Base Station announce Component or Sensor by name

I know the base station can chime when doors or opened. In fact, in test mode it will announce which alarm is triggered. But is there a way for the basement station to always announce which alarm is triggered (for example, have it say "front door", or "patio door").

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stephenwolff1

2 Messages

6 years ago

I have the door chime feature on and I hear the notice when a door or window opens. In test mode, the base actually announces which sensor was triggered. Is there a way to set the door chime to announce the device name in the same way? So it would basically say something like "front door open"

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Announce which door chime was set off

43

G

gpr

50 Messages

To my knowledge the system doesn't have this feature - but seems like a nice feature to have. When you are arming the system and inadvertently leave a door open, it will tell you which door. I believe it tells you on the keypad as well as with a verbal announcement.

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6 years ago

davey_d

Community Admin

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4.8K Messages

@stephen.wolff1

The SimpliSafe system doesn't quite have that feature that you describe.

But if you have the All New SimpliSafe system, paired with Interactive Monitoring, you can set your sensors to Secret Alert. When the system is disarmed, you'll get a Smart Alert (including the sensor's given name) whenever a door is opened.

Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

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6 years ago

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lloyd31

5 Messages

Johnny M., is this a feature that could be added with a software update? I also agree this would be a nice feature.

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6 years ago

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maedhros1980

4 Messages

This is a deal-breaker for my wife. We currently have ADT and it will verbally announce which door is being opened when the system is not set. If she is home and someone enters the house she knows which door they are entering from. Does this keep her any safer? Maybe, maybe not. The intruder is already in the house by then. But she really likes it, it is a function that we already have, and it provides fairly useful information to the owner.

I'd rather go with SimpliSafe. It looks just as good to me with cheaper monitoring. It can't be that hard to add programming such that the system announces "front door", "back door", or "garage door" instead of the generic "entry door". Get this request over to your techies and get it done.

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5 years ago

nra_life_member

88 Messages

100% pure rocket science to SS. A feature thats widely available on other systems and has been forever. I was hopeful the SS3 would finally have it but no dice

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5 years ago

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D

davidnkitchen

2 Messages

5 years ago

I'm comparing SS with a few local companies who mostly use Honeywell. Weighing additional features, local company, installation vs cheaper package. The Honeywell system announces which door is open (ie when someone comes in the front door, the system can announce "front door open"). Does the SS system make a similar announcement? Does it make a ding or anything when a door is opened (when system is not armed)?

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Announce which door?

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captain11

Captain

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5.4K Messages

@david.n.kitchen, suggest you call SS, hit option 1 and ask away. They are friendly and low pressure.

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5 years ago

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sevensiamesecats

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

Keep in mind who is installing your burglar alarm system. If it is you, there is a pretty good chance you are not going to rip yourself off. If it is a "professional installer", then who knows. Some companies hire contractors, so have no background check. So some stranger not only sees what you have, but knows all about your alarm and other security. Some, if not all, companies even have a "secret" PIN which always lets them have access to your system "for maintenance purposes only".

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5 years ago

0

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meltdownblitz

5 Messages

No unfortunately the system only makes a chime sound when a door is opened. I wish it annouced which door was being opened.

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5 years ago

eliseat227

5 Messages

I would like to have a voice notification of which door/window is open instead of just a beep. I lot would be nice to hear “front door open” I know some people find it annoying so there should be an option to have it on or off or only announced for certain sensors.

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled OPTION TO HAVE VOICE NOTIFICATIONS ON OR OFF

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1 year ago

A

archieblackmon

3 Messages

5 years ago

I would like to know if there is another device which will chime and announce when an alarm is triggered? I would like one in my basement and detached garage.

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sevensiamesecats

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

5 years ago

There are external sirens available.

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L

lancerset

3 Messages

5 years ago

Greetings,
Is there a way for the base to say the name of what sensor just activated rather than just beep?
Thanks

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Sensor name announce

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sevensiamesecats

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

For the chime? No.

