Live stream delays can occur for a variety of reasons, most commonly stemming due to the camera’s “deep sleep” state it enters when not in use. When a live stream is initiated, the camera must first wake up and then connect to Wi-Fi to start the stream. This process can take up to 10 seconds.

If you are concerned about this delay or are experiencing a delay longer than 10 to 15 seconds, you can try the below steps to troubleshoot your camera’s Wi-Fi and system connectivity

• Move the Base Station closer to the camera

• Ensure your Base Station is connected to Wi-Fi

• Plug your camera into a continuous power source using the Outdoor Camera Power Cable. Doing this will enable performance mode, allowing your camera to remain awake and responsive

• Bring the camera and your internet router close together

• If the Camera works in this position, there may have been too great a distance between the devices and you will need to install the camera closer to your internet router

• You can also purchase a Wi-Fi extender to extend the range of your Wi-Fi

If the camera still does not connect when it is right next to your router, you may be experiencing Wi-Fi connectivity issues; in this case, you can try to troubleshoot your Wi-Fi connection.

What it Means

An "Unable to Stream Video" error means that the app was unable to download and display the streamable video. As this is likely an issue on the app end, our team is notified of these errors and investigates promptly to ensure your video is back up for streaming as soon as possible. You can try streaming this video again later.

Is There Anything I Can Do?

As mentioned above, this is likely due to an error on our end. However, in the meantime you can also check your Wi-Fi connectivity strength and speed as that can affect your camera's ability to stream and record video. This article explains the difference between connection strength and speed, as well as how to make sure both are working as they should to support your SimpliSafe system.

If the issue persists, please contact out customer support team. We'll be happy to help!

If your Outdoor Security Camera Series 2 ever encounters an error that can’t be fixed through normal troubleshooting, performing a factory reset* of the camera may be necessary.

To factory reset your Outdoor Camera:

1. Ensure the camera is within 30 feet of the Base Station

2. Locate the pairing button on the back of your Outdoor Camera

1. This is the smaller, circular button on the back of the camera
   

3. Press and hold the pairing button firmly, using both thumbs if possible, for 30 seconds - or until the camera chimes. You will hear the BS announce “Camera removed”

1. If the camera does not chime at any point during the 30 seconds of pressing the button, let go and press and hold the button again for another 30 seconds

4. When you release the button, the camera should reboot and begin to flash white

1. For some cameras you may also notice it make a sound

Once the factory reset is complete, you will need to add it to your system again using our Installation Guide.
If you cannot set up your Outdoor Camera after performing a factory reset on it, please contact our support team for additional troubleshooting.

*Please note that you cannot reset the Outdoor Camera remotely. You must be physically at the location of your system and with your camera to reset it.

The Outdoor Security Camera Series 2 has a variety of settings that can be customised, such as Night Vision, Motion Detection, Video Quality, and more!

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

4. Choose your Outdoor Security Camera Series 2 from the list of available cameras

Motion Detection

Motion Detection settings control how your camera will respond to motion events, such as someone walking in its view, or a car driving by.

In this menu, you can toggle motion events and notifications on and off. You can also use the slider to choose the sensitivity of motion detection. We typically recommend setting this to medium. You can also set it to People Only or All Motion to better filter motion events.

Activity Zones allow you to exclude certain areas from motion events, which is good if you live near a busy pavement or street.

Video Quality

Video Quality manages what quality of your streams and recordings will be at. For the Outdoor Camera Series 2, you can adjust this to 1080p, 720p, or 480p. The higher the stream, the more bandwidth it will use on your network. So if you’re having trouble streaming at 1080p, you can try lowering the quality to troubleshoot on your end.

Night Vision

The Night Vision setting allows you to see potential intruders or threats in the dark, by using infrared to capture video. You can also opt to use the Spotlight feature, which shines a light to capture video in color rather than night vision’s black-and-white scheme.

Flip Image 180

This option is available should you mount your Outdoor Security Camera Series 2 upside down. Mounting your camera upside down will decrease the distance that it picks up motion by halving it. Specifically, upside down Outdoor Cameras will be able to pick up motion within 15 feet of the camera, as opposed to 30 feet when mounted in a normal orientation.

Mic & Audio

The Mic & Audio setting allows you to hear audio from your camera and also allows you to initiate two-way communication when viewing live streams.

Siren

The Outdoor Camera Series 2 comes with a whopping 90dB built-in siren to relay active alarms across your system.

