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General => Technical Help => Topic started by: Retriever on Sunday 27 December 20 11:00 GMT (UK)
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Having decided our present video doorbell has had it, we are looking to replace it.
Can anyone offer any advice/opinions on the Ring doorbells. They seem to be quite popular but having looked at them online I’m not sure.
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I looked at these a few weeks ago and was told by friends that they are troublesome which put me off.
I googled :- Problems - Ring Doorbells and this came up:-
Regularly losing connection to your Wi-Fi network.
Freezing up or shutting down during the ringtone sound after a button press.
Voltage reading under Device Health steadily drops during the evening with night vision on.
Regularly shutting off (the white light on the front will turn off)
Freezing up during a live event.
Sandra
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We have had a Ring video doorbell for most of the year.
It sort of works but there is a delay in it sensing movement and getting a message.
Worst of all is that it takes 10 seconds to pick up the iPad or mobile phone and faff around with the Ring App before you get to see who is at the door.
I recently got an Echo Show and saying ..... Alexa show front door video .... takes 8 seconds for it to connect and display the video.
If the Ring doorbell is not under a protected porch it gets covered in rain, frost and dirt and its sensitivity drops off.
The Ring does not record video unless you have a paid for subscription.
The rechargeable battery does last a fair amount of time.
WiFi connection is OK as our Router is only 3m from the Ring doorbell
Would I buy another if the one I have fails, no.
A home CCTV system where it has its own video recording box and no subscription is a better option imo.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-51709247
https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/smart-doorbells-amazon-ebay-cheap-security-safety-flaws-which-768477
It might be worth reading a 'Which' report on them :-\
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Many thanks for the comments. I’m rapidly going off the whole idea :-\
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It seems that there are some security risks with these types of bell.
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“Knock, knock” - “Who’s there?” - “Avon, your bell’s broke!”
They’ve always seemed like a solution looking for a problem to me. A knocker and a spy hole are much simpler!
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Added advantage of seeing your burglar running away!
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They ring on my phone so if I’m down the other end of the garden I know someone’s at the door.
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Added advantage of seeing your burglar running away!
You can do that with a security camera that is not accessible by other people /companies :)
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We had one for a few weeks and then sent it back to Amazon for a refund. Just too much aggravation, - especially getting your phone clogged up with alerts.
I’ve since discovered that you can get a similar bell gratis, - if you take out home insurance with Marks and Spencers.
Romilly.
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Virtually all these "Internet of Things" devices, even those from big brands have security problems. They were thought up by people who believed that everyone in the world has good intentions and always obeys all laws.
So they are built so as to be fully accessible to anyone with an internet link. They might add a password request, but the majority of users won't change it from the default factory setting, which can be looked up on the maker's website. Many also have a "backdoor" master password fixed in their firmware. The computer press regularly report on these problems.
Virtually all these devices add "security" by controlling them via a server controlled by the manufacturer. Several of these have already been shut down following company takeovers, effectively bricking the devices.
Smart door locks are a particular problem. Imagine not being able to open your door because your subscription ran out, or your smartphone battery just died.
So, if you go down the "smart home" route, don't be surprised to come home to find your front door unlocked, your fridge and freezer powered down, your heating set to 70C, your lighting set to Barbie Pink and a load of unwanted deliveries ordered over your "smart speaker" which was unguarded while you were away, but which knew your credit card details.
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I’m old fashioned, everything in my house is controlled by me. I can’t understand the need for controlling appliances through a smart phone.
The door bell was a one off.
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If it was me I would be getting a CCTV system that does not rely on the internet to work. Or the good old peephole in the front door with a chain. For night time you could put up a light that comes on when someone gets close enough to the door then you can see who is there.
I wouldn't want to rely on the internet for all the gadgets in my home or smart this, that and the other. ::) Too many security risks in my opinion.
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I only really wanted the doorbell because it rang my phone anywhere in the house including in the garden.
As my son seemingly has a direct line to A......., that was a very useful function!
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The Ring has the auto sensing function so you do get a tone on your mobile phone when the systems sensor actually works, it really is hit and miss.
To give an example, a delivery driver could open the porch door, put the parcel in the porch, take an image of the parcel, close the door and he could be back in his van before I get a tone on my mobile, if I get one at all.
The doorbell function does work, but it an expensive doorbell if that is all you want.
If you have the Alexa App on your mobile you could say ..... Alexa show front door video .... and 10s later the App will show your front door view.
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The one we had before was a fraction of the price of a Ring doorbell but did everything we wanted.
Having looked into the Ring range I have decided that, for me, they don’t justify the cost. They don’t sound very reliable either.
Many thanks to everyone for your comments/advice.
Happy New Year
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Came across this review of the Ring device by someone who is big user of technology:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VvTzmp08OE
Other brands are likely to have similar features (and problems).
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Came across this review of the Ring device by someone who is big user of technology:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VvTzmp08OE
Other brands are likely to have similar features (and problems).
Thanks for posting the review
Interesting and his findings echo my own but I am not sure if he is right about the Ring going to sleep, there is a function where battery saving can be initiated but this is off by default. I had the Ring for six weeks and charged the battery twice after the initial charge, since then I have not been monitoring charging but it is probably about a monthly action.
What is totally unacceptable is when an Amazon Ring doorbell was paired to another Amazon device namely an Echo Show (these have Alexa voice commands) and motion is sensed by the Ring it does not show video automatically on the Echo Show.
Nor does it automatically display video when the door button is pressed.
In both cases verbal command has to be given to the Echo Show
.... Alexa, show front door video ...... 8 seconds later you get the video.
As I stated, with the Ring I had there was a definite delay in sensing motion and getting an alert, and also pushing the doorbell and getting the tone.
That said it was inconsistent, many times there was no motion sensing alert at all.
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We bought a “Byron” cordless doorbell. It came with a mains powered donger which plugs in in the hall and a remote donger which you can take into the garden with you; or anywhere else you’re unlikely to hear the main one.
Much simpler, works instantly but you still need to check the batteries in the bell push.
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Thank you for that Ray T, I will look into it.
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Sat in lounge just now and a delivery driver walked past our front room window towards our porch.
I started to count, 1 and 2 and 3 etc
He left the parcel in the porch and walked back past the lounge window
...... 10 and 11 and 12
Then my iPad chimed that the Ring doorbell had sensed movement.