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Exploring replacing ARLO geofencing with 3rd party automation

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  • ‎2024-11-06 09:14 PM
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alex_loo
Apprentice
Apprentice
‎2024-11-06 09:14 PM

As a new "feed" app user for more than 6 months, I am still suffering from the lack of proper geofencing automation via the ARLO app.  I am now trying 3rd party automation as replacement.

 

3rd party automations considered:

  • google home: it only allows switching to "ARM AWAY" and "ARM HOME".  Cannot switch to "STANDBY" (more background in this message )
  • IFTTT: it only allows switchig to "ARM AWAY" and "STANDBY".  Cannot switch to "ARM HOME" (more background in this message 
ARLO app issueExploring this solution
Automation Arrive (sometimes working, sometimes not)Add IFTTT automation to each device: if device enters geofencing location (home), then "DISARM" ARLO
Automation Leave (sometimes working, sometimes not)no solution yet, since this requires checking by automation for ALL devices leaving

 

So far, the IFTTT is running perfectly.  Fingers crossed.

 

Alex

 

ps: my configuration:

  • 3x ultra2 cameras
  • SmartHub VMB5000
  • No subscription
  • 1x android user + 1x iPhone user.  Both logging in same ARLO account

 

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Edinburgh_lad1
Prodigy
Prodigy
‎2024-11-06 10:51 PM

Oh lovely. Thank you.

 

Arlo has an aversion to anything third party unless *they* approve of it, so just wait till they get going with their firmware/software to either block it or to make it difficult to execute it...

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alex_loo
Apprentice
Apprentice
‎2024-11-09 10:09 PM
@alex_loo wrote:

As a new "feed" app user for more than 6 months, I am still suffering from the lack of proper geofencing automation via the ARLO app.  I am now trying 3rd party automation as replacement.

 

3rd party automations considered:

  • google home: it only allows switching to "ARM AWAY" and "ARM HOME".  Cannot switch to "STANDBY" (more background in this message )

Just an update to above: I can now use Google Home automation to switch to "STANDBY" by "hey google disarm <smarthub name>".  The only thing is that every time I need to (stupidly!) voice out a 4-digit PIN before this can be done.  More background here .

 

(Don't ask me why Google automation needs a PIN, but IFTTT below doesn't)

 

  • IFTTT: it only allows switchig to "ARM AWAY" and "STANDBY".  Cannot switch to "ARM HOME" (more background in this message 
ARLO app issueExploring this solution
Automation Arrive (sometimes working, sometimes not)Add IFTTT automation to each device: if device enters geofencing location (home), then "DISARM" ARLO
Automation Leave (sometimes working, sometimes not)no solution yet, since this requires checking by automation for ALL devices leaving

 

So far, the IFTTT is running perfectly.  Fingers crossed.

 

Alex

 

ps: my configuration:

  • 3x ultra2 cameras
  • SmartHub VMB5000
  • No subscription
  • 1x android user + 1x iPhone user.  Both logging in same ARLO account

 

 

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alex_loo
Apprentice
Apprentice
‎2024-11-12 05:02 AM

So far, I am happy with my solution to replace ARLO's buggy "Automation Arrive" --- with the use of IFTTT.

 

ARLO app issueExploring this solution
Automation Arrive (sometimes working, sometimes not)✔️Add IFTTT automation to *each* device: if device enters geofencing location (home), then "DISARM" ARLO

(this solution can co-exist with the buggy "Automation arrive")
Automation Leave (sometimes working, sometimes not)❗no solution yet, since this requires checking by automation for ALL devices leaving
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alex_loo
Apprentice
Apprentice
‎2024-11-12 08:45 PM

With "Automation leave", I am now testing using 3x tuya smart switches, for my 2 devices here (my phone, wife's phone).  I created the following Tuya automations:

  • "Me leave": when my phone leaves home, turns on switch A
  • "Wife leave": when wife's phone leaves home, turns on switch B
  • "Check when me leave": if switch A turns ON with pre-condition switch B also ON, then turn ON switch C
  • "Check when wife leave": if switch B turns ON with pre-condition switch A also ON, then turn ON switch C

And then on Google Home:, I created the following automation:

  • if switch C is ON, then set ARM AWAY for ARLO.

Above is the core part for switching to ARM AWAY.  For completeness, I also created the following Tuya automations for housekeeping:

  • "Me back": when my phone returns home, turn OFF both switch A and switch C
  • "Wife back": when wife's phone returns home, turn OFF both switch B and switch C

Will see if it's more reliable than the ARLO app.

 

ARLO app issueExploring this solution
Automation Arrive (sometimes working, sometimes not)alex_loo_0-1731469889385.png

 

Add IFTTT automation to *each* device: if device enters geofencing location (home), then "DISARM" ARLO

(this solution can co-exist with the buggy "Automation arrive")
Automation Leave (sometimes working, sometimes not)❓

use 3x separate TUYA switches

 

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alex_loo
Apprentice
Apprentice
‎2024-11-13 04:06 AM
@alex_loo wrote:

With "Automation leave", I am now testing using 3x tuya smart switches, for my 2 devices here (my phone, wife's phone).  I created the following Tuya automations:

  • "Me leave": when my phone leaves home, turns on switch A
  • "Wife leave": when wife's phone leaves home, turns on switch B
  • "Check when me leave": if switch A turns ON with pre-condition switch B also ON, then turn ON switch C
  • "Check when wife leave": if switch B turns ON with pre-condition switch A also ON, then turn ON switch C

And then on Google Home:, I created the following automation:

  • if switch C is ON, then set ARM AWAY for ARLO.

