Have your product actually work with Stringify and IFTTT!!!!

[wenklaw]

I have the Arlo system with 2 cameras and had been using IFTTT recipes successfully up until approx 2 weeks ago.  They now only work as a trigger to disarm/arm the arlo base station,

They wont work if the trigger is for example:

'arlo motion'- IFTTT trigger -  record video on my homeboy device OR turn on WEMO plug OR send text applets, none work anymore.

IFTTT receipes work the other way round though, for example

'homeboy disarmed/armed' - IFTTT trigger - Disarm /arm arlo base station

'Sunset' - IFTTT trigger - arm arlo

The above tells me that the Arlo service is talking to IFTTT but for some unknown reason the applets that are 'triggered' by an arlo event just stopped working after approx 18 months of working fine.

I have disconnected the Arlo service and reconnected on IFTTT, deleted all Arlo receipes/applets and started again.  Reset the base station and still no joy.  Event log in IFTTT lists failed events stating 'problem with the arlo service'

Is any one using IFTTT successfully to trigger something else on an Arlo event, eg arlo motion triggers something else to happen on another device?

I have a support case open with Arlo but would like to know if its just me or others are having this issue too.

[pwalkley]

All -

Although not quite as seamless, you should try Stringify. It is not quite as intuitive as ifttt to set up "flows" (stringify's version of ifttt applets). However, I've been using it along with ifttt for a lot of my smart home integration already. It can perform many of the same functions as ifttt. And can actually do a good deal more (like multiple triggers and responses, conditional triggers, etc).

I'm still hoping the ifttt arlo integration gets fixed because some of my automations were a little smoother on ifttt instead of Stringify, but if not, I've found Stringify seems to do the trick. Hope that helps!

BTW, I attached a screenshot of one of the more advanced flows I've set up in Stringify. If it's night time and my arlo camera detects motion, it turns on all my smart lights (hue bulbs and tp link smart switches) for 5 minutes and then turns them back off. That just gives an example of all that Stringify can do.

[chrisngrod]

I have something similar, but I wish it could take into account the original state of the bulb. If on then do not turn off.
. I'm using Lifx bulbs.

[jmkirsch]

LIFX doesn't provide any triggers; only actions.  That's why you can't take into account original state.  That's a LIFX issue; IFTTT and Stringify can only leverage what the vendor provides through their API.  Ex: Ring cameras only have triggers (motion, or button press), so no way to disarm.

That said, Arlo is still ahead of the game with their API, even if it's broken with IFTTT.  I highly recommend Stringify.  I really think this issue is as much on IFTTT as it is Arlo because folks are just going to move to Stringify.  Stringify can do things as simple as IFTTT, but also way more complicated if you choose.  My "disarm" flow disarms whenever presence of any of the phones I want are present.  My "arm" flow arms only if both phones are not present.  I also created a toggle button that arms cameras if they are disarmed, and disarms them if they are armed.  Arlo doesn't let you do those things with their app, and IFTTT doesn't solve that either.

It would be nice if Arlo (and Ring) added the ability to choose a device mode instead of just "arm" and "disarm."  For example, there are times when I'd like to record, but don't want a notification.  

[chrisngrod]

Yeah I know that is a lifx shortcoming (at the moment).

You haven't setup other modes for your Arlo without notifications? I haven't played with Ring. Will probably wait for the Nest equivalent to come out and get some reviews before deciding.

[jmkirsch]

You can set up modes without notifications, but you can't choose which mode you want to activate in an "action."  You get two options: arm and disarm.  It would be awesome if the action allowed you to choose a mode.  In other words, "If X trigger happens, then set this mode on this camera."  Example: I'd like to record motion on my indoor cameras if my kids are home by themselves, but I don't need a notification.

Nest cam doesn't have actions either at this time.  The thing that bugs me with Nest is their cloud service is the most expensive, by far (hardware is up there too).  $100/year for the first camera, and $50/year for each additional.  I believe it's continuous video recording (CVR).  Arlo wants another $100/year/camera for CVR, though the con of CVR is you record everything to the cloud.  That's a privacy concern for me, and it's a bandwidth concern.  At up to 0.5Mbps per camera continuous for 720p, that could be a problem.  If you've bought into the entire Nest ecosystem, then Home/Away Assist might solve this ("only record when these people are away"), but it's still expensive.  (Nest's thermostat doesn't have multiple sensors like Ecobee either, but that's another topic 😉

For API features, hardware features and cost (HW and cloud), Arlo wins from my perspective.  If Arlo came out with a doorbell, I'd probably dump the Ring.  However, Ring announced a new Stick Up cam, new lighting options and a security system yesterday at CES.  If the pricing of the hardware is competitive, and they improve their API, I might go all-in with Ring.

