just ordered a Pro2-system and will install it here in my house at Hyvinkää, Finland. AS the winter is cold, there will not be any burglars, but summer is the high time for these guys. Thanks for the videos, wouldn't have chosen this system without those,
Think about the level of surveillance needed before you choose which brand to buy and also make sure not to depend on one brand for full surveillance of your place in question. ✌️
LifeHackster, You have been instrumental on my selection of surveillance cameras done since December 2017. Your videos are spot on , well produced and most importantly, the product takes the center stage instead of yourself (unlike other reviewers out there). I found you online when you had 5K subscribers, but it is no surprise your subscribers/audience has ballooned to a whooping 20K and growing. Best of wishes for you and your loved ones in the year 2019! Sincerely, Footballer! :)
Excellent review. As you mentioned, the cost is a bit high, but so far I am having good luck with mine. I appreciate you going through the mode settings. When I tried it , I did it for only one camera and couldn't figure out how to do the rules for more than one camera. You helped me out there.
I just bought an Annke Nova Orion IP camera for £45 on eBay. It has a micro SD slot and took about 5-10mins to set up. It has pan/tilt,Zoom, motion tracking, microphone, speaker.... it sends alerts when it detects motion and their App permits multiple cameras to be linked. It might not be quite as sophisticated as the Arlo but as an addition to our home alarm system, these IP cameras are very useful.
Great update video. My Arlo Pro 2’s only last a month per charge (busy sidewalk in front). I need quite a long cord, so I tried multiple after-market charging cables with limited success. Some of them are rejected as “incompatible” (but mystifyingly work on SOME of my cameras) and others stop working after four months (and now charging ports are getting green corrosion - yikes). I might have to go with the solar panel.
Arlo has a tendency to put measures so that you will not be able to use aftermarket accessories and cables reliably. They want you to buy their overpriced accessories. Their solar panel works pretty good though but you just need to top off your camera first so that it will maintain that charge.
You are a Genius!!! 🤓 Thank you for posting and teaching me how to set up these great hacks! In fact, I just bought an Arlo Pro 2 with 4 cameras, and I’m going to add that USB. I like this feature, just in case my Internet goes down 🤔 Question: can I add on Arlo Pro camera to to my Arlo Pro 2 Station? This way I have 5 cameras around the outside and inside 😀 Will it work?
Something worth noting on the backup for the Arlo system: if the video does not upload to the cloud, it will not save to the backup drive. This is documented within their website too. :( I had an actual incident occur while my internet was down, and you end up with a bunch of unplayable videos.
I did test this lately and you are right. The "backup" is not really a backup and defeats the purpose of it when it will not work when the internet is down.
Blake Israel it is interesting to hear you guys are experiencing this issue. I have just downloaded and read the user manual and it claims “If the camera and base station are powered on, but the Internet connection is lost, the camera continues to record to the USB storage device”. It would be worth contacting their tech support to investigate their claim.
the original arlo's had a micro chip slot on the cameras themselves, so i think that was the intended but later they changed it out... i just bought a 20$ battery backup for my internet modem/router to plug into, pretty much solves that problem unless your ISP actually goes down, but handles power outage or if someone cut the power to your house :)
Hello Lifehackster, thank you so much for your videos, have helped me a lot, I have the solar panel on one of my cameras, When I first received it, it would show charging, but I really didn't notice a change, I removed it and charged the camera battery to 100% and now the solar holds it at 100% all of the time, this is a very active camera I might add. I do have issues of scheduling 2-3 cameras to be on at the same time, maybe I am just stupid to understand, but I will say, I am a pretty techie guy......
Mine has been holding 97-100% too. It took a while before it got fully charged but now it maintains it. Just play around with the modes and you can set it up to how you want it.
I have several tickets in over the ARLO Pro 2 , i use pay subscription because i do want the additional 5 cameras and the 30 day retention, but the smart needs a lot of work, sends person alerts when its a DOG or just MOTION when its nothing. I have spoke to support and they have admitted its still in its infancy , needs work, the more people donate videos the better that they can make it., the smart technology is not using PIR (heat) only, it uses PIR with software based algorithm to determine PERSON/DOG/CAR/MOTION , i am familiar with this technology with the work i do with Enterprise based VMS systems. Most of the time it works, but I have 2 incidents that the BASE station claims it was offline. Even though I had no power outage or internet outage, I know this because i have a laptop i can remote into and it has a camera on it as well, i can remote in and see the video still recording, yet the ARLO BASE says offline.... twice this has happened , Arlo excuse was power outage or internet outage , I demanded them to pull the logs and investigate because neither was true. - still waiting to hear what they found.
My main issue with the smart plan is it takes too long ~ 15 seconds on the notification as compared to less than 5 without it..and it is just to tell you that the camera saw a person, animal or a car...
Amazing, well thought out review... Covered key points well, answered questions. Respect to your workmanship as well. So..... the best aftermarket solar panel is.....?
Hi, im searching for best homr security system, which do you think of all the security camera you gave review what product you recommend, Arlo, Ring, Eufy?
Thank you for the video - very well done. Question, I'm trying to decide between Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2. I'm reading many negative reviews with an issue that the cameras going offline with Arlo 2. Have you had any issues during your 6 months with Arlo Pro 2 ?
I haven't had any offline issues with my Arlo Pro 2s. The only issues I have is their app... First the 2 way audio with Iphones when Apple updated their software which it took a while before Arlo updated and fix the issue. And now, their latest release of their app. they updated and fixed it though and now it works fine.
If you had to pick a system for your own home that was wireless and battery powered with solar. What would you choose? I need to make a decision for my house and since you have played with them all, who better to ask.
Thank you for your review. It is one of the few reviews I could find relating to the Arlo Pro 2 solar panel battery charger. It's nice to see a hands on review because it is hard to trust what is said on written reviews of the product. After about 1.5 years, do you have any updates on how the solar panel works for the Arlo Pro 2 and recommend it?
Loved that video. And subscribed. But, I am not a techey guy. Being 76 years old. I have to pay a bit more attention. Two months ago I had Best Buy install four pro 2 cameras. All work fine except my main one I need. I am away for two months. Have two on, two off.. My backyard is ok. My front camera. I have lost the clear picture. checked the brightness. Its 100%. The screen is white. And can only partially see my driveway ect. Is it a bad camera? It did work fine. And shows 100% power. Can you advise?
