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davey_d's profile

Former Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera: Advanced security from the outside in

Folks,

This is a big one. We know you've all been clamoring for a particular missing piece in our lineup, and now it's finally here. We are delighted to announce that the SimpliSafe Wireless Outdoor Security Camera is available RIGHT NOW!

The Outdoor Camera is feature packed, with everything you need to make your award-winning SimpliSafe system even better. Here's what you can expect when you get yours:

  • Easy setup, with no wiring or special skills needed. Just download the app, screw in the magnetic mount, and place the camera.
  • An ultra-wide 140¬∫ field of view, with 1080p HD resolution, for a clear view of details from up to 15 feet away.
  • Instant alerts via the app. And thanks to Smart Person Detection you'll know right away as soon as someone sets foot on your property (available on select monitoring plans).
  • Motion-activated spotlight lets you see who's there in color, even at night!
  • Dual antennas to keep the camera connected to WiFi, no matter where you have it installed.
  • Removable battery that lasts for up to 3 to 6 months on a single charge -- and recharges in just about 5 hours.
  • 2-way audio, AND a built-in 80dB siren, so you can really get the message to unwanted guests!
  • IP65 dust and water resistance, to withstand weather extremes. It can keep going through snow and rain, and temps between -20¬∫F to 113¬∫F.


For an in-depth look, check out our product page, here.

You might also be interested in some great accessories for the Outdoor Camera, like the Extra Battery and an extra-long 25ft Power Cable if you still want to keep your cam plugged in. We've even got a Solar Panel attachment, and an alternate mounting bracket, coming soon!

The SimpliSafe team is very proud of this latest addition to our lineup, and we know you're gonna love it. In the meantime, you probably have a lot of burning questions. Let me know here and I'll answer 'em!

175 Messages

Are you upping the camera limit per account? Some of us already have 9 cameras plus a doorbell so we're at the current 10 camera limit. I'd like to add a couple of these to my hard wired constant outdoor set up.... But can't with the current limitations...

175 Messages

Are you upping the camera limit per account?  Some of us already have 9 cameras plus a doorbell so we're at the current 10 camera limit.  I'd like to add a couple of these to my hard wired constant outdoor set up.... But can't with the current limitations...

Former Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

Hi @jakimura,

The new Power Adapter for the Wireless Outdoor Camera is not only better shielded from the elements, and specifically sized to plug into the Outdoor Cam, but also has a slightly different output at 5v/2a. So we would not recommend just using the existing power adapter from the Indoor Camera.

- Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

Former Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

Hi paul.keith1,

Thanks for the feedback - and sorry about the severe performance issues! I do see that you're in the UK, and our UK team is already investigating. We'll get you sorted soon.

- Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

16 Messages

If this new outdoor camera doesn't perform any better than the current doorbell camera, you can forget it!!!!

I am really pissed at Simplisafe at the lack of quality and reliability in the current doorbell cam! I have had 3 cameras since purchasing 1 about 2 years ago. None of them last and this last one I got just a month ago or so is the worst of the bunch!

I want my $160 back!!!!!!!!

3 Messages

Outdoor Camera Offline Message
When I log on through the website to look at my cameras, initially the outdoor camera has a message "Offline!". However, the camera wakes up fine, and has responded as expected alerting me to motion. I can also watch live after a few seconds. Is this "normal" behavior to preserve the battery by only connecting to WiFi when there is an event or request from the base station?

Former Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

Hi claporte_1,

Yes. To conserve battery, the Outdoor Cam goes into a sleep state, and may take a second to reconnect. But it shouldn't be taking a very long time. If it does, we might want to troubleshoot the camera's connection to your WiFi, to improve performance.

- Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

6.6K Messages

@Johnny M. for the sake of customers and your support staff alike, please priotize adding the "Connection Check tools"  that are on the other cameras brought over to the outdoor camera.  Makes troubleshooting much easier.

55 Messages

Why isn't the solar panel available on Amazon? I'd rather use the panel like I do for my other outdoor cameras.

Former Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

@Captain11,

The Outdoor Camera represents our first model that works on a brand new camera platform, so there are some features that haven't been added to it yet. Connection checking tools are definitely on the way.

@txuser,
The Solar Panel will be made available soon across our retail partners. But you can purchase it directly from us today!

- Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

Former Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

Hi Reggie,

Adding the Solar Panel will not change the behavior of the camera, just the way that it stays powered.

But I'll pass on your feedback about the deep sleep feature.

- Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security
Thanks Johnny M

Most customers will have the cameras connected to a power source.  Maybe the sleep feature should only kick in if the battery charge is under 25%.  Or if there is a long power outage due to storms or fire or cosmic solar ray burst?  I'd rather have my camera start recording when someone is approaching my door rather than when they are leaving, which is what has happened in the last 2 recordings.  When my wife mentions it, it becomes my problem because she does not care about the battery life when we can't see the face of the person coming to our front door.

Reggie
Thanks Johnny M

Most customers will have the cameras connected to a power source.  Maybe the sleep feature should only kick in if the battery charge is under 25%.  Or if there is a long power outage due to storms or fire or cosmic solar ray burst?  I'd rather have my camera start recording when someone is approaching my door rather than when they are leaving, which is what has happened in the last 2 recordings.  When my wife mentions it, it becomes my problem because she does not care about the battery life when we can't see the face of the person coming to our front door.

Reggie

6.6K Messages

@reginaldcooper95337 I emailed in the exact same topic but as a request.  In a non technical way, it goes like this:

Since the camera has a steady power source (in my case the AC Adapter for both of my units) can the firmware be updated to say "if external power source connected, start stream (bypass wakeup).  

Before SS says no, if the issue is you can't tell if an external power source is connected, you can tell if its got a full charge. So, if a full charge, then skip wake up and start streamiing. If still no, then how about "user clicks a check box in config settings to keep camera "live" and lives with the consequences with the battery. If I have AC adapter or solar panel, shoudl be no issues.

Bottom line: SS, let's find a way to get this done and, even within the limits of this forum while you are buidling the CRC, walk customers through why this can or can't be done.

Thanks!
See my response to Johnny.

I guess this weekend I'll do a test and put an indoor camera out by the new outdoor camera.  Test with privacy shutter open and closed to see which one responds first.
My front door area is covered so if they can't solve this I can try the indoor camera as the solution since I want a camera system that works with my alarm system.

It can't bee the wi-fi because the signal is strong and only 15 feet from my router to both the inside camera and the outside camera that are 10 feet apart in the same direction from the router if that makes sense.

I can't add any additional outside cameras unless this is fixed.

Reggie

766 Messages

Most customers will have the cameras connected to a power source.


This is clearly opinion, and not fact unless you have some data to back this up.

Why do you think most SimpliSafe customers will buy a battery operated camera for $170 and then connect it to a power source? Especially when there's a $99 camera they can already buy that works with a power source and has been available for years?
Yes it is. and thank you for yours.
As an engineer my typical requirements for a battery in designs are only for backup or UPS.  Battery life is important but should be selectable and optional as well.

766 Messages

All of which speaks to your specific use case and needs but that doesn't mean it's representative of 'most customers' by any means.  I'm not challenging your specific use case in any way. I am challenging your claim about how most people "will" act despite your not providing any data to back it up.
I'd guess in a high percentage of urban street living.  15 or more seconds is too long for a camera to start recording the movement its sensor has picked up.  Again my specific case and needs..  If I lived on a farm and the truck motorcycle or person had to come down my 1/4 mile dirt road to get to my front door.  That would be different.

But in my case.  I can WALK and taka a package off the door and WALK away out of site of the camera as the camera now starts to record nothing.

Again the specifications state the camera sleeps to conserve battery life.  So why would it need to sleep when it has power connected and is 100%.  My phone does not aske me to conserve power until it hits 20% battery life.  Then it ask me to plug in when it's at 5% battery.  And the battery life of the awesome camera is much longer than my phone that's not asleep and wakes up in 1 second with my fingerprint.

I'll experiment some.  Maybe move the camera up by the garage facing the front door.  First movement will be them passing the camera, and maybe it will wake up in time to get the face coming back on my walk to the driveway.  

Have a great day sir.

2 Messages

I've been hoping to get this outdoor camera, but reading these posts indicate it is NOT ready for prime time. It should be MY choice regarding battery life vs reaction-recording time.  I expect almost instant alerts, otherwise, who really needs to know after the fact something/someone has been detected. Combined with the lack of a permanent mount, I'm holding back on my investment for this device.

4 Messages

Good idea. I've had Simplisafe for years and this camera by far is their worst product and considering how look they took to issue, it should be the best in the market. They had years to reverse engineer it using a Ring or Wzye but obvious Simplisafe missed the mark. I struggled with the prior crappy "outdoor' camera which was useless at night due to condensation. Was hoping that a superior outdoor camera would be issued but will be moving onto another manufacturer. I have GB internet service with a brand new Orbi WiFi 6 mesh system and not only does this camera knock out Wifi it disconnects any LAN connections.
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