Is there an alternative to a Ring Video Doorbell?

scoobie_wrc

scoobie_wrc

scoobie_wrc

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13 Aug 2005
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I have a vanbar (sure that's what it's called), when I'm in the house all is fine but when I'm out and about it's takes an age to connect and usually by the time it does the person at the door has ****** off

I hate the dun-dun-dun of the Doorbell so didn't by 1 initially, so is there a decent alternative or am I pretty much gonna have to goto the dark side?
 
Why don't you want a Ring sorry? Because of the ring tone? If so, it can be changed.

Anyway I think Eufy and Nest are common alternatives.

I'm very happy with my Ring Wired. I consider it a bargain now, especially compared with the wireless Pro ones.
 
As said you change the ring tone on the actual device (the tone people outside your front door and all your neighbours hear) to whatever you want and alter the volume. I have mine muted as feel it's pointless having it ring as it's just unnecessary noise pollution. It flashes anyway.

Inside your house you have the option with rings of hooking up smart devices that chime or perform routines. We have many echos so these chime alerts. It's all totally customizable and obviously plays nice with all your Amazon devices. You can get chimes on Google nest but not motion alerts I think. The whole ring and Amazon ecosystem is well polished and class leading which is why you pay a premium for it.

With the ring wireless products as long as you have a good wireless signal you will be fine. I had to put a repeater plug in my hall for it to work as I used the doorbell 4 wireless bell as don't have the ability to easily wire one in. They do seem to have weak WiFi as have to compete with outside interference and getting through your wall/door/frame. I also read that due to EU law the wireless transmitter I side has to be turned down in power slightly because they are an outside device. Not sure how true that is.

Internet only needs to be a couple of megabit up and down minimum. Ring say 1 actually. Data is stored in the cloud if that bothers you. Ring will replace the device if it gets stolen apparently. It's a couple of quid a month for the plan if you want to playback recordings and get full functionality. Otherwise can just be used as a wireless doorbell without.

If you can wire one in...do it and get the wired version. Saves the faff with swapping batteries out. Cheaper and better ability to record without compromising on picture quality and options that kills battery life. Can record longer pre rolls for example.

Alternatives generally all have flaws or just don't integrate or do as advanced notifications on your smart home as ring I found.

Eufy also has a security flaw if you care about relying on it as a security device. They are more a posh doorbell with convenient recording abilities rather than an out an out security device as obviously they can easily be defeated and ripped off the wall. But the Eufy... You can reset it easily externally and it wipes the footage too! Ring you need a torx screwdriver (easy) but would be captured doing it and the recording kept.

Overall my wireless ring 4 has been good so far. I installed with the angle bracket it came with and a downward one too and a small hood thing to protect from rain drops running down the lens and glare from a streetlight. I no longer miss deliveries and have good awareness of what's going on outside the house.
 
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There are lots of alternatives to Ring - in fact Ring would be my very last choice. Nest are IMHO a much better option, as are EZViz, and at the top end you could look at DoorBird or Hikvision door stations.
 
My £59 Ring works flawlessly.
I've changed the ring tone and with the Rapid Ring APP it is very quick to view outside your door even when I'm all over the country.
It also connects well with my Echo Show 5 so I just say "Alexa front door".
Sometimes you don't need alternatives

HOWEVER Ring costs £25 a year if you want to save the videos where Eufy doesn't.
When the Ring breaks I will probably go Eufy.
 
I have Eufy doorbell and two cameras, all work great with no issues, local recording and can also offload to a NAS as well.
 
SexyGreyFox said:
I've changed the ring tone
Click to expand...
Have you been able to change the tone that rings on the device itself when someone pushes the button? I've just installed Ring 4 and although I can adjust the volume up and down, I can't see a way to change that tone. I can do it on the chime I have inside the house, just not on the doorbell itself.
 
Feek said:
Have you been able to change the tone that rings on the device itself when someone pushes the button? I've just installed Ring 4 and although I can adjust the volume up and down, I can't see a way to change that tone. I can do it on the chime I have inside the house, just not on the doorbell itself.
Click to expand...

I've turned mine off because anybody approaching has already heard the chime go off and then when they press they hear the chime again, the camera then comes up on my TV if I've got the Firestick on and also comes on my Echo Show below it.
Bit of a PITA because the Postman just rang while I'm watching Jack Reacher (I can disable it).
 
SexyGreyFox said:
I've turned mine off because anybody approaching has already heard the chime go off
Click to expand...
What, so if motion is triggered, the outside doorbell makes a noise? Where is this option? And I still can't find how to change the tone the outside doorbell makes when it's pushed.
 
Feek said:
Ahh OK, I misunderstood what you meant before then. I thought you'd changed the doorbell tone.
Click to expand...

I honestly thought you could until I looked when you asked.
I then switched my chime off and then tried the doorbell and realised I'd turned it off when I had it because the plugin chime is so loud in the hallway and shouts "There is somebody at your front door". My phone says the same thing and my watch buzzes.
 
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