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Original poster

Ring doorbell???

24 replies

Wendysfriend · 26/05/2023 16:18

Can anyone explain these to me please, I'm looking to get one but thought there was just one type and didn't realise there are so many.

Is it best to choose the wired one? I'm not sure how far down the door frame the wire off the old bell is. Does a wireless one work just as good?

How does the video work? Movement or constant recording?

OP posts:
lakesummer · 26/05/2023 16:21

We have a wireless one and it works fine.
The video records constantly but only notifies us if it senses movement.
It tries to identify what are parcels being dropped off and what are people.

Knightsrest · 26/05/2023 16:23

Wireless, it’s great but the notification drives me a bit nuts when a cat saunters across my drive.

Original poster
Wendysfriend · 26/05/2023 16:32

Brilliant thanks for those replies. Glad to hear a wireless is good.

What does it mean when they say 2nd generation and 3rd generation?

So I just connect it to my phone?

OP posts:
283nouveauxnoms · 26/05/2023 16:36

Can you turn off notifications and just have it on a chime in the house? I don’t want to constantly be notified but want the ability to look and see who it is if I want before I answer.

Original poster
Wendysfriend · 26/05/2023 16:44

Oh and I also wonder how it is at night time? Is it clear to see?

I wanted to get cctv front and back of my house and thought this might be better/cheaper , I wonder if I could just put up a 2nd doorbell at the back of the house

OP posts:
lakesummer · 26/05/2023 16:54

You run the system via an app in your phone. It's connected to the house Wi-Fi.
We are in an urban area with enough light that the recording at night works fine.
I think you can buy security lighting that connects with the system if you want more light.

Roserunner · 26/05/2023 16:58

The difference between wired and wireless is you need to charge the wireless one up. Both work over WiFi. You need to make sure your signal is good. We have the doorbell and security camera with light as we needed a light anyway. The image is really clear even at night.

Return2thebasic · 26/05/2023 17:00

Our wireless one had trouble to connect on and off for quite a few years - our rooter is at the other end of the house. DH tried to get simple wifi magnifying device, but still not reliable until finally he invested in some sort of proper device. So I guess it depends where your WiFi rooter is located against the door bell.

Another thing is probably worth getting one compatible with solar charging. But this is purely because we went on holiday for four weeks last year and by week 2 the battery ran out and we got nothing from then till we cam back. But the solar charging quite depends on the amount of sunlight. So not so much helpful in winter.

Original poster
Wendysfriend · 26/05/2023 17:02

Thanks again, this is very helpful. How often does it need to be charged?

So there's one with a light? Do you mind telling me which one, I'm googling here like mad and just don't have a clue.

OP posts:
Talipesmum · 26/05/2023 17:06

We’ve got a wireless one.
You can set the motion detection area so it’s really wide (and it pings every time someone walks down the road) or really close (it only goes off when they’re approaching your front door). You can set all the alerts how you want so mine flashes up on my phone if it detects motion, but only sounds a ring alert on phone and chimes if someone actually presses the bell.

Also you can set it so it records video every time there’s motion, and you can look back to see who was approaching your door at 3pm or to see the postie putting a parcel through, BUT to be able to look back at the videos for past occurrences you have to pay a monthly subscription cost of a few pounds. We basically just wanted it as a loud doorbell with video so we don’t bother paying - so I can check the live video when it rings, or whenever I want, but it doesn’t record any clips for me to review.

So be aware you have a monthly subscription cost to use it more as security/ surveillance. And the more often it records videos the faster the battery will drain - ours lasts 2-3 months between charges.

lakesummer · 26/05/2023 17:06

Here are some options for you OP.
Amazon is where we bought ours.

Ring doorbell???
Original poster
Wendysfriend · 26/05/2023 17:07

That's a good tip re the solar charging. Thanks for that. Our router is next to the front door so hopefully not too many issues.

OP posts:
Talipesmum · 26/05/2023 17:07

Ours doesn’t have a light but the night vision is pretty good.

lakesummer · 26/05/2023 17:07

I'm in the USA so my prices are in dollars

OldTinHat · 26/05/2023 17:12

I have a wireless one but have turned off notifications because I live on a busy road for pedestrians. My parents also have a wireless one but have a separate chime because neither of them have their phone with them all the time.

Video quality is great. I'm not sure what generation mine is, I've had it over 4yrs, but they update the software all the time. I've now set mine to give the option for callers who ring the bell to leave a message if I don't answer.

unsync · 26/05/2023 17:14

Have a look at Eufy doorcams. No monthly subscription. Very happy with mine.

Original poster
Wendysfriend · 26/05/2023 17:14

Interesting about the recording, I hadn't realised that. I thought I would be able to access recordings. So say something happened and the doorbell recorded it, I can't access that footage unless I pay a subscription?

Thanks for those suggestions, just going to have a look at them.

OP posts:
Return2thebasic · 26/05/2023 17:16

I suspect you have to pay the subscription FIRST before the video gets uploaded to the server...

Talipesmum · 26/05/2023 17:40

Wendysfriend · 26/05/2023 17:14

Interesting about the recording, I hadn't realised that. I thought I would be able to access recordings. So say something happened and the doorbell recorded it, I can't access that footage unless I pay a subscription?

Thanks for those suggestions, just going to have a look at them.

Yes that’s right. You have to be signed up to the subscription or it won’t record (you have to sign up in advance - it’s not that you pay to release the recording. It won’t make recordings without the subscription).

https://en-uk.ring.com/pages/protect-plans
£3.50/month for one ring device, or £8 for multiple devices.

Ring Protect Plans

Store, review and share your Ring videos for as little as £3.49 per month

https://en-uk.ring.com/pages/protect-plans

Talipesmum · 26/05/2023 17:42

And it only records when there’s motion, on whatever sensitivity you set it on. It’s not continuously recording. You could set a really wide area and it would record lots of stuff, but the doorbells aren’t cctv. I think they do security camera type things as well? Not sure. You can always check the live feed but recordings are intermittent with motion detection (or doorbell being rung).

lakesummer · 26/05/2023 17:53

We had a three month free trial of the recording system and then did opt to pay for it.

Original poster
Wendysfriend · 26/05/2023 17:56

Thank you all for taking the time to respond and give me your advice. I really appreciate it and I learned a lot.

From reading all the replies and suggestions I think what will suit our needs is the eufy range, it will allow up to 3 months recordings.

Thanks again👍

OP posts:
SadBut · 26/05/2023 21:47

Shameless place mark also considering ring doorbell
Thanks OP! Flowers

AlwaysGinPlease · 26/05/2023 22:34

Knightsrest · 26/05/2023 16:23

Wireless, it’s great but the notification drives me a bit nuts when a cat saunters across my drive.

Ha yes! At 2am, and then again at 2.45am and on and on 😂

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