Ring Security - Video Systems

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

I am looking to ditch my old circa 2010 ADT system for something I can monitor myself or at least reduce my monitoring costs.

Looking at the Ring security systems as they can be expanded with all the monitors and video when or if I desire. Monitoring and video storage subscription is only $10/month if added.

Anybody have any experience with these?

It is Garage related as it needs to be expandable with the hopefully near future garage addition. Second Keypad, motion & door sensor for that area.

https://shop.ring.com/pages/security-system

Bonus also that Costco sells components and simple starter system at a discount.

 

[bjboh1]

I love my Ring doorbell...... One of the best thing I ever purchased! I have not used any of their other products I have been looking at adding a additional camera on my driveway. Let us know how it works for you if you pull the trigger.

 

[Markromeo]

I received a Ring 2 doorbell for Christmas, as stated above, one of the best things I've ever added to the house. I suppose what I didn't know wouldn't hurt me, but its crazy to see how much action there is at the front door. Typically its the mail, UPS, or FedEx guy, but its just nice to know how quickly and easily it picks up motion, and the video is extremely clear. Unfortunately I can't speak on the rest of their products, but have started to look into them, to add to my Ring Doorbell.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

i bought a ring video door bell 2 and chime pro at OSH when they were going out of business. a got it for $50 less than amazon.

I can say ive been really happy with its performance. I have very few if any issues with it.

And i bought a second battery for $29 so i always have power for it.

I havent used any of their other products but if they work just as well as the VDB2, then you wont be disappointed.

 

[burleyfarm]

I too have Ring products. Ring doorbell Pro and floodlight along with Chime Pro. Love them. We received an alert the other day (1030 miles from home) about motion at the rear of the house from our floodlight. Couldn’t figure out what tripped it but generally it’s a rabbit or squirrel in the back yard. Viewed the video a few more times and saw a field mouse scurrying across the deck. [emoji15]

Front door bell is great. Had a package arrive while out of town for a couple of days. Had our son pick it up for us. He is set up as a shared user. He can receive and view video and alerts but can not make any changes.

Did I say we LOVE IT?

$3 per month per device or $10/month max for 3-unlimited devices.

Set up different alert tones for each function and device.

The devices have the ability to determine motion zones, schedule lights and two way talk. The floodlight also has a siren and its loud.

Ring Neighborhood App let’s you share alerts and information to a specific geographic area of other Ring users.

Let me know if you have any questions.
Front door.

Back yard floodlight.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[dcg9381]

I like Ring too, but I don't like the fees.
Look at Wyze cams - way cheaper than Ring, no fees.
If you're just looking for basic phone notifications upon motion sensing, these cannot be beat for the price. Free cloud storage (limited) and storage on the camera per SD card.

I have some much more expensive IP cameras - and the new shop is getting about 6 Wyze cams...

(This is not an alarm system... But those are being offered through Z-wave and other technologies)

 

[wyliesdiesels]

I like Ring too, but I don't like the fees.
Look at Wyze cams - way cheaper than Ring, no fees.
If you're just looking for basic phone notifications upon motion sensing, these cannot be beat for the price. Free cloud storage (limited) and storage on the camera per SD card.

I have some much more expensive IP cameras - and the new shop is getting about 6 Wyze cams...

(This is not an alarm system... But those are being offered through Z-wave and other technologies)

i looked at the wyze cam.

Its not rated for outdoors, doesnt have a battery and records to memory card.

my ring gets wet where its at so wyze cam wouldnt work, there is no wiring or outlet nearby so wyze cam wouldnt work, and if it got stolen, my video would be gone.

Ring has lifetime replacement if it gets stolen. IMHO $30/yr is cheap insurance.

 

[tab2]

Not cheap initially (but there are no monitoring fees) I use Ubiquiti cameras. Mostly POE ones so no batteries. They have been great. You can set recording schedules, zones, notifications, etc.

An interesting note about Ring:

https://www.cnet.com/news/amazons-ring-takes-heat-for-considering-facial-recognition-for-its-video-doorbells/

 

[ddawg16]

I bought the Ring door bell for my in-laws a couple of Xmas's ago....they love it.

I bought one for each of my nieces as they got married....they love it.

I don't have one...…...yet.

I have 6 HD POE cameras around my house. 2 record 24/7, the others on event.

I personally think a combination of the Ring doorbell with 24/7 HD cameras is the best way to go and don't bother with monitored security. About all they are good for is telling the police 'when' your house got burg'd.

Some might argue "What if you are out of town and don't have internet reception?"
Well....nice thing about the Ring is you can give other people access to it as well. So, if you are going out of town or the country, give a trusted neighbor access.

One of the positive things I see about the Ring....it's not a 'hear today, gone tomorrow' company.

One last point....a big dog is still one of the best preventions you can have. Dirtbags don't like big dogs....especially big dogs who bite. They will just go to another house.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

Thanks for all the feedback, compared to $55/month my ADT has gone to for only the simplest system (2 entry doors, one motion sensor)

I don’t think $10/month is bad for unlimited devices and video if you add cameras and door bell. That is if you do their subscribed video recording, with just the system you have no fees, just no recording and no service if WiFi goes out. (Service includes cell back up to the WiFi)

On a good note I got ADT to reduce my monitoring fees by calling to cancel service - at least until I get something else in place.

I travel for work a lot and the wife works 12’s so when our dog passes (any day now by the looks of it) we will be dogless - as our schedules don’t allow for training a pup.

 

[Norcal]

For those who have or are thinking about Ring products.

https://theintercept.com/2019/01/10/amazon-ring-security-camera/

 

[Newell33]

I have a Ring doorbell cam that I like, but I'm not a fan of their wired floodlight cam that I purchased at a later date. The floodlight cam has separate settings for motion for the camera and the floodlights. The floodlight motion sensor is horribly inconsistent, and doesn't respond well to the motion settings. I can adjust the settings in and out, and shut off the left, right, and center zones and it makes no real difference. The camera motion zones work fine in the daytime, but shadows from neighbor vehicle lights will set of the alerts. I'm not as concerned with that as I am the inconsistent floodlight motion sensor. This is actually my 3rd floodlight cam. The first, the lights wouldn't come on at all. Amazon replaced this one for me. The second had similar issues with the floodlight motion sensor. Ring sent me the third one directly from their facility in California and it's basically the same as the last one. It's still nice to have, but it should work better for the money.

I also have another issue with both cameras that I'm curious to know if others are also experiencing. If I receive an alert, I open it right away. There is a delay from the time of the actual event to the time that the camera opens. This delay sometimes results in me missing the reason for the alert. For example, an animal passes by the view of the camera, or the person dropping off a package is already headed back to their delivery vehicle. I can't view the beginning of the video that caused the alert until the 1 to 2 minute video clip is done recording. Once it's done recording I can view the video clip, I'd like to be able to view the beginning of the clip as soon as I view the event history. I have excellent wifi signals at both units, and my internet speeds are 20 Mbps on both upload and download. Does anyone else experience a delay before they can view the beginning of their video clips? It would be nice to be able to view the beginning of the video while the tail end of the video is still recording.

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but this is the one other issue that turns me off on the product.

 

[ddawg16]

For those who have or are thinking about Ring products.

https://theintercept.com/2019/01/10/amazon-ring-security-camera/

For those too lazy to click...…….and of course, this is no surprise.
Think about it....google provides gmail, google maps, and many other cool things...and all we have to do is endure a few adds on the sides?

Facebook....all those 1000's of people working for them paid just from the adds?

My wife and I almost have bets to see how long before a product shows up as a suggestion our FB feed after we have done a search for something.

Yea....they are without a doubt watching what we are doing....

The “smart home” of the 21st century isn’t just supposed to be a monument to convenience, we’re told, but also to protection, a Tony Stark-like bubble of vigilant algorithms and internet-connected sensors working ceaselessly to watch over us. But for some who’ve welcomed in Amazon’s Ring security cameras, there have been more than just algorithms watching through the lens, according to sources alarmed by Ring’s dismal privacy practices.

