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    Performance Mode for Cameras

    When connected to a continuous power source, the Outdoor Camera and Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Security Camera can enter performance mode. 

    When performance mode is enabled for a camera, the camera will remain awake allowing for faster live streams versus battery power. This feature is available to the Outdoor Camera and Smart Alarm Indoor Camera when running firmware version 1.20 or higher, and occurs automatically when the camera is plugged into a power source and it has at least 90% charge. If your camera battery ever drops below 70%, your camera will automatically exit performance mode to conserve battery.

    Performance mode also allows the cameras to begin recording while it determines whether or not the observed motion event was a person or another object (such as a passing car, a tree blowing in the wind, or an indoor pet). This allows for more complete recordings of motion events delivered to your timeline in the SimpliSafe® Mobile App.

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    Cameras

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    How to Reorder Cameras in the SimpliSafe® App

    An exciting feature of the SimpliSafe® App is the ability to reorder your list of cameras in the Cameras tab in the app*. This is helpful if you want to see your cameras in alphabetical order, or organized in any specific way. 

    An animated GIF showing the steps listed below on how to reorder your camera.

    To Reorder Your Cameras in the SimpliSafe® App:

    1. Open the SimpliSafe® App on your phone or tablet

    2. Select Cameras from the navigation bar on the bottom of the screen

    3. Tap on the reorder icon on the upper right corner of the screen

      The Cameras tab in the SimpliSafe® App, with an orange box highlighting the Reorder Cameras icon located on the top right corner of the app.

    4. Press and hold a camera to drag and reorder it

    5. Follow step 4 again for any other cameras you want to reorder

    *Note: This feature is only to reorder your cameras in the SimpliSafe® app. Changing the order of your sensors is currently not supported. 

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    Outdoor Cameras

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    Where Should I Place My Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Security Camera?

    The Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Security Camera placed on a shelf.

    Placement of your Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Security Camera can vary from home to home. To get the most out of your camera, we recommend placing it in a spot that covers a significant portion of a room. 

    Here are some tips to keep in mind when finding the right location to install your camera:

    • Place the camera in a room or area where subjects are likely to spend time in if there is an alarm

    • The motion detector is most sensitive to side-to-side motion with its 125-degree field of view

    • Do not position the camera so that only a doorway is in frame

    • Do not position the camera to look outside through a window or doorway

    The following is an example of a floor plan and how we would recommend placing the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera within this home.


    A floorplan of a home, highlighting the rooms we recommend placing the Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Security Camera.

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    Smart Alarm Indoor Camera

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    How to Download Recordings From Your Camera

    Video clips from SimpliSafe® cameras can be downloaded to your mobile device using the SimpliSafe® Mobile App. Recordings are available with select monitoring plans. 

    Please note that if your camera name contains an apostrophe, this may limit your ability to download recordings. We recommend changing your camera’s name to exclude the use of an apostrophe before attempting to download any recordings. 

    How to Download Recordings Using the SimpliSafe® App:

    The SimpliSafe® App navigating to the timeline to select a video and download recordings

    1. In the SimpliSafe® App, tap on Timeline from the bottom navigation bar

    2. Swipe up and down through the Timeline and find the event whose clip you wish to download

    3. Tap on the event and then tap on the video preview within the event

    4. Tap the three-dot icon next to the recording and then choose Download Video

    5. The clip will be saved to your phone

      1. To access saved videos, go to your phone’s camera roll

    How to Download Recordings Using the SimpliSafe® Online Account

    1. Log into the SimpliSafe® Online Account using the browser of your choice

    2. Select Timeline from the navigation menu on the left side of the screen

      1. If you do not see the navigation menu, click the three-bar icon on the top left corner of the screen to reveal it

    3. Scroll through the Timeline and find the event with the video clip you wish to download

    4. Tap on the event and then tap on the video on the right side of the screen

    5. Tap the download icon on the bottom right side of the video player

    6. The clip will be saved to your computer

      1. To access saved videos, go to your downloaded files in your computer

    Is a Timestamp Included?

    When you download a video from your timeline, the date and time that the recording was filmed is found at the end of the file name.

    To find the timestamp, take the following steps:

    1. Open your camera roll

    2. Select the recording you downloaded

    3. Tap the i icon on the bottom of the screen to display the video’s file name

      1. This step may vary depending on your mobile device

    4. At the end of the file name, you will see the date and time the recording was filmed

    Note: the time stamp will be written in numbers, displayed as MM/DD/YYY_HH/MM/SS. So for a recording filmed on August 21, 2024 at 2:31:21 PM, the timestamp will be displayed as: 08212024_023121PM. 

    The recording history timeline for a SimpliSafe® camera in the SimpliSafe® Mobile App. File name of a downloaded SimpliSafe® camera recording with timestamp highlighted.

