Arlo wire-free offline problem - looking for a workaround

[brdoddsjr]

I have 2 wire-free cameras.  Both had disconnect issues after the firmware update.  Both would go offline 2 or 3 times a day.  Strangely (who know why) when I fixed my Chrome flash live feed problem my wire-free cameras behave better.  I only have one of the 2 go offline now every 24 to 48 hours.  One is behaving perfectly normal now.  Wierd.

The camera that is going offline is the furthest from the base station.  I have read that some people think distance is the problem.  It is the only camera that failed the firmware upgrade the first time.

1) Does anyone know how to force a firmware load?  I would like to reload the latest firmware version but the capability seems to have been removed.

2) Has anyone used a wifi extender to extend the base station network?  Seems like another base station is the only way.  If true, I have an old base station.  If is buy a new one can I use the old one to extend the network?

BTW:  I'm a pretty loyal Netgear user and have lived through a couple firmware hiccups.  For those who are new and concerned, Netgear has always come through, but I don't think engineering communcates very well with the rest of the organization.  They tend to go a little dark in the beginning and will only communicate when they have a solution.  It can be frustrating.

[steve_t]

A range extender won't extend the network. You would use a range extender to place the base station in the most central position in relation to the cameras. If the cameras are too far apart, multiple base stations is your best option. Since you already have two base stations, you should use both if range is your issue

[brdoddsjr]

I don't have 2 base stations, which is why I would prefer to use an extender.

[jguerdat]

Won't happen. You simply can't use an extender. Period.

[brdoddsjr]

That's too bad.  Seems like even a proprietary extender is a better solution than multiple base stations.

Any idea how to force a reload of firmware?

[jguerdat]

The closest thing to forcing a reload is to reset the base which means starting fresh.  If you do this, you'll also need to remove all devices in Settings, My Devices.

[brdoddsjr · Accepted solution]

Fixed.  Originally after the firmware upgrade, my wire-free cameras were going offline 2 or 3 times a day.  My devices behaved better after I fixed the Chrome flash permission issue (still no idea why that had any effect.).  I rebuilt my system from the ground up and my device behaved even better still.  Only my furthermost wire-free camera was having trouble.  I purchased an Arlo pro base station to extend my network.  When I replaced my "old" base station VMB3000 with the new VMB4000. everthing is working perfectly again (2 days solid). I did not need to extend my base station network.  My assumption is that the radio in the VMB4000 is superior in range to the 3000.