Ring Video Doorbell

Wish you could answer the door even when you’re not at home?  Well with the Ring video doorbell you can do just that.  When somebody rings the bell, you can see and speak to them on your smartphone.

I get a lot of mail deliveries, and it’s frustrating when I miss the courier and have to re-arrange delivery or go to the post office to collect my parcel.  So when the people at Ring asked if I’d like to test out their new video doorbell, I said yes please.

What’s in the Box?

I received the Ring video doorbell and a Ring chime.

The video doorbell comes with the doorbell unit with built-in 720p HD camera, and all the equipment you need to install the doorbell.  The bell can be hard wired or run off a rechargeable battery (the option I chose).

The Ring chime plugs into an electrical socket in your home and chimes when somebody presses the video doorbell, just like a normal doorbell would work.    The sound of the chime lets you know when you have a visitor even if your phone is in the other room.  You can adjust the chime and the volume, and even set it to do not disturb.

Installing the Doorbell

The doorbell is easy to install.  The first thing you need to do is install the Ring app onto your smartphone.  Then simply follow all the prompts to set up your account and wifi connection.

Once you’ve set up the doorbell on your app, follow the video guide to install the video doorbell at your door.  I installed my doorbell at the back door as this is where all the couriers seem to come to.  I used my Bosch Cordless drill to make small pilot holes then screwed the backing board onto the weatherboards.  Slip the video doorbell onto the backing board and screw in place.

Don’t throw out the screwdriver that comes with the doorbell as you’ll need it to take the doorbell off and recharge the battery.  The battery charges using the USB cable provided.  I made sure my battery was fully charged before I installed it.  According to Ring, the battery should last 6-12 months before recharging is required.  If you click Device Health in the Ring app you can see the battery level and network signal strength of the doorbell.

A note about wifi.  When I installed my video doorbell, my wifi signal at the back door was poor and the video wouldn’t work.  I solved this problem by buying  the Netgear AC750 Wifi Range Extender and now the signal strength is much better.

Using the Doorbell

Here’s a short video to show how the doorbell works.

Here’s what the video door bell looks like when you press it – a blue light circles around the rim.

Thoughts on the Ring Video Doorbell

There are two main reasons that I like the Ring Video doorbell – Convenience and Safety.

Convenience

The video door bell is definitely convenient.  Unfortunately I always seem to be driving when I hear the app ring AND I’ve usually only missed the courier by 5 or 10 minutes!!!  But at least I know someone’s been at the door, and because the Ring doorbell captures video even when I don’t answer, I can SEE who’s been at my door.

If I click on the arrow next to any of these Accepted or Missed Rings, I can view the video footage that was recorded when the bell was rung.

Safety

I work from home so I am often home alone.  The video door bell allows me to see who is at the door before I open it.  It’s a bit like having caller ID on your phone.  You can choose whether to answer it or not.

A teenager coming for a sleepover – Yes you can come in

The Ring Video doorbell retails for $299.  It is available from direct from Ring and selected retailers such as JB Hi Fi and Harvey Norman.

Disclosure: Ring sent me a Ring Video doorbell to review for this post. All opinions expressed in this post are mine, and I have given an honest account of the product.