Frequently Asked Questions
GENERAL
Insert the battery, and place in any dark and motionless space for 5 seconds to auto-arm. Use in safes, storage units, luggage, closets, boats, trailers and more. An alert is sent to your phone when instrusions are detected: light, infrared motion or acceleration. The sensor then automatically finds the best cellular network anywhere in the world, alerting your phone within about 20 seconds. Alerts take on average 20 seconds to recieve after triggering, and the first alert after inital setup can take about 5-10 minutes to receive, so be patient on the first one! Have more questions on setup, or need help troubleshooting? Scroll to SETUP and TROUBLESHOOTING pages for more info.
Simtek Sensors come pre-installed with a special high performance global simcard that automatically connects to best available networks nearly every country across thousands of different partner carriers. For example, in the USA your sensor might connect to T-Mobile or AT&T...in United Kingdom connect to Orange, or Israel Pelephone. In every country, there are many networks available for it to use automatically. And the best part? There's no setup or configuration required on your part, even when travelling...simply insert the battery and start monitoring automatically!
The Simtek Sensor is a battery powered, cellular based security sensor that does not need WiFi or external power. You won't find another security sensor with a full year of battery life, global range and setup in seconds this reliable and high performance. Every year, millions of people go without power for days and weeks. Would you want your defenses down when the power goes out due to an event or sabotage? That's the most important time to be on guard and when you need it most. We don't compromise on performance, reliability or security and found that WIFI and Bluetooth were easily hackable, unplugged, and unreliable. Many customers choose to protect and monitor valuables in remote spaces, like trailers or boats without any access to power or wifi.
DATAPLANS
Every sensor requires it's own dataplan. Alerts are sent over encrypted cellular networks and need a dataplan to operate, just like your phone. Simtek dataplans are affordable at about $4 per month. Cellular connectivity is the more secure and not easily hacked or sabotaged like WIFI. Plus, it's global out of the box. And if the power goes out or you're monitoring somewhere remote, the Simtek Sensor will still send alerts over a secure connection. Simtek pays a fee to carriers for every sensor, regardless of active status, and thus we do not offer bundled dataplan discounts at this time. Email us to inquire about discounts on multiple sensors, and sign up for our mailing list for sales. The subscription dataplans also help Simtek provide service and support, in addition to enabling us invest in world class engineering, which is our top priority. The profit we make on the data fees also allow us to only use the highest grade chips in the sensor itself, making it the most reliable hardware you'll buy. Other products have a business model making the product for as cheap as possible to make any product. We take the opposite approach, using the highest quality components we can find to make it the most reliable, secure and performant product on the planet.
Every Simtek Sensor requires a dataplan and includes a 30 day free trial. You can pay annually or monthly at about $4 monthly per device within the Simtek app. There are no contracts or cancellation fees, and you may cancel at anytime by emailing help@simtek.io After downloading the Simtek app on your phone, you are asked in the Simtek app to pay for the dataplan when your free trial is up. Each dataplan includes unlimited alerts, no contracts or cancellation fees.
Worldwide UMTS/HSPA and GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks to provide true global coverage. The Simtek Sensor automatically connects to cellular networks on it's own (like a roaming mobile phone) and the second-gen sensor uses 4G.
We support almost every country. This list is not in alphabetical order. If you're unsure, please contact help@simtek.io - United States, Canada, Afghanistan, Albania, Aland Islands (Finland), Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo Democratic Rep, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Faroe Islands (Denmark), Fiji, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Myanmar (Burma), Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tonga, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Vatican City, Venezuela, Zambia, Bermuda, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Kazakhstan, Mali, Morocco, Senegal.
TECHNOLOGY
Battery life is about 1 year averaging 10 alerts per month. Battery life varies according to temperature (colder temps reduce battery life) and how often you use it in addition to other variables. We've seen battery life of 6-8 months with heavier use, around 30 alerts per month. The sensor sends low battery notifications and there's battery level information on the app to let you know when to recharge. Use the included Micro USB to recharge once every 6-12 months but be proactive and charge every 4-6 months.
Using 3-IN-1 sensor technology, which includes a passive infrared motion sensor (PIR),a visible light sensor, and an Accelerometer. It also has a Temperature and Humidity sensor for environmental monitoring. The accelerometer detects physical movement of the sensors itself, e.g. someone moves your safe or luggage but does not open it. The PIR motion sensor detects infrared motion, e.g. someone opens the safe or luggage or walks into the closet. And the light sensor detects any visible light. The Simtek Sensor is sensitive and engineered to be next to impossible to defeat.
The Simtek Sensor will only trigger an alert when the sensors detect light, infrared motion or vibration movement. The only time we get reports of false positives, is when people drive on the highway with their sensor in the car and telecom and road traffic equipment can occasionally interfere.
