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The lack of outdoor cameras has long been one of the few shortcomings of the SimpliSafe security system. This situation has been changed with the company's new wireless outdoor camera. This is a stylish device that is different from the company's normal indoor camera. It looks like it was built with the SimpliSafe design theme in mind.
The camera is compact in design, as a small cylinder—such as a half-height soup pot—attached to a magnetic base, allowing it to be repositioned fairly freely, although it is intended to be mounted high on the wall and aimed downward at the ground. The base is easily fixed to the wall with the two screws provided.
The camera is powered by a large battery, similar to the battery you find in a Ring doorbell. The battery can be taken out and charged externally via the microUSB cable (included); SimpliSafe stated that the battery can be used for 3 to 6 months before it needs to be recharged. If you are not suitable for charging the battery, you can also connect the camera at full time via the straight-through microUSB cable located under the rubber label on the back of the device. (A 25-foot waterproof cable will cost an extra $50.) If you want to install the camera in a sunny place, a better option might be to install an optional solar panel ($69) to keep the battery over.
SimpiSafe's optional solar panel ($69) will keep the battery of the outdoor camera fully charged, so you will not lose use of the camera while the camera battery is being charged or replaced.
From a specification point of view, SimpliSafe Outdoor Camera covers most of the base, although it relies on the connection to the third-generation SimpliSafe base station and keyboard, and cannot operate independently (you also need to connect it to your 2.4GHz wireless network) . The device has an impressive IP65 weatherproof rating and can record 1080p video within a 140-degree field of view. Includes two-way audio and two night vision options: traditional infrared or full-color night vision through integrated spotlights. Motion detection and active areas can be used, and the camera can be set to alert based on any movement or only when people are detected.
If you are running a SimpliSafe hub, the setup is actually a one-button operation: just launch the SimpliSafe app, select "Set up camera", and press the button on the back of the camera when prompted. Everything else is handled behind the scenes, which is arguably the simplest camera setup I have encountered so far.
Some video clips are always lost in the timeline.
If you are just watching live video, this camera is not bad, but not the best on the market. The video is clear, but the app connects to the camera and wakes it up very slowly, usually taking 5 to 15 seconds for the feed to appear. When recording video, the system still has some room for improvement. Even at the highest sensitivity setting, I need a lot of action to be notified by the app, and the recorded clips are usually marked as "no video" available. Whenever I click the "rewind" button to play old clips in the main interface, the app often crashes. The app tends to lose the Wi-Fi connection, and again it takes a few seconds to find it again. Both night vision modes are effective, but everything has the "sudden" problem, that is, the lens must work to adapt to the ambient light for a few seconds, so that the first moment of any recorded video is overexposed.
Please note that you need to develop a surveillance plan to take full advantage of the camera; otherwise, you can only watch real-time video. The $10 per month plan offers unlimited recording options for up to five cameras and is designed for those who don’t want professional security surveillance. Upgrade to SimpliSafe's 24/7 professional surveillance plan for US$25 per month and up to 10 cameras; the good news is that if you use SimpliSafe as a security system, you most likely already have this subscription.
The camera's video is reliable, but from a wireless point of view, there is still some work to be done, and the app may use some touch-ups to improve stability. With some time and patience, these problems may be resolved. The hardware is reasonably priced (though not cheap). Finally, if you are already a SimpliSafe user, it is worth taking advantage of the 60-day money-back guarantee to see if the system is working well in your environment.
This camera is very suitable for the SimpliSafe ecosystem, although it has some bugs that need to be resolved.
Christopher Null is a senior technical and business journalist. He regularly contributes to TechHive, PCWorld and Wired, and runs the Drinkhacker and Film Racket websites.
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