Custom Mode or Automations

[Skiwest]

I am trying to create "Sleep" mode.  Currently I have three modes:

Standby - All cameras disabled

Home - All outdoor cameras enabled, indoor cameras disabled

Away - All cameras enabed

I would like a "Sleep" mode that builds upon Home mode by adding a subset of indoor cameras between the hours of 11:00pm and 5:00am.

While there are lots of references within the community to creating a "Custom Mode", i cannot seem to enable it.  In a recent chat, the agent stated that it is a new feature that is not fully released.  Odd that help text and community info already has it everywhere.

I tried creating a routine/automation, but there is no ability to enable or disable a camera within routines, only "record a video" or "Activate Alarm" and "Customize Device". Obviously, these routine/autoimation/schedule three options don't allow me to achieve my results.  I could also edit the three modes I have, but that would result in Standby being eliminated leaving me no ability to disable all cameras with one action.

Help!

Base station VNB5000R6, Ultra

[StephenB]

Just saw your other thread from yesterday

A. The 3x Q+ are indoor, to be activated when nobody's home

B. The 4 Ultra 2 are outdoor, to be activated when nobody's home

C. The Floodlight is outdoor, in garden, to be activated every day at sunset until sunrise the next day, 7/7, regardless home physical presence.

(I don't use geofence, I prefer a smartphone sensor script managed under Home Assistant.)

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C suggests that the floodlight should be disarmed during the day even if no one is home.  Is that a requirement, or are you ok with the floodlight being being armed when no one is home during the day.

[StephenB]

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@ThoOom wrote:

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@StephenB  a écrit :

You can tailor those modes to arm a subset of cameras, but you cannot get all combinations.

Curious what kind of tailor modes I can set, and how I can define a subset of camera within the Arm Away/Home/StandBy modes... I really don't find any... Sorry if my question is stupid.

I'm trying both from the app and from the web UI...

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If you go into mode details, you'll find the camera rules, which you can edit for all three modes.  If a rule is missing, the camera is not armed when you are in that mode.

So you could (for example) keep Arm Away as it is (arming all cameras).  Modify Standby to arm only cameras you want armed 24x7.   Modify Arm Home to arm a third set - perhaps only cameras in the front of the property, leaving cameras covering a rear deck disarmed.  Then set up the schedule automations to switch between those modes.

FWIW, this is essentially the same strategy that is needed to create a schedule if you use a smarthub with custom modes (both in the old and new interfaces).   You need to create a custom mode for each combination of cameras you want armed together, and then schedule those modes.  Many found this very confusing with the old interface.  One of many old threads that illustrate this:

• https://community.arlo.com/t5/Arlo-Video-Doorbell/Help-with-setting-up-a-custom-schedule-mode/td-p/1863432

IMO a better approach with "custom modes" would be to allow users to define their own groupings of cameras, and then create a schedule for each group.  This would be less tedious than creating schedules for each wifi-connected camera, and would be simpler than defining a bunch of custom modes purely for scheduling if you use hubs.  But Arlo obviously doesn't agree.

[StephenB]

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@Skiwest wrote:

I am trying to create "Sleep" mode.  Currently I have three modes:

Standby - All cameras disabled

Home - All outdoor cameras enabled, indoor cameras disabled

Away - All cameras enabed

I would like a "Sleep" mode that builds upon Home mode by adding a subset of indoor cameras between the hours of 11:00pm and 5:00am.

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You'll have to wait until custom modes is fully rolled out to your account.

In the meantime, if you rarely use standby then you might consider modifying standby to do what you want.

[StephenB]

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@Skiwest wrote:

I am trying to create "Sleep" mode.  Currently I have three modes:

Standby - All cameras disabled

Home - All outdoor cameras enabled, indoor cameras disabled

Away - All cameras enabed

I would like a "Sleep" mode that builds upon Home mode by adding a subset of indoor cameras between the hours of 11:00pm and 5:00am.

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You'll have to wait until custom modes is fully rolled out to your account.

In the meantime, if you rarely use standby then you might consider modifying standby to do what you want.

[ThoOom]

I sther eany update on this custom mode full roll out ?