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    Cameras

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    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.

    1. Press Menu on your Keypad

    2. Enter your Master PIN

    3. Using the Keypad’s arrow keys, select System Settings

    4. Then choose Diagnostics

    5. Press the Keypad screen to the right to 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.

    1. Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your phone or tablet

    2. Choose My System from the bottom navigation bar

    3. Select Camera Settings from the list of available menu options

    4. Tap on the Camera you wish to manage

    5. Scroll to the bottom of this screen. Your Cameras MAC Address will be listed in the MAC Address field.

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    Cameras

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    Can't Initiate Live Stream From Within the SimpliSafe® App

    If you are unable to initiate a live stream from within the SimpliSafe® Mobile App or Online Account, there are a few steps you can take to try and get things running again. 

    Using the Connection Check Tool

    The Connection Check Tool for Cameras is a great way to better understand your signal strength and upload speed from the router to where your camera is located.

    To use the Connection Check Tool:

    1. Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your phone or tablet

    2. Choose My System from the bottom navigation bar

    3. Select Camera Settings

    4. Choose your camera from the list of available cameras

    5. Under “Connection” select “Connection Check”

    6. Tap “Start Connection Check” to find your camera’s connection strength

    What do my Results Mean?

    A good signal strength and/or upload speed means that there is a strong connection between your camera and Wi-Fi network.

    A fair or poor upload speed means that you’ll want to reduce your camera’s video resolution. You can do this within the Camera Settings page for your camera in the SimpliSafe® Mobile App.

    1. Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your phone or tablet

    2. Choose My System from the bottom navigation bar

    3. Select Camera Settings

    4. Choose your camera from the list of available cameras

    5. Tap on Video Quality

    6. Choose a lower resolution

    7. Select SAVE in the upper right corner to save your selections

    It may also be necessary to upload your Internet package with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to improve upload speeds. We recommend reaching out to your ISP to learn more about their offerings.

    A fair or poor signal strength means your camera may be too far away from your Wi-Fi router. We recommend moving them closer, if possible. If not, you can opt to install a Wi-Fi extender to help bridge the network connectivity gap between the two. You can also move SimpliSafe® to a dedicated network or guest network to alleviate congestion. To learn more about setting up a dedicated or guest network, contact your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or consult with your router’s manual.

    Still Need Help?

    Don't hesitate to contact our support team for additional troubleshooting or assistance. We're here to help!

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    Cameras

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    Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Security Camera Overview and Installation Guide

    Overview

    The SimpliSafe® Smart Alarm Wireless Indoor Security Camera is a battery-operated security camera that’s designed for indoor use. It records at 1536p and has a wide field of view at 125 degrees. The battery in the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera can also last up to 3 months on a single charge.

    Need to purchase a Smart Alarm Indoor Camera? You can find it available for purchase on our website.

    Before Getting Started

    You’ll want to unbox your Smart Alarm Indoor Camera and plug it into power to charge it before installation. You also have the option to install the camera while it is plugged into an outlet; however, we recommend you fully charge the camera before placing it in its final location.

    You will need the following tools before installing your Smart Alarm Indoor Camera:

    • USB Power Adapter (5V, 7.5W minimum)

    • Phillips head screwdriver

    You'll also need to make sure that you have a Gen 3 SimpliSafe® System and Keypad.

    Completely Charge the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera’s Battery

    If you have not done so already, you will need to fully charge the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera’s battery before installing it.

    1. Plug the micro USB end of the included power cable into the charging port on the back of the camera, and the USB end into a power adapter that outputs 7.5W minimum (this adapter is not included)

    2. Once plugged in, the charging indicator light on the top of the camera will begin to flash white

    3. Charge the battery for at least 6 hours, or until the light on the top of the camera is a solid white

    Add the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera in the SimpliSafe® Mobile App

    1. Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your smartphone or tablet

    2. Navigate to the three-bar menu on the upper left corner and select Add Device or Camera

    3. Select Cameras from the list of available products, and then Smart Alarm Indoor Camera

    Wake Up the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera

    Before pairing the camera to your system, you must first wake it up.

    1. Press and release the setup button on the top of the camera; this is the larger button located toward the front of the camera

    2. Once the camera is awake, the LED status light above the lens will begin to flash white

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    No Flashing White Light?

    If your camera does not flash white, please ensure that the camera is fully charged. If it is, you will need to firmly press and hold the setup button until you hear the camera chime.

    Pair the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera to Your System

    Once the camera is awake, you will need to pair it to your SimpliSafe® system.

    1. Press and release the setup button again

    2. The Base Station will announce, “Camera added”

    3. Choose a name for the camera by selecting one of our pre-populated names, or select Custom Name at the bottom of the screen to input your own

    Connect the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera to Wi-Fi

    Next, the SimpliSafe® Mobile App will prompt you to connect the camera to Wi-Fi.