PERFORMANCE
The Simtek Sensor is designed to work in low signal environments, like a safe or basement. Cellular connectivity has higher performance in low signal environments than WIFI or Bluetooth. Have you ever sent an SMS with barely any service and you could not make a call, but a text went through? Every sensor includes an external antenna which we encourage you to use. String the external antenna outside the safe and hide it out the back. Take it to the next level and purchase the extender cable to hide the antenna 6 feet away from your safe.
It was engineered for poor signal environments, just like inside a thick metal safe. It only sends a very small amount of data with each alert, and works great in poor network conditions. We designed and engineered the Simtek Sensor to perform in these scenarios. As long as you're getting consistent alerts within 20-30 seconds. What about if there's no cellular signal at all? The Simtek Sensor uses a special global simcard that connects to the best signal networks automatically, anywhere in the world. It has full coverage in nearly every country, so this will be a rare scenario. In the rare event this happens, we will be happy to work with you to find a solution to your satisfaction. Learn how to mount the antenna properly.
Every alert includes location triangulation, by way of cellular tower triangulation. Location accuracy is dependent on the number of towers the device can hit, and is something the carrier networks control. Unfortunately, the location triangulation is not always accurate. Sometimes, it is extremely inaccurate. Other times, it is extremely precise. This is a known tradeoff. Simtek sensors don't use GPS because of battery life and cost.
About 20 seconds to receive an alert after an intrusion is detected. The blue LED light indicates infrared motion detected. The red and green LED lights indicate cellular modem activity. When the flashing red light "locks on" it has connected to the network and is sending the alert to your phone. If the red light flashes constantly but never locks on and turns off, it wasn't able to find the network or there is a problem with the simcard. There are no LED indicators when light or acceleration movement is detected.
SETUP & COMPLIANCE
Download the app and scan the QR code on the battery cover of the sensor. After inserting the battery and attaching the antenna, place the Simtek Sensor anywhere you want to monitor and it will automatically arm itself in 5 seconds. Need more info on setup, please see SETUP for more information.
Follow the same setup steps, then swipe left or right to see different sensors in the app. Note: if you want to add a friend, family member or additional phone to receive alerts on a sensor, simply follow the same steps. Download the Simtek app on the second phone and scan the QR code and follow the same steps. Warning: subscribers can only remove themselves from alerts, you cannot boot or kick someone off. This is for security reasons. Imagine if a son subscribed to Dad's gun safe alerts and was able to remove him from alerts.
The Simtek Sensor is certified by FCC and CE and is safe for all ages. All data is stored securely on private servers in the United States with strong encryption and privacy. All alert transmissions sent to your phone are end to end encrypted over cellular networks. Simtek takes privacy and security seriously, and your usage data is never sold or given to third parties. There is no audio or photo or video recording capability on the Simtek Sensor. Simtek does not know (or care) what our customers monitor. We help you protect what you love.
Are you getting alerts because the light sensor triggers daily at a specific time when the sunlight hits it at exactly the perfect angle? Or using the sensor in a truck that you drive and get constant alerts? There's a special way to turn off the light sensor or vibration sensor (you cannot turn off the infrared motion sensor for security purposes) but you'll have to email help@simtek.io to ask how.
FEATURES
Subscribing multiple people to receive alerts is easy. They simply download the app on their phone, and go through the same setup you did. Note: the original user will get a subscriber notification warning them other people have synced to their device to recieve alerts. Also note: adding and removal of subscribers can only be from each phone. You cannot add or remove anyone from your phone, only yourself for security reasons.
Low battery alerts are pushed to you automatically when the battery is low telling you to recharge. Recharing the battery should take a couple hours, wait until the yellow charge light goes off.
Simply unplug the wired antenna to use the onboard internal antenna. Each sensor has an onboard antenna that you can't see. It's not as powerful as the wired antenna, but it should still get the job done. The internal onboard antenna will automatically activate and start working when the external wired antenna is unplugged.
Features we hope you'll discover. We're always improving the experience and product. We try to create experiences that are intuitive, but there are currently several hidden features within the Simtek app that aren't very discoverable. Tap on an alert to see the temperature and humidity and location triangulation. Customize alert messages in the EDIT screen, to name a few.
RETURNS & WARRANTY
We've worked hard to create a product you will love. We realize the product you receive from Simtek may not be exactly what you expected. Should this rare occurrence take place, the original purchaser of the product may return all Simtek sensors purchased in the original transaction, in their original condition, with the original receipt and packaging including all acceessories, within 30 days of the date of delivery to the original retail purchaser and Simtek will exchange it or provide a full refund of the original purchase price at Simtek Inc.’s sole discretion. We may first try to remedy the situation by repairing, replacing or otherwise making good on our goal of delivering exceptional products. Please note that this policy applies only to Products you purchase directly from Simtek. Note: a restocking fee and/or other fees may apply. Refunds are made on a case by case basis, and returned to the original form of payment. This is in addition to your legal rights and your rights under the Simtek hardware one (1) year Worldwide Warranty. All returns must be authorized. To start a return, please email help@simtek.io
Simtek warrants that your Simtek Sensor will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of delivery to the original purchaser or retail purchaser.