‎App-enabled Base Station Replacement Process | SimpliSafe Support Home
 
krstrick's profile

Thursday, December 22nd, 2022 1:07 AM

1

App-enabled Base Station Replacement Process

There has to be an easier way than having to reinstall and rename every sensor, it can apparently remember some cameras.

I suggest there be a way to save it all to the app, change the base and then send it all back to the base from then app.

Official Solution

Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

2 years ago

Hi,

Thanks for the suggestion. We'll pass it on to our devs.

I can provide reasoning as to the current system. On the SimpliSafe Original, you're able to add just the serial numbers on the app or online account, to register them in the Base Station. But you could literally enter any random 5-digit string, and it may be hours or days before you would realize that there was an error.

On the Gen 3 system, you are required to press the 'test' button on every sensor, which has a two-in-one function: first, the sensor is announcing itself to the Base Station, which eliminates fussing with serial numbers, and minimizes confusion about which sensor installed where is currently being set up. Second, if the sensor's signal can make it to the Base Station at all, that's proof that the sensor is able to connect.

I do understand that it's not the most convenient process, especially with replacements where you'd have sensors all over your house. 

20 Messages

@davey_d​ I think you left out one very important PITA step, One that made a 5 minute job take well over an hour. You not only have to press the button on the sensor. You also have to rename each and every sensor, then reset the programming, if any, on each and every sensor, instant trigger or not, disable in the various modes, etc.  Simple pressing the button is not the big deal. If I was aware of this I would have better documented my settings before having to start from scratch. I suggest you remove OLD, incorreect instructions from your site as the process I saw posted by you was the number one hit from google, and it pertained to SS3.

(edited)

Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

We sincerely appreciate the feedback. You're correct, since the new Base Station doesn't have that info stored, you would also have to give a name to each sensor.

If you're installing using the Keypad, I would suggest taking the Keypad off the wall around with you as you go around your house pressing the Test Buttons. The Keypad does have some pregenerated names to select through.

But if you have a lot of sensors, or if you have a lot of custom names to enter, then I would suggest going through the SimpliSafe app, by going to Menu > My System > Device Settings > Add Sensor. I personally find typing text through your phone's keyboard way easier than using the Keypad.

And regarding older info on this forum; unfortunately it's not always feasible to review thousands of old posts for potentially outdated info. But we do keep the info on the Help Center as up-to-date as possible.

(edited)

20 Messages

2 years ago

Just went through this yesterday. That is the way it is. Knew a replacement base station was coming. Did the research to make it go smooth. In the end all settings and devices were lost and had to be setup from scratch.

Funny thing is, I found the exact process on a post from none other than Davy_D, the admin here. It clearly stated that all setting and device would remain. Wrong.

Tech support was zero help. A 5 minute job took over an hour.

(edited)

Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

@sandy​ apologies. Previously that was the case  - sensor data would be pulled from the old Base Station and pre-installed in the replacement. However, this often proved to be unreliable, with the system having outdated info, or data that couldn't be pulled at all. The current state is that Base Stations are sent fresh without any pre-programmed data.

138 Messages

HUGE Thumbs down to the "Current State". That's frankly - customer hostile. Having to fix a couple would be preferable to having to manually add 20+

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