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5 years ago

0

lance843

Advocate

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793 Messages

5 years ago

Why cant simplisafe make the system announce which door or window is open. I was looking at the cove smart system and they just came out and theres announced which door is open so its not hard to do an over the air update for this to happen. It would help us out a bunch if it would but there is a few things they could do over the air to make things better and this one woukd do it for me. Plus trying to call these people for an issue is the most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. I called cove and they answered right away so if simplisafe cant get things together cove might have to be my next move but i really don't want to, i love simplisafe and there products but just do a simple over the air update so we can have our doors being announced.

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Simplisafe sensors dont announce which sensor is open

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sevensiamesecats

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

"a simple over the air update", eh? And you know it is a) possible and b) easy how? Note that would be impossible for the SS2 system as the names are not available to the base and the code is burned into chips, and thus only updateable via hardware replacement.

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5 years ago

0

lance843

Advocate

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793 Messages

With the new ss3 they can do it i asked them last time i was on the phone with them they said they haven't came out with that but if they did it would be a simple over the air update but they dont know if or when they would do it

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5 years ago

sevensiamesecats

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

ah, but since the knowledge of the people of the phone "varies", how reliable is that statement from one telephone person?

Maybe it is so, maybe not, and we won't have any clue until the feature is released (and probably not even then since announcing improvements is not a SS philosophy)

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5 years ago

0

lance843

Advocate

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793 Messages

Lol your right but i also went on Facebook and asked them the same question yesterday and they said a whole bunch of people have been asking that question and as of now its not in the works but if it is it will be an over the air deal but they will let us know lol yea we will see if that ever happens. My neighbor has cove smart security and they just came out and theres announces with a (bing front door open) so that would be awesome because my kids are always opening doors and we keep going which door was that lol so i hope they do that update other than that love the system

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5 years ago

jloco

96 Messages

I suppose it could be a handy option for some as long as it's not the default. The simple 'ding' is enough for me.

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5 years ago

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alexlude23

10 Messages

5 years ago

It already does this in Test Mode, why cant we have an option to either sound the basic chime or announce the entry sensor "Name" that we've put a name to?

Would be useful if upstairs to hear "Kitchen" vs "Window" vs "Front Door".

I've heard from Tech Support many others have been asking for this feature as well.

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Is there a way to have base station announce Entry Sensor "Name" vs chime when the entry sensor is triggered?

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J

jimezzo

2 Messages

4 years ago

Is there any way to get the base station to announce which entry sensor has been opened?
For example, if the window in the back of the house was opened, the base station could say "Office Window Open'.
The way it works now(doorbell chime only), has you running around the house looking for the window or door that was opened.

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Base Station announcement

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sevensiamesecats

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

No, there is not. The closest you can come is to put it into "test" mode, when it will then say "entry sensor". Which is little more helpful than a chime, and I think test mode times out fairly quickly.

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4 years ago

0

doodah

2 Messages

I've had a couple false smoke detector events that triggered alarms at night. Not having a verbal announcement of which smoke detector is alarming (we have 3, including two out of earshot) is a real hindrance in determining the location of the source of the alarm. Reading an alert text on my cell phone is impossible when central dispatch is calling me on the same phone. I have had to resort to asking dispatch what & where triggered the alarm. This is not an acceptable design by any stretch of the imagination.

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1 year ago

S

susan5656

2 Messages

4 years ago

I just installed my system and still trying to get used to all features. However, I just realized that the home base would not verbally announce which door is open but just a short beep.

This might be a deal-breaker for me as it's impossible to hear anything when the room is not quite or if I'm in another room. One of the main reasons for getting this system is to be clearly notified whenever someone opens a door so everyone feels safer at home (especially a multi-floor home) however this system is obviously lacking this feature. Will this be updated anytime soon?

Thank you.

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Verbal announcement when doors are open

2

whoaru99

1.3K Messages

This request has been around for years but you see how it is.

Best you can do is set the sensors to Alert Only and get SMS notification. The base will not announce but your cell phone will.

