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Ring Doorbell - Are they any good?

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HFE Signs

HFE Signs

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    • Business Listing
    Feb 17, 2011
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    Burton on Trent (Nationwide Delivery)
    www.hfe-signs.co.uk
    Hi Folks,

    My wife keeps going on about getting getting a Ring CCTV Doorbell, I've read up and they seem quite good and I like the idea of adding more cameras around the exterior.

    Has anyone got one and is there anything I need to consider?

    Thanks in advance!
     
    I have one. The problem I have with it is it's too slow to connect to - it takes a few seconds for the application to connect online to Ring.com, which isn't great when someone impatient (i.e. most delivery drivers) is standing there.
     
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    japancool said:
    I have one. The problem I have with it is it's too slow to connect to - it takes a few seconds for the application to connect online to Ring.com, which isn't great when someone impatient (i.e. most delivery drivers) is standing there.
    Click to expand...
    Oh, interesting - I assumed it was always connected and everything worked instantly
     
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    My boss has one - it spots double decker buses if they pause level with his door (waiting to go around parked cars) and alerts him to their movement (even if he is away on holiday).
     
    Upvote 0
    Are you after a CCTV system, or a doorbell with CCTV?

    I installed "Blink" CCTV - 3 cameras and it works a treat, linked to my mobile. Advantage is that there is no follow up cost or monthly charges!

    I think Blink now door a doorbell system too, but have no experience with it.

    www.amazon.co.uk

    Blink

    Blink, an Amazon company, brings you smart security designed for every home. Help protect what matters most day or night, rain or shine. See, hear, and speak to visitors right from the app on your smartphone. Just Blink and you're home!
    www.amazon.co.uk
     
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    I went with eufy, as no storage costs for media.

    As usual for cctv, it has to be contained within your property, so can't cover your neighbours at all. I didn't want it, 20+ years with people knocking on the door was good enough for me, but it does mean I can check my son walks my dogs for the amount of time he says he does. :D So I'm not sure if he thinks it was a good idea still. I can't see anything about it that's particularly beneficial tbh, but I live opposite a shop with CCTV, so people tend not to play up too much around here anyway.
     
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    japancool said:
    I have one. The problem I have with it is it's too slow to connect to - it takes a few seconds for the application to connect online to Ring.com, which isn't great when someone impatient (i.e. most delivery drivers) is standing there.
    Click to expand...

    This is probably internet speed and phone snappiness specific.
    paulears said:
    I have a ring doorbell, and a ring alarm at the office and my connection time is usually fine - The system for me is very good, and I'm about to add a ring alarm at home too.
    Click to expand...

    +1 on this.

    After being broken into a few years ago, we installed a ring doorbell cam and ring alarm system. Works flawlessly. Pings when anyone walks past during the very early hours (it's an alleyway to nowhere specific so it's always a bit suspicious). A nice little bonus is fox spotting during the summer months.

    I hear very good things about Google's nest doorbell though. Faster and more intelligent. It recognises faces and lets you know if someone unknown is at the door or if it's one of your family/friends etc.
     
    Upvote 0
    japancool said:
    Yes, you can. You can connect to your Ring, and communicate with callers through your phone. You won't get a recording of callers who you missed.
    Click to expand...
    That's not what I was told by someone who has one and decided not to continue with the payments.
    [Edit] seems they were wrong!
     
    Upvote 0
    Yep - in fact, Ring have that as a FAQ on their site. Just no storage. My alarm also gives me the times my internet, or power in the office goes off and it does it pretty regularly - once every week or so in the middle of the night. Without the alarm, I'd think the broadband was mega reliable.
     
    Upvote 0
    These systems are all well and good until the vendor hits problems and shuts down the servers leaving you with an expensive toy. It's happened too many times already with similar "smart" tech. Very often, the business models are far from "smart".
     
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    Ian J said:
    Ring is owned by Amazon so that is unlikely to happen
    Click to expand...
    Yep they invented a doorbell to attract their own delivery drivers, clever that. And as a slight aside its seems like every government website these days appears to be on an Amazon server they truly are taking over the world.
     
