SimpliSafe base station is the brains of your home security system. It coordinates and facilitates communication between your SimpliSafe monitoring devices. To integrate the SimpliSafe system into the mobile app, the base has to connect to your home Wi-Fi network. This allows you to control your devices remotely, integrate voice control, receive notifications and alerts, etc.
This post details probable reasons why your base station won’t connect and the troubleshooting solutions to fix the problem.
Why is my SimpliSafe Base Station not connecting to Wi-Fi?
SimpliSafe Base Station won’t connect to a 5 GHz network. Ensure you use a compatible 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network to set up. Again, using the keypad instead of the app is recommended during the initial setup. To fix the connection issue, power cycle or reset the base station and reconnect.
Connecting your SS system to your Wi-Fi network adds an extra layer of security and reliability.
There are several reasons your SS base station won’t connect; here are some common ones;
- Using a 5 GHz Wi-Fi network instead of the compatible 2.4 GHz network
- Router settings blocking the addition of new devices
- Low bandwidth – insufficient Wi-Fi signal strength
- Running VPN or Ad guard when setting up via the app
- Firmware issues preventing Wi-Fi connection
- Hidden or lengthy Wi-Fi SSID
- The known bug where the base station won’t connect to Wi-Fi after upgrading to the 4G module
If your base station was connected and working, then suddenly it won’t connect or find any network; try the power cycling hack. Here is how to go about it;
- Disconnect the power cable from the base station.
- Remove the battery cover and remove one battery.
- Wait for 3 minutes. The key is to wait three minutes for the base to discharge fully.
- Connect the base station to the power cable with one battery out and the cover off.
- Once the system has booted up, the “no Wi-Fi” problem should be gone, and you can search/enter Wi-Fi on either the base station or the app as intended.
- Once it has reconnected, you should be ready but must reassemble the device. So, insert the missing battery > unplug the power cable > screw back the battery cover > and plug the power cable back in.
Troubleshooting SS Base Station Not Connecting To WIFI
After identifying potential reasons why your base station isn’t connecting, troubleshooting your network, the base station, and the app or keypad should get it hooked.
If you use the mobile app, ensure you’re connected to the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network and disable your VPN or ad guard.
Try these solutions to fix the connection problem;
Test Your Internet Connectivity
Test your network by connecting a phone or tablet and trying to surf the internet. If the network signal is poor or disconnected, try fixing it.
Smart devices require a strong and stable internet connection to sync to the servers effectively. A robust home internet is the first requirement for running a successful smart home.
Again, if you change your network settings, such as Wi-Fi password, security type, etc., you must update the same on your connected devices.
Once you have applied the changes on your router admin, remove the device from the app, reset it if necessary, and reconnect to the updated network.
Remember that the SimpliSafe base and cameras are only compatible with a 2.4 GHz network.
If your router broadcasts 2.4 and 5 GHz bands on a single SSID, you must separate them into two different networks. This helps you avoid conflicts and only connect the devices to the compatible frequency.
Another common cause of connectivity failure is channel interference. Check out for electronic devices that could distort and affect the base signal; this includes remotes, baby monitors, Wi-Fi jammers, etc.
Set your Wi-Fi network channel to (1, 6, 11) on your router admin panel.
Again, ensure you aren’t using a hidden Wi-Fi network. The Wi-Fi SSID and password shouldn’t exceed 31 characters.
Generally, power cycling the router and the device works magic when dealing with drop-in network issues.
Unplug the router from the outlet, give it 20 – 30 seconds, and reconnect it. This power cycles the connection, refreshing and reinitializing your network connection.
Move The Base Station Closer
The SS base station must be within your network range to get a strong Wi-Fi signal. Therefore, ensure that the setup location receives a sufficiently strong signal.
Move the base closer to the router. However, don’t place it right next to the router to avoid cross-talk interference. During the initial setup, have all your SimpliSafe devices and the router in the same room.
If you intend to have your base in a different room, test the signal strength to avoid the offline issue. Alternatively, upgrade to a mesh network topology or get a network extender to spread your Wi-Fi signal evenly.
Power cycle your Devices
Depending on the cause, a simple restart could fix the connectivity issue. Power cycling is a fancy name for rebooting an electronic device.
Power cycling removes temporary configuration errors or corrupt files preventing your device from connecting.
Therefore, power cycle the base station, network router, keypad, and the SimpliSafe app. This refreshes your network as well as the device’s connection.
Unplug the device from the power, wait for 20 – 30 seconds, and reconnect to reboot it successfully.
The power cycling process for the SS base station is explained in the first section.
Use The Keypad for The Initial Setup
SimpliSafe offers both app and keypad setup methods. However, using the keypad for the initial setup is highly recommended. Once your base station is up, integrate it into the app and add the additional devices.
The important thing is connecting the Wi-Fi and finishing the initial setup.
Here is how to use the Keypad;
- Take out your keypad and pull the tab if you’re yet to
- Hit Menu and enter your Master PIN (4-digit) as prompted
- Navigate to the Wi-Fi setup option > select it. Let the Keypad find and display available networks
- Select your intended network with the right rocker and enter the correct password. Ensure you’re using a 2.4 GHz network.
- Let the base station connect. Observe the Keypad for the connection status. When connecting, the base station has an amber ring.
The Keypad should display “off” in a circle. You can add sensors and cameras via the app later by telling it you’re done when prompted to add sensors.
Now that the base station is connected to your network, you can integrate it into the app.
To refresh the app, exit the app on your mobile device (not close, LOG OUT) of your account. Close the app, reopen it, and log back in. You are likely to meet either of these on your home screen;
- Off/home/away, “welcome to SimpliSafe,” etc. This means you got your system from SimpliSafe, and your system monitoring is active now. Refresh the system status if it says “finish setup now.”
- “Just got your package? Start Setup Now!” + “Already Installed? Skip the installation and connect your system to the app” (popup only appears once right after login). Select “already installed” and finish the setup that way.
Add the rest of your devices via the app or the Keypad.
Final Thoughts
Dealing with connection issues is always frustrating and can easily annoy you. However, with the above troubleshooting steps, you should be able to connect your SS system to your home network.
If none of our tips fix the issue, call SS support. SimpliSafe is known for its exceptional support team. The support team offers guidance on the matter or replaces your unit in case it’s faulty.
