Base Station
Get the most out of your SimpliSafe system by getting answers to your questions and support for your devices.

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What does the error "Power Outage" mean?
In the event that you lose power, your Base Station has four (4) NiMH (nickel-metal hydride) rechargeable batteries that can keep your system powered for up to 24 hours. During this time, you’ll still be able to arm and disarm your system using the Keypad.
You’ll be able to live stream from your SimpliCam® or Video Doorbell Pro, so long as you retain a Wi-Fi connection. Live streams will not be available for the Outdoor Camera or Smart Alarm Indoor Camera during a power outage. Recordings that occurred prior to the power outage will also be available for viewing.
This behavior from your system is a power-saving feature designed to keep your Base Station supplied with power in the event an alarm occurs.
Within 1 minute of the Base Station losing power, your Keypad will display a text-based error message that reads:
Power Outage
You are still protected.
Backup batteries are in use as of now.
You will also receive a timeline event for the power outage on the SimpliSafe® Mobile App. If you have push notifications enabled, you will also receive an alert when a power outage occurs, and another one once power has been restored.
If you are receiving this error and there is not an active power outage in your area, please try the following:
Unplug the Base Station’s power cord, either from the wall outlet or the Base Station itself
Wait at least 60 seconds, or until you receive another Power Outage notification from the SimpliSafe® Mobile App
Plug the Base Station’s power cord back in
After 60 seconds, you will receive a Power Restored notification from the SimpliSafe® Mobile App
Next, arm your system to HOME mode, then disarm it by setting it to OFF
This will ensure that the message clears from the mobile app and test that your system is properly arming and disarming itself
If the Power Outage notification does not clear after taking steps 1-5, you’ll want to check what batteries are in the Base Station.
Disarm your system
Unplug your Base Station from power by removing the power cable from the bottom of it
Use a Philips head screwdriver to remove the security screw, underneath where the power cable was
Twist the cover off the bottom of the Base Station to expose the batteries
After removing the battery cover on the bottom of the Base Station, confirm that there are 4 1.2V, 1300 mAh NiMH batteries in the Base Station.
You should never place regular alkaline batteries in the Base Station. If there are alkaline batteries in there, replace them with 4 1.2V, 1300 mAh NiMH batteries.
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Base Station
Base Station LED Status Light Colours
The lights listed below are the only colours that the Base Station will display. If you are seeing a colour that is not listed try changing the lighting in the room, as this can affect the look of the coloured lights.
LED Status
Description
Off
System is Unarmed.Blue
System is Armed, Home or Away.Blue (rear only)
Wall Power Light. Indicates that the Base Station's power adapter is currently supplying power. This setting is off by default.
Yellow
Update Downloading/Installing to Keypad.Yellow "Search Light"
Base Station Update Installing.Slow Red Pulse (once every 8-10s)
Minor Error: Check Keypad for details. Examples include radio interference.Continuous Red Pulse
Recent Alarm. Pulses for 1-2 minutes before turning solid red.Solid Red
Recent Alarm. Remains solid until the alarm notification is dismissed on the Keypad, or the system is disarmed and re-armed.White
Accessing menu via Keypad, Test mode.Double White Blink
Confirmation. For example, when a Keypad setting is changed.White "Search Light"
Setup and Naming Mode or Base Station is Searching for nearby Wi-Fi Networks.
Always On Single, White LED
This setting can be toggled on or off in the Base Station Settings.
Blinking Yellow
Trouble Light. Indicates a system fault, such as a battery malfunction for the Base Station, or a component is not responding or marked as offline for your system.
Solid Yellow
Radio board is disconnected. Contact SimpliSafe® Support for assistance.
Flashing Green (lasts 3-5 seconds)
Video Doorbell Pro is currently ringing
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Base Station
Base Station Installation Guide
Overview
The Base Station is the brains of your system. It sends alarm signals to the monitoring centre* with built-in network backup and Wi-Fi connections, a battery backup that lasts up to 24 hours, and a 100 dB siren.
When a sensor on your system is triggered, it sends a signal to the Base Station, which sounds the loud, 100 dB siren and notifies you immediately. If the Base Station is unplugged or the power goes out, the backup battery keeps you covered for up to 24 hours. With a monitoring plan, the Base Station will alert the Securitas® monitoring centre who will request emergency dispatch if there’s trouble.
*When subscribed to a professional monitoring plan
Looking to purchase? You can build a custom system or select a pre-built package on our website
Before Getting Started
Before installing your Base Station, you’ll want to download the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your phone or tablet. If you haven’t already done so, you’ll also need to create a SimpliSafe® Account.
What’s in the Box
Base Station
An AC adapter with a 6-foot power cord
Only use NiMH Rechargeable Batteries - never insert regular, alkaline batteries into your Base Station!
