6 Messages
adding a wifi extender
I am adding a wifi extender not from the company. Do I then have to set all the sensors, monitors and cameras back up to that or will they recognize it? I had the system professionally installed, now I am adding this extender myself wondering if I have to start from the beginning? Everything is functional now except one camera is too far away and works sporadically which is why I am adding the extender.
Official Solution
simplisafe_admin
Community Admin
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981 Messages
6 days ago
@rea SimpliSafe sensors communicate with the Base Station using their own radio frequency signal, so you do not need to do anything to them when setting up your Wi-Fi extender. The Base Station and any cameras you have will need to be reconnected to the extender's network, though.
If you check out the Changing Wi-Fi Networks for Cameras article in the Help Center, it will take you through the steps of connecting your Base Station and cameras to this new network.
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dlpsr
1.5K Messages
7 days ago
All the sensors in SS3 live in the base station and will remain the same and need no extra work.
But since the WiFi extender will have a different SSID, (name of the extender usually like myroutername-ext)
You will have to reset and pair that one camera to the new extender. That should be it. All else that remains on the original Wi-Fi router and base station and should be fine.
For reference the sensors are all RF and commicate strictly with the base station.
If the troublesome camera is an outdoor model, it also gets an RF signal wake up from the base station.
If an indoor camera, I think those are just WiFi, don't have any indoor models not 100 percent sure.
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captain11
Captain
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6.3K Messages
6 days ago
@rea Just a recommendation based on my personal experience: wifi extenders work okay but replacing a standalone router with an extender with a mesh system is much, much better. I have the original Google WIFI mesh system, has one router and 2 points and covers my 2600 sq foot 2 story colonial from basement to 2nd floor just fine, with no issues with doorbell pro, 2 outdoor cameras and 3 Smart Alarm cameras.
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dlpsr
1.5K Messages
6 days ago
Same, mesh here as well. Mesh will almost guarantee at least wifi gets to the cameras.
But be aware, if it's weak RF due to home construction all the mesh WiFi in the world will not help significantly. The SS base station sends a wake up command to the outdoor cameras.
If the RF signal must penetrate thick walls or in my case bricks and plaster, or metal in exterior stucco etc., the wake time will be "very slow" if at all if metal stucco. Up to 8 seconds or more, slow live views.
But, detections and videos with Mesh will generally speaking, work ok.
Even inside some users have RF sensor drop issues, again construction or square footage related, combined with weak radio frequency signal penetration.
Generally speaking though, I recommend Mesh WiFi whole heartedly for everyone. It's just better when things WiFi are outside and actually work properly or as intended, unlike these cameras.
In my installation anyhow. My 5 are all solar, some use powered USB cables for charging and claim they help.
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