Hi, thanks for great Arlo-reviews. I was planning to get the Pro 2 but started to think about the Ultra. Earlier you said you would return your Ultra, still feel the same?
Solar, almost any larger usb solar panel will work with a decent bank more than 2a charging. Seal up the power bank and use the simple usb charger to power it. Power the power bank to your arlo.
Arlo's instruction manual says you are to charge your batteries to 100% prior to connecting the solar panel, that way it maintains it full charge near the 100% level. I've had mine up for a full month with no problems to date. And its hanging in a tree.
I in on Ontario, Canada. We have cold winters and hot summers. Used Arlo solar panel for Arlo Pro 2. The days I had rain or no sun, seemed to drain my battery faster. Now when I recharge the battery on my Arlo Pro 2, when I connect the solar panel it make my camera go offline. Disconnect the solar panel camera online. Is there something wrong with the panel. Bought extended warranty, but feel this panel is draining my battery more. Don't always keep camera on. Thoughts?
I am not a techie person at all :) but I currently have a lorex security system but not wireless and I am tripping over the wires all the time and hate it. So I am looking to buy the Arlo Pro 2.....all I am going to use it for is to catch people putting our their garbage before garbage day (We live in a condo and this is a real issue here) so I will be putting the cameras in my windows indoors for continuous 24/7 recording. The only thing I need this camera for is to record and for me to be able to review the video to find the clip of the person so I can see which unit they live in. I don't need sound or anything else. If I use a USB to record can I easily review the video? Does it save it by date or it is just one very long recording that you have to fast forward through? I have never used the cloud so would it also be easily viewed on there as well or easier? How long does it save the recording?
I’m not sure about the CVR recording on the Arlo and if it just records continuously. My suggestion is get a Wyze cam + micro SD card and install it behind a glass window..set it to record when it senses motion and you don’t have to go through all the recordings. I have a video setting it up behind a window.
In you opinion, Does the solar panel work well? I have found tons of complaints about the solar panel on the internet, even on amazon opinions. I'm between Arlo Pro 2 or Argus 2 but I don't want to make a mistake with my final decision. For me the use of solar panel is fundamental. Do you think works better original Arlo Solar Panel or Wasserstein?.
It seems Arlo keeps everything proprietary. Only Wasserstein mounts and cam skins will work. Also the battery charger. Cables, connectors, and solar panels must be Arlo brand.
That’s so much for the informative video, but where did you buy the solar panels from, will the one from harbor freight work, it runs a small simple led panel lights.thanks again
Arlo cameras are finicky as to solar panels and right now, the one that will work reliably is their own solar panels. I tried different brands but it actually just drains the battery quicker.
Hi there, Very helpful information! My Arlo Pro 2 has some delay, don't showing the alert at the exact moment that happens, when someone rings my door bell, when I'm going to look in the camera the person is gone. This is the delay I mentioned! my internet is very good 400mb and the router is a NETGEAR AC4000, can you tell me what is going on?! Thank you!
lifehackster, where do you live approximately .. I am in the pacific northwest, and I am wondering if I get enough sun for the solar panels to work? Also, what about winter time? Can you add a comment about how the panels did over the winter?
I live south - Texas... and you just need at least 2 hours of sunshine to charge the batteries... it will still charge even if it is cloudy but will just take longer.
Got my ARLO 2 set up yesterday..... the app is terrible!!! Motion detection smart zones do not work and it drains my battery so fast! Cameras are nice but the lag is bad. I am debating on returning them and just sucking it up and doing a wired system because I’ll know it’s reliable.
Awesome videos on these security cameras! It's really helpful! I was wondering if you could comment on what is better/worse about the Arlo Pro 2 compared to the Google nest cameras??
One of my Arlo Pro 2 Cameras has stopped recording motion. It worked fine for about a year. The other two cameras work great, although branches swaying sets off one of them a lot. What can I do to get the one camera recording again?
I bought 2 Arlo Pro 2 from Costco on sale. They each come with 3 cameras and 1 base station. I connected 3 cameras to each individual base station. It doesn’t allow me to connect 6 only 5. What’s the deal with that? I can connect 5 cameras to 1 base station but not 6 to 2 base stations? Am I doing something wrong? Thanks for the videos, super helpful.
It might have something to do with their free plan which tops off at 5 cameras. You will need to subscribe to their smart plans if you have more than 5 cameras. Try contacting them also.
That is the best choice. There is just the initial hassle of wiring the cameras but it is worth it at the end...the good thing about WiFi cameras is they are usually pretty accurate and fast in motion notifications... which wired NVR. Cameras hasn’t perfected yet.
A lot of there WiFi security camera systems especially the brand named ones use proprietary software/ apps so at to keep charging the customers with their subscription service. This is their business model.
LifeHackster I totally understand what you mean. Someone should come up with some sort of device that breaks it out of their proprietary system it would be a huge moneymaker. The number of Arlo units Netgear sells. There has to be a way to hijack their system and turn it into some sort of usable language that could be hosted by a cloud-based system or something that allows the end user more control of how the images and alerts are handled.
Top of the line review, am totally against subscriptions, matter of fact woul be nice if Arlo drops their base and router connection would be direct, Gracias Amigo...
Just spent $700 on this system, including 1 panel for an area I dont want to climb up to every 2 or 3 mos, I noticed you stated you cant do activity zones with the panel, that just killed my decision. This 1 camera will be facing trees looking down into our yard. Love your videos, you helped my decisions. But you may want to add that note to your videos. If you cant do zones with a solar panel, its useless to me. Guess I'm running wire and installing a plug.
Arlo has the Arlo Smart that you can use activity zones without plugging it on but it has a monthly fee. Also, just try it without plugging it in and see if you have false notifications. Arlo uses PIR motion sensing which detects heat, so theoretically, swaying trees should not trigger it. Also, there is only around 20-25 feet of detection range with a PIR sensor.
Yes, if you are looking for small footprint battery powered security camera. There are other brands that are cheaper like the Ring spotlight cam 2 pack which is $250 at Best Buy or the Argus 2 and the Blink XT.
I'm not sure if I will do a comparison video because they are on different categories. The nest is wired/plugged in and the Arlo is mostly battery powered... but we will see...
Nice video. A question: Can you set Active Zone when the outside camera is attached to the Solar Panel? in order to. use the 3 seconds ahead recording?
