Live view fails after viewing one Arlo app Android version 5.5.0_28795

[secaz]

Anyone else have this odd behavior with Android app.

Happens with cameras on a base station which has 8 cameras connected.

If I make the rounds of cameras connected to this base station and live view each camera one by one, but then decide to go back and live view a camera I had just previously viewed, the interface for the camera just flickers when pressing view.  And not just the one camera, ALL the cameras connected to that base station will suddenly present with this same behavior.

Just one of Arlo's many deficiencies.

This just recently started.

The camera settings are still accessible and and be manipulated, but can't do a live view.

Rebooting phone doesn't help.  Closing and opening app doesn't help.  Doing either multiple times doesn't help. Clearing clearing app cache or rebooting and then clearing the partition cache for my phone doesn't help (Samsung S21 Ultra 5G).

I have to just wait a while and eventually these cameras will return to normal and I can do a live view of them once more..

Makes me wonder if these cameras are continuing to stream in the background after I stop the live view and then eventually return to a sane mode of operation.

The other two base stations only have 3 cameras connected to each and do not exhibit this behaviors.

No idea if the web portal is the same way as the web portal will only allow me view a single camera at a time so I can't recreate.  The web portal is useless anyway.

[Streak2]

Try and power cycle (remove power, wait a few seconds and plug back in again) the base to which those cameras are connected. Once the cameras have reconnected to the base then try again.

What about the web interface don't you like? 

I can get multiple cameras to live stream and use the web interface much more than I use the mobile app.

Do you have the Library or Feed version of the app?

[secaz]

Have tried the old unplug from power wait 30 seconds and plug back in - makes no difference.

I can only stream 1 camera at a time with the web portal - no idea why.

The web portal is less than convenient when I am away - and again, can only stream 1 camera at a time that's not particularly convenient either.  Once upon a time with the old web portal I could stream up to 3 at a time.

Used to be able to steam all 8 cameras at once using the Android app - but Arlo has done a real number on that lately it's a train wreck.  So much dysfunction.

It's pretty predictable - if I stream a bunch of cameras on that one base station (it's also the newer of the three base stations I have), if I back peddle and again do a live view for a camera I had just streamed, nothing happens, screen for the camera just twitches, and then every other camera will exhibit the same behavior, am unable to live view any camera connected to that base station.  So have to give up and wait a while then it's fine again.  The base station remains on line and you can edit details for each camera, just cant live view until enough time has passed and whatever brain hemorrhage Arlo had is finally over.

I could just connect cameras to other base stations but afraid the same behavior will happen, and the other two base stations have my forward facing cameras in the front of my property connected to them, so prefer those don't wig out on me when I really need the live view to work.  So not inclined to mess with those - it is isn't broke don't fix it, after all.

[BrookeN]

@secaz lets see if the update that will be here within the next few days resolves this behavior you are seeing as well. I will check back in with you the beginning of next week to see if you were able to update and see if the behavior changed. 

[secaz]

Just installed new app version 5.5.2_28806 problem persists.

Doesn't seem to matter how many cameras I try to stream, either.  I first thought it was being disagreeable when I would stream many at a time, but the behavior is the same even if I stream a couple and then back peddle to view a previously streamed camera.  There's no discernible pattern, doesn't matter which camera I start with.

I converted to the Feed version back in January, I think it was, and initially did not have issues viewing cameras on this base station which has 8 cameras.  This started within the last week or so.

I often switch back and forth between viewing cameras on this base station for the back of my property.  Checking for dangerous critters before I go out with my dogs at night.  I live in a dark sky community so when it's dark it's DARK.  Have had bobcats out there so I make sure the coast is clear before I venture out there at night.  Sometimes something will catch my eye moving towards a camera that I had already viewed, so I'll go back to that camera but the view bombs.  If I wait a while, like 5 minutes or so, then all the cameras are back to normal.

And again, this behavior doesn't happen on the other two base stations which only have 3 cameras each.

[secaz]

Had nothing better to do this morning so removed the affected base station from my account and added it back, then sync'd all 8 cameras to it.  Left everything at defaults settings, and still same behavior.  If I stream a few cameras and then back peddle to a camera previously streamed, the screen for the camera just twitches, then all the cameras will twitch if I try to stream them.  Have to wait several minutes at least for things to settle down, then it will work again.

This is a recent issue since I upgraded to the Feed version.

[secaz]

In addition, swapped out Ethernet cable, connected base station to a different network switch which is connected to a different router that's on a different subnet - no difference in behavior.

Have tried connecting base station directly to router, same behavior regardless if base station is connected directly to router or a network switch connected to router.

Have swapped power adapters.

It's nothing I've done, which has always been the case with anything that goes awry with Arlo.

I actually used to have MORE than 8 cameras on this base station, and when I was on the Library version, never had any issues.

And so...

To test I streamed 4 cameras at once then stopped the live view for each.  Moved on the the next 4 cameras, streamed each of those then stopped the live feed for each.  Then tried to stream any random camera on that base station which had been previously streamed and the screen for that camera will just twitch, move on to other cameras on that base station and they all will twitch as well, no live view.  Have to wait several minutes, maybe 5, and then everything will go back to normal.  Then behavior will repeat.