I have the option in the UI, but seems like my ArloQ & Q+ are not supported in this cutom mode... then what's the point ?

[jguerdat]

The Q and Q+ can't be added to custom modes, perhaps due to a hardware or firmware issue. Legacy cameras are an issue maintaining compatibility as new hardware and software are added.

[ThoOom]

Thanks for the reply.

Any chance to revert to the previous App or Using a legacy API to continue using my Q/Q+ in custom mode ?

[StephenB]

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@ThoOom wrote:

Any chance to revert to the previous App or Using a legacy API to continue using my Q/Q+ in custom mode ?

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No.  Arlo is dropping the old interface.

[ThoOom]

OK then, let's forget the management itself of the Q series (they allow to arm/disarm on regular Arm Home/Away/Standby mode but pretends they cannot be managed under a custom mode, that's so ridiculous...)

I have a hub with 4 Ultra II and one floodlight (and of course my 3 x Q+)

I'm still trying to manage a very simple 'automation'. I want a mode that arm a camera (let's say the floodlight) that record a video when movement is detected, every night from 10pm to 6am in the morning.

To me, it sounds like impossible.

1/ on "Custom Mode", appart from the complete ignore of the Q series, all cams on the hub have to follow the same rule... Of course I can create as many cutom mode on the hub as i want but this is completely pointless as there is no chance to expose the custom mode on the API (so unless i spend minute severyday to change a mode on the hub, only Arlo can call this automation or "routine"

2/ on Arm Away/Home/StandBy, creating a schedule can only trigger... a change of mode or a chnage of settings, not the arming of a camera...

3/ no possibility to create a dedicated arming mode, you have to saty with arm away / arm home and standby...

so is there a method to achieve this simple task or do we need to arm .... away from Arlo ?

(I sincerly hope i'm completely mistaken)

[StephenB]

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@ThoOom wrote:

2/ on Arm Away/Home/StandBy, creating a schedule can only trigger... a change of mode or a chnage of settings, not the arming of a camera...

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By default, Standby does not arm any of your cameras, Arm Away should arm them all (not sure about the Qs), and Arm Home arms only the Ultras.

You can then create one automation to trigger a mode change to Arm Away to arm all the cameras, and a second automation to trigger a mode change to Standby to disarm all cameras.  You can tailor those modes to arm a subset of cameras, but you cannot get all combinations.

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@ThoOom wrote:

1/ on "Custom Mode", appart from the complete ignore of the Q series, all cams on the hub have to follow the same rule... Of course I can create as many cutom mode on the hub as i want but this is completely pointless as there is no chance to expose the custom mode on the API (so unless i spend minute severyday to change a mode on the hub, only Arlo can call this automation or "routine"

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Scheduling with custom modes works the same way it did in the old interface.  You create the modes needed to support the schedule, and then schedule the base (or cameras) using the schedule menu within custom modes.  You don't use automations for that at all.  One difference is that you will get a notification every time the mode changes in the schedule.  So in your specific example, you'd want to schedule across midnight.  Last time I checked you could do this using my.arlo.com, but not the app (due to a bug).  No idea if that has been fixed since.

[jguerdat]

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@StephenB wrote:

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By default, Standby does not arm any of your cameras, Arm Away should arm them all (not sure about the Qs), and Arm Home arms only the Ultras.

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The standard modes support the Q properly.

[ThoOom]

Yes, the Q are managed under any Arm Home/Away but apparently this is difficult to make thme available in custom mode...

[ThoOom]

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@StephenB  wrote:

You can then create one automation to trigger a mode change to Arm Away to arm all the cameras, and a second automation to trigger a mode change to Standby to disarm all cameras.  

Yes, I do this with Home Assistant, and this is something that was also available through Custom Modes. The thing is, there is no possibility to configure each mode, which means I'm stuck with all/ultra or nothing. There is no possibility to manage/setup each camera individually, which to be honest sounds pretty ridiculous... As if people buy 8 cameras to arm/disarm them all at once everytime...

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@StephenB  a écrit :

You can tailor those modes to arm a subset of cameras, but you cannot get all combinations.

Curious what kind of tailor modes I can set, and how I can define a subset of camera within the Arm Away/Home/StandBy modes... I really don't find any... Sorry if my question is stupid.

I'm trying both from the app and from the web UI...

[StephenB]

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@ThoOom wrote:

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@StephenB  a écrit :

You can tailor those modes to arm a subset of cameras, but you cannot get all combinations.

Curious what kind of tailor modes I can set, and how I can define a subset of camera within the Arm Away/Home/StandBy modes... I really don't find any... Sorry if my question is stupid.

I'm trying both from the app and from the web UI...

---

If you go into mode details, you'll find the camera rules, which you can edit for all three modes.  If a rule is missing, the camera is not armed when you are in that mode.

So you could (for example) keep Arm Away as it is (arming all cameras).  Modify Standby to arm only cameras you want armed 24x7.   Modify Arm Home to arm a third set - perhaps only cameras in the front of the property, leaving cameras covering a rear deck disarmed.  Then set up the schedule automations to switch between those modes.

FWIW, this is essentially the same strategy that is needed to create a schedule if you use a smarthub with custom modes (both in the old and new interfaces).   You need to create a custom mode for each combination of cameras you want armed together, and then schedule those modes.  Many found this very confusing with the old interface.  One of many old threads that illustrate this:

• https://community.arlo.com/t5/Arlo-Video-Doorbell/Help-with-setting-up-a-custom-schedule-mode/td-p/1...

IMO a better approach with "custom modes" would be to allow users to define their own groupings of cameras, and then create a schedule for each group.  This would be less tedious than creating schedules for each wifi-connected camera, and would be simpler than defining a bunch of custom modes purely for scheduling if you use hubs.  But Arlo obviously doesn't agree.

[ThoOom]

Many thanks for the advice.

So ideally yes I can customize as you suggest:

Arm Away: keep it "as is" (all cam armed). I set this mode when nobody's home

Standby: keep it "as is" (none armed). I set this mode when at least one person is home

customize Arm Home with only the Floodlight. I want to schedule this mode during the night.

However, I see 2 problems:

1. Hierarchy: the switch to Arm Away needs to supersede all other modes. It means when nobody's home during the night, i want all cams to arm, not only the Floodlight I scheduled alone in the Arm Home mode... Also when somebody returns home during the night, I don't want that the switch to Standby occurs as it will disarm the floodlight.

2. I'm using external application (home assistant) and not the Arlo App. This is more a gain than a problem actually, as I can make all the timing check within my script and manage the hierarchy.

At the end of the day, the only limitation remaining is the number of built-in mode. If I need more than 3 different states I'm stuck. That limitation, in my knowledge, was not present in the legacy / Custom mode, as you can manage as many arming states as you want, am I correct ?

Saddly, those custom modes are no longer exposed to the API. Do you think Arlo could either re-expose the Custom Mode to the APIs, or allow to create custom arming modes on top of the 3 bulitins ?

[StephenB]

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@ThoOom wrote:

1. Hierarchy: the switch to Arm Away needs to supersede all other modes. It means when nobody's home during the night, i want all cams to arm, not only the Floodlight I scheduled alone in the Arm Home mode... Also when somebody returns home during the night, I don't want that the switch to Standby occurs as it will disarm the floodlight.

The new mechanism is definitely a miss for Arlo (which I've said several times before).  Though the old mechanism was also quite complex, especially if you had a combination of smarthub and wifi-connected cameras.

Geofencing does make it harder when you only have 3 standard modes to work with. 

Normally I recommend reserving "Arm Away" for times when you really are away, and limit the schedule to switching between "Arm Home" and "Standby".  If you were to do that, then you'd have to arm all cameras in Arm Home, and keep the floodlight armed in "Standby".   There would be no way to schedule disarming the floodlight - so you'd have to manually disable and reenable the floodlight from the settings wheel.

Also, with automations you do need to pick one specific mode for the "Leave" and "Arrive" automations.  "Leave" would switch to "Arm Away".  But as you point out, there is an issue with "Arrive".  Either you switch to "Arm Home" all the time (arming all cameras during the day - not what is wanted), or you need to switch to "Standby" all the time (arming only the floodlight at night - also not wanted). 

There is an ugly hack, which is to add additional automations to reinstate the schedule.  So if (for example) you wanted all cameras armed between 10 pm and 6 am, you could add in some extra schedule automations enabled only in Standby to switch to Arm Home every hour in between 10 pm and 6 am.  Then if you arrived home at 10:05, the system would automatically switch to Standby (as "arrive" would always do in this example), but then would switch to "Arm Home" at 11 pm.

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@ThoOom wrote:

Saddly, those custom modes are no longer exposed to the API. Do you think Arlo could either re-expose the Custom Mode to the APIs, or allow to create custom arming modes on top of the 3 bulitins ?

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No idea on what they will do in the future.

Part of the puzzle for you is the limitation of having the Q models only work in the standard modes.  If you have a mix of models, then you could shift those cameras into a different "location" - using standard modes for the Qs, and custom modes for your other cameras.  One problem is that you'd end up with two feeds - one for each location.  So no way to see all the recordings (or all cameras) at once.

I don't use home assistant, so I don't know the limitations there. 

[StephenB]

Just saw your other thread from yesterday

A. The 3x Q+ are indoor, to be activated when nobody's home

B. The 4 Ultra 2 are outdoor, to be activated when nobody's home

C. The Floodlight is outdoor, in garden, to be activated every day at sunset until sunrise the next day, 7/7, regardless home physical presence.

(I don't use geofence, I prefer a smartphone sensor script managed under Home Assistant.)

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C suggests that the floodlight should be disarmed during the day even if no one is home.  Is that a requirement, or are you ok with the floodlight being being armed when no one is home during the day.

[ThoOom]

Thanks for the input, much appreciated.

no need for the ugly trick as I managed the switches Arm Away/Home/StandBy from Home assistant, I just added a condition to the standby switch depending on the sunrise/sunset.

when nobody's home: Arm Away, regardless of the hours. This includes the floodlight in the back garden

when somebody home, depending on the time:

* between sunrise and sunset (daylight): StandBy (none armed, ie no rules)

* during the night: Arm Home (only one rule: the floodlight)

tight but working ok so far

For the 2 reasons below:

* Q series not supported in Custom modes

* Custom Mode not exposed to API

I'm stuck to live with the built-in modes. However, the idea to create another 'location' makes sense (and i'm considering this option to separate the floodlight and managed it independantly with a basic shcedule to switch from home to standby)

We are 5 at home and in my memory the geofencing is arlo-account related, so i doubt i can achieve the same level of granularity than with my third party app (HA).

[ThoOom]

Hello,

The floodlight should be disarmed only during daylight and somebody at home.

sorry if it was confusing, I only explicited the extra arming function in my initial sentence, I forgot to mention that as A and B, the floodlight should be armed when nobody's home.

Also, for battery saving and because this is ridiculous to flashlight during daylight, i would also deactivate the flashlight of the floodlight during day light (which means in my setup when armed away. I assume, following your previous recommandations that i can setup an automation in my arm away to change the flashlight settings during predefined hours (and i doubt of course that this kind of parameterization feature is exposed through the API)

[StephenB]

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@ThoOom wrote:

Also, for battery saving and because this is ridiculous to flashlight during daylight, i would also deactivate the flashlight of the floodlight during day light

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No need, as the light only comes on after dark (even if the rule says to turn it on when motion is detected).

On locations - hopefully you are aware that subscriptions are limited to one location.  I suggested moving the Q cameras because they have 7-day free storage (as long as there are no more than 5 unsubscribed cameras in the account).  If you move the floodlight you'd need a separate subscription for it.  Or go with local storage, which would require a new smarthub (since it would also need to be in the new location).

But if you are ok with your current behavior, then I suggest leaving everything in one location.

[ThoOom]

I didn't remember that a subscription plan is attached to a single location...

Anyway the Q also have an SDCard and record locally (But as opposed to my hub, not readable remotely and not centralized)

Last advice was the good: i will let everything as this is now, at least it covers my initial request, and I will pray not to have further need for extra mode..