Nope. It is still a battery powered camera. The solar panel will just trickle charge the battery. The only way for those features to work is to plug in the camera.
Im looking to install Arlo 2 in my grandparents house. Is there a way to set the system up beforehand; sync, view cameras via the app without having to register the product?
Arlo 2 does not have it set up to have the alarm sound to come out of the cameras themselves? Not the base just the cameras? I am looking to get these and hoping they have that feature for outside cameras.
hello nice information, but what happens when you activate the alarm with your smarthphone and come home but the battery died on the smartphone or you broked the phone or lost it. and i need more information of the backup port for a local hard drive, so i read in comments it wont work without internet, but then whats the point of a backup port. can you make a video of this, maybe its a bug or not the final firmware?
You can let the alarm go off and just cancel/unplug the base station when you come in. If you don't want to go through that, then find a computer and you can access the cameras through a web browser and disarm from there. As to the backup, I have to retest and recheck because when I tested it the last time, I just go 1 sec. clips then eventually it didn't record. So, it might be a bug.
Brother, hope you figure this out by now. If so let us know. Otherwise you have to do the math with how much power the PV module can produce, how much can be stored, and how much can be consumed by the cam. Add to that what the expected ENERGY (power times x time) will be for a sunny day vs. cloudy day. The you can see if it is 'compatible' for your application.
I’m confused if your internet goes out. Won’t your WiFi also not work so how will Arlo record if not getting a WiFi signal. I have Comcast Xfinity and our internet and WiFi is both tried together. So if Arlo connects off WiFi how will base station record to an external drive.
Supposedly the purpose of the external drive is for the Arlo to record to it if your internet is down or their server is down. Arlo has a base station and communicates with the camera on its own WiFi (internet is not needed)... I said supposedly because I did test this and I unplugged the base station from the router and I triggered the camera and it did record but only 1-2 second clips. I'm guessing there is a bug in the software that Arlo needs to fix.
@@LifeHackster Thank you sir for the reply. If I haven't ran across. This older video of your. I would have not even knew that. . I knew about you could hook up a backup drive to it but didn't know if the Wi-Fi signal was off that you could get still get a recording sent to that external hard drive connected to the base station. So thanks again!
The system works okay, but my system had glitches where it would go 2 weeks worth of video and I could not see anything on the CVR. It would not let me click open videos. They told me to uninstall and install csmeras. Which is a waste of video that I needed. I've had this system since February 2018 and one cameras mic stopped working I stopped complaining since the solution is to unplug it plug it back in or that my internet speeds are the problem. I now accept all the flaws and just use it when it feels like working.
Most of the issues are firmware related. Arlo tends to update their app and firmware without beta testing it. The last update they did, there were a lot of bugs and glitches...they did fix it though.
I just got the Arlo Pro 2 after having a ladder stolen and things from my car taken and I have a few questions. Is there anyway to change the sensitivity of the cameras so they don't go off constantly? Do you feel like the solar panel is a must for recordings to include the first few seconds or to utilize the activity zones for outside monitoring, or what do you think is a good alternative to have continuous recording?
Yes you can change the sensitivity. Edit the camera in the armed mode and it will show you the motion sensitivity slider. You can also change the angle of the camera so that it will not have a view of major heat differences...one example is shadow of clouds in the ground and if there is a major difference in the temperature, it will trigger false alerts.
Hey, thanks for the video. I've have two Arlos, an Arlo Pro and an Arlo Pro 2. I watched to hear about your solar charging experience. The Arlo Pro 2 has a 3 second added to recordings when it is plugged in with activity zones. Does this still work with the solar panel? Also can you review the Arlo Ultra once it's released. Cheers
The 3 second preview is only available when the Arlo Pro 2 is plugged in an AC power. It knows when it is AC or solar panel is plugged in on its micro USB port.
What was that monitor in 9:52 ? Does it show the live footage? I need a smart camera that sends notifications on app and also a indoor monitor that shows live footage. Any cameras as such?
If you have less than 5 cameras, you can have the free 7 day cloud recording..no subscription...you will not be able to use the usb backup port by itself.
If I have 6 cameras, can I choose to use just 5 of them with the free 7 day storage? Or do I no longer have the 7 day storage if I have 6 cameras. Which means I also wouldnt be able to use the thumbdrive storage, correct? Therefore needing the smart subscription to have any kind of storage. Thanks in advance. Great videos.
If you have the Ring doorbell, you might want to stick with them...except only if you need a battery powered one..I'm still not sold on their spotlight cam battery...but their new stickup cam the battery version will be released soon..so hopefully, it is better.
I just bought the arlo pro 2 (4 camera) bundle.. even with downloading the app on my galaxy s10 , the PTT speaker is still super quiet..like.. barely hear unless u put your ear to it..how do I fix that?
The Ring solar panel and even the aftermarket one (Wasserstein) charges the spotlight cam faster... followed by the Reolink Argus and then last will be the Arlo's.
If the internet for some reason goes down will the Arlo 2 still record to the usb back up without internet connection? Or will the entire system fail to operate/record during an internet interruption?
Tested this and I assumed it will work. Well, it didn't. At first it did but it was only recording 1 sec. clips. Tested again and this time, it didn't record anymore.
@@LifeHackster thank you so much for your reply and for posting this awesome video. As far as wire free systems go, and if you could only buy one, would you go with the Arlo Pro 1/2, Argus 2 or other? I think in one of your other videos you were leaning towards the Argus 2, does that still stand after long term testing?
@@LifeHackster I recently bought the Arlo two and tested local storage using a 16 GB USB thumb drive that I had the Arlo base station format. I unplugged the router and tested the camera to see if it would record to local storage. This attempt was successful. It recorded the entire 15 second clip to USB. Have you tried to record to local storage after the attempt you listed above? Perhaps there was a firmware update since your last attempt. Also, did you use the Arlo base station to format the drive/USB you used to record locally on?
Michael Smilek, if you create another Arlo account (a second email) then share that account with your primary account you can add another 5 cameras. This will only work if you use cameras like the arlo plus for indoor use or if you have a second base station for the additional camera(s). I have two arlo accounts and i use my indoor cameras (arlo plus) on the second account since they don’t need the base station.
arlo systems are fine if you only plan to use them in well lit or internal area's. the rechargable batteries (For s1) are cost prohibitive, however you can get 'Chinese' adapters that act like the battery packs (though I dont know how much to trust them). Also you should have a solid internet connection + UPS for your modem/networking kit & arlo. good for inside security (especially when used with the app / geofencing) - poor security/functionality overall... spend your money elsewhere (netgear doesnt deserve it).