But, you need the interactive monitoring plan, and setting sensor to Alert Only gives the SMS notice (even in Off mode) but set that way the sensor will never trigger an actual alarm.

You could put two sensors on important doors but most rather would not.

Aside from those things, your only other option is return if you can't be without door announcement. I strongly urge NOT holding your breath while waiting for it.

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4 years ago

0

coltmaster1

Advocate

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2.8K Messages

You can set your individual siren to chime along with the base station chime (and both have options for volume for low/med/high). There is no feature to announce which door/window sensor or any other sensor is open or closed (except in Test Mode, which announces the named sensor, or, when you have a door or window open when you arm the system, the base will announce "sensor open" - but won't tell you which one - in that case, if you have SS3, look on your keypad display, it will have a caution icon or "!" at the top left of the display, press on it and it will tell you which sensor is open).

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4 years ago

0

holdernevins

4 Messages

3 years ago

How do you change the chime setting so that for instance, if the front door opens the systems says "front door" (or something of this nature) instead of just beeping?

thanks,

Holder

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled How to change sensor chimes to verbal announcement

32

usmaak

335 Messages

That can't be done. You get the beep. That's it.

It's something I'd like to see as well. It can announce the sensor when you are programming it in, you'd think it could also do so for the chime.

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3 years ago

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bford3_1

4 Messages

Simple safe for some unknown reason cant change the beep when a door opens instead of the useful "back door". I guess you get what you pay for yep it is simple alright.

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3 years ago

B

bford3_1

4 Messages

Simple safe for what ever unknown reason cant call out "back door" instead of a couple of beeps. That does not identify where the door or window us being opened. The home owner cant run around the house finding if a friend or foe is coming in, pretty lame for a security system

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3 years ago

T

texashalletts

3 Messages

SimpliSafe, are your support folks engaged with the customer forums to assist with answering these questions and helping customers resolve issues?

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3 years ago

sevensiamesecats

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

At a guess, no :-)

The only way to maintain your sanity with SS is to expect that the way it is now is the way it always will be. Then if they do make a change you like, it will be a pleasant surprise, and if they don't, you won't be annoyed.

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3 years ago

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wilmotdrew

2 Messages

3 years ago

HI Folks at SimpliSafe

New user and I was super excited to get your system as when I bought it I was told that the base station would chime and also announce which sensor was tripped (i.e. if someone opened the garage door). Unfortunately this isn't the case at there is just a chime that sounds when any sensor is tripped.

After playing around with the system I noticed that in "Test" mode the base station actually announces the sensor name (i.e. Garage Door) which is exactly what I was looking for. From a software perspective it appears you have the attributes available for sensor name, so is there anything on your Road map to have the normal operation utilize the sensor "name" with the chime?

I've seen many hits when I googled this so hoping you can shed some light on this as many folks are asking for it.

Thanks Very Much,
Drew

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Having Sensor Chime announce sensor name

1

usmaak

335 Messages

Simplisafe doesn't pay any attention to this forum and is very unlikely to ever answer your post.

You are right, this is a top request. I'd like to see this too. A lot.

Best you can do is call them and talk to them about it. I'm not saying that they'll care or implement it, but it definitely won't get any attention here.

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3 years ago

I

info131

4 Messages

3 years ago

I'm new to the Simplisafe so if this has been asked I apologize. Instead of just a chime alert when the system is off and a sensor is opened, how about an option to have a voice alert such as "Front Door" when that sensor it opened. I would find this useful especially on doors.

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Sensor Voice Prompts

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sevensiamesecats

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

Been asked for for years. No indication if or when they will do it.

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3 years ago

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I

info131

4 Messages

Interesting, given that the system in "Test Mode" announces the name of each sensor as its tested. It would seen that it would be a simple programming change to make that happen. Thanks for the update.

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3 years ago

0

sevensiamesecats

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

There are three possibilities:

1) it is not a simple programming change. Only those who are quite familiar with the hardware and software can determine how simple it is and whether it is economically practical to do it.

2) Their development team or process has a hole in it which this keeps slipping through

3) It does not fit with the design of the original Harvard engineer (or was it Yale) and they won't go against that.

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3 years ago

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captain11

Captain

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5.4K Messages

SInce I don't use any voice prompts now or over the past 9 years, I don't have a horse in this race, but just wanted to say, seven, it was Harvard. Hey, look at the bright side, at least it wasn't Notre Dame!

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3 years ago

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nprez83

7 Messages

I wholeheartedly second that request, I'm currently testing two systems simultaneously, Cove and Simplisafe. There are things I like more about one system vs. the other, but to the point of this thread, one of the things I like about Cove is that it announces the entry sensor that is opened. I have 3 doors alarmed (front, back, and basement) as well as several windows, so I agree with the OP that this functionality would be very useful, particularly as I think about the best way to protect my wife and two children during a break-in while we're home. By the way, I know what some of you will think, "maybe just call 911 and let them do their job?", and I totally agree with that statement and will definitely do that. But I'm also a U.S. Marine, so I'm definitely not going down without a fight. Being the dominant player that Simplisafe is in the DIY security systems arena, this feature seems like it would only make many people happy and those who don't want it can just disable it and keep only the chime or nothing.

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2 years ago

B

barbkrienke

2 Messages

2 years ago

I just set my alarm to home mode for the evening. It activated but told me that one of my sensors was open (I can't remember the exact words). Since all of my sensors have a specific name, it would be much more helpful if I was also notified which specific sensor was not secured. Then I wouldn't have to walk all over the house trying to figure out which one needed closing. Thanks for letting us make suggestions to make SimpliSafe even better! Barb

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled "Entry Sensor Open" voice prompt should announce each sensor by name

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sevensiamesecats

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

You could go into the app and look at the sensor status to find out which sensor is open (or thinks it is open). Not as easy as you would want, but better than walking all around the property, especially since the sensor which thinks it is open is not always obvious.

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2 years ago

0

simplisafe_admin

Community Admin

•

510 Messages

Hi @barb.krienke,

In addition to what @sevensiamesecats mentioned, you can also check to see which Entry Sensors are open directly on the Keypad. Whenever an Entry Sensor is open, you should see a ‚ö† Warning Icon on the right side of the Keypad screen. Clicking on the right side of the screen will take you into the notification center where you can then see any notifications regarding which sensors may be open. That being said, we'll pass along your suggestion to have that built into the audible warning as well.

SimpliSafe Social Team
SimpliSafe Home Security

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2 years ago

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bcr_hobbyist

6 Messages

An audible warning of an open sensor would be great!

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2 years ago

rdeann

2 Messages

2 years ago

The next gen 3 software update needs to include the option of having the open entry point device name mentioned from the base station instead of just a chime. I have four doors and I would like to know which one is being opened. I think it's a lot more safer and it seems like it would be simple.

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Open entry chime options

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davey_d

Community Admin

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4.8K Messages

Thank you for the feedback, rdean. I'll note it for our devs.

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2 years ago

0

allergydoc57

8 Messages

Exactly what I want, too. It does this in test mode so I know it can be done.

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2 years ago

worthing

Advocate

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603 Messages

I'm pretty sure it does this if you choose a name for the sensor from the list but not if you enter a custom name. The system isn't doing text to speech and they can't pre-program a voice for a custom name since it's custom.

Edit: Updated to reflect that my statement is not correct. (Though I would still swear it used to do this...)

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2 years ago

0

j_dub

5 Messages

Plus one on this one!! We've been asking for this for a while now. The system can do this in test mode, so it shouldn't be too hard to make a feature to allow the user to choose which audible alerts play.

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2 years ago

mel_eacd91

7 Messages

Just adding this. I often consider other options because of this. I have a two story home. If someone breaks into our basement vs. our main level bedroom, I would love to know at 2am rather than taking the time to open the app find out how to get to opened sensors. If its a life or death situation, I'd like to know where the threat is coming from so I can prepare.

