Ring Video Doorbell Review: Highly Effective, Easy to Set Up, Reasonably Priced

Domestic security systems provide a means of monitoring your home while you are out or asleep.  Ring Video Doorbell provides just this and in fine contrast to conventional home security systems, it brings with it an easy installation process, cheaper purchasing costs and easy-to-move features, should you decide to relocate.

Ring Video Doorbell boasts a simple, do-it-yourself home security system constantly checking for intrusions and emergencies, thanks to the improvement of sensors technology in recent times.

Features

• Review price: $199
• Height: 4.5 inches
• Width: 2 inches
• Functions: Camera, motion detection
• Colour: Gray, white
• Audio support: Yes
• Connectivity: Wireless

Discussion

In its operations, Ring Video Doorbell employs a wide range of motion, entrance, fire and carbon monoxide sensors, alongside Ring’s other home security cameras.  It also includes a battery and cellular backup, should there be a power outage. It combines both motion and contact sensors and has a nightlight as well. Its internal battery is stated to last between 6 and 12 months, making it useful in locations without regular power supply.

Its keypad is powered using a basic MicroUSB cable and can be placed on the ground or wall-mounted.  The base station could also be mounted on a wall and can be set up over Wi-Fi or connected directly to an internet router over Ethernet.  Should there be power outage, it is equipped with a 24-hour backup battery in addition to being able to connect to an LTE network, available when you sign up to Ring’s Protect Plus service.

You can tell when the system is armed or disarmed through the highlighted LED rings featured in both keypad and base station.  The built in speakers also make it possible for the alarm to be heard when there is an intrusion or emergency.

Ring Video Doorbell can be connected to your iOS or Android device where you will be receiving push notifications directly to your device without any additional service.

Easy installation, expert monitoring options, as well as being inexpensive are part of the top qualities of the Ring Video Doorbell.

Ring Video Doorbell is valued at $199 with a package consisting of the vital hub, a keypad, a motion detector, a doors/windows contact sensor, a range improver and expert monitoring at $10/month.  This makes it considerably cheaper than the similar Nest Secure system and also amongst the cheapest home security systems available in the market.

In addition to its inexpensiveness, Ring Video Doorbell is remarkably simple to install at about 20 minutes using the instructions manual.  Its main features are already preset to link to the hub, such that setup is only a matter of waking them by pulling the battery tab and then waiting a while for the application to locate them.  Installation of the sensors is equally simple and all required screws and nuts are included in the package for this.

In comparison to Nest’s system, Ring’s motion and contact sensors are much more conventional.  Ring’s separation of base station from keypad is somewhat inefficient unlike Nest’s which also includes more motion detector sensors.  However, you can add more keypads to Ring’s system and can position them at different locations and entry points. It does not have as many bells and whistles and may not be as convenient.

Fire or carbon monoxide monitoring is not included in the Ring Alarm system used by Ring Video Doorbell.  To get these features, you will need to get a First Alert Z-Wave Smoke/CO alarm or Ring’s Alarm Smoke and CO listener at $40 and $35, respectively.  These will be installed close to existing smoke detectors and will trigger your system upon the sound of the alarm.

All-round expert monitoring of the alarm system is offered by Ring through its Protect Plus service which by design alerts the authorities concerned or emergency agencies in the event of an emergency of intrusion.  This will be achieved at a low cost ($10/month) through your phone, alerting you as well as other emergency contacts set up by you and ensuring that emergency services are dispatched automatically. Ring Video Doorbell has access to limitless cloud storage on Protect Plus service as well.

The alarm system consists of three distinct modes set through the keypad or the mobile app; a disarm mode to switch off all monitoring, a home mode which monitors entrance sensors only and an away mode which monitors all functional sensors.

Unlike a system from ADT, Ring Video Doorbell cannot sense when a glass window is broken.  Also, the only way to setup the system is through the keypad and the app and its assimilation with Alexa is unavailable at present.  There is really no provision for integration with any other smart product whatsoever.

Conclusion

The Ring Video Doorbell has no noteworthy fault, regardless of its inability to integrate with other devices and perhaps, a too-easy method.  It actually is an easier and much cheaper expert home monitoring security system.

The security aspect of the system is definitely great and perhaps, in time we will see it integrating with other smart devices.