I agree with you but I do like the flexibility of the Arlo especially that you can design/customize your own modes and on how each device behaves. There is some learning curve. I'm actually testing right now on having a camera inside the car parked outside your house. It uses PIR sensor which doesn't detect through glass (no false alerts)...so it basically it will trigger when somebody opens/breaks the glass and goes inside your car. (A lot of car break ins lately in our neighborhood) and the Arlo base has a pretty decent range outside my house anyways... also, you can leave and drive with it and it will just reconnect to the base whenever you are back home and parked. We will see .still testing and I'll be putting up a video if it works.
To back Keith, they put little to no thought into outside and hard to reach areas and thus hard to change their batteries. Arlo support tells me they only support an 8' cable. Yes, I said, " E I G H T F E E T ". What will you do with all that extra footage?!?! I don't think any sane person relishes weekends climbing 2-3 stories to juggle batteries. Especially during cold, hot, or raining weather...which is most of the year. The alternative is placing cameras < 8' from a power source. Yes, you can buy lengthier third-party cables. But I've been told by Arlo support it could void my warranty. When I press their support, they told me to remove the battery if I chose to use third party cables over their vast 8 footers. Oh, and you can get the whole 8 feet for $24.99 on Amazon or Best Buy. That's 3 bucks a foot. One can get over 25 feet of well-rated third-party cable on Amazon. Even with 25 feet, it can be a stretch to get it power, without being an electrician or buying well-rated extension cords. Why did I buy these way over-priced plastic %$#? anyway? Reviews. Consumer Reports and others...that don't use them in the real world. -Buyers Remorse
I jus bought arlos pro2 2 cams and doorbell my setup- I have a cam facing the driveway and another one for the backyard Now I need to get some solar panels and see how long they last Any tips ?
You need to install the solar panel so that it will get the most sun at least several hours/day. Try to charge your Arlos' first to 100% then hook it up on the solar panel so that it will top off the camera during daytime.
just ordered a Pro2-system and will install it here in my house at Hyvinkää, Finland. AS the winter is cold, there will not be any burglars, but summer is the high time for these guys. Thanks for the videos, wouldn't have chosen this system without those,
I’m researching which camera security system to purchase, your videos are top notch and have helped me immensely. Thank you!!
You are welcome and thanks for the compliments.
Think about the level of surveillance needed before you choose which brand to buy and also make sure not to depend on one brand for full surveillance of your place in question. ✌️
Which one did you choose?
Thank you so much for posting this. It was very helpful, and I especially appreciate your views on the product 6 months into having it. Thanks again!
LifeHackster, You have been instrumental on my selection of surveillance cameras done since December 2017. Your videos are spot on , well produced and most importantly, the product takes the center stage instead of yourself (unlike other reviewers out there). I found you online when you had 5K subscribers, but it is no surprise your subscribers/audience has ballooned to a whooping 20K and growing. Best of wishes for you and your loved ones in the year 2019! Sincerely, Footballer! :)
Thank You Footballer. I appreciate the compliments...Happy New Year to you and your family!
Excellent review. As you mentioned, the cost is a bit high, but so far I am having good luck with mine. I appreciate you going through the mode settings. When I tried it , I did it for only one camera and couldn't figure out how to do the rules for more than one camera. You helped me out there.
i'm glad that I was able to help. Thanks.
Comprehensive, detailed, and answered all the questions I had about this camera. Subscribed! Thanks :)
I just bought an Annke Nova Orion IP camera for £45 on eBay. It has a micro SD slot and took about 5-10mins to set up. It has pan/tilt,Zoom, motion tracking, microphone, speaker.... it sends alerts when it detects motion and their App permits multiple cameras to be linked. It might not be quite as sophisticated as the Arlo but as an addition to our home alarm system, these IP cameras are very useful.
Cool, I'll be checking it out.
So informative. Great job on this video also. You’ve shown more demos of how this system works than the main Argo website. Time to subscribe!
Thank You. I appreciate it.
Perfect! Exactly what I wanted to learn about backup! Thank you.
Great video recording and Audio. You speak clearly and I had no problem understanding your dialog.
Great video. Really covers all the important features that I wanted to know about the Arlo system. Thanks Bro!
You are more than welcome.
Great video all around. very informative. I recently purchased the dual arlo 2 system and it works great. thanks again!!
Great update video. My Arlo Pro 2’s only last a month per charge (busy sidewalk in front). I need quite a long cord, so I tried multiple after-market charging cables with limited success. Some of them are rejected as “incompatible” (but mystifyingly work on SOME of my cameras) and others stop working after four months (and now charging ports are getting green corrosion - yikes). I might have to go with the solar panel.
Arlo has a tendency to put measures so that you will not be able to use aftermarket accessories and cables reliably. They want you to buy their overpriced accessories. Their solar panel works pretty good though but you just need to top off your camera first so that it will maintain that charge.
You are a Genius!!! 🤓
Thank you for posting and teaching me how to set up these great hacks! In fact, I just bought an Arlo Pro 2 with 4 cameras, and I’m going to add that USB. I like this feature, just in case my Internet goes down 🤔
Question: can I add on Arlo Pro camera to to my Arlo Pro 2 Station? This way I have 5 cameras around the outside and inside 😀
Will it work?
Something worth noting on the backup for the Arlo system: if the video does not upload to the cloud, it will not save to the backup drive. This is documented within their website too. :( I had an actual incident occur while my internet was down, and you end up with a bunch of unplayable videos.
I did test this lately and you are right. The "backup" is not really a backup and defeats the purpose of it when it will not work when the internet is down.
That is ridiculous! There is no reason to call it backup!
@@ashwinbhat123 I know, I don't know why they designed it that way.
