Completely Charge the Outdoor Camera’s Battery
If you have not done so already, you will need to charge the Outdoor Camera’s battery completely before installing it, even if you intend on plugging the camera into a power cable.
Plug the micro USB end of the included charging cable into the Outdoor Camera’s battery and the USB end of the cable into an adapter that outputs 7.5W minimum (this adapter is not included)
Once plugged in, the LED lights on the battery will begin to blink to indicate that the camera is charging
Charge the battery for at least 6 hours, or until all three lights on the battery are solid
Add the Outdoor Camera in the SimpliSafe® Mobile App
Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your smartphone or tablet
Navigate to the three-bar menu on the upper left corner and select Add Device or Camera
Select Cameras from the list of available products, and then Outdoor Camera Series 2
Assemble the Outdoor Camera
After the Outdoor Camera’s battery has been charged completely, you will need to insert the battery in the camera.
Remove the camera’s lens by twisting it counterclockwise
Insert the battery so the metal contacts on it are facing upwards and align with the contacts inside the camera
Place the camera lens back on and twist it clockwise until it clicks into place
You’ll know that the Outdoor Camera has been assembled properly when it chimes and begins to flash white
Outdoor Camera Isn’t Flashing White?
If the Outdoor Camera doesn’t begin to flash white, it could be due to a few reasons. Either the battery isn’t charged, the battery was inserted incorrectly, or the camera’s lens was not twisted on all the way.
First, remove the battery from the Outdoor Camera and connect it to power again by using the included USB power cable and your own power adapter. If the battery is fully charged, all three LED lights will be solid.
Once you have confirmed that all 3 lights are solid on the battery, reinsert it into the camera, making sure that the charging contacts are facing up and the battery tab is facing out towards you. Then twist the lens back on the camera until it clicks into place.
If the light still does not flash white after reassembling the camera, you will need to reset the Outdoor Camera (opens in new tab).
How to Pair the Outdoor Camera to Your System
Firmly press and release the pairing button on the back of the camera
The Base Station will announce, “Camera added”
On the mobile app, choose a name for the camera by selecting one of our pre-populated names, or select Custom Name at the bottom of the screen to input your own
Connect the Outdoor Camera to Wi-Fi
By default, the SimpliSafe® App will prompt you to connect the Outdoor Camera to the same Wi-Fi network as your Base station
You may choose either “Yes, Connect” to connect it to this network, or “Choose a Different Network” to select another one
After your Outdoor Camera has connected to Wi-Fi, it will check for and apply any available updates
Outdoor Camera Didn’t Connect to Wi-Fi?
If your Outdoor Camera did not connect to your Wi-Fi network, please refer to the Camera Can’t Connect to Wi-Fi During Setup (opens in new tab) article.
Choose a Location for the Outdoor Camera
Next, you will be prompted to move your Outdoor Camera to its desired location and test its connection there before mounting the camera. This allows you to ensure your camera has a strong connection, or move your camera to a different location where the connection is stronger.
When finding a location for the Outdoor Camera, we recommend the following:
If the Outdoor Camera will be enrolled in Active Guard Outdoor Protection, make sure that the camera is within reach of an exterior power outlet
The Outdoor Camera should be mounted 6.5 feet off the ground and angled 30° down
If mounting above 6.5 feet, we recommend using the permanent mount to secure the camera to the surface
The Outdoor Camera’s motion sensor is most sensitive to side-by-side movement, so choose a location where subjects are likely to move horizontally across its field of view
Make sure the Outdoor Camera’s field of view is not obstructed by branches, flags, or other objects
Check the Outdoor Camera’s Connection
After finding a location for the Outdoor Camera, tap “Begin Test” in the SimpliSafe® App to test its Wi-Fi upload speed and signal strength.
Good Results
If your results were good, that indicates that the Outdoor Camera should stream and record video smoothly from its location. Please move forward to mounting the camera.
Poor Signal Strength, Good Upload Speed
This result unusually indicates that the camera is not in range of the Wi-Fi router. Try moving the router closer to the camera or purchase a Wi-Fi extender (opens in new tab).
Poor Signal Strength, Poor Upload Speed
This result indicates that the camera is not in range of the Wi-Fi router, and the Wi-Fi is not providing the minimum 2 Mbps upload speed. Move the camera closer to the router and try live streaming again. If this helps, you can either move the router closer to the camera or purchase a Wi-Fi extender (opens in new tab).
You may also need to contact your internet service provider to upgrade your package to one that includes higher upload speeds.
Good Signal Strength, Poor Upload Speed
SimpliSafe® cameras require 2-3 Mbps per camera. If you have multiple cameras on your system, multiply the number of cameras by 2 to determine the minimum upload speed required.
To improve your upload speed, you may either contact your internet service provider to upgrade your package, or move other Wi-Fi-enabled devices to a different network.
How to Mount the Outdoor Camera
When installing the Outdoor Camera, you may mount it using either the included magnetic mount or the permanent mount. If you are installing the permanent mount, please refer to the Outdoor Camera Permanent Mount Overview and Installation Guide (opens in new tab).
Remove the mounting plate from the magnetic dome by turning it counterclockwise
If your are installing the Outdoor Camera on a stone, brick, or stucco surface, drill 2 pilot holes into the surface using a 3/16-inch drill bit and gently tap the included wall anchors into the holes using a hammer or mallet
Attach the mounting plate to the surface using the provided screws and your own Phillips head screwdriver
Twist the magnetic dome back on the mounting plate until you hear it click into place
Place the camera on the magnetic mount
How to Power the Outdoor Camera
After mounting the Outdoor Camera, you will be prompted to install your Outdoor Power Cable or Solar Panel to keep the battery charged, or you can choose to run the Outdoor Camera off its battery power.
Note: if you are enrolling the Outdoor Camera in Active Guard Outdoor Protection, you must install an Outdoor Power Cable.
How to Install the Power Cable
Lift the cover off of the charging port that is located on the back of the Outdoor Camera
Firmly plug the micro USB end of the Power Cable into the camera, making sure that the micro USB is flush to the camera
Snap the included strain-relief clip to the cable at the top near the camera
Screw the clip into the surface near your camera, approximately 6 inches away
If you are installing the Outdoor Camera on a brick, stone, or stucco surface, you will need to drill a single pilot hole using a 1/4 inch masonry drill bit and insert the wall anchor first
Plug the power adapter into an outdoor-rated power outlet with a waterproof cover
How to Install the Solar Panel
If you are powering the Outdoor Camera with the Solar Panel, please refer to the Solar Panel Installation Guide (opens in new tab) in the Help Center.
Fine-Tune the Outdoor Camera’s Position
Next, you’ll want to check your camera’s view to ensure that it is capturing your desired area. Tap the “Check Live View” button in the app to see your camera’s live stream. From there, you can adjust your camera’s angle to ensure it is capturing the area you want to watch over. For the best performance, the camera should be angled 30° down.
How to Enroll the Outdoor Camera in Active Guard Outdoor Protection
If you are subscribed to either our Pro Plus or Pro monitoring plans (opens in new tab), you will then be prompted to enroll your Outdoor Camera in Active Guard Outdoor Protection. If you do not want to enroll your camera now, you may always do so at a later time (opens in new tab).
If the Outdoor Camera is not plugged into a power cable, it cannot be enrolled. Keeping the camera plugged in allows SimpliSafe® to act on motion events without worrying about the camera’s battery levels. Once you have plugged the Outdoor Camera into power, you can enroll it at a later time in your camera’s settings.
