Original SimpliSafe

If you are subscribed to either the residential or business Pro Plus, Pro, or Core monitoring plans and are unable to manage your Original SimpliSafe® system’s settings from your smartphone or tablet, the most common cause is a poor cellular connection on your Base Station. Generally, resetting the Base Station to establish a fresh cellular connection will correct the issue. Here’s how to reset your Base Station:

1. Remove the power cable from the back of the Base Station.

2. Using a Phillips-head screwdriver, remove the screw holding the battery cover in place, and then remove the battery cover.

3. Remove one of the batteries from the Base Station and wait for about 10-15 seconds.

4. Reinsert the battery.

5. Close the battery compartment and use the screwdriver to reseal it.

6. Plug the power cable back into your Base Station.

7. Wait 1-2 minutes for a fresh connection to be established, and then try accessing your system’s settings from the SimpliSafe® App again.

Watch this video from our team of experts for a hands-on experience

If you find that you have to reset your Base Station regularly in order to access your Settings or change the Alarm State for your System, please contact our support team.

You can use your system's Keypad menu at any time to change your PIN, add a dialing prefix, add or remove components and test your system. To adjust your settings by using the Keypad menu, first press the menu button, located at the bottom left of the Keypad. On the Keypad screen, you will see three icons: Left Arrow, Enter Sign, and Right Arrow. To use these icons, press the button below each. Use the OFF button and HOME buttons to scroll forward and back through the different options listed at the top of the Keypad screen:

1. Change your Primary PIN

2. Set a dialing prefix

3. Add components

4. Remove components

5. Test your system

6. Exit the menu

Press the Away button to make a selection. Press the Menu button to cancel a selection or exit the menu.

SimpliSafe® Motion Sensors have been designed to avoid false alarms. However, if you’ve experienced one, there are a few potential issues that may cause them:

• Direct sunlight hitting the sensor can trigger a false alarm. 

• Heating vents located in the room. If they are located within the sensor’s field of vision, they may cause false alarms. 

• Pets that are able to get too close to the sensor. Pets under 30 pounds generally don’t trigger Motion Sensors, but if they get close enough to the sensor, smaller dogs or cats may still be able to trigger it.

Sunlight can be avoided by placing your Motion Sensor in a corner where it will not be directly hit by sunlight throughout the day. 

If you suspect that heating vents may be responsible for false alarms, position your sensor in a part of the room where it will not see the hot or cold air vent. As long as the change in the room’s ambient temperature is gradual, the sensor should not trigger.

Pets

Pets may require small adjustments to your motion sensor placement. For pets over 30 pounds, mount your Motion Sensor upside down (so that the test button is on the top of the sensor, rather than the bottom). Place it approximately 4 – 5 feet off the ground with this orientation, and it will still be able to detect any intruder that walks into the room. For pets under 30 pounds, ensure that your Motion Sensor is out of reach of your pets, and sufficiently high off the ground. Installed normally (test button on the bottom), we recommend placing it 6 – 10 feet off the ground.

Please note that we no longer offer Water Sensors for the Original SimpliSafe® system. If you are having an issue with your Original SimpliSafe® Water Sensor, please contact support to find out how to upgrade your system.

The Water Sensor alerts you when there is a leak or flooding in your home. It can help prevent expensive water damage including mold, ruined furniture, and warped wood floors. Once the metal prongs make contact with water the Base Station will sound the alarm. If you are subscribed to professional monitoring you will receive a call from the monitoring company informing you of potential water damage. We recommend installing Water Sensors near bathroom plumbing to detect any leaks, overflows, or broken plumbing. You can also place a Water Sensor in the drip pan of your water heater, or washing machine. 

To install your Water Sensor remove the white battery activation strip hanging from the battery compartment. Next, remove the liner of the adhesive strip located on the Water Sensor’s bracket, and adhere it to the wall, so that the metal prongs on the bottom of the sensor are right above the floor. Press and hold the Water Sensor for 30 seconds to ensure it is firmly attached to the wall. If you would prefer your Water Sensor to be more secure, slide the Water Sensor up off of its bracket, and use the included screws to permanently attach the bracket to a surface. Once you have finished, slide the Water Sensor back onto its bracket, and it is installed.

We recommend installing the Water Sensor anywhere there could be potential leaks or flooding, like in a bathroom, laundry area, basement, or near water heaters and sump pumps.

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The Original Entry Sensors are designed to work on almost any window or door, including double-doors, double-hung windows, and swinging or sliding doors and windows. Here are a few example installations for your home security system Entry Sensors. If you are not sure if the Entry Sensor will work in your case, or if you are having trouble installing a sensor, please contact us for assistance.

Basic Installation: There are two parts to an Entry Sensor: the sensor itself and the magnet.  When the magnet is within 2 inches of the grooves on the sensor, it knows the door or window is closed. When more than 2 inches away, the sensor signals that it is open.  In the diagram below, the Entry Sensor has been installed on the doorframe and the magnet on the door. When the door swings open, it will trigger the sensor.

Sliding Doors: You can put the Sensor on the door frame and the magnet on the door (as shown in the example below), or the other way around.  There is no "right side up" to the Entry Sensor. You can also install the Sensor and magnet at the top of the door if that is easier.

Double Doors: When installing an Entry Sensory on double doors, make sure to put the Sensor on one door and the magnet on the other.  We do not recommend using the door frame in this case, because it is possible that one of the doors would remain closed while the other opened.

Deep door frame: Door frames that are deeper than 2 inches can make installation more difficult.  If the door opens outward, you can install it as shown in the diagram below. If the door opens inward, the easiest solution is to use a Motion Sensor to protect this entrance.

Sliding Windows: You can put the Sensor on the window frame and the magnet on the window (as shown in the example below), or the other way around.  There is no "right side up" to the Entry Sensor. When the window slides open more than 2 inches the light on the Sensor will flash once and the Sensor will tell the Base Station that the window is open.

Swinging windows: You can put the Sensor on the window frame and the magnet on the window (as shown in the example below), or the other way around.  There is no "right side up" to the Entry Sensor. When the window swings open more than 2 inches the light on the Sensor will flash once and the Sensor will tell the Base Station that the window is open.

Additional installation options: Some windows can make Entry Sensor installation more difficult.  Here are several additional installation options you might consider:

Entry Sensors should work on any window that meets the following requirements:

• When closed, the sensor and its magnet are no more than two inches apart.

• When opened, the sensor and its magnet are more than two inches apart.

If you are still unable to install your entry sensors after watching this video, contact our support team. We stock a small number of thinner magnets that will let you install your entry sensors on difficult doors and windows.

You will need to activate batteries for each component before using your system. To activate batteries, simply pull on and remove the white protective strip from each component. This strip will be located on the back of all the components, except for the 105dB Siren and Water Sensor, which do not have battery tabs. 

The lights listed below are the only colors that the Base Station will display. If you are seeing a color that is not listed try changing the lighting in the room, as this can affect the look of the colored lights.

*To correct the position of the SIM card, you will need to open the card holder, a plastic door that swings open on the bottom of the Base Station. Make sure the SIM card is slid all the way into place, with the gold plating facing the module and the chipped corner in the bottom left. Close the plastic door by swinging it against the mod then sliding it to the left to lock it in.

**If your base station indicates that you do not have a cell connection, you may need to replace your cellular module. For more information, please visit Do I Need to Replace my Cellular Module? article.