Watch this video from our team of experts for a hands-on installation experience
Use the guided flow below for an interactive, step-by-step experience that will help you through the installation process.
Troubleshooting
Related Articles
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Base Station
How to Find the MAC Address of a SimpliSafe® Device
In some instances, you may need to add the MAC Address of a SimpliSafe® product to your network’s allow list or firewall in order for it to connect to Wi-Fi. A MAC Address is a unique, 12-character alphanumeric attribute that is used to identify individual electronic devices on a network.
Only the Base Station and the Cameras will provide a MAC Address, as they connect to Wi-Fi. Other SimpliSafe® products connect to the Base Station using Radio Frequency (RF).
Note: If you have MAC Address filtering enabled on your network, you may need to temporarily disable it while setting up your camera, to allow it to connect. You’ll be able to determine the MAC Address to add to your allow list once the device is connected.
Base Station
For the Base Station, you will need to use your Keypad to locate its MAC Address.
Press Menu on your Keypad
Enter your Primary PIN
Using the arrow keys, select System Settings
Then choose Diagnostics
Use the right arrow and toggle to the Wi-Fi screen, where the MAC Address will be listed
Cameras
You can locate the MAC Address of a SimpliSafe® Camera using the SimpliSafe® Mobile App.
Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your phone or tablet
Choose My System from the bottom navigation bar
Select Camera Settings
Tap on the Camera you wish to find the MAC Address for
Scroll to the bottom of this screen. Your Cameras MAC Address will be listed in the MAC Address field.
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Cameras
Replacing My Base Station and Transfer Service to a New Base Station
There may be a point where you will need to transfer your system and service to a new or different Base Station, such as replacing a faulty Base Station or transferring to a new Base Station when you move.
While installing your replacement Base Station, you will need to reinstall the devices from your previous system. Please set aside ample time to complete this process.
Please ensure that you follow each step in the order they are presented, including resetting specific devices for your system before transferring service to the new Base Station.
To Complete this Process, You’ll Need:
A Phillips head screwdriver
Your Keypad (if you have multiple, choose one to follow these steps with)
Your phone
Optional: An additional computer or tablet, if you would prefer to not switch between these instructions and the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your phone.
You will also need to complete the following steps prior to getting started:
Unpair any Cameras in use by this system
To unpair a camera, go to My System > Camera Settings > Select Your Camera > then scroll down and choose 'Remove Camera'. Repeat this step for each camera connected to your system.
Disarm your system by setting its status to ‘OFF’.
Ensure that your system is set to OFF, if functioning properly, by pressing OFF on the SimpliSafe® Mobile App or Keypad.
Then, power down your Base Station. To do this, remove the power cable from the bottom of the Base Station, then use your own Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screw from the base. Twist the bottom of the Base Station off to reveal the battery compartment and remove a single battery from the device. This will now power down the old Base Station.
Optional: Take note of how many devices and cameras you have associated with your system by going to My System on the SimpliSafe® Mobile App and seeing them listed under Device Settings and Camera Settings. You’ll need to add these back later.
Pick a Keypad from your system (if you have multiple) and slide off the backing plate to reveal the battery compartment. Remove a single battery to power down the Keypad.
Before proceeding to step 4, you’ll need to reset these specific devices (if you have any associated with your current system):
Motion Sensor Gen 2: Remove the battery to reset
Outdoor Cameras: Hold the pairing button on the back of the camera for 30 seconds. The camera should chime and begin to blink white. The chime indicates a successful reset.
Smart Alarm Indoor Camera: Press and hold the pairing button (the larger button) on the top of the camera for about 30 seconds. The camera should chime and begin to blink white.
Unbox your new Base Station and power it on by plugging it into a working power outlet. Specifically, one that receives continuous power and is not linked to a light switch. Your Base Station will announce “Welcome to SimpliSafe®” which means you can proceed to step 5.
Replace the battery in the Keypad that you took the battery out of in step 2. The Base Station should announce “Keypad, Added” if it automatically connects.
If your Keypad does not automatically connect, you’ll need to use an alternative pairing method to get connected again.
If your Keypad Does Not Automatically Connect, use this Alternate Method for Pairing:
Unplug your Base Station’s power cord from the bottom of the Base Station. Then, use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screw.
Untwist the cover from the Base Station, but leave the batteries in place to keep it powered on.
Locate the “Emergency Pairing Button” on the bottom of the Base Station, opposite of the power cord port. You’ll press this in step 5.

Power cycle the Keypad by fully removing a single battery and reinserting it.
As soon as the Keypad screen says “Searching for Base Station”, press and release the “Emergency Pairing Button” on the bottom of the Base Station.
