β€ŽTestimonial After two years of frustrations, which continues, almost my SS anniversary πŸ˜†πŸ˜‰ | SimpliSafe Support Home
 
dlpsr's profile

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Wednesday, November 20th, 2024 7:39 PM

Testimonial After two years of frustrations, which continues, almost my SS anniversary πŸ˜†πŸ˜‰

Business strategy here appears to be monitoring fees not customer service. Nor does it seem to be customer satisfaction either. Paid or not.

My cheap cameras app and cameras features run circles around these with many free features, paid app extras (inexpensive) is even better.

Including many requested free features seen here in this forum for years. That's from a less than $100 million annualized company, vs reported to be $400 to $700 million annualized revenue company. It's probably not money.

I can't even stay logged in here any longer than a day since downgrading to self monitoring. Fluke? Punishment? Pay us? Who knows and who cares? Proves my point above I suppose.

Not a very smart business strategy IMHO, because it becomes quite obvious.

I still own approximately $1,600.00 worth of mostly useless now, cameras & related hardware.

And until I don't own them or until I achieve full satisfaction, defined by me, one way or another, I'm entitled to be here expressing my opinion, even with the PITA logouts, which I'll endure. Even then.πŸ€”πŸ˜’πŸ˜‚ You can't get rid of me that easy. Barring banning me.

SS still arms, a still shot once in a while, live views after they finally wake upπŸ₯±, arming, useless detection notifications and dead timeline events, sensors still work for alarms etc.. About it.

Backup sensors alarm redundancy to my actual home brewed alarm system.

The question is why are they so resistant to the so many simple customer usage requests forum wide, for years?

My cheap cams have a plethora of free features. 24/7/365, SD card recordings being one of the most important. (I'm paid, so full featured)

It would certainly go a long way towards customer satisfaction whether paying monitoring fees or not. Especially if paying or expecting one to come back again.

However, as word of mouth and social media spreads, it's to your own detriment.

Your choices, your decisions etc..of course.

And one very dissatisfied customers opinions only, of course.

My portion of blame is not doing my due diligence and making a very poor investment in Simplisafes services and hardware.

Be smarter than me all future customers.

1K Messages

19 days ago

Yep and now multiple sensors are always saying not responding even putting new batteries in all sensors, deleting and re adding to system, rebooting the base and still get it. Looking at eufy security and all there cameras. 10 bucks a month for 24/7 monitoring and no subscription for camera storage. 

1.4K Messages

​@lance843​ I thought you were a fan. I'm shocked. 😲 Expect a possible call and what comes with it.πŸ€”

Anyhow, welcome to the disgruntled club.

Just teasing, don't get mad at me and holler at me now. Sorry to hear you're having typical and ongoing Simplisafe issues.

Actually the RF in your base may be dieing. Or you moved and have thicker or more walls now. Weak RF this device.

I know you're experienced, so no more suggestions. You're welcome to ask or DM if you wish.

Sometimes it takes experiencing issues with a product to finally recognize the issues and inherent weaknesses.

My own home grown security is also $10 for monitoring, if I wanted it. Of course it's all DIY too.

A challenge yes, although easy enough if one is a bit computer literate, can read and follow directions.

Works great, but my responsibility to write the automations. Does have issues if programmed wrong or installed improperly or not following directions properly..not for me though. Bad automation occasionally. πŸ˜‚ 

IMHO, all residential providers have product issues, I've visited their forums to check on them, out of curiosity. I'll never buy one of those again.

Again, sorry to hear, but not shocked.

I will make this suggestion, look at something not RF. Good luck, however it turns out.. and I'll also say, the one you mentioned is unlicensed RF at 433.92 mhz, I think. Search and do the due diligence. Zwave and ZigBee sensors have power extension routers or extenders.

1K Messages

@dlpsr​ nothing has moved or added, everything has been in the same spot 9 years now so something must be going on for all sensors just saying not responding and video doorbell sorta kicking the bucket on me especially when I needed it a few days ago but thank God my poe cameras got it all. I have deleted all sensors and re added, put new batteries in all sensors and deleted video doorbell and hard reset and re added and still issues. No I'm not calling ss as the customer service will tell me to do everything I have already did 10 times already so I'm thinking about just getting rid of the monthly monitoring and just pay for the camera cloud storage or look at something else not sure as I have always been a simplisafe fan and never wanted to leave, I mean I have two Facebook groups for simplisafe and even a YouTube channel about simplisafe but when you can't count on your equipment anymore you have to start thinking about things. I have setup over 30 systems for people and now I'm getting calls from them about same issue same and some are saying now there getting alarms happening frommotion sensors and they have been in same location forever and even batteries replaced so o don't know anymore. 