Other two base stations are just fine - 3 cameras each no issues, and that's pretty much the only difference between them and the dysfunctional one, the ones which behave as expected only have 3 cameras each.

When the live view wigs out, I can STILL go into the camera settings and make adjustments.  I can even got into activity zones and it will present a current snapshot of the camera.  So it will take a snapshot for use with activity zones after it has wigged out, but won't let me live view after it wigs out.  Makes zero sense.

[Streak2]

No doubt you have 3 bases to make sure that all cameras have a good signal based on your property size.

While not the best solution but more of a test, remove one or 2 of the 8 cameras on that base and link them to one of the other bases, even if you have to move the cameras closer to get a good signal.

Let's then analyze the results.

Is the 8 camera base connected to your router using the same routing as the other 2 bases ie, direct ethernet as opposed to via any switches or other extender devices?

What is your internet speed?

[BrookeN]

Thank you for all this information. I have sent it to the development team to look into this further. I will reach back out soon.

[secaz]

You are welcome.

It appears as if 3 is the magic number per session.

I can stream 3 unique cameras, either together or individually, stop those 3, start streaming them again - it's ok.

However - if I then stream a 4th camera that's not one of the 3 cameras that I had previously streamed, and then go back to stream one of the ORIGINAL 3 from that session - it wigs out, and will effect all cameras on that base station, whether they have been streamed or not during that session.  That's it, party over, have to wait 5 minutes or so for everything to return to normal before I can again stream any of the cameras.

[StephenB]

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@secaz wrote:

You are welcome.

It appears as if 3 is the magic number per session.

I can stream 3 unique cameras, either together or individually, stop those 3, start streaming them again - it's ok.

However - if I then stream a 4th camera that's not one of the 3 cameras that I had previously streamed, and then go back to stream one of the ORIGINAL 3 from that session - it wigs out, and will effect all cameras on that base station, whether they have been streamed or not during that session.  That's it, party over, have to wait 5 minutes or so for everything to return to normal before I can again stream any of the cameras.

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What browser(s) are you using?

[secaz]

Arlo Android app version 5.5.2_28806

Who uses the web portal?  It's doggy and the GUI is awful.  It is not convenient and I can only stream ONE camera at a time so is not suitable for testing.  Also not about to get up in the middle of the night to boot my computer to use the web portal - and the web portal is of no use to me when I'm not home.

This issue started after converting from Library to Feed experience.

I can stream all 8 cameras at once during a single session but if I stop any one of them and go back to view again, wigs out for 5 minutes during which NO live view is possible for cameras connect to that base station.  Sometime I can stream 7 but when it gets to 8 it wigs out.  I really do NOT want to stream all of them at once - but if I don't and go back to stream any that was previously streamed during that session, it wigs out and results in all cameras being unable to perform live view.  Have to wait 5 minutes then everything is normal again.

While the base station is in a state where it will not allow live view of ANY camera, and is ARMED, the cameras WILL detect motion and WILL record.  So as far as I am able to ascertain, everything else works as it should during the wigged out state EXCEPT live view.

IMHO there's something not right with the Android app and its communication with Arlo.

[StephenB]

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@secaz wrote:

Arlo Android app version 5.5.2_28806

IMHO there's something not right with the Android app and its communication with Arlo.

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Thx for clarifying.  FWIW, you can livestream more than one camera from the web client.  There was a one camera limit reported a while back, but that was only with FireFox (and hopefully has been fixed).

I use an iPhone myself.  In normal use, I only stream one camera at a time, but when I have a chance I'll see if I run into similar problems.

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@secaz wrote:

Who uses the web portal? 

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A lot of people who are monitoring multiple camera streams, since the PC screen is so much bigger than the one on the phone.

Though I don't use it much myself.

[secaz]

Again, no - can only stream 1 camera at a time from web portal.

And I don't care to use the web portal - I never do, I only use my phone which is a Samsung S21 Ultra 5G that has served me well for every other app I use on my phone, except Arlo.  It has always been this way to one degree or another across the many different phones I've owned since I started with Arlo.

The only time the Android app played nice across the board was back in the days when Arlo was under the auspices of Netgear.

The two base stations for the camera out front work just fine, BUT, they only have 3 cameras per base station.

The one that wigs out with live view (only) has 8 cameras attached.

I am typically looking for critters at night.  I have an IR spotlight that I've been using for a few years that illuminates a huge area, so easy to see unfriendly wildlife.  But sometimes I see a critter when streaming on one camera, heading towards a camera I had just previously streamed and had stopped - and I am unable to go back and stream that previously streamed camera towards which the critter was heading because Arlo wigs out and won't let new do a live stream for ANY cameras connected to that base station for 5 minutes.

Everything else works fine with the cameras on the base station during the wig out interval EXCEPT live stream.

It makes zero sense and just recently started doing this after I converted from Library experience to Feed experience.

Would not have converted to Feed but Arlo seduced me with a huge savings if I went annual.  I did, then finally was prompted to convert.  Big mistake - but I was really hopeful that the new Feed experience would be better with less coding issues.  Wrong.  No surprise, though - and I had simplified the way I use my Arlo system in the past couple years so didn't hurt too much when I realized features had totally disappeared.  I was able to adapt.

