The SimpliSafe Camera Experience
Installing the SimpliCam
Of the hundreds (maybe even thousands) of home security products I’ve tested over the years, SimpliCam is one of the easiest devices to install. Technically, the installation only entails plugging the power cord into a standard outlet and placing the camera wherever you so desire.
From there, simply download the SimpliSafe mobile app, connect the camera to Wi-Fi, and you’re in business. It’s really that simple! But honestly, you can expect fast and easy DIY installation no matter what indoor camera you purchase these days. Similar to the SimpliCam, for instance, I was able to set up the Wyze Cam I reviewed in under five minutes.
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What stands out the most, however, is SimpliCam’s straightforwardness on the day-to-day. Once you’re done setting it up, you can leave it be and enjoy home protection. Unlike with high-tech indoor cameras like the Nest Cam (indoor), which requires you customize your notifications and do a number of other setting-changes, the SimpliCam is a set-it-and-forget-it kind of device.
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One thing to bear in mind is that the SimpliCam doesn’t work outdoors. It’s simply not rugged or protected against the elements enough. In the past, SimpliSafe gave its users the option to buy a “wet suit” for the indoor cam so users could use it outdoors. Now, though, there’s an outdoor camera option that offers a lot of the same features as the SimpliCam, but rugged enough to live outdoors. The outdoor cam costs $189.99, which for an outdoor camera is a great price. However, it only works with a SimpliSafe security system, so I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re already – or planning to become – a SimpliSafe security system user.
SimpliCam Performance
After reviewing the camera’s specs, expectations weren’t super high for SimpliSafe’s camera. Sure, the company hypes up the SimpliCam with fancy marketing-speak, claiming it has Variable Bitrate Compression1 to improve image quality. This is all well and good, but I wanted to see how it performed off-paper and in the real world. Thankfully, the camera handled very well in some categories.
First, you should know that we tested the first generation of SimpliCam, which only offers 720 HD resolution. It’s lower than the industry standard 1080p HD, but it’s still decent. Thankfully, if you buy a SimpliSafe cam now, the current version has a 1080p HD resolution.
Once the camera was up and running, our mobile alerts started to go off when something would pass through the camera’s field of vision. The good news about that, though, is that it wasn’t so sensitive that every speck of dust triggered an alert. The smart detection feature was impressive in that regard — the company says the camera’s internal algorithms will only trigger for the unique heat signature of a human — and it’s something that worked well consistently in my tests. Other simple indoor cameras I’ve tested like the ones from Ring seemed to trigger more false positives.
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Fielding alerts was easy using the SimpliSafe app. Once a notification comes through, a simple swipe of the finger takes you to the livestream. Note that SimpliCam also provides two-way talk. The built-in microphone allowed me to speak to the kids through the camera, which is always helpful. To speak through the cam, hold down the microphone icon in the app. Just remember to take your finger off the mic if you want to listen in. Two-way audio is nice, but it’s a pretty standard feature nowadays.
So far so good. But again, none of these features is especially innovative. That said, one unique feature of the SimpliSafe camera is the stainless steel privacy shutter. The shutter provides more control over the camera feed and privacy. It opens and closes — essentially turning the camera on and off — only with user permission. It also looks like an eye-opening and closing, which I thought was kind of cyborg-chic. If you’re worried about your security camera being used by hackers to invade your privacy, I’d definitely recommend the SimpliCam for you.
Customer Service
In my experience, SimpliSafe customer service is rock-solid. Their Help Center is pretty robust, and the brand also has service channels via email, user forums, and good old-fashioned phone calls. I did come across some unflattering reviews citing long wait times, but I never waited more than a few minutes to get a friendly and professional agent on the line.
Money-Back Guarantee
SimpliSafe’s 60-day, money-back guarantee happens to be one of the better guarantees in the business, and it shows that they stand behind their product and service. If you do decide to return your equipment before your 60 days are up, SimpliSafe will even pay your return shipping. Not bad.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor
