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Original poster

Help! Best and quickest way to get CCTV to cover my front door...

33 replies

Booblessbeauty · 18/04/2023 19:41

I can get a Ring doorbell via Amazon by tomorrow, but I know so little about them. It says "works with Alexa" but I dont have Alexa, does it work without?

Also, what I am never sure of with Ring doorbells, is what is to stop the miscreant simply prising it off your door and taking it away?

Is it better to have a cctv camera set up inside a window that cant be reached from outside? and how would it work? If someone tries to break in, how do you get the footage?

Never wanted this before, but someone has tried to break in twice in the last 24 hours....

OP posts:
Original poster
Booblessbeauty · 18/04/2023 20:00

or any experiences of using a Ring doorbell gratefully received. Is it easy to set up?

OP posts:
NewYearNewUsername23 · 18/04/2023 20:04

I have a video doorbell, not a ring. Mine was funded so I couldn’t get a ring as it had to be £50 or less.

You should be able to download an app on your phone to look at who’s at the door, answer etc.

Thelnebriati · 18/04/2023 20:04

Watching with interest. I've wondered if they are easy to steal, and if you can use them from inside.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Home improvement
LaffTaff · 18/04/2023 20:05

A ring doorbell would be ideal. You download the software/app on to your phone and recording starts as soon as motion is detected, so even if someone was to tamper with it you have footage of them approaching. Ours is wired, we had an existing wired doorbell so it was easy to install (though my husband had to replace the electric box thingy inside, so wireless may be easier for you).

Original poster
Booblessbeauty · 18/04/2023 20:07

NewYearNewUsername23 · 18/04/2023 20:04

I have a video doorbell, not a ring. Mine was funded so I couldn’t get a ring as it had to be £50 or less.

You should be able to download an app on your phone to look at who’s at the door, answer etc.

ok, thanks -its good to know there are other options beside Ring - does yours record the video footage?

I can cope with downloading an app!

OP posts:
itsnotyourfence · 18/04/2023 20:07

Ring
easy to set up and manage

NewYearNewUsername23 · 18/04/2023 20:08

I think this is the one I have (it’s this brand anyway) Kamap Doorbell

Mine is battery and can just be pulled off the wall to charge so could be stolen. But it did come with screws to secure it better, I just didn’t use them

Original poster
Booblessbeauty · 18/04/2023 20:09

LaffTaff · 18/04/2023 20:05

A ring doorbell would be ideal. You download the software/app on to your phone and recording starts as soon as motion is detected, so even if someone was to tamper with it you have footage of them approaching. Ours is wired, we had an existing wired doorbell so it was easy to install (though my husband had to replace the electric box thingy inside, so wireless may be easier for you).

That's great, so if I buy a Ring doorbell, and someone steals it, I will have the footage on my phone of them stealing it! That makes sense.

It would probably have to be wireless, as I couldn't wire it in myself, and am not likely to be able to find anyone else to do it, either. I could maybe try, before I choose wireless though.

Is wired in an advantage?

OP posts:
NewYearNewUsername23 · 18/04/2023 20:09

Booblessbeauty · 18/04/2023 20:07

ok, thanks -its good to know there are other options beside Ring - does yours record the video footage?

I can cope with downloading an app!

Show quote history

Yes, it keeps the videos in the cloud for 7 days (but I believe you can download them)

Original poster
Booblessbeauty · 18/04/2023 20:10

NewYearNewUsername23 · 18/04/2023 20:09

Yes, it keeps the videos in the cloud for 7 days (but I believe you can download them)

Show quote history

Ok, that clarifies things for me.

Thank you

OP posts:
CatMattress · 18/04/2023 20:10

We have a Eufy one that downloads to a unit inside your house so no subscription costs. Wireless. Super easy to set up and attach to the front. High quality footage, even in the dark, motion activated. Highly recommend.

CatMattress · 18/04/2023 20:11

Think it's the 2K dual camera one

LaffTaff · 18/04/2023 20:13

Booblessbeauty · 18/04/2023 20:09

That's great, so if I buy a Ring doorbell, and someone steals it, I will have the footage on my phone of them stealing it! That makes sense.