[RobertRosal]

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chrisngrod wrote:
I have something similar, but I wish it could take into account the original state of the bulb. If on then do not turn off.
. I'm using Lifx bulbs.

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If you have SmartThings, you can easily do that.

[RobertRosal]

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jmkirsch wrote:

LIFX doesn't provide any triggers; only actions.  That's why you can't take into account original state.  That's a LIFX issue; IFTTT and Stringify can only leverage what the vendor provides through their API.  Ex: Ring cameras only have triggers (motion, or button press), so no way to disarm.

That said, Arlo is still ahead of the game with their API, even if it's broken with IFTTT.  I highly recommend Stringify.  I really think this issue is as much on IFTTT as it is Arlo because folks are just going to move to Stringify.  Stringify can do things as simple as IFTTT, but also way more complicated if you choose.  My "disarm" flow disarms whenever presence of any of the phones I want are present.  My "arm" flow arms only if both phones are not present.  I also created a toggle button that arms cameras if they are disarmed, and disarms them if they are armed.  Arlo doesn't let you do those things with their app, and IFTTT doesn't solve that either.

It would be nice if Arlo (and Ring) added the ability to choose a device mode instead of just "arm" and "disarm."  For example, there are times when I'd like to record, but don't want a notification.  

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Also would be simple with SmartThings.

[SsnickersS]

Hello,

I have the same here in France and french support can't help as the told me to ask for help with the community! But community is not support!

Hope it will work soon.

[Scott2ya]

What a lot of folks have been doing is using Stringify instead. I've been playing around with it, and it's very capable. Actually I really like Stringify, especially if you have any other smart devices, it ties stuff in nicely.

[RobertRosal]

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Scott2ya wrote:

What a lot of folks have been doing is using Stringify instead. I've been playing around with it, and it's very capable. Actually I really like Stringify, especially if you have any other smart devices, it ties stuff in nicely.

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Agreed, I also used stringify in the past but found its device list limited but for those who don't control everything in there home, it works. 

Also, been using the smarthome stuff in its earliest stages, I used others now with SmartThings to do some pretty cool stuff.  For example, If it is in the evening and front door is unlatched via the knob, that means someone is leaving, turn on exterior light for a certain amount of time while recording video (arlo).  If a certain code is used to unlatch the door, turn on interior entrance light for a certain amount of time, also start entrance arlo to record.  If the code is entered incorrectly, turn on all exterior lights and record simultaneously using these arlo cameras.

I do not think that can be easily programmed with Stringify.

[TheFivePack]

Curious, I only see the ability with Stringify to Arm/Disarm the entire base station.  Is there a way to disarm only a camera or certain cameras? I don't always want to turn all my cameras on/off at same time. Thanks!

[jmkirsch]

I'm guessing you can add the base station as its own thing?  Guessing you need to connect each camera as a separate thing.

[Scott2ya]

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TheFivePack wrote:

Curious, I only see the ability with Stringify to Arm/Disarm the entire base station.  Is there a way to disarm only a camera or certain cameras? I don't always want to turn all my cameras on/off at same time. Thanks!

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That's not stringify, that's Arlo. Arlo only allow's 3rd parties to either arm or disarm the entire system. I had to do a work around with my smarthThings hub to disable certain cameras when I let my dog out, that way it doesn't mess with modes... There is a feature request to arlos to allow IFTTT the ability to choose custom modes, but that's been in there close to a year. I don't have my hopes up.

[Jsm333]

When trying to configure or change a current IFTTT applet via the browser or mobile app, the Arlo components show errors.   At one point trying to configure using do see a 404 for the arlo component.

Confirmed IFTTT Oauth/login, and all other non-Arlo in the system work.    Is there a current (new) issue with IFTTT and arlo?  

Thank you

 

[Dskwiz]

The ifttt trigger for turning on my LIFX bulbs on motion works great but I cannot use or create an arm or disarm trigger in ifttt without gettin an error

[Josedeone]

Any idea on the time frame for the solution of this issue Netgear??