Status Light

The Status Light for your camera will show you that the camera is online and functioning, at a quick glance.

The Wireless Outdoor Security Camera has an expected battery life of 3 months; however, its lifespan is dependent on usage and the settings on your Outdoor Camera. You can learn more in this article about preserving the battery life of the Outdoor Camera.

If you notice that your Outdoor Camera’s battery won’t hold a charge, see our recommended troubleshooting steps below.

Make Sure That the Battery is Charging Completely

The Outdoor Camera’s battery takes up to 6 hours to charge completely. When the battery is charging, you will see a blinking white light. You’ll know the battery is fully charged once all 3 lights are illuminated and no longer blinking.

Use the Correct Power Adapter

The Outdoor Camera’s battery requires a USB power adapter with an output of 5.0V, 1.5A+. Failure to use the correct power adapter can result in the battery not charging completely.

A list of power adapters that fit this requirement are:

• The SimpliCam® Wired Indoor Security Camera’s adapter

• Most iPhone (Apple) adapters

• Most Android adapters

If you don’t know the output of your power adapter, most models will have it printed on the device itself, as seen in the image below.

If you are using the correct power adapter, make sure that you are plugging it into an outlet directly in a wall. Using a USB power strip or USB power hub may not supply efficient power to charge the battery.

Assemble the Camera and Battery Properly

Once the Outdoor Camera’s battery has finished charging, make sure that you put it back into the camera properly. When inserting the battery into the Outdoor Camera, the 3 gold circles on the battery should be facing up and align with the three gold prongs inside the camera’s battery slot. The camera’s battery tab should also be facing you.

After inserting the battery, secure the lens to the camera by twisting it clockwise until it no longer moves.

You’ll know that your Outdoor Camera has been assembled properly once it makes a high pitched chime and begins to flash white.

Keep Your Outdoor Camera’s Firmware Up To Date

We’re always adding updates to the Outdoor Camera’s firmware to keep it running smoothly and to help with its battery life. Firmware updates on the Outdoor Camera are automatic, so make sure that you keep your cameras connected to Wi-Fi to get the latest updates.

If you have taken the above steps and your Outdoor Camera’s battery still won’t hold a charge, we also offer products to keep the battery charged.

Outdoor Camera Solar Panel

With the Outdoor Camera Solar Panel, you won’t have to worry about taking your Outdoor Camera’s battery out to charge it. With just 3 hours of direct sunlight a day, the Outdoor Camera Solar Panel will keep your battery charged! To learn more about this product, visit the Wireless Outdoor Camera Solar Panel article.

Outdoor Camera Charging Cable

If you live in a cloudy region or your home doesn’t get sufficient sunlight, we also offer an Outdoor Camera Charging Cable to help keep your Outdoor Camera’s battery charged 24/7! With a 25ft water-resistant cable this cord will easily be able to reach wherever your Outdoor Camera is installed.

If your Wireless Outdoor Security Camera encounters an error that can’t be fixed through normal troubleshooting, performing a factory reset* of the camera may be necessary.

First, you’ll need to remove the Outdoor Camera from the SimpliSafe® Mobile App.

To remove the camera:

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

2. Choose the Cameras tab from the bottom navigation bar

3. Select the gear icon for Camera Settings in the upper right corner of the app

4. Select your Outdoor Camera

5. Scroll to the bottom and select Remove Camera

Once the Outdoor Camera has been removed from your system, you’ll need to reset it.

To reset your Outdoor Camera:

1. Locate the pairing button on the back of your Outdoor Camera

   1. This is the smaller, circular button on the back of the camera
      

2. Press and hold the pairing button firmly, using both thumbs if possible, for 30 seconds - or until the camera chimes

   1. If the camera does not chime at any point during the 30 seconds of pressing the button, let go and press and hold the button again for another 30 seconds

3. When you release the button, the camera should reboot and begin to flash white

   1. For some cameras you may also notice it make a sound

Once the reset is complete, you can set it back up using our Installation Guide.

If you cannot set up your Outdoor Camera after performing a factory reset on it, please contact our support team for additional troubleshooting.

*Please note that you cannot reset the Outdoor Camera remotely. You must be with your camera physically to reset it.

You can remove a camera from your system in a few easy steps within the SimpliSafe® Mobile App.

We recommend that you download recordings from your system's timeline before removing the camera from your system, to ensure you preserve any video you may need in the future.

Remove a Camera from 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. Tap on the camera you wish to remove from the list of available cameras

5. Scroll down and choose X Remove Camera