Ring Doorbell Camera Recommendations?

[Squishman]

I'd like to get a camera system set up. Can anyone recommend one? I don't really need a doorbell, but I imagine they all come that way. Prefer wireless over wired since I don't have doorbell wiring. Instant phone notification. Wide view. Video back-up in case my phone was off or I miss it. I imagine that requires a plan, but I understand they aren't too expensive. Doesn't have to be Ring.

 

[highfigh]

I'd like to get a camera system set up. Can anyone recommend one? I don't really need a doorbell, but I imagine they all come that way. Prefer wireless over wired since I don't have doorbell wiring. Instant phone notification. Wide view. Video back-up in case my phone was off or I miss it. I imagine that requires a plan, but I understand they aren't too expensive. Doesn't have to be Ring.

Have you seen Ring's Peephole camera/doorbell? It mounts in the door and the main parts that are outside of the door are the lens, button and housing. The battery is inside and it can be removed for charging- I'm considering this because the gap between the front door and brick isn't enough for any doorbell cameras to fit without preventing the door opening. Spare batteries are availablem so there's really no down time.

Keep in mind- many brands of cameras have been hacked and the first one I heard of was Ring, but Nest, Arlo, etc were being hacked before 2018.

IIRC, they only require a plan if you want to record and send video over the internet. Their websites explain all of this.

 

[Squishman]

Have you seen Ring's Peephole camera/doorbell? It mounts in the door and the main parts that are outside of the door are the lens, button and housing. The battery is inside and it can be removed for charging- I'm considering this because the gap between the front door and brick isn't enough for any doorbell cameras to fit without preventing the door opening. Spare batteries are availablem so there's really no down time.

Keep in mind- many brands of cameras have been hacked and the first one I heard of was Ring, but Nest, Arlo, etc were being hacked before 2018.

IIRC, they only require a plan if you want to record and send video over the internet. Their websites explain all of this.

I'd like people with nefarious intentions to see that there is a camera.

 

[highfigh]

I'd like people with nefarious intentions to see that there is a camera.

That implies that they care about the cameras being there. The guy across the street from a house where I had installed cameras and DVR looked outside one early morning and saw a car stop behind the one parked by his daughter's friend, they got out and checked the door handles before leaving after seeing nothing of interest inside. I had placed some 'Warning- surveillance cameras in use" signs near the driveway, in clear view- he asked why they still got out of the car and I told him, "They were making the statement that they don't care".

One good thing about Ring- if someone destroys or removes the camera, they'll replace it.

If I knew for a fact that I wouldn't be prosecuted or sued, I would install a LASER with tracking, so anyone who entered the house or garage would, well, let's skip the details.

 

[Squishman]

Some a-hole for years has been throwing food into my fenced-in front yard for my dogs. It really pisses me off. It happens about once every 6 or 8 weeks. This would be to hopefully put the kibash on that and/or to find out who it is. I just hope it doesn't get them to use the area close to the side of the house. So they could still do it and get away with it. But maybe I could put up a fake camera pointing that way for deterrence. Or a real one if it's not too expensive to do that. I have a deck that sits up 5 steps and a TV antenna pole up another 12 feet or whatever it is. So I could mount something up there if I wanted to.

 

[cpp]

One good thing about Ring- if someone destroys or removes the camera, they'll replace it.

IF you file a police report and a few more if's as well, but free is free.

Theft protection for select Ring devices
If your Ring Security Camera or Video Doorbell product is stolen at any time after your purchase, Ring will replace the stolen device at no charge to you. The remainder of this article contains the steps you should follow and important notes on eligibility requirements and limitations of this theft protection.

• Immediately report the theft to the police and request a copy of the theft report as soon as possible.
  You will need the police report in order for Ring to provide you with a free replacement device.
• Once you receive the police report, report the theft to Ring by using the online theft form below.

Report Theft

Once the police report is verified, Ring will gladly provide a free replacement within 30 days.

Important notes concerning the Ring theft protection:

• This theft protection applies only to the original consumer purchaser.
• Coverage of this theft protection is limited to one replacement only for each Ring camera or doorbell product that you have purchased.
• Theft protection does not apply to any products purchased from third party sellers on other online marketplaces.
• Any replacement request must be submitted within 15 days of the theft and include copies of the original sales receipt, and the police report.
• The replacement of stolen Ring devices is a courtesy service. Ring may deny this service at any time due to suspected fraud, malfeasance, or any other reason.
• Ring may provide a replacement device that is the same make and model as the original stolen device or a reasonable replacement.

 

[highfigh]

Some a-hole for years has been throwing food into my fenced-in front yard for my dogs. It really pisses me off. It happens about once every 6 or 8 weeks. This would be to hopefully put the kibash on that and/or to find out who it is. I just hope it doesn't get them to use the area close to the side of the house. So they could still do it and get away with it. But maybe I could put up a fake camera pointing that way for deterrence. Or a real one if it's not too expensive to do that. I have a deck that sits up 5 steps and a TV antenna pole up another 12 feet or whatever it is. So I could mount something up there if I wanted to.

I heard a call on police scanner about someone tossing M&Ms into a dog owner's yard. I really hope they can get that on video- someone who would poison a dog needs to suffer.

Fake cameras aren't worth using- when you need it to record, it can't and even a cheap camera is a better choice. I bought a Feit Floodlight camera, but they also have others wth no light or the light can be turned off. I don't receive alerts, but proof is less annoying than a constant barrage of pings and if I'm not there, I can't do much, anyway.While it's mounted on the garage overhang and that goes against one of the main rules of installing surveillance cameras, someone would have to come around from the back of the garage to disable it without being recorded.

 

[highfigh]

IF you file a police report and a few more if's as well, but free is free.

Theft protection for select Ring devices
If your Ring Security Camera or Video Doorbell product is stolen at any time after your purchase, Ring will replace the stolen device at no charge to you. The remainder of this article contains the steps you should follow and important notes on eligibility requirements and limitations of this theft protection.

• Immediately report the theft to the police and request a copy of the theft report as soon as possible.
  You will need the police report in order for Ring to provide you with a free replacement device.
• Once you receive the police report, report the theft to Ring by using the online theft form below.

Report Theft

Once the police report is verified, Ring will gladly provide a free replacement within 30 days.

Important notes concerning the Ring theft protection:

• This theft protection applies only to the original consumer purchaser.
• Coverage of this theft protection is limited to one replacement only for each Ring camera or doorbell product that you have purchased.
• Theft protection does not apply to any products purchased from third party sellers on other online marketplaces.
• Any replacement request must be submitted within 15 days of the theft and include copies of the original sales receipt, and the police report.
• The replacement of stolen Ring devices is a courtesy service. Ring may deny this service at any time due to suspected fraud, malfeasance, or any other reason.
• Ring may provide a replacement device that is the same make and model as the original stolen device or a reasonable replacement.

Viewing permission can be granted to the Police if a crime occurs in the area where video might provide proof, too.

 

[Squishman]

I don't think the a-hole is tossing poison food. But of course, I'm not 100% sure. I ordered a 2 pack Blink Gen 4 cameras on Amazon. Also ordered a 9x9 Blink sign on ebay that I will put on my chain link fence.
If you get live view on your phone, do you have to have your computer on at home? Maybe even if you purchase a support package? It's usually in sleep mode while I'm at work.

 

[highfigh]

I don't think the a-hole is tossing poison food. But of course, I'm not 100% sure. I ordered a 2 pack Blink Gen 4 cameras on Amazon. Also ordered a 9x9 Blink sign on ebay that I will put on my chain link fence.
If you get live view on your phone, do you have to have your computer on at home? Maybe even if you purchase a support package? It's usually in sleep mode while I'm at work.

Live view? Download their app and use your phone. Computer shouldn't be needed but I haven't looked into Blink in quite awhile. YouTube has lenty of videos and their site should be able to help, too.

Fortunately, nothing bad has happened around here, so I watch videos when the neighborhood Foxes trigger the motion sensor at night. Yeah, real ones, not the two legged kind.

 

[Squishman]

I just learned about the Blink sync module that allows you to store footage locally instead of a subscription.

 

[highfigh]

I just learned about the Blink sync module that allows you to store footage locally instead of a subscription.

Do those use a micro SD card for storage?

 

[Squishman]

Do those use a micro SD card for storage?

USB drive.

 

[cpp]

Viewing permission can be granted to the Police if a crime occurs in the area where video might provide proof, too.

Thats true

 

[highfigh]

Internal storage? That's what I was asking about.

Example- what happens if the power goes out and your network is disabled? Does it record during that time, or not?

 

[Squishman]

Internal storage? That's what I was asking about.

Example- what happens if the power goes out and your network is disabled? Does it record during that time, or not?

I would say nope.

 

[highfigh]

I would say nope.

That would make it a no-go, for me. I have always installed UPS for DVRs, cameras and networks, so all of it works in case the power goes out and if the cable from the ISP has a problem, ditto. The video is still available in either case, barring a long-term power outage.

 

[cpp]

I would say nope.

Unless its battery backup

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

I personally hate IOS (Internet of poop) devices like Ring since they require a subscription, have privacy concerns, can be bricked by the vendor if they feel like it at any time, and do not integrate well with other home "smart" devices. After some research, I bought and installed a ReoLink Doorbell camera with wireless chime. The camera in my case is powered by the same two wires my old school doorbell was using, but there are a few other options like PoE and battery. It has a local SD-Card slot for recordings and can connect to a local security/IP camera recorder. It uses a wireless chime which plugs into an available power plug.

[Official] Reolink Doorbell WiFi - Smart Video Doorbell Camera

Smart 2K+ 5MP Wi-Fi doorbell camera with clear night vision, person & package detection, easy installation, two-way audio, 24/7 recording, and waterproof rating.

reolink.com

watch this on only 1 of the reasons I hate IoS:

 

[highfigh]

I personally hate IOS (Internet of poop) devices like Ring since they require a subscription, have privacy concerns, can be bricked by the vendor if they feel like it at any time, and do not integrate well with other home "smart" devices. After some research, I bought and installed a ReoLink Doorbell camera with wireless chime. The camera in my case is powered by the same two wires my old school doorbell was using, but there are a few other options like PoE and battery. It has a local SD-Card slot for recordings and can connect to a local security/IP camera recorder. It uses a wireless chime which plugs into an available power plug.

[Official] Reolink Doorbell WiFi - Smart Video Doorbell Camera

Smart 2K+ 5MP Wi-Fi doorbell camera with clear night vision, person & package detection, easy installation, two-way audio, 24/7 recording, and waterproof rating.

reolink.com

watch this on only 1 of the reasons I hate IoS:

How is Ring IOS? Is that a play oon 'Internet Of Things'? The thing I don't like about some of these things is the fact that they have been bought by sellers that can price them lower than anyone else can ask because if they do, they lose money. Anything owned by Google is in that basket of crap (not commenting on the items, just the practices). I don't want to be in the position of losing sales to a manufacturer or corporate owner.