[SsnickersS]

Hello,

I have tried to open a case, the answer I receive is:

Please visit on this link https://help.ifttt.com/hc/en-us/requests/new 

and fill out the information for request for the Arlo Integration to IFTTT. 

Funny asnwer as it worked since may 2016!!!

I waste my time for nothing, the answers I received were all stupids and no help at all.

Thank you

[bosemanhousehol]

I've been telling anyone and everyone who will listen to not purchase your product as a true security system.  The massive lack of either real baked in functionality suck as a call during an alarm event, having my Hue lights react to an alarm event...I can go on....!  It's truly sad that I had to spend over $900 for cameras only to have a recording gadget.  I had no problem in returning it too, especially when support seems to have looked past their customers crys for this.  Netgear has been silent on this, it's just really sad all away around!!!!

[Ggbcfhhtgvxfjg]

I purchased Arlo because of the ifttt integration. If not fixed soon I'll need to move on to brands that don't deceive. Stingify will not work for my use cases.

Adding the service works fine, using as the trigger works fine, but as an action errors out. Been like this for quite a while.

[Scott2ya]

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Ggbcfhhtgvxfjg wrote:

Adding the service works fine, using as the trigger works fine, but as an action errors out. Been like this for quite a while.

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Here's my main beef. Even if IFTTT worked, it still is not very helpful. Why? Arlo will not allow third parties to change to a custom mode. You can ONLY arm or disarm the entire system. I NEVER disarm the entire system, and NEVER arm the system with the default. I have 3 custom modes that covers all my bases. What else would you want to have IFTTT do? I guess maybe record, but that's what your motion sensors are for, unless you have other smart devices that could trigger a camera to record, but then I'd still use Stringify because you can tell it to record on multiple cameras with one flow rather than making a bunch of IFTTT applets...

PLEASE Arlo make custom modes available first.

[wenklaw]

I re-enabled my IFTTT arlo app that basically sends an IFTTT SMS text to my mobile (cell) on motion, it seems to be working again.  Has anyone else noticed any IFTTT applets working with Arlo?

[Scott2ya]

Nothing has changed, you could always use Arlo as the trigger, just not the action. To say arm or disarm.

[wenklaw]

No the issue I have had from when this all started (i actually started this thread) is this

IFTTT actions will trigger the Arlo to Disarm/Arm

e.g

IFTTT time applet at sunset -> arm arlo base station.   THIS WORKS AND ALWAYS HAS

its the other way round that broke for me

e.g

ARLO detects motion -> IFTTT action, send sms text/email etc or turn on WEMO.  STOPPED WORKING LAST SEPTEMBER but has started working again, although it may well fail again, we will see.

[MaxV]

This is what works and not works for me today with IFTTT and Stringify. Seems other way around from threadstarter.

With Stringify I can arm and unarm my basestation - not my "own" modes (Night mode, day mode etc) only Arlos basemodes Activeted and Deactivated. (G-mail and Arlo)

With IFTTT I can get motion from device and send messages to my openHAB installation. (That part of IFTTT and Arlo works for me) e.g Camera detects motion - turn on the outside lights.

What i cant do with IFTTT is set a mode (Action). IFTTT Arlo service only "hangs" with loading message when trying to connect to service.

So now i have a old Android phone with Tasker and uses the taskerplugin Autoinput to chose what mode i want (Like a macro).

I remotecontrol my old Androidphone with the Taskerplugin Autoremote from my openHAB installation with the http binding.

Not the best solution, a little slow (10-15 sec dealy on modechange) - would love to be able to control my Arlos al modes with http commands directly.

[Scott2ya]

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wrote:

So now i have a old Android phone with Tasker and uses the taskerplugin Autoinput to chose what mode i want (Like a macro).

I remotecontrol my old Androidphone with the Taskerplugin Autoremote from my openHAB installation with the http binding.

Not the best solution, a little slow (10-15 sec dealy on modechange) - would love to be able to control my Arlos al modes with http commands directly.

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That's very interesting. I might have to look into that. I have an old android tablet I put on the wall in my basement with a few shortcuts to turn on and off a few lights.

I just hate the fact that I cannot automate my custom modes except with the Arlo app. I have SmartThings, and I created a virtual switch that will toggle a couple camera's off when I tell Google I am letting my dog out. I'd rather be able to change modes leaving my camera's motion sensor's on but not record when the dog is out so the motion can trigger my outside flood lights at night. I'll just keep holding my breath