While Arlo doorbells are not as feature-rich as some of the Ring models, you will still get a more reasonable price tag with this unit. If you’re short on budget and can’t compromise on the performance consistency of your video doorbell, then there is no harm in going with Arlo over Ring.
The only area where you’ll struggle with this video doorbell is that it can sometimes malfunction with traditional chimes. You will find many users complaining about this issue, and there is a good chance you’ll run into the same issue.
Luckily, you can get the Arlo doorbell working again with the traditional chime. Just follow these fixes, and you’ll be able to fix your traditional Arlo chime if it’s not connected.
How To Resolve Arlo Traditional Chime Not Connected
- Manage Temperature
The temperature of the Arlo doorbell chime has a direct impact on the responsiveness of the chime. While this unit is not fragile, extensive exposure to direct sunlight and heat can hinder the performance of this device. So, you need to make sure that the doorbell is installed in a shaded region. Otherwise, you won’t be able to get any response from the traditional chime.
If you’re sure that the wiring is perfect and there are no issues with the power to the traditional chime, just find a cooler spot for your doorbell. This should be enough to get ahead of the temperature-related issues with the Arlo doorbell.
- Try Updating Doorbell Firmware
If the traditional doorbell was working well up to this point, then you might be dealing with firmware-related issues. Sometimes, the outdated firmware can create problems with some of the doorbell features. So, your doorbell might have been updated to a version that is not compatible with the traditional chime. The good thing here is that Arlo is pretty responsive and releases the latest updates to address all of these minor issues.
All you need to do is to ensure that your doorbell is on the latest firmware, and that will fix the response from the traditional chime. It doesn’t take that long to update the firmware, and you can power cycle the doorbell afterward to eliminate these minor bugs.
- Go Over Wiring Configurations
The condition of the wiring cluster is the biggest factor that you need to consider when you’re using traditional chimes. Usually, these chimes have been installed for decades, and not many people focus on the condition of the wiring. So, if you’re in the same boat and didn’t pay any attention to the wiring cluster, then you need to check for damaged sections. There is a good chance that the wiring is damaged, and you need an electrician to service your electrical connections.
- Check Power Status
The power status to the traditional chime is the next thing to look at while fixing the Arlo connection to the installed unit. Even when the wiring is not damaged, the insufficient voltage from the power source will lead to the same connection errors. The only thing you can do here is to check the power status from the chime with a multimeter and change the power source if the voltage is indeed insufficient. You won’t be able to secure the connection until the power-related issues are addressed.
- Clean Up Contact Points
The presence of dust and moisture can directly deteriorate the condition of the contact point on your Arlo system. If the contact points are not clean, they will hinder the connection between the traditional chime and the Arlo doorbell. So, you should make use of diluted vinegar solution or any cleaner from the market to clean up these contact points. That should be enough to address all the performance-related issues, and the traditional chime will start responding to the input from the doorbell.
- Get A Compatible Chime
If the doorbell is not connecting even after going through all of these steps, then the traditional chime is not compatible with the Arlo system. You can further confirm this suspicion by matching the make and model of your chime with the official compatibility guide by Arlo. If the model of your chime is not mentioned in the compatibility guide, then your best bet is to get a replacement. Otherwise, you won’t be able to secure any response from the chime.