100% Wire Free – Netgear’s Arlo Pro Security System

Netgear’s Arlo Pro Indoor/Outdoor Security System has a new big brother – the Arlo Pro. You can still purchase the original Arlo Smart Home Security System, but the new Arlo Pro has a few upgrades that were missing for many home owners in the earlier version.

These upgrades come at a price of course, so if you are happy with the original Arlo System, then there is no need to update your system (though you can mix and match these Arlo cameras. Let’s take a look at what the new Arlo offers you over and above the original Arlo, and then I will review the Arlo Pro in full.

The upgrades featured in the Arlo Pro (compared to the original Arlo) include:

Rechargeable battery and faster charging.
2 way communication.
100+ decibel siren.
130 degree angle lens (original Arlo has a 110 degree angle).
USB storage for backup.
Digital infrared motion sensor (the original Arlo System has an analog motion sensor).
Sound as well as motion sensors (the original Arlo only has motion detection).

Check Price on Amazon

Rechargeable batteries

Arlo Pro Outdoor Security System with Siren Whilst the original Arlo System is one of the best I have seen, one of the problems that has plagued some customers is that it doesn’t have rechargeable batteries. This has meant that some customers have needed to replace the batteries too frequently and others haven’t had a problem.

So this upgrade to a rechargeable system is great and solves the problem of paying so much money on batteries. The rechargeable batteries should last for up to 6 months, if you only check the live feed for a total of 5 minutes a day (which is quite reasonable) and takes about 2 hours to recharge.

You can also connect your Arlo Pro to the mains power, using the USB port if you prefer.

2 way communication

One of the reasons why the original Arlo System was not in my Top 10 picks was because it didn’t have 2 way communication. If you want to use your Arlo camera as a nanny cam, then being able to talk to your children, babysitter or elderly relative using the camera is pretty much essential.

So the addition of 2 way communication, along with rechargeable batteries definitely increases the value and practicality of Arlo Home Security System.

100+ decibel siren

Arlo Pro Siren on Base Unit For people who want to use the Arlo Pro as a nanny cam to keep an eye on their children, elderly relatives or their pets, then a siren most probably won’t be something you need.

If you want to use it as a home security system however, then the addition of a siren is a great feature!

You can control the siren remotely or it can be set to automatically go off when sound or motion is detected. The siren has been added to the base station, so if this is a feature that is important to you, you will need to purchase a new base station, which needs to be tethered to your router.

130 degree angle lens

The original Arlo and the new Arlo Pro do not have pan & tilt, but the original Arlo does have a 110 degree wide angle lens, which pretty much gives you a solid view of the room. With the upgrade to a 130 degree angle lens, your view of the room has improved even further, making this another great upgrade for the Netgear Arlo Home Security System.

USB storage

Arlo Pro with local storage With the original Arlo System you could only save your live video recordings to the cloud. This is still a free service with the Arlo Pro, giving you 7 days of storage or up to 1 GB on the cloud.

The problem was that there was no local storage, but that is no longer an issue because the Arlo Pro has a USB port so you can save your live recordings to your PC as well, making the Arlo Pro much more practical.

Sound and motion detection

The original Arlo only had motion detection, but the new Arlo Pro now includes both sound and motion detection. Live recordings will begin when they are triggered by sound or motion (according to your settings) and the recording length can be adjusted from 15 seconds up to 120 seconds.

You also have the option of setting up push notifications, emails or both when sound or motion is detected. These notifications can go to other members of your family as well or anyone who might need to respond.

Features that are common to both the original Arlo and the Arlo Pro

Arlo Pro is weatherproof The upgrades make the Arlo Pro a definite winner, but the features they have in common are also high quality and make this an ideal nanny cam or home security system, which is at an affordable price point.

The following features come with both the original Arlo and the Arlo Pro:

100% wire free – no power cords and wiring needed.
Totally weatherproof, so you can place them indoors or outdoors.
HD images (crystal clear).
Clear night vision (25 feet).
Easy magnetic mounting.
Totally freestanding.
View multiple cameras on one screen.
Zoom function on app.
Customizable alert notifications.
Works with smartphones, tablets and PCs.
Live streaming.
7 days of free cloud storage.

What do customers say about the new Arlo Pro?

Arlo Pro Live View Currently, there is hardly a bad word to be seen online about the Arlo Pro, which is a very popular nanny cam or home security camera and is selling well. Customers love the clear images, the easy set up and that they can be positioned just about anywhere, because they don’t need to be plugged into the mains or wired in to your home.

One of the negatives I have seen popping up is the lag time between motion detected and when the live video begins to record. Also, some customers have had problems with the recordings being triggered by traffic when they set it up at the front of their home on a busy road. However, the majority of customers (more than 90%) have no problems with the Arlo Pro.

Summing up the new Arlo Pro System

Arlo Pro Outdoor Security System with Siren When I reviewed the original Arlo nanny cam and home security system I thought that it was a fabulous system, but it lacked a few important features. That’s why it didn’t rate in my Top 10 nanny cams, because it didn’t have 2 way communication, sound notifications or a rechargeable battery.

Now, with the Arlo Pro, all of these issues have been resolved, so it is a much better deal than ever. The Arlo Pro however, still doesn’t have pan and tilt, but with the wider 130 degree angle lens, you can see just about your entire room.

The Arlo pro does cost more than the original Arlo cameras, but you can mix and match them, just remember that you won’t have the siren if you use the base unit from the original Arlo.

If you are searching for a complete nanny cam or home security setup, then the Arlo Pro by Netgear is a serious contender.