This feature has been requested for years. It has to be the only system out there that doesnt have it. How many features are the teams working on?

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2 years ago

BillAggie

19 Messages

2 years ago

The Simply Safe a system has great annunciation at the base but if you have a large home or multiple floors you have to rely on remote sirens which are terrible annunciators!

SimpliSafe missed an opportunity to include Annunciation through the keypads which apparently have already all the technology necessary to act as annunciators and chime with voice prompts on alarms!

SimpliSafe should investigate the possibility of using Amazon's echo dot devices as base station repeaters, or create some vehicle by which the actual base station audio output can be replicated at different areas in the house. This would turn the system from good to excellent.

Another option is to put push type chime and voice annunciations into the SS App. This would at least allow the user to know what is going on in detail when they are out of hearing range of the base!

No complaints on the function of the alarm features but the interface to the user leaves a lot to be desired.

SimpliSafe did not follow the conventional industry wisdom with how keypads interface to the users and act as annunciators. If I am downstairs and somebody opens the front door and I am not within earshot of the base, I have no clue what's going on. I may not even here the Annunciation of the chime feature. A terrible waste on otherwise excellent system layout. SimpliSafe moved the benchmark up in low cost DIY alarm technology but terribly botched the at-site user experience.

I am a retired alarm industry executive and understand the trials and tribulations of alarm design and the compromises for cost, etc. But mostly here it is a design shortcoming as these features would not be expensive to incorporate. Because the Annunciation and chime feature is a critical feature for me I'm actually considering returning my system for something else.

I need the Base annunciation at all levels of my home and at each area there is a keypad.

Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled Poor Annunciation

4

worthing

Advocate

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603 Messages

I have nothing to add other than I rarely see "annunciate" used and I genuinely appreciate your use of it here. :)

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2 years ago

tech_aiden

24 Messages

Currently there is no base station speaker "repeater" available. However, the Simplisafe siren

can mimic the door chimes and keypad arming/disarming beeps. Of course, the siren will also amplify the base station's 80 decibel siren by adding a supplementary shreking 120db siren to your system.

Other then that, I don't think I have a solution for you. I'm sorry

-tech_aiden

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2 years ago

0

BillAggie

19 Messages

@tech_aidenI

I have the siren stations, believe it or not, 5 of them! The chime is a very important feature to me as it gives me knowledge in this large home if someone were to enter while the system is off. However, the siren chime feature is not hearing impaired friendly. The most common type of hearing impairment is high frequency loss. Many people start with that problem then it gets worse from there. The tones SS used for the chime on the siren is in the tonal range of hearing impaired. I can tell that a younger person or a perfect hearing person designed the tones and thought they are ok. I can stand 2 rooms away from the chime and not hear it. I bet most young folks could hear it across the street. If you have any technical persuasiveness with SS, give us a high low tone and a large percentage of the older folks will at least hear the low one.

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2 years ago

0

BillAggie

19 Messages

@tech_aiden

I read your bio. I owned a large regional Central Station alarm company in Virginia since 1972. Sold out in 2014.

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2 years ago

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greenbeefclaw

Base Station announce Component or Sensor by name

stephenwolff1

gpr

davey_d

lloyd31

maedhros1980

nra_life_member

davidnkitchen

captain11

sevensiamesecats

meltdownblitz

eliseat227

archieblackmon

sevensiamesecats

lancerset

sevensiamesecats

lance843

sevensiamesecats

lance843

sevensiamesecats

lance843

jloco

alexlude23

jimezzo

sevensiamesecats

doodah

susan5656

whoaru99

coltmaster1

holdernevins

usmaak

bford3_1

bford3_1

texashalletts

sevensiamesecats

wilmotdrew

usmaak

info131

sevensiamesecats

info131

sevensiamesecats

captain11

nprez83

barbkrienke

sevensiamesecats

simplisafe_admin

bcr_hobbyist

rdeann

davey_d

allergydoc57

worthing

j_dub

mel_eacd91

BillAggie

worthing

tech_aiden

BillAggie

BillAggie

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