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    WaveJumper said:
    Yep they invented a doorbell to attract their own delivery drivers, clever that. And as a slight aside its seems like every government website these days appears to be on an Amazon server they truly are taking over the world.
    Click to expand...

    They didn't invent it.
    www.bbc.co.uk

    Ring doorbell inventor: Why I don't take advice

    Jamie Siminoff, inventor of the Ring wireless doorbell, shares his advice for the CEO Secrets series.
    www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
     
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    HFE Signs said:
    Oh, interesting - I assumed it was always connected and everything worked instantly
    Click to expand...
    No, they are wake on command, movement sensor turns them on. They are in a hibernation mode normally. It takes a while for your phone to connect to the servers and connect to doorbell feed. There is definately a delay bit it does give you peace of mind.

    It's not a CCTV system - good for me as I'm in a flat and have 1 point of entry. But in a house with garden exposes it's a bit pants.
     
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    Just something to bear in mind. It requires a subscription of £34.99 a year or 3.49 a month. It's not a lot by any means. But to use any recording feature you need to have that feature.

    it's not an agnostic to the cloud like other devices out there.

    So I would go for another doorbell that gives you the option of using your own servers or choosing a cloud server to use.
     
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    Thanks folks, I have ordered one and installed it, I'm quite happy with it so far although the wifi at the door is a bit poor so trying to get that improved. The other thing is - it's quite bulky, I'd prefer something a bit smaller, I love the wide angle though.
     
    Upvote 0
    Yeah they are all like that. Eufy, Google and there are a few more out there.

    Considering getting a solar panel and connecting it to doorbell to trickle charge it. It's a faff to charge it every couple of months.

    For the money these cost, they should really have a fail over sim with 4g backup when there are interruptions on home Internet.
     
    Upvote 0
    Karimbo said:
    Yeah they are all like that. Eufy, Google and there are a few more out there.

    Considering getting a solar panel and connecting it to doorbell to trickle charge it. It's a faff to charge it every couple of months.
    Click to expand...
    I've wired mine to a 12v transformer (wiring was already in), hopefully this will keep it charged, it says in the booklet that the 12v is just a trickle and sometimes it may need charging anyway - time will tell on this
     
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    It should be fine. The device runs on the battery for a couple of months so it uses a tiny amount of power. But if you have it connected to a power supply then you can turn on more power hungry mode. Longer recording lengths, quicker activation etc.

    I would have liked for the device to keep recording as long as the person is standing in front of the door. But it cuts out after the maximum recording length is hit.

    I had some dodgy door to door people who I was speaking to and thoutght I had great footage to share on. But the ring doorbells recorded 15sexonds bits of the conversation which missed out a lot of crucial bits.

    It's not a cctv system and there are frequent moments where the device goes offline because the WiFi is jammed from interference.

    I remember there was a time where someone had a device that acted like a WiFi jammer and was makibg my roku and ring doorbell work horribly.

    It's possible for any organised criminals to use a WiFi jammer to effectively take these devices offline while they carry out the work.
     
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    Ian J said:
    Why not get a spare as they are only about £20
    Click to expand...
    Much better and sustainable To get a £20 solar panel and connect it at the back Imho.

    Completely hands free after that, you won't need to remember to disassemble it every few months.
     
    Upvote 0
    Frank the Insurance guy said:
    Are you after a CCTV system, or a doorbell with CCTV?

    I installed "Blink" CCTV - 3 cameras and it works a treat, linked to my mobile. Advantage is that there is no follow up cost or monthly charges!

    I think Blink now door a doorbell system too, but have no experience with it.

    www.amazon.co.uk

    Blink

    Blink, an Amazon company, brings you smart security designed for every home. Help protect what matters most day or night, rain or shine. See, hear, and speak to visitors right from the app on your smartphone. Just Blink and you're home!
    www.amazon.co.uk
    Click to expand...
    hedging their bets i see, amazon own ring too.
     
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