Ring has a history of lax, sloppy oversight when it comes to deciding who has access to some of the most precious, intimate data belonging to any person: a live, high-definition feed from around — and perhaps inside — their house. The company has marketed its line of miniature cameras, designed to be mounted as doorbells, in garages, and on bookshelves, not only as a means of keeping tabs on your home while you’re away, but of creating a sort of privatized neighborhood watch, a constellation of overlapping camera feeds that will help police detect and apprehend burglars (and worse) as they approach. “Our mission to reduce crime in neighborhoods has been at the core of everything we do at Ring,” founder and CEO Jamie Siminoff wrote last spring to commemorate the company’s reported $1 billion acquisition payday from Amazon, a company with its own recent history of troubling facial recognition practices. The marketing is working; Ring is a consumer hit and a press darling.

 

[Rc_Guy]

i looked at the wyze cam.

Its not rated for indoors, doesnt have a battery and records to memory card.

my ring gets wet where its at so wyze cam wouldnt work, there is no wiring or outlet nearby so wyze cam wouldnt work, and if it got stolen, my video would be gone.

Ring has lifetime replacement if it gets stolen. IMHO $30/yr is cheap insurance.

How can something not be rated for indoor use?

 

[ddawg16]

How can something not be rated for indoor use?

No UL listing?

 

[Kburk09]

I work in commercial surveillance and low voltage IT. There are tons of options out there for the homeowner to build a whole home security network using IP cameras, Motion Sensors and Infared detection. Check out Cameras from HikVision, Vivotek, and as mentioned earlier Ubiquity. Cameras start at around 100 bucks and you can buy packages with servers and expandable capabilites. Much better quality than the box systems at box stores but still manageable. Also they are POE which means the data cable and power cable are the same. So no worrying about running power.

I have a old pc running my home system. I have 8 mini cameras on my property. 3 on my shop that attach to a ubiquity m3 radio that wirelessly sends the data 400 feet to my house. which also allows me to have high speed internet in the shop, as well as an access point for my whole back yard. I have 1 mini dome camera discreetly pointing at the front door and am alerted by text message whenever someone is on the front porch. I can then pull video and use 1 way audio to alert whomever is on the porch and give instructions or warning. Plus if I want I can switch apps to SmartThings and unlock the front door and let them in!

 

[aafadca]

I like Ring too, but I don't like the fees.
Look at Wyze cams - way cheaper than Ring, no fees.
If you're just looking for basic phone notifications upon motion sensing, these cannot be beat for the price. Free cloud storage (limited) and storage on the camera per SD card.

I have some much more expensive IP cameras - and the new shop is getting about 6 Wyze cams...

(This is not an alarm system... But those are being offered through Z-wave and other technologies)

I didn't see a doorbell from Wyze. Also do you know if they have some of the drawbacks of Ring such as someone else tapping into it, third part companies having access,etc?

 

[plugers]

This looks like a decent option:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/401253006954
You'd need a POE switch, or injector, and set up some software on a PC/server though.

Here is one link on configuration:
https://ipcamtalk.com/threads/review-vto2000a-vth1550ch-vtns1060a-intercom-kit.30326/

 

[wyliesdiesels]

How can something not be rated for indoor use?

Typo.

Shouldve said outdoor.

I fixed it.

 

[burleyfarm]

One compelling reason for me to choose Ring was the ease of install. Flood light is directly wired to the existing electrical floodlight service and the Ring Pro doorbell is wired to the already existing doorbell power. No batteries is another plus here in cold Michigan.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

In MI also BurleyFarm, I will likely do the security system first then add cameras down the line. I will do all wired cameras as I assume with animal activity (Cats, racoon, birds etc.) I will get alot of action out here in the country.

I am a DIY guy on most all fronts, don't like systems I can not fix and run myself. One of my many flaws I guess.