1.4K Messages

@lance843​ Yep, unfortunately I'm not much help. You're already experienced.

I wouldn't personally install any just to stay out of the potential liability issues that could arise. I don't have millions of dollars of liability insurance anymore.

As @captain11  would say, you just pushed my long response button. πŸ˜†

I am sorry to hear it though, but unfortunately I personally believe it was inevitable. A sooner or later thing.

I have seen enough sensor drops on the forum to make me dizzy. And cameras and doorbells issues to make me want to start drinking. (Kidding, 2 or 3 beer limit, rarely)

There could also be many reasons. A nearby same frequency device stomping on your SimpliSafe RF stuff. Base RF power degradation. Firmware issues. Etc.etc.🀷

I also dropped to self with cameras last year and now completely dropped to just self monitoring.

I added a second base station to possibly increase the RF signal. SS provided it free for their part. And it does help. Like an RF extender.. similar to my ZigBee sensors signal extenders

I didn't add SS sensors, it was a test for outdoor cameras wake time for live view.

Strangely, the cameras still have their slow moments, but separated on two base stations, they seem to work better than they ever did, but not consistently ever.

Solar powered OD SS cams.

I would pay for self with cameras just to get a little use from them, but can't tie two base stations together on one account. Not going to pay twice. So their there as a visual deterrent. πŸ˜„

Like you, I have many other brand cameras, they have inexpensive cloud storage and SD, 24/7 recordings. And some continue recording to SD even without WiFi being up. As long as powered. Maybe all, have checked.

I've found it best to diversify my hardware and cameras. Even if only wifi.

Recent reports of jamming WiFi brands is making news recently. Famous football players robbed when at games, family also not home, but at the game. Jammers.

Apartment package thief in the news, owner away, oddly doorbell camera stops working briefly, packages disappear etc etc. cameras magically starts working again shortly after theft.πŸ€”

I could run Ethernet and POE, but at my age, I'm not certain it matters anymore.

Home Assistant would integrate easily say for, Reolink POE or Unifi POE pretty easily, but thats another $1,000 or $1,500 outlay and setup time. Ethernet runs, POE switch etc. etc.

I'm actually quite happy with my cheap WiFi cams. App features galore, SD storage. Disposable prices. Uptime very good. Occasionally, as with any device a failure or stuck IR etc.

I know of your groups etc. and understand. A lot of work there.

You could or must have an inside email tech contact after all these years, maybe email them, or DM me, I'll send you my contact.

Perhaps they can increase RF by adjustment, perhaps not, replace the base etc.

They always assume we're all idiots with their hardware, low level support especially and admins here.

Your decision how to proceed. I personally wouldn't sell one system to my worst enemy. Too many different home construction types, different walls, siding, etc. etc. and as mentioned, liability.

As to the SS doorbell(s) issues, it or they may just be dieing. The inside guy sent me two free supposed improved doorbells. They are significantly better than the old doorbells. No RF there, just WiFi as you know.

They open fairly consistently, and in about, 2 to 4 seconds. The old models were pathetic.

I've tested their equipment like I'm a lab rat. They don't care, never follow-up for any improvement, ask any questions. NADA. Don't give a πŸ’© apparently.

They just keep selling it, cameras, sensors and monitoring fees, which actually I wouldn't pay for again. For my own reasons.

I also in my testing, played and messed with various WiFi router settings recently. And I think I left some in the wrong last working setting.

Recent cameras disconnects, both brands which hinted router. Changed or checked the setting for 20/40 mhz coexistence on and the issues disappeared. πŸ˜‚  For now.

You are a VIP customer, add up the monitoring fees and hardware fees you've brought in. Contact, be firm, get a competent supervisor on the phone and ignore the try this, move your base here and there, reset the doorbell etc.etc. BS.

If you certain all WiFi and ISP have no issues, which isn't RF related anyhow, then it's simply, Simplisafe. Finicky stuff IMHO.

I'm sticking with my home brewed system. Gives an old guy something to keep the brain busy. And works. So far. πŸ˜‚ 

Apologies for the long rant. Good luck, whatever you decide.

1.4K Messages

17 days ago

They should give you an entirely new and complete system. 10 years is way past end of life for most equipment. You've earned it.

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