New system parts vs. older systems

Did you order thru the website, make a phone call, or order them from another reseller?  If I try to order through the SS site it clearly asks me if I want to expand the new system or the old system.

But if you bought them from SS you can send them back easy enough.

@dkildebeck

I see that we recently replied to your email on this same question, so you might already have the answer you were looking for.

But if you're talking about your last order, those are definitely components for the SimpliSafe Original, and not the All New SimpliSafe (which was released in January 2018). If you're seeing errors, there might be some other issue that is preventing communication. Please refer to the email reply for further details.

Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

I too am quite disappointed that Simplisafe did not extend a discount to it's current customers using the old system. They may be pleasantly surprised that many customers using the old system would opt to upgrade had the option been given(at least this is what all of my friends using the old system have indicated to me). It's also unfortunate that the new build would not be back compatible with the old sensors so existing customers would just have to purchase a new base station rather being forced to change the system in it's entirety. I was considering adding a few more sensors but I'm hesitant now as there is no guarantee that the old system won't be orphaned within a couple of years. This was, in my opinion, a bad call on Simplisafe's part and does a huge disservice to their existing customers. This is not to say that I'm unhappy with my current system but as a small business owner, customer retention is key to my success and this stance by Simplisafe calls into question their business model. That being said, I will continue to use Simplisafe but now, I will most certainly seriously consider other security alarm systems for my home if/when an upgrade/replacement becomes necessary.

@dmj196531

We are absolutely committed to supporting the SimpliSafe Original for as long as you need it. However, you might not already know that we've been rolling out a Trade-Up Upgrade Program for all of our customers with active service. You might want to check your email address (don't forget to also check spam!) for an email from us with your unique offer code!

Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

It does not.  New system only talks to properly encrypted devices.

Maybe I'm not as tech savvy as everyone on this thread.....I have the old system and everything about it seems just fine. I guess the real bummer will be when there is no more COPS monitoring for it....hope that never happens?  In the meantime, sensors, motion detectors, glass breakage, water sensor....everything works great.  Am I missing something here?

The problem will not be COPS.  The old system will never get any of its problems fixed, and never will have any new functions or accessories.  At some point in time, it is possible the phone connection won't work any more (down level format retired).

Other than that, yeah, if it does everything you want now, there is no pressing need to upgrade.  At some time in the future you might be "forced" to upgrade.  Or maybe not.

This was already answered months ago in another thread but without a search tool you would not easily find it. The smoke, Co and all other sensors from SS2 are not compatible with SS3. The cameras are.

I did not know there was an SS3 until today and now in reading this forum I find that the new keypad is backlit which I really need. BUT, it turns out the new is not compatible with the old. Also in reading the forum they state sometime back in August 2018 they sent email to current customers offering upgrade discount. Never received such email or offer and I am a monthly paying current customer.  Sheesh SS, keep us updated and offer a discount to loyal old current customers  thanks!

jazzman, call them and ask for the 40%off discount - if they say no, ask for a supervisor and request it again.

As part of the 40% deal, you will have to return your SS2 base, keypad and master keyfob using the prepaid label they send.

It would not work.  The old system is not encrypted and the new system is, so they "do not speak the same language".  The old devices will see the new signals as gibberish, and the new system will see the old signals as invalid.

Well, I've got an original system, and over the past ~4 years, I've had more & more days where I arm it at night and get "No Link to Dispatch Center".  The cell radio is so old and the towers are moving to newer 4G, so the signal strength is not getting any better.  Put that on top of the encryption debacle from a couple years and it looks like I need a new system - because, as others have pointed out, nothing from the original can be carried forward.

I liked Simplisafe for its variety of sensors, and knowing that I could expand and upgrade it to do a lot of different things.  The app has been a bit disappointing, but it has made some progress - and the web dashboard is neat.  But I'm having to look at a whole new system, which means I'm now comparing to a lot of other available options now versus ~4 years ago when I first looked through all this.

And Simplisafe has lost a lot of goodwill with me.  With the encryption debacle, the half-baked upgrade discounts it has floated, and the fact that I'm paying for premium monitoring, but currently I can only connect to the dispatch center half the time. I don't mind upgrading for new features and even paying a premium for them, but having to shell out again for a whole new system in less than 4 years doesn't really sit well.  That has really spurred me to look at other options, and in the current market, I've found better alternatives.  I'll be dropping Simplisafe, and I guess the old system can function as a local alarm at some point down the road, if I ever need it - though I won't be surprised if SS drops support for it before I can find a use for it.

@stede, I have placed 27 systems, many of them SS2 so when I read your post I called my two brother-in-laws a neighbor and a former co worker to ask how their SS2 systems were doing.  Of the 4 calls, all said their old SS2 systems were not experiencing connection issues.  I know a sample with an n of 4 is not statistically significant but do urge you to call Support and troubleshoot, if you are so inclined.

stede,

You could still call and ask SS for the upgrade offer, if they say no, ask for a supervisor and state your case :)

Another option is asking for a different cell module for your current SS2 - if for example, you had a tmobile module, ask SS for the verizon module instead - seems a ton of folks got their connections established and consistent with a different module.  They are easy to replace in the base station - SS usually sends an instruction sheet with them, just call and ask (at least to see if that's the current problem with your connection)

That is, if you decide to stay with SS.