Another bonus for Ring is NO contracts so I can change what and how I use it whenever I choose, not when the contract allows.

 

[dcg9381]

I didn't see a doorbell from Wyze. Also do you know if they have some of the drawbacks of Ring such as someone else tapping into it, third part companies having access,etc?

As someone else mentioned: HikVision.
Most of my original stuff was HikVision out of Nelly Security. They are all at least $100/camera. They do work great and can integrate with complicated systems, if you want a complicated system.

Wyze does not have a doorbell. If you're after the push-button (doorbell function) then Wyze does not yet have a solution. If you want a camera that simply alerts a smart phone, records locally, records cloud (limited) and no cost, then get Wyze.

For security - like an integrated system, I have not yet designed that, but will probably use Z-wave devices.

In terms of "someone else tapping into it" - I work in networking for a living. Wyze did not have a good reputation - as originally there were calls to China and Eastern Europe detected within their products. Wyze subsequently fixed these issues, at least based on network security forums that I read.

What I can tell you is that damn near everything (HIKVision included) is made out of China and China is shady... Unless you know where the software was written and where the hardware was actually manufactured, its entirely possible that it can have a security issue.

We could argue the same about the CIA and US-government requiring "back doors" in software.

The bottom line for me - if you really want to see me in my underwear at home, I don't have a problem with it. If you really want to see out my front door camera, I don't have a problem with it. The reality is, for enough $$$ and a high enough international-priority, someone can hack most devices... However, for you and me - most sub-multi-billionaires, it's simply quicker and easier to bust a lock when we aren't home...

I don't have a big tin-foil hat... I'm kinda realistic that way.

 

[spiG]

I have the Ring Doorbell Pro which I love. New shop is going up in the next few weeks and planned on getting a camera for the front of it. I had CPI at my old house which was $50/month with a 5 year contract for basically nothing. Spent $3000 over that time frame for them to do nothing. I like Ring just due to the wireless capability of using solar panels to keep the cameras charged. I don't want to run wires through my wall into an adjacent room to power up a camera.

I will never put cameras in the sensitive areas on the inside of my house ie kids room, my room. that run off wifi as anything can be hacked. If anything runs off WIFI no matter the brand/make/model it can be hacked. Ring is no different then Apple, Tesla or anything else.

 

[Jonnynel]

I have always been a fan of ring products. I have an original ring doorbell and also bought my parents one. We have been very happy with Ring. That being said my parents recently invested in a Nest doorbell and two of the Nest IQ outdoor cameras. I must say the nest product, although a lot more expensive initially and to monitor, seems to be a lot better quality. The picture seems better, the IQ cams can pan and zoom and follow people when detected. The doorbell camera seems to have a far better picture than the original ring doorbell (can't compare it to the pro). They gave me access to their nest app so I get their notifications also. After seeing it first hand I have been struggling on what to do for our house. I am drawn to ring because of the low cost of monitoring ($100.00 a year for unlimited cameras along with ring alarm monitoring) versus $10.00 a month for the 1st camera, and $5.00 a month for every additional camera with Nest.

So my setup with ring would be $100.00 a year, with alarm monitoring, no 24/7 recording.

My setup with nest would be $360.00 a year but from what I can tell a lot better quality camera, picture, and 24/7 recording.

Decisions, decisions (someone want to make it for me?)

 

[ForceFed70]

I've got the Ring Video Doorbell 2. Overall it's a good product, but I have a major complaint with it - the only option to store the video is via their "pay by the month cloud storage". I have a NAS box that would provide me with better performance and save the monthly cost but they won't support anything other than their cloud storage. Pretty sure it's one of those "Sell the camera for near cost and make our money on the monthly charge" kinda deals.

 

[Showkey]

+2 ^^^^^^^^^^ $200-400 they are not selling near cost, plus it’s storage and fees that are huge cash cow that never ends. No doubt Off site (fee) storage has it merit and risks.

As competitors offer more door bell type products the price will drop and the storage fee will go up to offset.