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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

For thinking Ring doorbell is rubbish?!

59 replies

Desperatelyneedabreak · 26/04/2024 11:50

Has anyone else had this, I have a ring doorbell, something happened this morning that I need a record of but it's not on there, it's completely missing. The doorbell doesn't show me leaving only coming back. What's the point of it? I can't get a significant piece of information.

OP posts:
CarInsurance · 26/04/2024 14:35

GiantHornets · 26/04/2024 14:32

Isn’t it normal to have strangers knock on your door? I don’t understand what the issue is - presumably there’s no sign of any damage or break in, so how would any footage be useful?
It seems to me that ring doorbells create more insecurity rather than any useful function

I had a local man stalking me. He was caught on camera at my door for over an hour which finally made the police caution him.

Sweetheart7 · 26/04/2024 14:33

TinkerTiger · 26/04/2024 12:30

I've seen footage of people leaving their homes, perhaps it's an issue with yours?

This. OP have you set it up properly? RING have a very good helpline and they will take you through step by step.

GiantHornets · 26/04/2024 14:32

Isn’t it normal to have strangers knock on your door? I don’t understand what the issue is - presumably there’s no sign of any damage or break in, so how would any footage be useful?
It seems to me that ring doorbells create more insecurity rather than any useful function

CarInsurance · 26/04/2024 14:31

I didn't want to be paying monthly subscription so I got one of these and it works so well I have bought them for other family members. No subscription, clear footage that you can see from phone and record onto other devices, uses a memory card. Also has voice changer so whoever is there thinks you are a man (!) and you can communicate immediately with anyone outside. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09H2T18WD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B09H2T18WD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-am-i-being-unreasonable-5062638-for-thinking-ring-doorbell-is-rubbish

Fidgety31 · 26/04/2024 14:27

You should try increasing the motion sensitivity

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 26/04/2024 14:02

We have an Arlo as part of our alarm system. Seems very good and reliable.

Ladyprehensile · 26/04/2024 13:59

I found mine so tedious and missing data etc, and I resented paying the stupid £ fee increase so I’ve removed it. Utter waste of money.

PercyJackson · 26/04/2024 13:58

romdowa · 26/04/2024 13:57

Mine doesn't see my postman come to my door. I think its reflective jackets that affect it

Ooh, that might explain why DH can sneak past it (he cycles, so is in a reflective jacket..)

PercyJackson · 26/04/2024 13:57

It will depend on your settings as well - depending on how sensitively you have it set, it might not detect everything. Ours also only record for a short time - so if several things happen in quick succession, it doesn't keep recording, just shows the first 10 seconds or whatever.
I've also found that ours often misses DH when he comes home at night. No idea why - just have had times where I hear the door go, and no sign of him arriving home on the Ring!

romdowa · 26/04/2024 13:57

Mine doesn't see my postman come to my door. I think its reflective jackets that affect it

pearlevu · 26/04/2024 13:55

Desperatelyneedabreak · 26/04/2024 12:30

It's suppose to detect motion that's what I'm paying for

Get a proper cctv system installed

Idtotallybangdreamoftheendlessnotgonnalie · 26/04/2024 13:53

The person could have had a WiFi jammer? They're not unheard of.

Fallulah · 26/04/2024 12:58

You can change the delay so that it records more, e.g. if I come back with the dog and then leave straight away it often doesn’t record me leaving.

We had incidences recently of a stranger being on driveways with what looked like a Pringles can in his hand, and when people looked at their doorbells nobody actually had footage; it was missing. So you do seem to be able to ‘jam’ them somehow. Could that have happened?

spottyhotdog · 26/04/2024 12:54

Your WiFi probably dropped at the exact same time. Mine has done the same, but not often.

Deniseo · 26/04/2024 12:51

unsync · 26/04/2024 12:26

Get a Eufy, much better all round and no subscription required. Also, you retain ownership of your data. Who knows what Amazon is doing with all the data it collects, it gives me Nineteen Eighty-Four vibes.

My Eufy only works in daylight. We have played with the settings and the position endlessly but to no avail.

Desperatelyneedabreak · 26/04/2024 12:50

Wotcher · 26/04/2024 12:49

Could be anything from the sensitivity not being up enough to your wifi signal dropping out.

Also, the hard wired ones are more reliable and capture more footage of an incident than the battery powered “stick up” ones, as they have to activate, then wake up, then start recording…. So quite often you miss half of what you wanted to see. Hard wired ones capture 4 seconds before the activation.

Yes unfortunately it is the battery one, there was someone outside but it didn't pick them up either.

OP posts:
Desperatelyneedabreak · 26/04/2024 12:49

No it was a stranger outside my house and the kids are at school now I came straight home and checked the ring doorbell and it's not on there and neither is me leaving the house only returning to the house.

OP posts:
Wotcher · 26/04/2024 12:49

Could be anything from the sensitivity not being up enough to your wifi signal dropping out.

Also, the hard wired ones are more reliable and capture more footage of an incident than the battery powered “stick up” ones, as they have to activate, then wake up, then start recording…. So quite often you miss half of what you wanted to see. Hard wired ones capture 4 seconds before the activation.

Sera1989 · 26/04/2024 12:48

Mine doesn't pick things up if they happen very quickly e.g. it will film me looking for my keys but not walking to the door, or it will catch me walking away from the door but not locking it if I'm in a hurry. I'm pretty sure you can change the settings to make it more "sensitive" though

NailsHairNipsHeels · 26/04/2024 12:48

I think it depends if the position I have eufy and there are occasions mine doesn't record me leaving or going into the house depending how quick I am or the angle I enter/leave.
It's good but not infallible. If you want guaranteed recordings dedicated CCTV is what you need

KiwiOtter · 26/04/2024 12:46

My ring picks up everything. Sounds like your one could be faulty. Perhaps your WiFi connection is low?

We had a Eufy before the Ring and it was terrible.

MissAtomicBomb1 · 26/04/2024 12:46

Not sure what type of event you missed but It is possible for people up to no good to jam the WiFi signal e.g to break in or steal a car.

SBHon · 26/04/2024 12:45

Are you sure it was missed in error? Could it have been deleted purposely?

Theredfoxfliesatmidnight · 26/04/2024 12:44

Desperatelyneedabreak · 26/04/2024 12:31

It has other times of me leaving today on there just not this one an hour is missing

I don't have one, so I don't know. But could a member of your family/household have deleted some of the footage, if this "incident" is to do with them?

Desperatelyneedabreak · 26/04/2024 12:43

unsync · 26/04/2024 12:42

My Eufy picks up everything. I even have some rather sweet footage of a deer in the garden and a little Robin perching on the door handle.

I'm going to look at that one thanks

OP posts: