Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Ring has really hit a sweet spot with an extremely affordable, simple to use, feature rich home alarm system. Many of the native comments from reviewers here need to be rebutted. E.g., 1) sirens- the ring base AND keypads sound 110 db Alarms when tripped. There is also a fully integrated siren from Dome, and ring has indicated they plan to market their own siren extension in the future. I have two keypads and the siren sound is deafening when tripped. This is NOT an issue ! 2) many users have not come up to speed on the functionality fo this system. thats not their fault.its really easy to set up quickly and with basic functioning, But the more you fool around/experimenter/learn about the system the more functionality it has. Ring really needs to come out with a comprehensive instruction manual and/or video-once you understand take keypad you will grasp it actually has more functionality and is easier to use than most legacy hard wired systems people are replacing. 3) contact sensors- people complain they are too large-this is true if you plan to use on windows and most your openings, but thats true for any system that is not hard wired, including Nest ‘s contact sensors which are much more $ and only slightly smaller . And the hard wired ones are set into window/door frame- you can do that yourself and hire at least Hal;f the senior (i have chosen to embed with a little chiseling the large part fo the contact and lead the mangnet small part episode on the door; if you want it save yourself soem work and can tolerate a little more obvious appearances, embed the magnet. If this is a big issue for anyoen, just embed one half fo the contact into the doorframe it yield a very unobtrusive appearance. 4) Motion detector- again people say they are large ; but they are SMALLER than hard wired motion detectors I have - the differenc is the hard wired ones are embeddded itnot the drywall (but you can do this with the smaller ring detectors Too if you want. You can buy a plate to finish off the drywall edge of the small “cubby:” you create OR just buy some trim at Home Depot that matches your current baseboard or ceiling/door trim , buy a plastic miter box for $10 and make 45 degree cuts and you have your custom tight frame ready to paint (ANYONE can do this !) and you can locate the motion detectors anywhere you have a drywall wall ! Compared to any wireless motion detector than nest they arent that large -nest ones are 50% more $ and they are nots o small as to go un noticed anyway ! 4) keypad- the nest system is if you dont have a table to lay the base station on as you come in the door. If you have a modern hosue or modern design you will prefer the flexibility to mount the keypad on the wall AND (VIP) use multiple keypads if you choose to enter through more than one door ! Nest allows for openly one keypad ! And also by putting kepayp[ad and base station in one chassis, you can't hide the base station OR locate it wher the mesh networks eorks best ! I understand nest keypad is a work of minimalist art.but Ring keypad is hardly ugly and very functional and flexible . It even lights up as you approach it and can be operated on batteries as well (ie you can take it with you to other parts of the house as needed !) I also find the NESTs approach (integrating motion detectors and contact sensors together works real well in small housesa and apartments, but not in large house where its much more effecting to be able to locate motion snesors where they can use their full 30’+ area off surveillance. RING is not a perfect or fully reliable dproduct yet of course. The first alert produced CO/smoke alarm cant hold a candle to nest but its functional and accurate. RING does have small saucer shape microphones that you can co-locate with your current smoke detectors (even NEST as you prefer and I have) but a real simple fix would, esp for thsoe without legacy fire alamsrnm they like, is to simply have first alert make alaRMS FOR RING OR RING sell First alert smoke detetctors with all the ugly lettering and logos removed ! If motion detectors are placed in high traffic areas there batteries life will suffer commensurately. But this is an issue for ALL wireless motion detectors ! I have found Can work arounbd this using very precise location or use of two detectors in spots that preclude anyone entering house but dont rely on monitoring the owners most highly used traffic “lanes” in the house. And of course ring is just now bringing back its updated indoor cam, (stick up cam) perhaps it’s most obvious lacuna right now Finally 1. RING APP Is excellent -enough said. 2. RING help is excellent and despite busy after roll out, they get back you - esp with email inquiries -of course there is a wide range of skills and experience at their help desk but not More so than at established companies. 3. If you have/want security cameras,has ring has three choices that are very price competitive, and the monitoring costs set the standard (doubtlessly leaning on Amazon’s huge server capacity) 4. Rings extended warranty- its is included in their 10$ month for unlimited recording .. The warranty covers ALL hardware for as long as you pay the $10 a month monitoring fee. (Yes lifetime-read that again) (you also get a 10% discount on ring products if your subscribe to their monitoring ) Bottom line-all in ring hardware is much less $ than nest system, its keypad was more flexible and versatile, nest is more elegant , base station integrated with keypad ( which in my case is MORE obtrusive tho)and useless if u enter from More than one door and don’t want to take your phone out of your purse You will need robust wifi in your house to realize rings full potential/features, but thats true for ANY of its competitors. And for the mechanically challenged they make a plug and play wi fi extender (with a chime for the ring doorbell). NB rings monitoring fees are cheap and it’s hardware warranty very generous . Consider your all in costs over a ten year period -for me came out thousands of dollars less. Ring is owned by amazon so u know they will be there to honor warranty update software technical support etc this is such an easy purchase - no excuse for not having home security system anymore that you control and can customize, take with u when u move