I went with Ring and it's fair to say, I regret it.
A call comes in from a guy in Streatham, London.
A nice guy, a bus driver, somewhat exasperated, and very much weary of googling and calling around. This is not our first conversation. He had called previously, several days before. He was looking for advice on camera doorbells and camera security more broadly. We chatted for some time, and I, at least, thought we had come to a conclusion. Clearly not, as the second conversation started out almost exactly like the first, as if he had been reset back to factory settings. He had obviously solicited further advice. I confess I was slightly irritated the second time around. Why? because I'd traversed this minefield personally, and mapped it out…
Where it all began:
I decided around 2019, just after Amazon had bought out Ring, for around $1.1 billion, that Ring would be the way to go. It was around midday, mid-week, when a neighbour messaged to say they had seen someone vaulting our back fence. Anyone who has received such a message will know that feeling. It's a sickening feeling that you can physically feel thump down to your stomach. It would be several hours before my wife and I could get back to the property, several hours of dread. Thinking, what might they have taken? It's a really horrible feeling. Thankfully, no break-in had occurred, not even an attempt. What this young man had been doing in our garden, we will never know. But one thing we did know was that my wife and I would never be left blind, unprotected, again. After several hours of research, my time with Ring doorbells, Ring cameras and Ring home alarm began.
My setup.
A Ring doorbell, three cameras, an alarm base station and a few internal movement sensors and door opening sensors. Now, one thing that Ring does firmly have going for itself is the availability of both camera systems and an alarm system, with its traditional movement and door/window sensors. Whereas Reolink, for example, is a pure cctv camera system play. I suspect this is why many will gravitate to the Ring solution. And although I can't really fault the alarm aspect of Rings' stall. With its mobile SIM calling, battery backup and wireless control panel, it's the cameras which are frankly, not up to the job.
Whats wrong with Ring (cameras)
- They are mainly battery-supported. The doorbells only take one battery. This lasts a few weeks, and then it is essentially off for a further week until I get the time to change it. The traditional external cameras take two batteries, which obviously lasts longer, but I still find myself having to dial down the sensitivity and the scope (the area in which it surveils) in order not to have the ladders out every quarter. You can accompany each camera with a solar panel, assuming it's positioned where there is sun. Which, to be fair, reduces the ladder runs, but only in summer; in winter, it makes no difference. And it's fair to say, I am a fair-weather ladder user. You can connect some ring cameras to your mains electricity, but that requires the cost of an electrician.
- Ring has no DVR (Digital Video Recorder). Ring only records for a few seconds at a time. It will only store that short clip up to 180 days, provided you have a subscription, which ranges from £50 to £160 per year. Without a subscription, it's live only. That's a big drawback.
- Ring's cameras are WiFi. Perhaps this isn't a problem if you have a high-end Mesh or UniFi WiFi setup, but to most, this is a problem. By their very nature, cameras are on the outside of the building, both high and low. Essentially, stretching the range of the WiFi to its limits. I have the irritating task of reconnecting one or more of the Ring cameras about once per month. (My work colleagues have been full of promise about upgrading my home WiFi since before Covid; I remain hopeful)
A better camera system:
Fixed camera systems, using PoE (Power over Ethernet) and a DVR (Digital Video Recorder), are by far the better solution. There are many brands, but I know Reolink very well. A few years ago, it was decided to install a camera system and a doorbell at my wife's mother's flat. Due to dementia, she was losing things, and it was planned that carers would soon be visiting to help with some tasks. For her security and to help with her care, we decided that a system that recorded 24/7 and could keep that footage for an extended period of time was the way to go. My colleagues installed the DVR into a cupboard, along with a PoE unit, which allowed for the power and data to run along a single network cable per camera. Making installation easy and non-intrusive.
This worked brilliantly. The user experience when viewing live or playing recordings via PC or Mac, or by using the native smartphone app for Apple iPhone or Android, is superior. It's responsive. There are lots of helpful features. The quality of the video and audio is fantastic. No WiFi disconnections, no batteries to change and no subscription.
Back to Streatham man…
Given that he had only wanted advice on doorbells and cameras and not alarm stations, I thought I had sufficiently nudged him into the fixed Reolink setup. And this was not a sell. We (Maidstone Technology) have no skin in the game; Streatham is out of our service area. This was simply straight up, honest and experienced advice.
I have a suspicion a third call from the Streatham man is on its way to me. Possibly today or tomorrow. Should that happen, I shall refer him to this article.
Update: Streatham man just called (3rd time) and the decision is settled.
Maidstone Technology
Maidstone Technology is an authorised reseller and installer of Reolink camera and doorbell systems. For further information or advice, please contact us.