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Wednesday, June 16th, 2021 1:06 AM

SimpliSafe for your RV?

I am pretty pleased with Simplisafe that I recently set up in my shop and was wondering if anyone is using it for an RV? Would it work as you travel to different areas? It would be easy to set up all the outside compartments of a motorhome with the stick on sensors and a wireless siren under the hood and get instant text notifications if someone breaks in while you are in the store shopping for instance.

Captain

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5.4K Messages

2 years ago

@bwinkle4 I am not your guy to provide information on this topic, however, sevensiamesecats, I believe, is.  Suggest you do a google site search and see if you come up with his previous posts, or possibly, he will reply to this thread.

24 Messages

2 years ago

Simplisafe is not recommenced for RVing. With professional monitoring, you would need to update your location every time you go to a new location. Since SS released its new plans (https://simplisafe.com/forum/customer-support-forum/installing-and-using-simplisafe/new-subscription-options-brin) you can use no monitoring with your cell phone for self monitoring. Then, it's up to you to call the proper authorities. Since self monitoring only has the "WiFi connect" feature, you would need WiFi connection in your RV.
Still the intruder  can plug out your WiFi router to shut off WifI. If you don't want to get notifications, it'll work well as just a noisemaker.
Seven, what do you think? Anything to add on?
Johnny, can you clarify if it's for use in an RV?
Since I'm not an SS employee, I'm not going to say you should or shouldn't use it in an RV, but keep in mind the things I wrote!

72 Messages

@tech_aiden​ Also, certain features may not/will not be available without monitoring, or full interactive monitoring. Then again, you run into the challenge of requiring an actual registered address for response purposes if you have full interactive monitoring enabled and a subscription for it. Without looking at it and thinking about it, I'm not sure if you can turn off the emergency response and just use interactive monitoring for the ability to access your system from the Simplisafe app and receive alerts, be able to monitor, and review/use settings from the app.

8 Messages

2 years ago

OK Thanks for that info, I didn't realize there would be no text notification without WIFI. Back to the drawing board

Community Admin

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4.8K Messages

2 years ago

bwinkle4,

Right, the Base Station needs to connect to the website and app in some way. Monitoring Service (either the $14.99 or the $24.99 plans) enables the Base Station's cellular connection. But if you'd prefer to go unsubscribed, the Base Station would still need to connect through WiFi.

If you have a WiFi hotspot that you can leave in the RV while you're away, that should be a sufficient connection for alerts (though of course, that would be highly dependent on the reception in the area). But it would be very unlikely that current WiFi hotspots can support cameras.

As already mentioned, if you want Monitoring active, you'll want to change the address whenever you move to a new location. We would also advise giving the local police department a call, in case they have specific ordinances in place for security systems. There are some areas that refuse dispatch unless your location is registered - which might not be worth the trouble of you're only there for a short time.

But we do actually have a growing number of customers with systems in mobile homes - including campers and boats. Our motto is Every home secure., even if it's the tiny kind!

- Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

72 Messages

@bwinkle4 Also, it may be difficult to register to an actual specific address if you're moving around, and/or if there's not official address nearby (which you'll want and need). You would also need to get permission from someone with that official address, or ensure they don't already have an alarm system. Not to mention some areas require permits for response. In addition, registering it to a "non-existent" address, an address not approved by the owner, to an alternate/nearby address, an address with another separate alarm system (or second alarm system), or an address location without a permit could present other legal challenges. The legality of some of the items above, among others, could present separate challenges, not to mention that the legality could, and probably would, from place to place. Good points above from Simplisafe and others though.

24 Messages

2 years ago

Thanks Johnny for the prompt response.

Here's a question for you though, Johnny:

Is there a way to pay the standard monitoring plan just for celluar and no monitoring, so you can just get cell service but no dispatch?

If yes, I think I might work out for an RV.

If no, is there a way to put the entire system on test indefinitely so it results in no police dispatch?

Community Admin

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4.8K Messages

2 years ago

Sadly no, the $14.99 Standard Plan or the $24.99 Interactive Plan would be the way to go if you're looking for cell connectivity.

Our Support team is able to put you on what we call a "No Dispatch" profile. If there was ever an alarm event, you'd still get a call from an operator. But if you were not able to answer, the operator can't call the police on your behalf.
To get that set up, you'd need to call in and confirm your Safe Word passcode, just like any other change that would negatively impact your level of security.

- Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

8 Messages

2 years ago

So it sound like you are saying I can pay for the monitoring and set up a "no dispatch" profile but will still receive a phone call if I am in cell range, will I also receive a text for alarm events?

Community Admin

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4.8K Messages

2 years ago

bwinkle4,

Yep! If your account is on a No Dispatch profile, everything would work as normal, including the dispatch sequence until it's time to call the police.

- Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

8 Messages

2 years ago

Sorry to beat a dead horse but would I get the text message even with no WIFI? Right now I get an immediate text message when there is an alarm event in my shop but I am not yet subscribed to monitoring, although I am connected to WIFI.

Community Admin

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4.8K Messages

2 years ago

No worries, there's a lot of fine details here.

If you have either $14.99 Interactive Monitoring or $24.99 Standard Monitoring, those plans enable the built-in cell connection. So signals for Smart Alerts can use that cell connection instead of your home's WiFI.

- Johnny M.
SimpliSafe Home Security

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

2 years ago

I have the SS2 in my home and another one in my motorhome parked next to the house.  The motorhome sensors are also defined to the house system.  Only the house system is monitored.

This way, the motorhome is "monitored" when it is parked next to the house.  When on the road it is not monitored, although it could be if I was to stay in one place for a while.  It's worked fine for me without monitoring; now with the new monitoring and/or no dispatch options, it sounds like an even better choice for RVs.

When I go into the motorhome or exit the motorhome, I have to keep the status of the home system in mind, as opening the motorhome door has set off the house system a time or two.  This has only been an issue when leaving on a trip or returning from a trip.  When the motorhome is gone the house system complains about sensors not responding, but that's easy to ignore..  

I don't have any cameras in the RV; my wi-fi barely is fast enough to almost work with the house cameras, and cameras being wifi only, would be a problem in the motorhome.  I see T-Mobile is now offering a "fast" internet service, so perhaps that would work in an RV and possibly be fast enough for a camera.

Would SS3 work as well?  I guess so, although it uses WiFi as the primary means of communication and cellular as backup, so I don't know what that would mean for the usability.

72 Messages

@sevensiamesecats@bwinkle4 I didn't realize you had actually linked your RV Simplisafe system to the house (and not separately, or with a separate system/base station). That is cool and a good idea when at home.

I guess on the road, the other items I listed in this thread, may actually still come into play, but still cool, and gets around some of those items I mentioned in that comment (as long as you don't want or need it monitored on the road).

I guess you could have the Simplisafe sensors labeled as "RV/Camper - Front Door Entry", or something similar, etc., so that dispatched authorities, along with the Simplisafe monitoring center, would know they are actually in the RV, instead of the house. This is also what I've heard/seen others do with sheds or other outbuildings.

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

I do have the sensors so labeled.  Not sure it does any good though; the one time they called me for an alarm when I was on the road, they claimed they did not have access to which sensor set off the alarm.

Community Admin

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4.8K Messages

@sevensiamesecats​ right, the Monitoring operators are given limited info about the type of sensor. But the actual labels are only for your Event Log and notifications.

On SimpliSafe Original, sensor names are app-side only. But on Gen 3, those nicknames are actually stored in the Base Station, so they would appear on Keypad and Base Station warnings as well.

1 Message

1 year ago

What I’m reading here is that SimpliSafe is a very flexible system that can be adapted to a motor home, with concessions.

1 Message

1 year ago

Full-time RVer here 🤚 yep - super easy to set up and use in the rig. We just unplug and pack away the base station when we travel, pull our outdoor camera down from outside, and stow away. When we get to our next location, we update our address in the app and we're all set! 👍🏼

Community Admin

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4.8K Messages

@bethb​ that's amazing. Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

(edited)

2 Messages

@bethb​ 

Does the app show all those old locations now?

Do you have the system on "do not notify" or did you leave it so emergency services is called?

Thanks.

(edited)

Community Admin

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4.8K Messages

@wmgilligan​ you don't need to register a new location every time you move. You can just change the address on your current account, right in the app. You can do that at any time, as many times as you like.

6 months ago

Happy Holidays. I have had my Simplisafe in storage for almost a year and am about to add hot to our new pull behind trailer. I have read this string of emails and text. Is there any updates or is this info still most relevant? 

Any new tips for using Simplisafe in your pull behind RV?

Thanks

Community Admin

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4.8K Messages

@betterhomerental​ though it is a couple of years old already, the info we have in this thread is still fairly accurate. There's just a couple of things I would add:

We have since had a price increase in Monitoring Plans - Standard is now $17.99, and Interactive is $27.99. Learn more here.

Advocate

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2.2K Messages

2 months ago

I have a system in my RV and a system in my house.  The house is monitored, the RV is not, because without a fixed address, you can't get dispatch, and I don't know if you can even get notifications without Wi-Fi.  

I "monitor" the RV system when it is parked at home by defining all the RV sensors in the home base.  When on the road, I just use the siren unless I'm staying some place for long enough to add monitoring.

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