Blake Israel it is interesting to hear you guys are experiencing this issue. I have just downloaded and read the user manual and it claims “If the camera and base station are powered on, but the Internet connection is lost, the camera continues to record to the USB storage device”. It would be worth contacting their tech support to investigate their claim.
the original arlo's had a micro chip slot on the cameras themselves, so i think that was the intended but later they changed it out... i just bought a 20$ battery backup for my internet modem/router to plug into, pretty much solves that problem unless your ISP actually goes down, but handles power outage or if someone cut the power to your house :)
Hello Lifehackster, thank you so much for your videos, have helped me a lot, I have the solar panel on one of my cameras, When I first received it, it would show charging, but I really didn't notice a change, I removed it and charged the camera battery to 100% and now the solar holds it at 100% all of the time, this is a very active camera I might add. I do have issues of scheduling 2-3 cameras to be on at the same time, maybe I am just stupid to understand, but I will say, I am a pretty techie guy......
Mine has been holding 97-100% too. It took a while before it got fully charged but now it maintains it. Just play around with the modes and you can set it up to how you want it.
I have several tickets in over the ARLO Pro 2 , i use pay subscription because i do want the additional 5 cameras and the 30 day retention, but the smart needs a lot of work, sends person alerts when its a DOG or just MOTION when its nothing. I have spoke to support and they have admitted its still in its infancy , needs work, the more people donate videos the better that they can make it., the smart technology is not using PIR (heat) only, it uses PIR with software based algorithm to determine PERSON/DOG/CAR/MOTION , i am familiar with this technology with the work i do with Enterprise based VMS systems. Most of the time it works, but I have 2 incidents that the BASE station claims it was offline. Even though I had no power outage or internet outage, I know this because i have a laptop i can remote into and it has a camera on it as well, i can remote in and see the video still recording, yet the ARLO BASE says offline.... twice this has happened , Arlo excuse was power outage or internet outage , I demanded them to pull the logs and investigate because neither was true. - still waiting to hear what they found.
My main issue with the smart plan is it takes too long ~ 15 seconds on the notification as compared to less than 5 without it..and it is just to tell you that the camera saw a person, animal or a car...
Amazing, well thought out review... Covered key points well, answered questions. Respect to your workmanship as well. So..... the best aftermarket solar panel is.....?
Hi, im searching for best homr security system, which do you think of all the security camera you gave review what product you recommend, Arlo, Ring, Eufy?
Thank you for the video - very well done. Question, I'm trying to decide between Arlo Pro and Arlo Pro 2. I'm reading many negative reviews with an issue that the cameras going offline with Arlo 2. Have you had any issues during your 6 months with Arlo Pro 2 ?
I haven't had any offline issues with my Arlo Pro 2s. The only issues I have is their app... First the 2 way audio with Iphones when Apple updated their software which it took a while before Arlo updated and fix the issue. And now, their latest release of their app. they updated and fixed it though and now it works fine.
If you had to pick a system for your own home that was wireless and battery powered with solar. What would you choose? I need to make a decision for my house and since you have played with them all, who better to ask.
Thank you for your review. It is one of the few reviews I could find relating to the Arlo Pro 2 solar panel battery charger. It's nice to see a hands on review because it is hard to trust what is said on written reviews of the product. After about 1.5 years, do you have any updates on how the solar panel works for the Arlo Pro 2 and recommend it?
Loved that video. And subscribed. But, I am not a techey guy. Being 76 years old. I have to pay a bit more attention. Two months ago I had Best Buy install four pro 2 cameras. All work fine except my main one I need. I am away for two months. Have two on, two off.. My backyard is ok. My front camera. I have lost the clear picture. checked the brightness. Its 100%. The screen is white. And can only partially see my driveway ect. Is it a bad camera? It did work fine. And shows 100% power. Can you advise?
It might be a bad camera or something physically covering the lens of the camera.
Hi, thanks for great Arlo-reviews. I was planning to get the Pro 2 but started to think about the Ultra. Earlier you said you would return your Ultra, still feel the same?
Actually ordered one again and will be comparing to the Eufy cam e pretty soon.
Solar, almost any larger usb solar panel will work with a decent bank more than 2a charging. Seal up the power bank and use the simple usb charger to power it. Power the power bank to your arlo.
Nice flow. Very informative! Thanks
Hi Lifehackstar what is your preferred cameras out of the Arlo pro 2 or the nest cam outdoor? these are the 2 cameras on my to by list. Thanks.
Arlo's instruction manual says you are to charge your batteries to 100% prior to connecting the solar panel, that way it maintains it full charge near the 100% level. I've had mine up for a full month with no problems to date. And its hanging in a tree.
True...it is better for the solar panel to just top off the cameras battery..it will however charge it to full but will just take time.
Love the video, well done. Would you recommend the the solar panel?
Yes, it is still working on mine...
I in on Ontario, Canada. We have cold winters and hot summers. Used Arlo solar panel for Arlo Pro 2. The days I had rain or no sun, seemed to drain my battery faster. Now when I recharge the battery on my Arlo Pro 2, when I connect the solar panel it make my camera go offline. Disconnect the solar panel camera online. Is there something wrong with the panel. Bought extended warranty, but feel this panel is draining my battery more. Don't always keep camera on. Thoughts?
Very good information, I learned a couple new tips that I will use.
I am not a techie person at all :) but I currently have a lorex security system but not wireless and I am tripping over the wires all the time and hate it. So I am looking to buy the Arlo Pro 2.....all I am going to use it for is to catch people putting our their garbage before garbage day (We live in a condo and this is a real issue here) so I will be putting the cameras in my windows indoors for continuous 24/7 recording. The only thing I need this camera for is to record and for me to be able to review the video to find the clip of the person so I can see which unit they live in. I don't need sound or anything else. If I use a USB to record can I easily review the video? Does it save it by date or it is just one very long recording that you have to fast forward through? I have never used the cloud so would it also be easily viewed on there as well or easier? How long does it save the recording?
I’m not sure about the CVR recording on the Arlo and if it just records continuously. My suggestion is get a Wyze cam + micro SD card and install it behind a glass window..set it to record when it senses motion and you don’t have to go through all the recordings. I have a video setting it up behind a window.
In you opinion, Does the solar panel work well? I have found tons of complaints about the solar panel on the internet, even on amazon opinions. I'm between Arlo Pro 2 or Argus 2 but I don't want to make a mistake with my final decision. For me the use of solar panel is fundamental.
Do you think works better original Arlo Solar Panel or Wasserstein?.
The Arlo solar panel that I used works pretty good with my Arlo Pro 2's. I think the Wasserstein's doesn't work with the Arlo.
@@LifeHackster thank you!!!
It seems Arlo keeps everything proprietary. Only Wasserstein mounts and cam skins will work. Also the battery charger. Cables, connectors, and solar panels must be Arlo brand.
That’s so much for the informative video, but where did you buy the solar panels from, will the one from harbor freight work, it runs a small simple led panel lights.thanks again
Arlo cameras are finicky as to solar panels and right now, the one that will work reliably is their own solar panels. I tried different brands but it actually just drains the battery quicker.
When you realize doing your research and buying and setting up cameras for home security makes you a better thief as well. Lol love the vid!
I know right...thieves are probably watching my videos as well too..
Hi there,
Very helpful information!
My Arlo Pro 2 has some delay, don't showing the alert at the exact moment that happens, when someone rings my door bell, when I'm going to look in the camera the person is gone. This is the delay I mentioned! my internet is very good 400mb and the router is a NETGEAR
AC4000, can you tell me what is going on?! Thank you!
It is not your internet..if you have the smart plan, you will have an additional delay on top of the 2-3 second delay...
lifehackster, where do you live approximately .. I am in the pacific northwest, and I am wondering if I get enough sun for the solar panels to work? Also, what about winter time? Can you add a comment about how the panels did over the winter?
I live south - Texas... and you just need at least 2 hours of sunshine to charge the batteries... it will still charge even if it is cloudy but will just take longer.
Got my ARLO 2 set up yesterday..... the app is terrible!!! Motion detection smart zones do not work and it drains my battery so fast! Cameras are nice but the lag is bad. I am debating on returning them and just sucking it up and doing a wired system because I’ll know it’s reliable.
Awesome videos on these security cameras! It's really helpful! I was wondering if you could comment on what is better/worse about the Arlo Pro 2 compared to the Google nest cameras??
One of my Arlo Pro 2 Cameras has stopped recording motion. It worked fine for about a year. The other two cameras work great, although branches swaying sets off one of them a lot. What can I do to get the one camera recording again?
Very helpfull video,keep on going with the good work ! Thx
Thank you. I appreciate it.
I bought 2 Arlo Pro 2 from Costco on sale. They each come with 3 cameras and 1 base station. I connected 3 cameras to each individual base station. It doesn’t allow me to connect 6 only 5. What’s the deal with that? I can connect 5 cameras to 1 base station but not 6 to 2 base stations? Am I doing something wrong? Thanks for the videos, super helpful.
It might have something to do with their free plan which tops off at 5 cameras. You will need to subscribe to their smart plans if you have more than 5 cameras. Try contacting them also.
Hi Lifehackster, i know this is an old video but want to ask, do the cameras have its own siren similar to eufy cams or is the siren only on the base?
The Arlo Pro 2s doesn’t have a siren on the camera just the base station.
LifeHackster thank you! Would you also know if the eufy door sensor can trigger the sound alarm on the eufy cameras apart from the base?
If you don’t need battery powered cameras, any reason not to just get an NVR and IP cameras?
That is the best choice. There is just the initial hassle of wiring the cameras but it is worth it at the end...the good thing about WiFi cameras is they are usually pretty accurate and fast in motion notifications... which wired NVR. Cameras hasn’t perfected yet.
I’m surprised someone hasn’t come up with something that bypasses Arlo pay subscription service. Something that hosts and stores.
A lot of there WiFi security camera systems especially the brand named ones use proprietary software/ apps so at to keep charging the customers with their subscription service. This is their business model.
LifeHackster I totally understand what you mean. Someone should come up with some sort of device that breaks it out of their proprietary system it would be a huge moneymaker. The number of Arlo units Netgear sells. There has to be a way to hijack their system and turn it into some sort of usable language that could be hosted by a cloud-based system or something that allows the end user more control of how the images and alerts are handled.
Excellent video. Thank you.
You are welcome.
Thank you very much for your wealth of knowledge my friend.
Thank you. I appreciate it.
Top of the line review, am totally against subscriptions, matter of fact woul be nice if Arlo drops their base and router connection would be direct, Gracias Amigo...
Thank you.
When an external drive is connected to the base, will the camera continue recording if internet go down?
Theoretically, it should be.. when I tested it around the time I made this video, it didnt work. I’m not sure if Arlo fixes this issue.
Just spent $700 on this system, including 1 panel for an area I dont want to climb up to every 2 or 3 mos, I noticed you stated you cant do activity zones with the panel, that just killed my decision. This 1 camera will be facing trees looking down into our yard. Love your videos, you helped my decisions. But you may want to add that note to your videos. If you cant do zones with a solar panel, its useless to me. Guess I'm running wire and installing a plug.
Arlo has the Arlo Smart that you can use activity zones without plugging it on but it has a monthly fee. Also, just try it without plugging it in and see if you have false notifications. Arlo uses PIR motion sensing which detects heat, so theoretically, swaying trees should not trigger it. Also, there is only around 20-25 feet of detection range with a PIR sensor.
LifeHackster trees definitely set off the motion detection. It does not appear to make use of the ir capability.
I respect your opinion. So do you recommend it for purchase? It's black Friday and 4pack is selling for $579 on Amazon. Happy Thanksgiving.
Yes, if you are looking for small footprint battery powered security camera. There are other brands that are cheaper like the Ring spotlight cam 2 pack which is $250 at Best Buy or the Argus 2 and the Blink XT.
Does Ring camera system and doorbells works with Google Assistant system? I know they do work with Amazon system..
Since you own both Arlo and nest cam would you kindly do a comparison between the two or any other cam you may have.
I'm not sure if I will do a comparison video because they are on different categories. The nest is wired/plugged in and the Arlo is mostly battery powered... but we will see...
Very informative. I would like to see if solar panel is worth buying
Yes, if you have a couple of hours of sun a day in where you are going to install it.
How do you keep the cameras from being stolen themselves?
Arlo sells a steal-proof camera mount on their website. It’s like $19. So no one can steal your camera.
Nice video. A question: Can you set Active Zone when the outside camera is attached to the Solar Panel? in order to. use the 3 seconds ahead recording?
Nope. It is still a battery powered camera. The solar panel will just trickle charge the battery. The only way for those features to work is to plug in the camera.
Great review bro!
Thank You.
Im looking to install Arlo 2 in my grandparents house. Is there a way to set the system up beforehand; sync, view cameras via the app without having to register the product?
