Ring Doorbell and Security System Review

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An honest review of the Ring Doorbell and Security System

Over the last few years, the Ring doorbell has become a popular device for added home security. The built-in video camera starts recording as soon as it detects motion and allows you to see who’s at your door without you having to answer it.

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The two-way talk with noise cancellation also allows you to talk to them through the doorbell from your smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Why we invested in the ring doorbell

My husband, Eric, had been reading the rave reviews and trying to decide if we should make the change when my brother told us he had installed one on his home. We had the opportunity to see how it worked in person and really liked the features.

We decided to go ahead and invest in the product. Eric wanted me to feel safe when he’s gone and someone rings the doorbell. We get a lot of salesmen in our neighborhood and it’s nice to be able to pull it up on the app to see who is at the door and choose whether or not to answer.

Eric was really impressed with how easy it was to install the Ring doorbell. He had it up and running in an hour!

Ugh, ignore my filthy door!

Another reason we went with the Ring video doorbell is that it offers theft protection and security for your packages and mail. We do a lot of ordering through Amazon Prime and when a would-be thief sees the Ring doorbell they’re less likely to take the package knowing they’re being recorded.

A nice feature of the doorbell is that it starts recording when motion is detected and continues until it stops. It uses a thermal sensor when detecting motion which means it picks up on heat. It won’t go off on a windy day with the leaves blowing around.

And you can set the sensitivity! It tends to sense cars more in the winter because of the contrast between the cold weather and the heat of the engine. So you can adjust this accordingly so it doesn’t go off every time a car drives by.

Another great feature is the cloud video service. After the camera is done recording, the video is stored for up to 30 days in their cloud so that you can access and preview all your videos with unlimited storage.

The doorbell is also super easy to use. Once it’s set up, you can download the app on your phone or tablet. It’s compatible with iOS, Android, Mac, and Windows 10.

You can also connect Ring to your Alexa devices! My kids love this because if the doorbell rings while they’re watching TV they can use the Fire remote to pull it up and see who’s at the door.

Different Models of the Ring Doorbell

According to Ring’s website, they offer four different models of the doorbell available depending on your needs.

Video Doorbell

There’s the original Ring Video Doorbell, which is the one we chose, and it retails for $99.

It is battery operated. It comes with motion-activated alerts, 720 HDS video, and two-way talk with noise cancellation so voices are clearly heard.

You can customize your motion sensors and has infrared night vision so you can monitor your home during the day or the night. It’s also weather-resistant.

Video Doorbell 2

The Ring Video Doorbell 2 does everything the original does but has 1080 HD wide-angle video. It can be hardwired in or you can use the battery and it comes with an extra battery pack.

You can purchase additional accessories including a smart wifi deadbolt, a solar charger, and an interchangeable faceplate.

This model retails for $199.

Video Doorbell Pro

The Ring Video Doorbell Pro does everything the 2 does but it has to be hardwired in. Hardwiring ensures you don’t have to worry about the battery running out. This is really the only difference between the two models.

This model retails for $249.

Video Doorbell Elite

The Ring Video Doorbell Elite is a professional grade doorbell that requires advanced skills or a professional technician to install. It has to be hardwired in and is powered over ethernet.

This model retails for $499

The Ring Doorbell App

After you’ve installed the Ring video doorbell, you’ll download the app to your phone. The Ring app is very user-friendly! It is easy to navigate and you can do everything from it including viewing and talking to visitors and arming and disarming the security system.

The Ring Security System

Which brings us to the Ring security system!

We recently decided that we needed some added security at our home. Eric did some research and there were a lot of options, but since we already had the Ring doorbell, it made sense to us to go with their security system for several reasons.

Why we chose the Ring Security System

One of the main reasons we chose the Ring security system is because it ties in directly to the doorbell. It uses the same app and everything is integrated together.

It was really easy to install. He had it up and running in less than two hours. He joked that it was so easy I could install it. Funny guy.

The base station and keypad plug into an outlet but also have battery backup.

It’s really affordable. They offer different packages and you can customize them according to your needs. The base package starts at $199 and comes with the keypad, base station, motion detector, contact sensor, and range extender. It’s perfect for apartments and small homes.

We started with the base package and then added additional motion detectors and window and door sensors. Ring also gives a discount to teachers and anyone in the military. Since Eric is a teacher, we qualified for the discount, making it even more affordable.

It’s customizable. In addition to being able to add on additional motion detectors and sensors, you can also add on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as water.

Monitoring is only $10/month. Yes! Only $10 a month to have it monitored! So if your alarm is set off, the fire department and police will be there within minutes. Peace of mind each month for the cost of two Starbucks drinks. Where do I sign?

Other great security features: Ring does not and says they will never do geofencing. Other security systems will use your phone to track you and will automatically arm and disarm your system when you leave or arrive home. But because anyone could get ahold of your phone and disarm your house using this technology, Ring doesn’t do it.

As I mentioned earlier, you can arm and disarm with the app which is really convenient. Just make sure you have a passcode on your phone so if it’s stolen they can’t get into your home.

You can have different settings for home and away. For example, you can set only the front and back door sensors if you’re home but want to be protected.

The Ring security system sensors alert you when a door is opened. This is especially handy if you have little ones that know how to open the door.

You can set the system to have cameras record if the alarm is triggered. You can also have it notify other people (like family members, neighbors, and friends) to be notified as well if you’re out of town, etc.

The system also allows you to set features like unique passcodes for guests that expire so you don’t have to give them full access.

So in other words…we love it!

We absolutely love our Ring doorbell and security system! Affordable, easy to use, and peace of mind. What’s not to love? If you’re in the market for a security system, or just want a little added security for your front porch and when people come to the door, Ring is for you!

how to install the Ring video doorbell

An honest review of the Ring Doorbell and Security System

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