

Right now if I had 10 cameras in the same house and I wanted to put them in 2 groups I cannot in the new gui.  The second 'group' requires a 'location' that will not allow me to use my current subscription.

The 'Feed' controls the content of what the cameras are doing, not who can see or not see or mainly allow 'another person' to control cameras (say a family member).

So what Arlo (and support) is telling me is that I cannot group or control cameras for what I am paying for, because I CAN see all.  I just can NOT control by the locations or groups (arming/disarming or whatever).  In the gui now ALL cameras get the same arm or disarm command.

[StephenB]

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@FLSII  wrote:

Uhhh....the old "Library" concept/functionality is 'exactly' how controls worked. Camera(s) were defined under a base station (which is a 'location'), connected to an internet connection. The camera(s) could be controlled individually via 'Devices' and/or all cameras could be armed/disarmed via "Mode".

Location in this context is one home/address.

I happen to have two VMB5000 base stations, and some cameras that are directly connected to my home wifi. All are in the same location (eg, at the same address). When I was using "Library", they were controlled exactly as I said:

1. The cameras connected to the first base station were controlled together. The base station had modes, and each mode controlled all the cameras connected to that base. If a camera connected to that base had no rule in a mode, then that camera was disarmed when that mode is in use.
2. The cameras connected to the second base station were similarly controlled together, using the modes I set up for that base station.
3. Each camera connected directly to my home wifi had its own "armed" and "disarmed' mode.

I needed multiple coordinated schedules (one for each base, plus one for each home-wifi connected camera).

I could turn cameras on and off from the device settings, but that is not the same as disarming them.

You can think of a "Location" as a virtual base station. All the cameras in that location are controlled together, using one set of modes for that location. There is only one schedule for the location. With "Feed" you can also turn individual cameras on and off from the device settings. One thing Arlo missed was the need for more than three modes - and that was a big miss.

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@FLSII  wrote:

Right now if I had 10 cameras in the same house and I wanted to put them in 2 groups I cannot in the new gui. 

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That is correct.

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@FLSII  wrote:

If I can see ALL my cameras (that really are in different locations), what does it matter if I put them in groups "locations" to control arming and disarming? I am already paying for the cameras, storage and whatever. If I want to group or configure by 'location' I have to buy another subscription for what I already have.

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To be clear on this - I don't work for Arlo, and I am not arguing that the new UI is better. I am just trying to explain how it works.

I understand where you are coming from, and I have suggested to Arlo that the ability to create my own groups of cameras that are controlled together would be very useful.

One thing that likely factored into the "one subscription per location" decision is that with "Library" it is quite easy to share an unlimited camera subscription. BTW, Ring and Nest are also limiting their subscription plans to one subscription per home.

I still think Arlo should have allowed two locations with one subscription, and I would like to see the ability to group cameras within one location. 

FWIW, I don't really like the idea of ​​locking modes to base stations, particularly since most new customers aren't buying base stations unless they want local storage. I initially got a second smarthub to get the wifi signal quality I needed. Now that I have a mesh wifi system, that is no longer an issue with the newer cameras that can connect directly to the mesh.

[FLSII]

I think we are in agreement and basically saying to same things in different ways regarding configuration or a user's ability to "group" cameras.  Restated, now the 'inability' to group...unless you pay for each group, that is what it boils down to.

This boils down to a licensing and $$$ thing which I can understand Arlo wanting to get paid for their product and services, they could have done differently though.

Understood you do not work for Arlo, appreciate the information provided, it helps to this community and folks that try and figure out different things or have information, most of the time more that product support.

Thanks,

Fred