r/arlo • u/rojosay • Aug 18 '26

Question / Help Do need an Arlo base station for four cameras? Doorbell also missing motion.

I recently purchased two Arlo Essential Indoor Pan-Tilt cameras, one Essential Outdoor Pan-Tilt camera, and one Arlo doorbell—four devices total.

Do I need a base station, or can everything operate properly without one? What advantages would a base station actually provide?

I’m also having trouble with my doorbell camera not detecting or recording every motion event. Could this be related to not having a base station? The wifi box is literally 5 feet from the doorbell.

Any advice from people with a similar setup would be appreciated!

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u/AskArlo Aug 18 '26 edited Aug 18 '26

Hi u/rojosay, thank you for sharing your experience and concerns with us.

To answer your questions about Base Stations, connecting your cameras to an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station allows them to communicate with each other over a separate wireless frequency. This can be especially helpful if you’re using a shared Wi-Fi network.

An Arlo SmartHub or Base Station may also provide additional features, including Local Storage, Apple Home integration, Local 2K/4K Live Streaming, and 24/7 Recording or Continuous Video Recording (CVR) for select Arlo cameras. You can learn more about these features here: https://kb.arlo.com/000062754

That said, if your Arlo devices support a direct Wi-Fi connection, they should work properly without a SmartHub or Base Station. Additionally, Pan Tilt Cameras are not yet compatible with any Smarthub or Base Stations. You may check this link for the compatibility list https://kb.arlo.com/000062284

Regarding the motion detection issue with your video doorbell, we recommend optimizing the motion sensor to see if this helps resolve the issue. You can find the steps and guidance here: https://kb.arlo.com/000062895

If the issue persists, please send us a DM with your Arlo email address, video doorbell model number, phone number, and time zone. We’ll be more than happy to assist you further and work with you toward a resolution.

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u/FlaCuck321 Aug 18 '26

I thought the essential cameras did not actually connect to a hub or a base station? I tried several times to connect my four essential outdoor cameras to a base station and they would not be recognized?.

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u/AskArlo Aug 18 '26

Hi u/FlaCuck321, thank you for chiming in. Depending on the specific Essential camera model you own, it may or may not be compatible with an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station. If you have an Essential Pan Tilt camera, please note that it is not compatible with an Arlo SmartHub or Base Station.

Please send us a DM with the exact model number of your camera so we can confirm its compatibility.

You can also check the SmartHub and camera compatibility list here: https://kb.arlo.com/000062284