β€ŽThe Simplisafe Skinny, my installation! | SimpliSafe Support Home
 
dlpsr's profile

1.3K Messages

Wednesday, September 11th, 2024 4:47 PM

The Simplisafe Skinny, my installation!

Ok, like it or not agree or not here is my unscientific skinny on this system after, oh, 20 months?🀷

You will need a stick built home fairly condensed as in 2 story, older home.

2x4 type walls, drywall or horsehair plaster, insulation etc. No all brick outside, no new plaster, its like brick lol. No metal siding, no stucco with chicken wire to help it adhere outside.

You will need a Mesh Wifi system with a couple of access points for outdoor cameras and doorbells Pro wifi. I have an Orbi Mesh RBK53 with two access points. Some use Google mesh successfully also. What flavor?🀷

You "may" need to use the power cables to charge the batteries. Those "may" help the outdoor cams be more responsive than just solar or just batteries. I'm all solar, doorbells are wired, no RF I'm aware of. Correct me if wrong.

The base station needs to be centrally located or moved as necessary for best performance, if thats even possible to achieve.

Which in my case, there is no best location to affect outdoor cam live views

Even so, it also communicates with all of the sensors. So keep that in mind if trying this in a say 5,000-6,000 sq ft home.

Personally, knowing what I know now, I wouldn't even attempt a larger house than mine with similar construction. About 2,000 sq ft. But untested if built as above for good RF and WiFi penetration.

In my case, 5 solar outdoor cams in a rancher, long and skinny, all brick exterior, slathered plaster walls, steel entry doors. 1980 model.

The base station communicates with all sensors and it communicates with outdoor cameras to wake them up.

With recent outdoor cam firmware 1.33, which all my cameras finally all received, showed some improvement in some outdoor cam live view on say 2 of 5.

Ok, so today I'm playing musical base station to verify what? Whether my plaster walls and steel entry doors etc. are blocking the RF signal significantly or not. It seems it is indeed being blocked.

Weak RF signals from the base station, with the wrong kind of walls amd construction.

I have no sensor issues even in a long rancher or the basement windows and doors sensors. It's getting through to the OD cameras and doorbells outside. Thats the issue.

And almost certain it's 100 percent mostly weak RF signals. Wifi may be affected a little.

Example; Where the south OD cam is usually 8 seconds to live view, moving the base significantly closer can make it 2 or 3 seconds. Fairly consistently. Actual performance mode....

However, moving the base from original central location, living room, adds plaster walls. Make other cams slow. 8 or more seconds on some. Affected doorbells some in my unscientific experiment.

The supposed improved wifi antennas in doorbells Kurt sent months ago, also have some improvement. But only if in line of sight to the base station. RF also??🀷 Wifi? Still weak antennas?

Moving base affects the doorbells, so maybe they do get RF signals. I don't know.

Anyhow enough for now. I've decided that unless Simplisafe can cough up RF extenders, nothing will change equally in this house.

1.3K Messages

1 month ago

I'm going to reboot WiFi, yet again and see if after things settle to points at new base location, if things are any better. Or not.

1.3K Messages

1 month ago

Ok, not settled actually, but I'm not patient either.😁

I've seen the doorbells that were slow a while ago, open live view in 2 to 3 seconds.

I've seen 4 of 5 outdoor cams open live view in a couple to 3 seconds. One still 8 seconds. Under deck, thru several walls.

🀞NOW, let them rest and try again for consistency. Time will tell.

Moved base to computer room, signals of all sorts everywhere, no interference yet.

1.3K Messages

1 month ago

Ok, waited long enough. Doorbells if they stay have been opening in a couple seconds. Regardless of base location, I think their strictly WiFi.

Couple OD cams are still 8 seconds, three are 2 or 3 seconds. Ill leave the base at new location for now.

Limited in where I can plug it in and make any difference. TBD

1.3K Messages

1 month ago

🀷 I don't know, suddenly went south and back to mostly slow again checking around 10:30 PM.

I'll let them charge up tomorrow. Maybe P Mode supposed figures of kick in and kick out are not completely accurate in the real world.

1.3K Messages

1 month ago

Bunch of black no videos this morning. Just when you think something improved.πŸ€” SMH 

1.3K Messages

1 month ago

Just rebooted WiFi last night. Had to reboot again this morning.πŸ™„

1.3K Messages

1 month ago

Ok, giving up, again and again.πŸ™„

Had a moment of hope with 1.33 that turned into πŸ’© again. Very frustrating waste of my time.

Kicking the can down the road ain't working for me any longer.

1.3K Messages

1 month ago

Now, I have to move the base back, since moving it to test 1.33 OD firmware, farthest north sensors are starting to drop.

Has to be the move, they've never dropped in 19 months. Yada, yada, etc. support rhetoric, I know, batteries are good.

VERY WEAK RF signals.

I'm talking 60 feet indoors.

1.3K Messages

@dlpsr​ Moved the sensor. Easier.

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