It needs to connect to the router of the house you need to install it to..so probably no.
Arlo 2 does not have it set up to have the alarm sound to come out of the cameras themselves? Not the base just the cameras? I am looking to get these and hoping they have that feature for outside cameras.
Yes, the alarm is only on the siren for the Arlo Pro2’s.
LifeHackster what I thought. thanks for the reply
How's the status of the Arlo branded solar panel? Did you find any others that work with it that are better?
It works pretty good.
Hi there, would you please tell me what is the max wattage output of the solar panel? Thanks
Arlo didn't put any specs of this solar panel on the packaging or the unit itself.
LifeHackster Thanks.. I think it’s 5-10w solar panel by looking at its size
Hi, just want to ask where did you buy the one you install in your gutter to hold the solar panel, do you have a link please. Thank you
So how did the solar panels work for you LifeHackster?
They work pretty good..
Hi Lifehackster, would you have any updates regarding the Solar Panel? Thank you.
The Arlo solar panel is still working pretty good. It keeps the camera topped off..95-100%.
hello nice information, but what happens when you activate the alarm with your smarthphone and come home but the battery died on the smartphone or you broked the phone or lost it. and i need more information of the backup port for a local hard drive, so i read in comments it wont work without internet, but then whats the point of a backup port. can you make a video of this, maybe its a bug or not the final firmware?
You can let the alarm go off and just cancel/unplug the base station when you come in. If you don't want to go through that, then find a computer and you can access the cameras through a web browser and disarm from there. As to the backup, I have to retest and recheck because when I tested it the last time, I just go 1 sec. clips then eventually it didn't record. So, it might be a bug.
Thanks for your detailed and clear review. I am considering to buy the Arlo Pro 2 vs Amazon Cloud Cam vs Nest
You are welcome. I haven't tried or tested the Amazon cloud cam..I might look into that.
I would like to know why my update didn't take care of the two way audio? I still can't hear the person on the other end of camera.
Brother, hope you figure this out by now. If so let us know. Otherwise you have to do the math with how much power the PV module can produce, how much can be stored, and how much can be consumed by the cam. Add to that what the expected ENERGY (power times x time) will be for a sunny day vs. cloudy day. The you can see if it is 'compatible' for your application.
Very good job,
Thank You.
Also does your integration with google home work? I have read there are a lot of errors while syncing
I’m confused if your internet goes out. Won’t your WiFi also not work so how will Arlo record if not getting a WiFi signal. I have Comcast Xfinity and our internet and WiFi is both tried together. So if Arlo connects off WiFi how will base station record to an external drive.
Supposedly the purpose of the external drive is for the Arlo to record to it if your internet is down or their server is down. Arlo has a base station and communicates with the camera on its own WiFi (internet is not needed)... I said supposedly because I did test this and I unplugged the base station from the router and I triggered the camera and it did record but only 1-2 second clips. I'm guessing there is a bug in the software that Arlo needs to fix.
@@LifeHackster Thank you sir for the reply. If I haven't ran across. This older video of your. I would have not even knew that. . I knew about you could hook up a backup drive to it but didn't know if the Wi-Fi signal was off that you could get still get a recording sent to that external hard drive connected to the base station. So thanks again!
I have an Arlo Pro, which color panel has worked for you?
Arlos own solar panel for the pro2 works pretty good.
Any update for the solar panel? I am looking at getting the original one for my pro 2.
They work pretty good still.
The system works okay, but my system had glitches where it would go 2 weeks worth of video and I could not see anything on the CVR. It would not let me click open videos. They told me to uninstall and install csmeras. Which is a waste of video that I needed. I've had this system since February 2018 and one cameras mic stopped working I stopped complaining since the solution is to unplug it plug it back in or that my internet speeds are the problem. I now accept all the flaws and just use it when it feels like working.
Most of the issues are firmware related. Arlo tends to update their app and firmware without beta testing it. The last update they did, there were a lot of bugs and glitches...they did fix it though.
Can you provide a link to the solar panel that does work?
The official Arlo solar panel works for me -> amzn.to/2Jq1rnE
Do you know or have you seen if arlo pro 2 cams are shock proof or if dropped the result ?
I’m not sure...
Will you be getting the Arlo Ultra when it comes out? Would
like to see a review!
Probably..I have to cough out 400 bucks for it though... for 1 camera and 1 base station.
LifeHackster surely Arlo can loan you a review unit
wish OTHER wifi camera companies had base stations. Like Argus,ring ect.
I think Argus have plans on it because you can see it as an option when you install the camera.
I just got the Arlo Pro 2 after having a ladder stolen and things from my car taken and I have a few questions.
Is there anyway to change the sensitivity of the cameras so they don't go off constantly? Do you feel like the solar panel is a must for recordings to include the first few seconds or to utilize the activity zones for outside monitoring, or what do you think is a good alternative to have continuous recording?
Yes you can change the sensitivity. Edit the camera in the armed mode and it will show you the motion sensitivity slider. You can also change the angle of the camera so that it will not have a view of major heat differences...one example is shadow of clouds in the ground and if there is a major difference in the temperature, it will trigger false alerts.
@@LifeHackster Hey, has your Arlo app stopped sending you notifications when it gets triggered? Mine has stopped doing that about 2 days ago.
@lifehackster do you ever find fix for the delayed motion recording. Got oil delivery and miss the guy walking up to house
Hey, thanks for the video. I've have two Arlos, an Arlo Pro and an Arlo Pro 2. I watched to hear about your solar charging experience. The Arlo Pro 2 has a 3 second added to recordings when it is plugged in with activity zones. Does this still work with the solar panel? Also can you review the Arlo Ultra once it's released. Cheers
The 3 second preview is only available when the Arlo Pro 2 is plugged in an AC power. It knows when it is AC or solar panel is plugged in on its micro USB port.
What was that monitor in 9:52 ? Does it show the live footage? I need a smart camera that sends notifications on app and also a indoor monitor that shows live footage. Any cameras as such?
You can find something like this on the Avasva page. Full step-by-step instructions right on your desk.
have a link for the gutter mount for the solar panel?
Here you go... -> amzn.to/2XqMgCX it has a 1/4 20 thread which will fit the solar panel..
Does the Arlo Pro 2 allow you to store video on a hard drive without a subscription?