The Base Station will announce, “Keypad, added” if successful.
When prompted by the Keypad, input a Master PIN. This can be the same PIN you used before, or a new one. Then, use the Keypad to connect your Base Station to your location’s Wi-Fi network. The Keypad uses ABC mode for typing on it, which is similar to how you may have typed on an older cellphone using T9.
Once you have connected the Base Station to Wi-Fi, you’ll need to complete the transfer within the SimpliSafe® Mobile App.
To Replace Your Base Station Using the SimpliSafe® Mobile App:
Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your phone or tablet
If you have multiple locations, ensure you are on the correct one before proceeding
Choose My System from the bottom navigation bar
Tap on Base Station Settings
Scroll down to the bottom and choose Replace Base Station
Follow the in-app prompts to complete the process
If you receive an “Invalid Base Station Serial Number” error message during this process, it could mean that you’re missing account information. You will need to confirm your monitoring address in the Online Account first, then try again.
Once the new Base Station is connected to your SimpliSafe® account, you can proceed with setting up the rest of your products. You will need to add back all products from your previous system, including the ones you reset in earlier steps.
To add a Product to your System:
Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your phone or tablet.
Tap on the three-bar menu (hamburger menu) in the upper left corner of the screen.
Choose “Add Device or Camera” from the list of menu options.
Select Get Started, then follow the in-app prompts to choose your product and add it to your system.
When your Base Station was replaced, its system and device settings were reset. You’ll want to go through your menus under the My System tab for Base Station Settings, Device Settings, and/or Camera Settings and make sure that each device is set back up to your specifications.
When your system is set up again, you’ll want to test it to make sure your system is ready to protect your home or business again.
First, you can arm your system into Home Mode by using the SimpliSafe® Mobile App or Keypad by pressing HOME. Once armed, go ahead and disarm the system by pressing OFF.
Once your system is disarmed, use your Keypad to place your system into Test Mode and test each of your devices to confirm that they are working properly. When a system with monitoring enters Test Mode, it prompts a courtesy call from the Monitoring Center and generates “User Initiated Test” on your activity timeline within the SimpliSafe® Mobile App. Don’t worry, if you do not answer the call we won’t request dispatch. From there you can test devices by pressing their pairing button and listening for the Base Station to respond.
When you’re done, you can exit by using the Keypad.
If you run into any issues with this process, or need further assistance you can reach out to support.
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Base Station
No Link to Dispatcher Warning
Your Base Station is the brains of your system and requires a clear connection between your SimpliSafe® devices and home network. If you are subscribed to the Pro Premium or Pro Standard Monitoring plans, a “No Link to Dispatcher” error means that your Base Station has lost both its Wi-Fi and cellular connection and cannot communicate with the Monitoring Centre. If you are subscribed to to Basic App or Self Monitoring with Camera Recordings, a “No Link to Dispatcher” error means that your Base Station has lost its Wi-Fi connection and cannot communicate. To help restore the connection between your Base Station and system, refer to the troubleshooting steps below.
Ensure that your Base Station is powered on and connected to a known working power outlet. Using an outlet connected to a light switch is not recommended and can cause frequent “Power Outage” error messages to be reported if the back up batteries are engaged when power is shut off to the Base Station.
A “No Link to Dispatcher” can also occur if your Wi-Fi network is experiencing an outage, or has recently changed. You’ll want to reconnect your Base Station to Wi-Fi using the steps below.
Please note that these steps are only if you have a monitoring plan that supports built-in network backup. If you do not have a professionally monitored plan, please utilise the Keypad steps versus the in-app steps below.
Connecting your Base Station to Wi-Fi using the SimpliSafe® Mobile App
Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your phone or tablet
Choose My System from the bottom navigation bar, followed by Base Station Settings
Tap on ‘WiFi Network’ and follow the in-app prompts to connect to your new network
Your app will state “Yay! Your Base Station is connected” if the credentials are correct.
Tap Done to exit the Wi-Fi setup mode.
If this step fails, please use the Keypad steps below.
Connecting the Base Station to Wi-Fi using the Keypad
Using your Keypad, press the Menu button
Then, enter your Master PIN
Select System Settings
Then press the right side of the screen to choose Wi-Fi, followed by Edit
Next, choose your network from the list of available options by tapping “Use”
Enter your password by using the Keypad’s buttons to type in ABC mode (this is similar to T9 or ABC mode which was used for texting with older cell phones)
Once your Wi-Fi Connection has been re-established
When your Base Station has connected to Wi-Fi again, you’ll need to place your system into Test Mode to re-establish a signal using the Keypad.
Using your Keypad, press the Menu button
Enter your Master PIN
Use the arrows and scroll until Test Mode is highlighted, then press the screen to the right to select it
You will know you are in Test Mode when you see a circle appear on your screen with the text, "Test each device by pressing its button".
