RING Security Doorbell.

[Cokebottle]

I just noticed the live view is now available for those NOT hardwired!

Yup.
Just noticed it a couple of days ago.

I'm seriously considering wiring up a doorbell transformer so I don't have to deal with recharging it.

[bunkerking65]

I've been looking into video doorbells myself, but haven't pulled the trigger yet. My problem is I have a stucco home and the existing doorbell button is embedded in the stucco so hardwiring would seem to be problematic. Anyway, The Wire Cutter has a review of video doorbells including the Ring (not their pick). They recommend the SkyBell HD over the Ring, but it requires hard wiring.

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/bes...orbell-camera/

Did you find a viable model for your situation? I recently bought a home in May that was flipped which also has a stucco exterior and doesn't even have any standard doorbell wiring already present.

The way that the front door area is built, it would be really hard to rewire and an electrician quoted me way more than the cost of any electronic doorbell to do this.

I trust the WireCutter's recommendation of the Skybell, but have seen others recommend Ring's wireless option:

https://thetechreviewer.com/tech-tips/best-smart-doorbell-camera/

They also mention something called the Remobell, but that seems to only be 720P and not worth it from what it seems. Curious to know what you chose if you ended up pulling the trigger and how it has worked for you.

Trying to keep myself from buying something and ultimately finding out that isn't built to last several years.

[bunkerking65]

I bought the "Arlo" it is motion activated wireless cameras that work via wi fi. easy to install and move around to suit your needs. the concern with ring doorbell or any other system that works via wi fi is that if the thief knows it is there cut the phone lines and no more cameras. I think better to have them out of sight so you can see them first and once you get alert call the cops!!

Is the Arlo a doorbell or just a camera? Looking for something that does both, but I don't see Arlo offering a doorbell yet?

[sholling]

Did you find a viable model for your situation? I recently bought a home in May that was flipped which also has a stucco exterior and doesn't even have any standard doorbell wiring already present.

I eventually worked the old button lose from the stucco and wired in a Ring II. You can run a Ring II off the included rechargeable battery pack but you'd have to recharge it every few days.

[Whiterabbit]

My inlaws have two, front door and back.

Based on the amount of time per day my mother in law is on her phone watching the video feed of that thing, I get strong desires to put on a tin foil hat and shun all camera tech whether used by other people or by businesses.

Big brother watching, and all that.

Hate the concept, will never get it, and I'll act just a little bit colder in any location where I see one.

Trust in this world is gone.

[sholling]

Big brother watching, and all that.

Hate the concept, will never get it, and I'll act just a little bit colder in any location where I see one.

Trust in this world is gone.

That's great as long as you do not have to deal with package thieves, sneak thieves, home invaders, burgers, etc. I wish you good luck in that. Just as I lock my doors (I assume that out of good old fashioned trust that you never lock your home or your cars' doors or own any alarms) I record anyone that comes onto my property or approaches my doors. It makes dishonest people nervous and keeps honest people honest.

[SkyHawk]

I have the Pro and am happy with it. It has better motion detection than the other models. It uses image analysis instead of simple IR. Because of that you can draw detection zones exactly like you want them. This will let you exlude very specific shaped areas you dont want triggering the detection.

It also has IR led illuminators for better night vision.

[Iknownot]

I have a ring. I find it passable to ok. I think it depends on which way it is pointing at your particular location. Mine faces the street and picks up trucks passing all the time. There has been no setting I could pick that prevents those movement recordings.

For actual people coming up to the door and ringing the bell it has been really good. I have been able to easily communicate that way.

So I guess as a PA system, I would give it a solid rating. As a monitoring / motion device camera system I would give it poor marks.

Just 2 additional notes. If you are running off battery, you’d be lucky to get
More than a month between recharges. Also, the app can be sluggish in pulling up events recorded or the actual live view if the button is being pressed. You can sometimes be left hanging with a “trouble connecting” message and that’s even on WiFi with a fast internet connection. Just FYI.

I much prefer my Arlo Pro wireless camera system for actual monitoring / recording. It is much more customizable, much more accurate in its settings on detection of events and does not charge a fee for cloud storage capabilities (1 week back timeframe).

[buttfish]

Updated Ring-Tones

Massively annoying from the user end. Stupid ring tone.

With the updates to the system there are several ring-tones available (even Christmas tunes), I like the barking dogs.

[Whiterabbit]

That's great as long as you do not have to deal with package thieves, sneak thieves, home invaders, burgers, etc. I wish you good luck in that. Just as I lock my doors (I assume that out of good old fashioned trust that you never lock your home or your cars' doors or own any alarms) I record anyone that comes onto my property or approaches my doors. It makes dishonest people nervous and keeps honest people honest.

I worry more about my kids believing it is normal and OK to be filmed and photographed and recorded wherever they go, whatever they do.

I can easily imagine a world where the majority believe that is not an invasion of privacy.

I fear we are already there.

[SkyHawk]

With the updates to the system there are several ring-tones available (even Christmas tunes), I like the barking dogs.

And the latest version of the app lets you have spoken voice phrases for tones. So you can know which device is detecting motion. And you can now select different tones for different devices.

[scbauer]

https://shop.ring.com/products/video-doorbell-elite

I also have a Nest Cam IQ Outdoor and the video quality is better, but not a doorbell.

[scbauer]

I worry more about my kids believing it is normal and OK to be filmed and photographed and recorded wherever they go, whatever they do.

I can easily imagine a world where the majority believe that is not an invasion of privacy.

I fear we are already there.

[sholling]

I worry more about my kids believing it is normal and OK to be filmed and photographed and recorded wherever they go, whatever they do.

I can easily imagine a world where the majority believe that is not an invasion of privacy.

I fear we are already there.

No one that does not live in my home or is not an invited guest has any expectation of privacy on my property. Walking down the street is another issue, but then what of Neighborhood Watch? Is keeping an eye on your neighbor's house a violation of thief's privacy? Is recording a thief using a stolen debit card at an ATM a privacy violation? Is a store recording shoplifting a privacy violation? Is recording a mugging or rape a violation of the mugger or rapist's privacy? I'm sorry but this is not the 1950s and you have no right to an expectation of privacy in public setting or when on someone else's property. It's your right to lock yourself in your home and never step outside to avoid cameras but once outside all bets are off. Now if you want to go after window or back yard peeping tom camera drones I'm with you.

[WarBoyNux]

Just to update: I went with the Skybell HD.