It would probably have to be wireless, as I couldn't wire it in myself, and am not likely to be able to find anyone else to do it, either. I could maybe try, before I choose wireless though.

Is wired in an advantage?

Show quote history

Yes, you'll have footage, and the motion range is very good - it detects from my front gate onwards.
You get the first month or so free (can't remember exactly how long) then you pay a very small subscription to maintain recordings.
The advantage with wired is no charging/batteries.

Usernamesarenoteasy · 18/04/2023 20:17

If you do get a wireless one you will have to wait to charge the battery. Think the ring battery takes around 10 hours.

Savoretti · 18/04/2023 20:17

I also have Eufy. Didn’t want to pay a monthly fee so went with that one. Wireless as I couldn’t have wired one in either - it’s really simple to set up

LaffTaff · 18/04/2023 20:22

Just to add, there is a speaker in the ring doorbell whereupon you can speak through it from your app (not sure if you can with other doorbells, you probably can) so if there is someone in your garden/at your door who shouldn't be there, you can speak through it in real time and tell them they are being recorded/police are on their way etc.

It's handy when you're out too, you can chat to anyone who comes to the door.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 18/04/2023 20:33

One of the ones that sits on your windowsill is very useful for putting people off. My next door neighbour's one seems to have put off anybody coming near my front door (she asked if she could point it across as most people approach from my path, but I wouldn't have cared anyhow), even if it isn't switched on - they don't bother getting close enough to check.

I think hers is a Blink just plugged into a wall socket.

I'll probably get a Ring and pay somebody to hardwire it in when I get around to it in the summer.

Original poster
Booblessbeauty · 18/04/2023 20:35

NeverDropYourMooncup · 18/04/2023 20:33

One of the ones that sits on your windowsill is very useful for putting people off. My next door neighbour's one seems to have put off anybody coming near my front door (she asked if she could point it across as most people approach from my path, but I wouldn't have cared anyhow), even if it isn't switched on - they don't bother getting close enough to check.

I think hers is a Blink just plugged into a wall socket.

I'll probably get a Ring and pay somebody to hardwire it in when I get around to it in the summer.

so is it inside pointing out? That might be a good idea too.

OP posts:
Snoopyandthemuppets · 18/04/2023 20:36

Can you pay for a house sitter?

also have you got any friends with a dog that barks that they can lend you.

if you are local to me I’d lend you my pack and they would see anyone off. Where are they trying to break in?
lock the windows extra bolts on back doors etc in meanwhile - a camera set up inside?

QueenOfWeeds · 18/04/2023 20:36

We have a blink camera from Amazon inside with a sync module which lets you store footage on a USB so you don’t need to pay a monthly fee. Just plug into a normal plug, connect via wifi and done. The app can be used to view clips and for live footage. I am the first person to palm things off onto DH but set it up myself.

Original poster
Booblessbeauty · 18/04/2023 20:37

Usernamesarenoteasy · 18/04/2023 20:17

If you do get a wireless one you will have to wait to charge the battery. Think the ring battery takes around 10 hours.

Thanks for all this information. How often does it need charging? Also, is it possible to buy a spare battery to charge one while using the other?

Thank you

OP posts:
Original poster
Booblessbeauty · 18/04/2023 20:38

QueenOfWeeds · 18/04/2023 20:36

We have a blink camera from Amazon inside with a sync module which lets you store footage on a USB so you don’t need to pay a monthly fee. Just plug into a normal plug, connect via wifi and done. The app can be used to view clips and for live footage. I am the first person to palm things off onto DH but set it up myself.

I am very interested in this. Is this one that can be placed inside a window, pointing out?

OP posts:
Madamecastafiore · 18/04/2023 20:40

Do you have a normal wired doorbell. It's easy to wire in to the existing electrics if you do. Your doorbell chime will work on it if you have one of those. I did ours.

User0610139736 · 18/04/2023 20:40

I put up my battery ring doorbell myself. It first needed charging after 3 months which I thought was pretty good!

RuppyDa · 18/04/2023 20:41

You don’t need Alexa. Mine is wireless but husband wired it up easily so I don’t need to recharge. Not easy to steal as needs special screw driver to get it off the wall/door.