NOTE: If you have monitoring, you will also receive an automated call from the monitoring center asking you to confirm you placed your system into Test Mode. If you do not answer this call, no worries! A voicemail will be left for you notifying you of the system test.
You can exit Test Mode right away by pressing the Keypad screen to the left. Once you have exited Test Mode, open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App and choose Timeline from the bottom navigation bar. You should see “User Initiated Test” in the timeline, meaning the issue is now resolved.
If you do not have Wi-Fi, or if reconnecting to Wi-Fi does not resolve the “No Link to Dispatcher” error messaging, you’ll need to review the placement of your Base Station. The placement of the Base Station plays an important role in your system’s overall health. Your Base Station should be placed in a centrally-located area within your home or business, and in an open space. It is recommended that the Base Station is elevated at least 3 feet off the ground on a non-dense surface (ideally glass or wood).
Placing your Base Station in a cabinet, closet, or around dense materials (such as granite, concrete, or metal) can weaken its signal to other SimpliSafe® devices. This can lead to communication errors between the Base Station and your SimpliSafe® products, and cause the other devices (sensors, cameras, etc.) to become unresponsive or go offline.
Installing your Base Station next to devices that output a wireless signal, such as a router or TV, is also not recommended. This can cause wireless interference and decrease the overall signal strength of the Base Station.
Before getting started, you’ll need to be able to access the bottom of the Base Station to complete these steps. You’ll also need your own Phillips head screwdriver to access the Base Station's battery compartment.
How to Reset the Base Station
Unplug the Base Station from power by removing the cable from the bottom of the Base Station
Wait at least 60 seconds
OR until the SimpliSafe® Mobile App states “Power Outage” on the timeline
Using a Phillips head screwdriver, remove the screw on the bottom of the Base Station
Take off the bottom cover to expose the battery compartment
Remove a single battery from the Base Station, wait 60 seconds, and reinsert the battery
Plug the Base Station back into power
After 60 seconds, a “Power Restored” message should populate on the timeline within the SimpliSafe® Mobile App
Next, arm your system to HOME mode, then disarm it by setting it to OFF
Go to the timeline within the SimpliSafe® Mobile App from the bottom navigation bar. You should see a message that states the system was armed and disarmed appear within your timeline. This confirms that the issue is now resolved for your system.
If you are still seeing this error after taking the above steps, our support team can assist you further.
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Base Station
Can't Connect Base Station to Wi-Fi During Setup
If you are having trouble connecting your system to Wi-Fi during a first-time setup, we recommend making sure that your home network is configured to meet our system requirements.
A short list of requirements can be found below:
Your Wi-Fi network must be broadcasting 2.4GHz
SimpliSafe® cannot connect to 5GHz networks
Your SSID and password cannot exceed more than 31 characters each
Your network must be configured as WPA2 or WPA3/2 Mixed Mode
WPA3 only networks are not compatible with SimpliSafe® at this time
We recommend that you have your 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks separated and not merged together. Most routers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) by default will create a single network that broadcasts 2.4GHz and 5GHz at the same time. To separate the network, you may need to consult with your ISP or reach out to your router manufacturer for configuration assistance.
If your phone is currently connected to a 5GHz network and you have a 2.4GHz network available, please use your phone’s Wi-Fi settings to switch the network before trying to connect the Base Station to Wi-Fi again.
iPhone / iOS Wi-Fi Settings:
Go to Settings on your iOS device
Choose Wi-Fi
Select the 2.4GHz network from the list of available networks
Enter your password
Tap on Join in the upper right hand corner to connect to the Wi-Fi network
Android Wi-Fi Settings:
Go to Settings on your Android device
Navigate to Wi-Fi Network
Select your 2.4GHz network from the list of available networks
Enter your password
Save to connect to the Wi-Fi network
*These steps may vary depending on your Android device. Consult with your phone's manual for further directions.
Still having trouble connecting to Wi-Fi? Reset the Base Station!
Resetting the Base Station can help get things going again. Before getting started, you’ll need your own Phillips head screwdriver to access the battery compartment on the bottom of the Base Station.
How to Reset your new Base Station
Unplug the Base Station from power by removing the cable from the bottom of the Base Station
Using a Phillips head screwdriver, remove the screw on the bottom of the Base Station
Take off the bottom cover to expose the battery compartment
Remove a single battery from the Base Station, wait 60 seconds, and reinsert the battery
Plug the Base Station back into power
Wait for the Base Station to announce, “Welcome to SimpliSafe®” then try connecting to Wi-Fi again
If the issue persists after taking these steps, our support team can assist you further.
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Base Station