    1. The app will ask if you want to connect the camera to the same Wi-Fi network as your Base Station

    2. You may either select “Yes, Connect” to connect to the same network as the Base Station, or “Choose a Different Network” if you want to select a different one

    3. Once the camera is connected to Wi-Fi, the app will download and install any necessary updates

    ​

    Smart Alarm Indoor Camera Didn’t Connect to Wi-Fi?

    If your camera did not connect to your Wi-Fi network, please refer to the Camera Can’t Connect to Wi-Fi During Setup article.

    Choose a Location for the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera

    Next, you will be prompted to move your Smart Alarm Indoor Camera to its desired location and test its connection there before mounting the camera. This allows you to ensure your camera has a strong connection, or move your camera to a different location where the connection to your Wi-Fi router and Base Station is stronger.

    When finding a location for the camera, we recommend the following:

    • If you have pets larger than 50 pounds that will move throughout the area, place the camera on the edge of a flat surface (like a cabinet or shelf) that is 4 feet off the ground

      • Mounting the camera in this orientation will help remove the pet from the camera’s line of site, preventing false alarms

    • The camera can be mounted on a wall or a flat surface like a shelf

      • When installing on a wall, mount the camera 6-7 feet from the ground with the camera angled down 20°

      • When installing on a flat surface, place the camera on the edge of the surface and approximately 4 feet off the ground

    • The Smart Alarm Indoor Camera’s motion sensor is most sensitive to side-by-side movement, so choose a location where  subjects are more likely move horizontally across its field of view, as opposed to directly toward the camera

    Check the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera’s Connection

    After finding a location for the Outdoor Camera, tap “Begin Test” in the SimpliSafe® App to test its upload speed and signal strength. 

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    Good Results

    If your results were good, that indicates that the camera should stream and record video smoothly from its location. Please move forward to mounting the camera.

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    Poor Signal Strength, Good Upload Speed

    This result unusually indicates that the camera is not in range of the Wi-Fi router. Try moving the router closer to the camera or purchase a Wi-Fi extender.  

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    Poor Signal Strength, Poor Upload Speed

    This result indicates that the camera is not in range of the Wi-Fi router, and the Wi-Fi is not providing the minimum 2 Mbps upload speed. Move the camera closer to the router and try live streaming again. If this helps, you can either move the router closer to the camera or purchase a Wi-Fi extender.  

    You may also need to contact your internet service provider to upgrade your package to one that includes higher upload speeds.

    ​

    Good Signal Strength, Poor Upload Speed

    SimpliSafe® cameras require 2-3 Mbps per camera. If you have multiple cameras on your system, multiply the number of cameras by 2 to determine the minimum upload speed required. 

    To improve your upload speed, you may either contact your internet service provider to upgrade your package, or move other Wi-Fi-enabled devices to a different network.

    How to Mount the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera

    If you are installing the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera on a flat surface, you may simply place it there. However, if you are mounting the camera on a wall, please follow the steps below.

    How to Install the Camera on a Stone, Brick, or Stucco Surface

    1. Hold the silver wall plate to the surface and mark the top and bottom key holes using a pen or pencil

    2. Drill two holes using a 3/16 inch masonry drill bit

    3. Insert a wall anchor into each hole by gently tapping them in with a hammer or mallet

    4. Partially insert one of the included screws into the top anchor using your own Phillips head screwdriver, making sure that the screw still sticks out

    5. Place the key hole over the screw and slide it into place

    6. Secure the wall plate to the surface by screwing both screws into the wall anchors

    7. Slide the camera over the wall plate and push downwards until it locks into place

    ​

    How to Install the Camera on Drywall

    1. Hold the silver wall plate to the surface and mark the top key hole using a pen or pencil

    2. Partially insert one of the included screws into the marked spot using your own Phillips head screwdriver, making sure that the screw still sticks out

    3. Place the key hole over the screw and slide it into place

    4. Secure the wall plate to the surface by screwing both screws into the key holes

    5. Slide the camera over the wall plate and push downwards until it locks into place

    Fine-Tune the Smart Alarm Indoor Camera’s Position

    As a last step, you’ll want to check your camera’s view to ensure that it is capturing your desired area. Tap the “Check Live View” button in the app to see your camera’s live stream. From there, you can use the camera’s multi-pivot mount to get it in the right location. For the best performance, the camera should be angled 20° down.

    Note: do not angle the camera upside down or tilted to the left or right. Doing so will impact its motion detection performance. 

    Watch the video below for a hands-on experience from our team of experts for the installation process

    Troubleshooting

    Compliance

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    Smart Alarm Indoor Camera