Above is the core part for switching to ARM AWAY.  For completeness, I also created the following Tuya automations for housekeeping:

  • "Me back": when my phone returns home, turn OFF both switch A and switch C
  • "Wife back": when wife's phone returns home, turn OFF both switch B and switch C

Will see if it's more reliable than the ARLO app.

 

ARLO app issueExploring this solution
Automation Arrive (sometimes working, sometimes not)alex_loo_0-1731469889385.png

 

Add IFTTT automation to *each* device: if device enters geofencing location (home), then "DISARM" ARLO

(this solution can co-exist with the buggy "Automation arrive")
Automation Leave (sometimes working, sometimes not)❓

use 3x separate TUYA switches

 

turns out this was more complicated than what I thought 😅

 

Since wife and I are sharing the same TUYA home, we are looking at the same "me leave" and "wife leave" automations, and I can't instruct my phone to just trigger for "me leave" and wife's iPhone to just trigger for "wife leave".

 

Basically stuck 😖

 

Alex

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alex_loo
Apprentice
Apprentice
‎2024-11-13 04:03 PM
@alex_loo wrote:

Basically stuck 😖

I am now trying another set of automation, using 2x TUYA switches.  And it worked this morning in the first testing.  Fingers crossed.

 

 

ARLO app issueExploring this solution
Automation Arrive (sometimes working, sometimes not)alex_loo_0-1731542368734.png

 

Add IFTTT automation to *each* device: if device enters geofencing location (home), then "DISARM" ARLO

(this solution can co-exist with the buggy "Automation arrive")
Automation Leave (sometimes working, sometimes not)❓

 

use of 2x TUYA smart switches and a few TUYA automations to trigger Google Home Automation to set ARLO to ARM AWAY

 

(replacement of "automation arrive", using IFTTT, continues to be working fine so far, which is great)

 

Alex

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alex_loo
Apprentice
Apprentice
‎2024-11-17 02:37 PM
@alex_loo wrote:

I am now trying another set of automation, using 2x TUYA switches.  And it worked this morning in the first testing.  Fingers crossed.

 

The TUYA way failed again 😣

 

Now trying the geofencing with Google Home  --- the built-in "Home away" routine which takes care of location of all devices that have joined the Google Home.

 

ARLO app issueExploring this solution
Automation Arrive (sometimes working, sometimes not)alex_loo_0-1731883117614.png

 

Add IFTTT automation to *each* device: if device enters geofencing location (home), then "DISARM" ARLO

(this solution can co-exist with the buggy "Automation arrive")
Automation Leave (sometimes working, sometimes not)❓

use "Home Away" routine that comes with Google Home automation.

 

There is a small hurdle there already.  See this message that posted separately .

Alex

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alex_loo
Apprentice
Apprentice
‎2024-11-19 07:17 PM
@alex_loo wrote:

Now trying the geofencing with Google Home  --- the built-in "Home away" routine which takes care of location of all devices that have joined the Google Home.

Good news 😊

I have successfully replaced ARLO's Automation Leave, with Google Home Automation.

 

 

ARLO app issueExploring this solution
Automation Arrive (sometimes working, sometimes not)

✔️

Add IFTTT automation to *each* device: if device enters geofencing location (home), then "DISARM" ARLO

(this solution can co-exist with the buggy "Automation arrive")
Automation Leave (sometimes working, sometimes not)✔️

use "Home Away" routine that comes with Google Home automation.

 

How?

  1. Get all family members joining Google Home (GH).  For my case, my android (using my own google account) and wife's iPhone (using her own google account)
  2. On GH app, enable "Presence sensing" from the "setting" tab.  Confirm this is working by seeing that GH's (not ARLO's) "Home" or "Away" switching is correct (check from upper left corner of "favorites" tab of GH app).  This step is very important, since this is exactly where ARLO Arrive/Leave automations have been failing me, on and off.
  3. (in case this hasn't been done) Link up ARLO account to the GH environment
  4. Create GH rule for GH "Away".  This part is tricky, since from GH app, the default "Away routine" cannot even see the ARLO devices.  What I did was ignoring it, and creating my own "ARLO leave routine" --- via scripting in the web interface of Google Home Automation .
  5. And then it's done!

 

Scripting for "ARLO leave routine" (replace "ARLO Base - Living Room" with your own)

metadata:
name: When away then ARLO ARM AWAY
description: Whatever description

 

automations:
starters:
- type: home.state.HomePresence
state: homePresenceMode
is: AWAY

 

actions:
- type: device.command.ArmDisarm
arm: true
armLevel: armAway
devices: ARLO base - Living Room

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  • ‎2024-11-06 09:14 PM
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