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63 About this deal
You can add shared users to Ring, which will all get the app and access to selected devices, such as the doorbell, plus a unique PIN for the alarm. You can also set Guest users, which are just given a unique PIN. It would be nice to have timed access – say, for letting a cleaner only use their PIN on a set day between set times. For the Home and Away modes, you can set the entry and exit delay. The entry delay is the time in seconds you have to disarm the alarm when the main sensor (as defined in the installation) is triggered – say, you opening the front door. The exit delay is similar but is the time in seconds before the alarm becomes active, giving you enough time to set the alarm and get out. A keypad is nice to have, but I’d love Ring to release a keyfob, as you get with Abode, since this is often the most convenient way to arm or disarm the system. At the heart of the system is the base station, which is the same as used on the original alarm. This is a Z-Wave hub, communicating with the wireless sensors and components, an internal siren, and the communications hub with the internet. In all cases, the app takes you through installing the devices, testing them and making sure that the Z-Wave signal gets through. If you’re having problems with range, then all of the kits ship with plug-in Z-Wave extenders that should help. Features
If you have the original Ring Alarm, you can buy the sensors individually to expand your home system. Throughout testing, I only had one false alarm caused by me dropping a printer as I lifted it off a shelf. However, I only knew that this had triggered the alarm as I had the sensor in full detection mode; it should normally be in power saving mode, so that the sensor is only active when the alarm is set. When installing, you can set a motion detector either in an entryway (there’s a countdown delay before it triggers the alarm) or a room (all motion triggers the alarm instantly). That’s a lot of options and shows that Ring has really thought out all the ways you may want to keep the siren going. My only minor complaint is that it would have been nice if Ring could have built in the solar panel, as with the old Y-Cam Alarm’s siren. This siren (235 x 235 x 57mm) is hexagonal in shape, and features a Ring logo clearly on the front – it’s hard to miss. It ships with three D batteries for power, but there are many options for extending life, all of which can be used in conjunction with each other.
During installation, you’ll be asked to specify the type of entryway you have the sensor on, which defines how it works. Main door sensors will only trigger the alarm after a delay; secondary door and window sensors trigger the alarm immediately. Motion Detector (2nd Gen) which has a smaller profile and is easier to mount on the wall. It also uses patented motion detection technology to detect intruders and ignore pets.
With the external siren, you can choose the volume level from silent (a little pointless, although the LEDs flash), up to loudest. Ring doesn’t state the decibels figure for all of the volumes, but says that Loud is 100dB at 1m. That’s loud enough to attract attention, for sure. This sensor is powered by two CR2032 batteries, which you can access by simply sliding the cover off the top. It’s far easier to change the batteries here than on the old sensor, which needed a button pushing in to release the top cover. Yes! The new Ring Alarm (2nd Gen) devices are smaller, providing you with more options for mounting and securing them within your home. When triggered, the Ring Alarm (2nd Generation) will sound the internal and external sirens. The internal model is loud at 104dB – certainly loud enough to make itself heard. The internal siren can also play a ‘chirp’ when a sensor is triggered. You can choose what sound to play, and the volume on a per-sensor basis, although you may just want to disable the feature completely. Ring Alarm and all Ring Alarm accessories require a subscription for in-app features and digital notifications, including digital arming / disarming and integration with other Ring, Echo, Alexa, and third party products. Subscription sold separately. View ring.com/protect-plans for pricing and details.Liquid error (sections/product-template line 350): Could not find asset snippets/pdp_bundles.liquid
At its most basic, the Ring Alarm (2nd Generation) works much like any smart (or dumb, for that matter) alarm system. It has three modes: Away, Home and Disarmed. Away arms all of the sensors; Disarmed has them all disabled; Home has your selection of sensors active. There’s also a new Geofence feature. When you arrive home, you can choose which cameras to snooze and how long for (the default is 15 minutes), so you don’t receive notifications about yourself turning up. Note that your cameras still record; you just won’t get swamped with alerts that you probably don’t care about. At this point, you get an alert sent to your smartphone, which appears as a notification. It can be easy to miss – it’s just another beep on your phone along with all the other notifications you’re likely to receive through a day. What’s particularly clever about the new system is that it maintains the same base station, so users of the existing alarm system can add the new sensors or sirens into their existing system, without being forced into upgrading everything. It’s nice to see a company do that for once. Design and installation
Tech Specs
Keypad (2nd Gen) with one-touch emergency buttons. If you have signed up for Professional Monitoring,** you can request police, fire, or medical response by holding one of these buttons for 3 seconds.
When it launched a couple of years ago, the Ring Alarm soon became my favourite DIY smart alarm system. Today, there’s the Ring Alarm (2nd Generation), which maintains the title of best DIY alarm system, adding in better sensors, a neater control panel and an outdoor siren. Range Extender (2nd Gen) which is designed to be easier to use with a new button and indicator light on the front. Modes don’t just control the alarm, they can also be used to control which cameras record. This is brilliant if you have Ring cameras, particularly indoor units, as you get fine control over them and cut down on the number of times you end up recording yourself walking around the house. Geofence can also be used as a reminder to set your alarm if you go out and forget. That’s actually better than just setting the alarm: if you have house guests, for example, you don’t want to turn the alarm on when you go out. You can also choose to get a prompt when you get home, telling you to turn the alarm off.
Alarm Security Kit, 10-Piece
Alexa integration is still present, letting you set or disarm your alarm using your voice, although the latter requires you to set a voice PIN. Cleverly, you can use the Ring Alarm to trigger Alexa routines, too, based on the mode set. For example, you can turn off all of your lights when you set the alarm to Away mode. It’s much neater, and the new size makes it easier to place this model where you want. It’s also less intrusive, if you want to have multiple keypads around your home for arming and disarming in different locations.
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