If you have less than 5 cameras, you can have the free 7 day cloud recording..no subscription...you will not be able to use the usb backup port by itself.
If I have 6 cameras, can I choose to use just 5 of them with the free 7 day storage? Or do I no longer have the 7 day storage if I have 6 cameras. Which means I also wouldnt be able to use the thumbdrive storage, correct? Therefore needing the smart subscription to have any kind of storage. Thanks in advance. Great videos.
what top cameras would you recommend? I have the ring doorbell 2 and would like to get cameras for the front of the house?
If you have the Ring doorbell, you might want to stick with them...except only if you need a battery powered one..I'm still not sold on their spotlight cam battery...but their new stickup cam the battery version will be released soon..so hopefully, it is better.
I just bought the arlo pro 2 (4 camera) bundle.. even with downloading the app on my galaxy s10 , the PTT speaker is still super quiet..like.. barely hear unless u put your ear to it..how do I fix that?
I just wish it was at the Blink XT2 price range. 5 cameras for 370.
Your solar panel just needs a diode installed so it doesn't become a load at night or when not in the sun.
That is probably what the Arlo panels have that the aftermarket ones doesn't have.
can you tell us where and how?
@@dmak94539 The diode is a one-way gate for the current, typical cost is less than $1.00
Hi Im John from Italy. Can you decide to backup only to an exteral/backup drive and disable cloud upload. I have an extremely slow upload speed
There is no option to disable cloud recording.
Which brand solar panel charge the best in your opinion?
The Ring solar panel and even the aftermarket one (Wasserstein) charges the spotlight cam faster... followed by the Reolink Argus and then last will be the Arlo's.
If the internet for some reason goes down will the Arlo 2 still record to the usb back up without internet connection? Or will the entire system fail to operate/record during an internet interruption?
Tested this and I assumed it will work. Well, it didn't. At first it did but it was only recording 1 sec. clips. Tested again and this time, it didn't record anymore.
@@LifeHackster thank you so much for your reply and for posting this awesome video. As far as wire free systems go, and if you could only buy one, would you go with the Arlo Pro 1/2, Argus 2 or other? I think in one of your other videos you were leaning towards the Argus 2, does that still stand after long term testing?
Yes. It will still be the Argus 2 for price and better video quality.
@@LifeHackster I recently bought the Arlo two and tested local storage using a 16 GB USB thumb drive that I had the Arlo base station format. I unplugged the router and tested the camera to see if it would record to local storage. This attempt was successful. It recorded the entire 15 second clip to USB.
Have you tried to record to local storage after the attempt you listed above? Perhaps there was a firmware update since your last attempt. Also, did you use the Arlo base station to format the drive/USB you used to record locally on?
Do you have a comparison between Arlo and Ring? Thanks
Not yet but it is in the works...
LifeHackster looking forward to seeing it thanks!
I know several points on this. Ring has no geofence. Nest hello does have geofence but amazon will not sell nest because they own ring. .
Larry Schwartz I am new to the home security cameras. What is a geofence? Thanks
Do the cameras have speakers to communicate via the app?
Does the arlo solar panel really works?
Yes.. it still works on my Pro2s..
Im looking at trying Arlo and found a deal for the Arlo pro w/3 cameras for 379.00 is the pro still worth buying ?
The Pro and Pro 2's are decent battery powered cameras.
What about going with Blink Xt with 4 cameras and a 2yr warranty for $329.94 and free shipping ?
How can I add another camera with out paying for the additional service?
Michael Smilek, if you create another Arlo account (a second email) then share that account with your primary account you can add another 5 cameras. This will only work if you use cameras like the arlo plus for indoor use or if you have a second base station for the additional camera(s). I have two arlo accounts and i use my indoor cameras (arlo plus) on the second account since they don’t need the base station.
Sir you have more cameras then the CIA.
:)
What's the solar gutter mount called. Thanks for the info
It is Wasserstein gutter mount -> amzn.to/2RddI5t
arlo systems are fine if you only plan to use them in well lit or internal area's. the rechargable batteries (For s1) are cost prohibitive, however you can get 'Chinese' adapters that act like the battery packs (though I dont know how much to trust them). Also you should have a solid internet connection + UPS for your modem/networking kit & arlo.
good for inside security (especially when used with the app / geofencing) - poor security/functionality overall... spend your money elsewhere (netgear doesnt deserve it).
I agree with you but I do like the flexibility of the Arlo especially that you can design/customize your own modes and on how each device behaves. There is some learning curve. I'm actually testing right now on having a camera inside the car parked outside your house. It uses PIR sensor which doesn't detect through glass (no false alerts)...so it basically it will trigger when somebody opens/breaks the glass and goes inside your car. (A lot of car break ins lately in our neighborhood) and the Arlo base has a pretty decent range outside my house anyways... also, you can leave and drive with it and it will just reconnect to the base whenever you are back home and parked. We will see .still testing and I'll be putting up a video if it works.
To back Keith, they put little to no thought into outside and hard to reach areas and thus hard to change their batteries. Arlo support tells me they only support an 8' cable. Yes, I said, " E I G H T F E E T ". What will you do with all that extra footage?!?! I don't think any sane person relishes weekends climbing 2-3 stories to juggle batteries. Especially during cold, hot, or raining weather...which is most of the year. The alternative is placing cameras < 8' from a power source. Yes, you can buy lengthier third-party cables. But I've been told by Arlo support it could void my warranty. When I press their support, they told me to remove the battery if I chose to use third party cables over their vast 8 footers. Oh, and you can get the whole 8 feet for $24.99 on Amazon or Best Buy. That's 3 bucks a foot. One can get over 25 feet of well-rated third-party cable on Amazon. Even with 25 feet, it can be a stretch to get it power, without being an electrician or buying well-rated extension cords.
Why did I buy these way over-priced plastic %$#? anyway? Reviews. Consumer Reports and others...that don't use them in the real world. -Buyers Remorse
I jus bought arlos pro2 2 cams and doorbell my setup- I have a cam facing the driveway and another one for the backyard
Now I need to get some solar panels and see how long they last
Any tips ?
You need to install the solar panel so that it will get the most sun at least several hours/day. Try to charge your Arlos' first to 100% then hook it up on the solar panel so that it will top off the camera during daytime.
It’s mostly sunny where I live throughout the year solar panel much needed Plus I’m going to have a back up battery for the base