Why is My SimpliSafe Base Red?

When it comes to technology, seeing a red light on your devices can sometimes be alarming. After running my SimpliSafe system for a few days, I noticed the Basestation began to show a red status light.

Why is the SimpliSafe Base Red?

Original Base Station	Potential Cause
Blinking Red	The device’s cellular module is attempting to connect to SimpliSafe servers but is encountering an error.
Solid Red	A solid red light usually indicates that your Base Station’s cellular module is not connected correctly.
All-New Base Station	Potential Cause
Slow Pulsing/Flashing Red	Your system is experiencing an error (loss of power, sensor failure, etc.)Your Keypad will contain a more detailed explanation of the error in this scenario.
Fast Pulsing/Flashing Red	If your device is flashing red rapidly, it means that a recent alarm has been triggered.

As with any smart home technology, it’s essential to understand how your units communicate. To be sure my system was functioning properly, I needed to figure out what the different light indicators meant.

Red Lights: A Closer Look

The SimpliSafe base station uses a variety of colored light indicators to inform you of a potential issue that may need to be addressed. The good news is that a red light doesn’t necessarily mean your system isn’t working.

Here’s a quick look at some of the red light cues you may see on your Base Station:

Solid Red Light

Flashing Red Light

Pulsing Red Light

Usually, a red light means that a message containing more information has been sent to your Keypad. Once you receive and acknowledge the message on your Keypad, the red light should go away.

What Are Some Causes of the Red Lights?

Now that we have a better idea of what type of red light cues you may experience on your device, let’s take a closer looking at some Keypad errors that could be causing your Base Station to activate a signal.

The associated message you receive on your Keypad will help give insight into the issue that needs to be addressed. Depending on which model of SimpliSafe’s Base Station you’re using, the lights could indicate different things.

SimpliSafe Original Base Station

Light Status	Potential Cause
Blinking	The device’s cellular module is attempting to connect to SimpliSafe servers but is encountering an error.
Solid	A solid red light usually indicates that your Base Station’s cellular module is not connected correctly.

SimpliSafe All-New Base Station

Light Status	Potential Cause
Slow Pulsing/Flashing	Your system is experiencing an error (loss of power, sensor failure, etc.)Your Keypad will contain a more detailed explanation of the error in this scenario.
Fast Pulsing/Flashing	If your device is flashing red rapidly, it means that a recent alarm has been triggered.

Before attempting to diagnose and troubleshoot your issue, it’s crucial to verify which model you’re using, as the red lights are used to indicate different messages depending on the system. Regardless, a red light means an error will need to be addressed.

How to Turn Off Flashing Red Light

Once you’ve confirmed that the issue causing the red light has been resolved, what can you do to reset the light indicator? Luckily, it’s a pretty straightforward process once you’ve figured out the root cause of the error:

1. Press the “Menu Button”
2. Enter your PIN
3. Scroll through the menu and select “Exit.”
4. That’s it! Your system should no longer display the red light

Other Light Indicators

The Base Station doesn’t only rely on red lights to communicate a message, however. If you’ve been using your SimpliSafe system for a while, you may have noticed different colored light indicators. Here’s a brief look at some of the other light cues you may encounter:

• Blue Light
  • A blue light usually has to do with the “activation” of the Base Station. Typically, it means the device is either armed or disarmed, depending on the cue of the light. 
• Yellow Light
  • A yellow light is used to inform you your Base Station is using the network to access information or communicate (Downloading updates, updating information from the associated mobile app, etc.)
• White Light
  • A white light is a response to user inputs. It will show white when it’s ready to receive a signal from your Keypad, or it’s in the process of receiving Keypad inputs.

Troubleshooting Potential Issues

If you’ve made an attempt to address the issues causing the red lights on your Base Station, but are still experiencing errors (or the red light still persists), here are some things you can try:

Unable to Connect to Server

If you’re getting the red light cue because your device is having trouble connecting to the SimpliSafe server, you can try:

• Move the base closer to your router. It could be running into interference from other electronic devices (microwave, baby monitors, TVs, etc.).
• Try resetting your router.
• It could also be an error with the cellular SIM card in your device. You can contact SimpliSafe Customer Support, to have a new replacement SIM card sent.

How to Reset SimpliSafe Base Station

When in doubt, you can always try to reset your Base Station to resolve potential issues.

1. Unplug the Base Station from its power source.
2. Remove the battery from the device.
3. Replace the battery, and re-plug your device back in.
4. After a full power cycle, the device should be reset.

Summary

The SimpliSafe Base Station uses light indicators to let you know it’s trying to get your attention and communicate a message. More often than not, a flashing red light indicates an easily resolved error. If you’re unsure, you can always refer to the Keypad for more detailed information on the message you’re receiving.