[StephenB]

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@secaz wrote:

Again, no - can only stream 1 camera at a time from web portal.

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What browser are you using?

I just checked, and I can stream multiple cameras with Edge - not sure how many.

[secaz]

With FF based browsers I can get 1 or 2 cameras going but it's wonky and I hate it and the web portal is of no use to me regardless.

Can stream all with Chromium but I don't want to use Chromium for Arlo, or use any web browser period for Arlo.  I can back peddle with Chromium and view previously streamed and stopped cameras again in the same session, unlike the Android app..

I believe I have failed to convey that this is an issue with the Arlo ANDROID app - both the current and previous 2 versions.

[Dealer239]

I am suppose to be life time paid .I need to talk with live person

[Dealer239]

Please talk to me

[StephenB]

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@Dealer239 wrote:

I am suppose to be life time paid .

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No such thing.  If you were sold that, you purchased it from a scammer.

• https://kb.arlo.com/000062119/How-can-I-avoid-Arlo-support-scams

[StephenB]

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@secaz wrote:

I believe I have failed to convey that this is an issue with the Arlo ANDROID app - both the current and previous 2 versions.

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I did understand that, but wanted to follow up on the specific issue of multiple streams in web browsers.  Your original post made it sound like that was a problem with all browsers, but as you've already clarified it is only happening with FireFox.

It is not problem with iOS, as I checked that earlier today.

Maybe @jguerdat or some other person running Android can see if they can duplicate your problem.

[jguerdat]

Android 5.5.2 app, Pixel 9, Android 15 has no problem starting, stopping switching, starting again. Tried several times with no issues.

[secaz]

One size does not fit all.  If it did then there would be no need for tech support and troubleshooting.

Android app version 5.2.2_28806 running on Samsung S21 Ultra 5g - behavior is present with base station that has 8 cameras connected.

Chromium web browser running on Arch Linux - behavior is not present with base station that has 8 cameras connected.

That the behavior is not present running in Chromium illustrates that there is nothing wrong with this base station of mine which has 8 cameras connected to it.

And to be clear, the web portal is useless to me, except for troubleshooting.  I rely on the Android app.

I have three base stations - two of which have only 3 cameras each connected.  The third base station has 8 cameras connected.  The ones with only 3 cameras each have no issues with the Android app, can start and stop any camera as many times as I like during a session works fine.  The base station with 8 cameras connected has issues with Android, and ONLY when I view MORE than 3 cameras during the same session and then stop any of those and then try to live view them again during that same session.  With the Android app, this will cause live view to fail for ALL cameras connected to that base station, whether previously streamed or not, and bomb live view for any cameras connected to that base station for 5 minutes before returning to normal.

The other two base stations with only 3 cameras each remain unaffected

Last 3 versions of Android app I've had the issue.  Did not have this issue when I was on the old Library experience - cropped up after I converted to the Feed experience (which was in January).

I think it is perhaps a back end issue with Arlo.

When I noticed it happening, I back peddled to a previous apk version where I swore the behavior did not occur - however, the behavior was suddenly there.  I figured I either didn't notice, or I hallucinated it.  But I pretty much view the same cameras on that one base station the same way every night night, most often re-streaming cameras that were previously streamed during the same session.  Pretty sure I would have noticed it wigging out.

Which means if it wasn't there on that app version and then suddenly it was, then the issue likely stems from server side, not client side.

[jguerdat]

Just a SWAG - what happens if away from home and using cellular only?

[StephenB]

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@secaz wrote:

Which means if it wasn't there on that app version and then suddenly it was, then the issue likely stems from server side, not client side.

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Maybe.  But if it happens with some Android phones and not others, then that points to the app or phone OS.

I think @jguerdat's suggestion is worth a try.  It would be good to know if the problem occurs only on home WiFi (or only on mobile data). 

When away from home (or with wifi turned off), all the streams are being forwarded to the phone through the Arlo Cloud.  When on home wifi, the streams are coming directly from the bases to the phone.   

What cameras do you have?  If you have 2K/4K livestreaming enabled, it might be useful to test with that turned off.

[secaz]

I'm just going to chalk all this up to more Arlo quirks incited by interacting with Arlo via the Android app and/or less than stable server side tweaks.

Last evening Arlo was doing some of its favorite quirky things that popup (seemingly) when they are doing maintenance.  Ignores activity zones, doesn't record for the length of time I've indicated for recording, records for only 1 or 3 seconds.

I can stream all 8 at once on that one base station using the Arlo Android app, so will just go with that instead of streaming several and then back peddling to view ones that I've already viewed during a sessions which freaks out Arlo.  It's really only necessary at night to make sure there aren't any undesirable critters outside before I take the dogs out.  Can't eyeball all 8 at once will just have to scroll back and forth a lot.

Everything was working well with controlling Arlo via Android until I converted from Library experience to Feed experience.  My phone is Samsung S21 Ultra 5G running Android 14, maybe the Arlo Android app hates that who the knows.

So, if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck...