Sudden loss of camera connectivity

[FatherGoose]

In probably the last three weeks or so, I have three out of five cameras that have lost connectivity. I've reset the router, reset the base, reset the cameras, changed the batteries, and they are still losing connectivity. I moved the cameras into my house, and all three cameras successfully connect and record activity. I took one of the cameras that I had outside my house that was working correctly, and moved it to one of the locations where I had the three cameras, and it lost connectivity. I have not had this problem before now, and I've had cameras in these locations for well over a year. The only thing that has changed is that I had to rename my 2.4 and 5.0 wifi networks, but everything is working with the two cameras that are closer to the router. I will admit that the three cameras are close to the max range, but they were working fine a month ago. Nothing has changed with the router and base location, and I'm at a loss as to why all of a sudden these cameras would go offline but work inside my house. I'm thinking it has to do with the wifi, but I don't know how to fix it or what went wrong.

Again, the cameras work when I moved them into my house, they just can't connect any more outside where they used to. 

I do have a wifi extender that I'm not using, but I don't know how to connect it to my router or how to connect it with the Arlo base.

[StephenB]

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@FatherGoose wrote:

I've moved all three cameras into my house, and they work fine. It has to be something then blocking the signal between the cameras and the base.

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Or some interference (not necessarily between the cameras and the base).

If the base is near your router, then try measuring your internet speed at the original camera location with your phone.  You can use the free speedtest (ookla) app.  Make sure that you disable mobile data before runnng the test.  

Let us know the upload speed.

[StephenB]

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@FatherGoose wrote:

In probably the last three weeks or so, I have three out of five cameras that have lost connectivity. I've reset the router, reset the base, reset the cameras, changed the batteries, and they are still losing connectivity. I moved the cameras into my house, and all three cameras successfully connect and record activity.

The only thing that has changed is that I had to rename my 2.4 and 5.0 wifi networks, but everything is working with the two cameras that are closer to the router. I will admit that the three cameras are close to the max range, but they were working fine a month ago. 

Again, the cameras work when I moved them into my house, they just can't connect any more outside where they used to. 

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It's certainly an issue with the signal quality, your various tests confirm that.

You mention a base - are these particular cameras connected to the base, or are they connected to your home wifi?

What model cameras are they?

Did you perhaps move the base station a bit?  (not sure what else you might have done when you "had to" rename the wifi networks.

[FatherGoose]

My cameras are old, I believe VMC3030, and they are connected to a base. I don't remember moving the base, but I just powered it off and on, and one of those three cameras came back to life. The other two haven't, but I haven't gone out to open the battery door, close the door, and try to have the cameras sync.

[StephenB]

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@FatherGoose wrote:

My cameras are old, I believe VMC3030, and they are connected to a base. 

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VMC3030 are the original Arlo WireFree cameras, and use four CR123 batteries. 

When you use a base, the cameras are connecting to a closed wifi network created by the base.  So they are not using your normal home wifi.

[FatherGoose]

Well, I spoke too soon. The one camera that did decide to connect is now not connected. I have no idea why it dropped off. 

The only thing I can think of is that the signal from the base station has been affected by something new, even though I've not moved it. My one thought now is to use a wifi extender and plug the base station into the wifi extender, but I don't know if that will work, since the base station is supposed to be plugged directly into the router. And I'm not going to run more cable in my house.

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

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@FatherGoose wrote:

My one thought now is to use a wifi extender and plug the base station into the wifi extender, but I don't know if that will work, since the base station is supposed to be plugged directly into the router. And I'm not going to run more cable in my house.

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What you'd do here is connect the extender to your home wifi, and then connect the base station to the extender ethernet port.

Have you tried moving the camera near the base (in the same room, about 6-10 feet away), and see if that works properly?

[FatherGoose]

I've moved all three cameras into my house, and they work fine. It has to be something then blocking the signal between the cameras and the base.

[StephenB]

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@FatherGoose wrote:

I've moved all three cameras into my house, and they work fine. It has to be something then blocking the signal between the cameras and the base.

---

Or some interference (not necessarily between the cameras and the base).

If the base is near your router, then try measuring your internet speed at the original camera location with your phone.  You can use the free speedtest (ookla) app.  Make sure that you disable mobile data before runnng the test.  

Let us know the upload speed.