IS THERE ANYTHING BETTER THAN A RING DOORBELL?

[alarmguy]

I just paid my bill in advance for 2022. It was $100. Last year it was $100...in fact, last year it was $80 for the year because I got a new customer discount. It includes video storage and alarm cellular backup too. It's called Ring Protect Plus (1st Generation)
I've had several alarms including a water/flood detection alarm trigger. Ring calls within 30 seconds. BTW, a UL listed and approved central monitoring service has to meet UL standards. Its an insurance industry requirement for most businesses for fire and security. Ring is UL listed and approved.
ADT is now and has-been a ripoff for years. SimplySafe has no self-monitoring option. Ring is Amazon and Amazon dwarfs Tyco.
Explain how "standard service vs premium service" in UL listed alarm monitoring differs. The central station receives your alarm and they do precisely as the customer has arranged. Notify PD, FD, your cellphone number, Aunt Betty, your neighbor...whomever you dictate. The central station either executes the chain of communication quickly and accurately or it doesn't and its easy enough to test.

I didnt want you to take my post personally for the most part anyway.
The pricing you mention can not be had, its old pricing that you have "grandfathered in" based on someone else post, that will expire in 3 years and you will get a 100% increase, great company that Amazon owned Ring, after all who else can raise prices 100% and look like heros to the public? It's why my response might have been a little hard, simply because of my hatred for Amazon and what they do and how they do it, then get people like you on board thinking every one else is ripping them off on price, meanwhile Amazon was barely making any money if any money at all selling you Ring service at a loss. That is what bothers me because it turned you off to honest hard working people and their REAL security companies who need a profit to survive and pay their employees. They specialize in Security and costs are higher when you are not the AMAZON of everything with tens, and tens, and tens of billions of dollars laying around buying up companies, sell at a loss for a while, then raise prices.

SO anyway, it couldn't be more simple, I posted the link to sign up to Ring in my other post, you will see the service you have no longer includes monitoring, Ring (Amazon) raised the price 100% for that service that you pay $10 a month to $20 a month. Only the god of the internet, Amazon, can pull stuff like that off and still have loyal customers who discredit real security companies without thousands of other products and AWS (Amazon Webservices which is the bulk of their profit) kicking in tens of billions of dollars in cash.

Amazon now charges $20 a month, $240 a year for monitoring or pay one year in advance and get a $40 discount.
BTW- I suggest this to everyone, regardless of the company, test your alarm system a few times a year by setting it off, then start timing and wait to see if the "central station" calls you. Amazing how many people never get a call because of non working equipment or just plain bad monitoring service. Anyone paying for a service like this should be doing this on a monthly or bimonthly schedule, how would you know it even works? Many dont. Never test your system using the smoke detector, only use the burglar alarm part of the system, if you want to test the snake sensor call central station first to let them know as many times the fire department will be sent out without contacting you, you will always be called before police are sent out as long as you pick up your phone.

I posted the link for you in my other post = https://ring.com/protect-plans
Here is a screen shot too,

 

[Cropduster172]

I didnt want you to take my post personally for the most part anyway.
The pricing you mention can not be had, its old pricing that you have "grandfathered in" based on someone else post, that will expire in 3 years and you will get a 100% increase, great company that Amazon owned Ring, after all who else can raise prices 100% and look like heros to the public? It's why my response might have been a little hard, simply because of my hatred for Amazon and what they do and how they do it, then get people like you on board thinking every one else is ripping them off on price, meanwhile Amazon was barely making any money if any money at all selling you Ring service at a loss. That is what bothers me because it turned you off to honest hard working people and their REAL security companies who need a profit to survive and pay their employees. They specialize in Security and costs are higher when you are not the AMAZON of everything with tens, and tens, and tens of billions of dollars laying around buying up companies, sell at a loss for a while, then raise prices.

SO anyway, it couldn't be more simple, I posted the link to sign up to Ring in my other post, you will see the service you have no longer includes monitoring, Ring (Amazon) raised the price 100% for that service that you pay $10 a month to $20 a month. Only the god of the internet, Amazon, can pull stuff like that off and still have loyal customers who discredit real security companies without thousands of other products and AWS (Amazon Webservices which is the bulk of their profit) kicking in tens of billions of dollars in cash.

I posted the link for you in my other post = https://ring.com/protect-plans
Here is a screen shot

First off, I took nothing personally. Facts are facts. What I pay and have been paying for monitoring service, which I have found to be excellent, is significantly cheaper than competitors. How do you know they will increase my rates in X amount of years? Could very well be the "grandfathered" price carries on for years..like my T-Mobile pricing has. Who's to say?
Seems you have the same disdain for Amazon that I have for ADT, who has bought out more smaller, local and regional security alarm companies than any other company worldwide. ADT is hated by many...mostly homeowners. Ring crushed ADT in the domestic security business. That's a fact....so did SimpliSafe and a host of others.
Also, you seemed to have ignored my question regarding the difference between " premium" and " discount" alarm monitoring services when both meet Underwriters Laboratory requirements???

 

[alarmguy]

To be clear, the Ring does NOT operate your home doorbell. The Ring Chime is an extra cost optional device that plugs into the wall. This is not what I was talking about.

Cropduster is correct. Some Ring Doorbells do use your existing home doorbell. Honestly is most of what you will see in retail stores as the most popular option. Amazon has a lot of Ring products and your Ring Chime is a different product. Also the most costly and as others pointed out you have to pay a subscription fee which is a joke (as in my last rant above this one) for some who defend Amazon.
With that said if your ok with paying a subscription fee it really seems like a good door bell at around $170 for the stripped down model to $250 if you want to be able to talk to other people.
Here is the link, just scroll all the way down to the chart that shows it is compatible =
https://ring.com/products/video-doorbell-pro-2

 

[alarmguy]

First off, I took nothing personally. Facts are facts. What I pay and have been paying for monitoring service, which I have found to be excellent, is significantly cheaper than competitors. How do you know they will increase my rates in X amount of years? Could very well be the "grandfathered" price carries on for years..like my T-Mobile pricing has. Who's to say?
Seems you have the same disdain for Amazon that I have for ADT, who has bought out more smaller, local and regional security alarm companies than any other company worldwide. ADT is hated by many...mostly homeowners. Ring crushed ADT in the domestic security business. That's a fact....so did SimpliSafe and a host of others.
Also, you seemed to have ignored my question regarding the difference between " premium" and " discount" alarm monitoring services when both meet Underwriters Laboratory requirements???

Glad you didnt take anything personally, though it seems you had, you are ignoring the fact that you can not get alarm monitoring from RING (AMAZON) anymore for $10. a month.
They raised the rate to $20 a month, Im just making that clear for people reading this thread.

So why are we having this debate, your service to new customers is up 100% in cost from what you pay and posted in here.
Ignoring your "question"? Not at all, do your own research on the monitoring centers and their ratings. I could care less, you were trashing other companies, even Simply Safe because of cost, yet the price you quote for RING can not be had anymore since they raised that price 100% ... sorry, I look at any company that plays those games as garbage. Its all good, glad you are happy.

AS far as your "grandfather" I THINK I noted someone else in this tread made reference to it expiring, so I just did a quick search and its right on the "RING" website. Your price goes up 100% in 2025 but by that time that equipment will most likely be worthless *LOL* just sort of kidding but it is consumer grade stuff.

Here is Rings statement that your "grandfathered" $10 a month service is going up 100% in 3 years. Gotta love that Amazon, take a loss with their billions of dollars for a few years, make the public think you are their friend, make the other companies look greedy even though they actually specialize in security vs. mass marketing, then raise the price 100% ...

https://support.ring.com/hc/en-us/articles/360061428551-Protect-Plus-1st-Gen-information
Oh... and by the way, you will have to scroll ALL the way down to the little type under footnotes #1 to see your 100% price increase.
Love that Amazon. )
----

 

[alarmguy]

This was actually a good thread, lots of good posts. I wasnt completely aware of the extent of companies that charge extra EVERY month when you buy a Doorbell camera.
Im starting to feel better about my Skybell Doorbell camera. Its older now, a bit tired and I guess even with its less then stellar motion detection I would still replace it with another. I can only assume they have improved that feature over the years. In the past I have installed 100s of them for customers.
Ill never pay a company monthly fees to see video of my own home, from my own cameras. Wow, what a scam.
So for anyone handy and interested=
EZVIZ for video cameras (been using them for years)
Skybell Doorbell camera for the home doorbell

If I didnt have a home doorbell I would be tempted to check out EZVIZ new doorbell camera, their products have been spot on for us. Now have 5 of their video cameras but again, have no idea if they doorbell camera is any good though the price looks attractive for sure. Not sure if it would be as good as the others though when it comes to using the app, just because its new (I think)

 

[Cropduster172]

Glad you didnt take anything personally, though it seems you had, you are ignoring the fact that you can not get alarm monitoring from RING (AMAZON) anymore for $10. a month.
They raised the rate to $20 a month, Im just making that clear for people reading this thread.

So why are we having this debate, your service to new customers is up 100% in cost from what you pay and posted in here.
Ignoring your "question"? Not at all, do your own research on the monitoring centers and their ratings. I could care less, you were trashing other companies, even Simply Safe because of cost, yet the price you quote for RING can not be had anymore since they raised that price 100% ... sorry, I look at any company that plays those games as garbage. Its all good, glad you are happy.

AS far as your "grandfather" I THINK I noted someone else in this tread made reference to it expiring, so I just did a quick search and its right on the "RING" website. Your price goes up 100% in 2025 but by that time that equipment will most likely be worthless *LOL* just sort of kidding but it is consumer grade stuff.

Here is Rings statement that your "grandfathered" $10 a month service is going up 100% in 3 years. Gotta love that Amazon, take a loss with their billions of dollars for a few years, make the public think you are their friend, make the other companies look greedy even though they actually specialize in security vs. mass marketing, then raise the price 100% ...

https://support.ring.com/hc/en-us/articles/360061428551-Protect-Plus-1st-Gen-information
Oh... and by the way, you will have to scroll ALL the way down to the little type under footnotes #1 to see your 100% price increase.
Love that Amazon. )
----

My dog in the monitoring fight is minimal at best. I don't have real security concerns where we live as crime is a non-issue where we live and I'm former law enforcement and have confidence in my past experience. I likely wouldn't have monitoring if not for what the Ring doorbell provides... knowing when packages have been delivered, etc... Ring offers self monitoring at no cost. SimpliSafe does not.
You stated that there were quality differences between central station monitoring services. I simply asked you what those differences are between any/all UL listed and approved companies. You deflected on that by suggesting I look at customer reviews. So it seems you don't have an answer for that question.

 

[alarmguy]

My dog in the monitoring fight is minimal at best. I don't have real security concerns where we live as crime is a non-issue where we live and I'm former law enforcement and have confidence in my past experience. I likely wouldn't have monitoring if not for what the Ring doorbell provides... knowing when packages have been delivered, etc... Ring offers self monitoring at no cost. SimpliSafe does not.
You stated that there were quality differences between central station monitoring services. I simply asked you what those differences are between any/all UL listed and approved companies. You deflected on that by suggesting I look at customer reviews. So it seems you don't have an answer for that question.

I dont remember telling you to look at customer reviews, I think maybe you have things mixed up.
The only way to know if your monitoring company is any good is to set off your alarm and time the response.
Your constant reference to UL listed means nothing as far as response times and if the monitoring company actually calls you. UL does not time or track responses. UL rated is equipment used and back up, like any UL rating on any product.

Set off your alarm at 5 or 6 pm at night and time it. I cant to that for you. I can tell you, if you do that with a professional company like Vector Security you will not have to wait more then a minute or two. More like a minute but stuff happens.
My experience in security systems far outweighs your former law enforcement activities when it comes to security systems.

Its only in your mind that I have deflected on any questions, ask me a question straight up and I will answer it. Remember these responses were only due to me trying to correct the pricing you quoted for monitored alarms at $10 when after Amazon Rings price increase went up 100% to $20. I think my responses to you are used up and not helping the OP anymore.
But if he reads through this thread there is a lot of good info from everyone.

 

[Cropduster172]

I dont remember telling you to look at customer reviews, I think maybe you have things mixed up.
The only way to know if your monitoring company is any good is to set off your alarm and time the response.
Your constant reference to UL listed means nothing as far as response times and if the monitoring company actually calls you. UL does not time or track responses. UL rated is equipment used and back up, like any UL rating on any product.

Set off your alarm at 5 or 6 pm at night and time it. I cant to that for you. I can tell you, if you do that with a professional company like Vector Security you will not have to wait more then a minute or two. More like a minute but stuff happens.
My experience in security systems far outweighs your former law enforcement activities when it comes to security systems.

Its only in your mind that I have deflected on any questions, ask me a question straight up and I will answer it. Remember these responses were only due to me trying to correct the pricing you quoted for monitored alarms at $10 when after Amazon Rings price increase went up 100% to $20. I think my responses to you are used up and not helping the OP anymore.
But if he reads through this thread there is a lot of good info from everyone.

I did mention previously that in every case of a a device triggering, Ring called in under 30 seconds. I also mentioned that it's easy enough to test...which is likely more important for smoke/fire than for a security related device.
I did ask you straight up what the difference was between what you stated were "premium" alarm monitoring and "discount" monitoring...your reply was "Not at all, do your own research on the monitoring centers and their ratings." So, what is the difference if both respond satisfactorily?
Also, before you jump onto that high horse of your experience, I conveyed that my prior law enforcement experience was with regard to risk/threat level in a given geographic location, not in the installation of alarm systems. That's why I bought the Ring system.
Look, most folks here aren't looking for a system to protect the Crown of Scotland, they're looking for a level of protection for their homes in suburbia. There are hundreds of options that are worthy and easily DIY. The days of preying on people's fears and companies like ADT as the only "safe" solution are long over. Ring, SimpliSafe and dozens of other options are available and affordable.
Sorry if you misunderstood what I stated as an affront to your career choice, that was never the intention.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Better than Ring ?

 

[Hermann]

Ahh, Terri Garr melts my heart. Right up there with Dawn Wells.

 

[alarmguy]

There are hundreds of options that are worthy and easily DIY. The days of preying on people's fears and companies like ADT as the only "safe" solution are long over. Ring, SimpliSafe and dozens of other options are available and affordable.

I agree, though not hundreds. You not only attacked ADT, you attacked Simplisafe and every company in the industry except Amazon owned Ring at a misquoted to a new subscriber price of $10. Your jaded against paying for a premium service with premium servicing and premium equipment that are not DIY and at your first post in this thread almost all were no good except Amazon Ring based on price.
Not everyone drives basic automobiles, not everyone lives in basic homes, not everyone eats in basic restaurants. Its all good, my only reason in replying was simply posting an accurate price for Ring. We are a free people to spend what we wish to spend on services we think worth it to us.

Appreciate the thought "Sorry if you misunderstood what I stated as an affront to your career choice, that was never the intention" but I wasnt at all offended in my 10 year career choice anymore than any person would be providing a premium service and that wasnt with ADT.

BTW - I too live in an extremely safe area and I mean stupid safe, this stuff for me is fun because I like electronics and security really can be done right at minimal cost for those like yourself who wish to do it but heck we live in a time now that people don't change their own oil or cut their own lawn.
These are all luxuries and we choose for ourselves which is most important luxury we would like to spend money on. Im most likely one of the very few in my community that changes his own oil, services his own boat, his own motorcycle, does his own landscaping and cuts his own lawn! Blows me away *LOL* I enjoy these things. OMG, I dont ever see people washing their own cars anymore!
For someone else, paying $40 to $70 a month for a security system with service agreement is nothing compared to those other costs. Heck my neighbors pay at least $40 a week to have their lawns cut and oh my god, then even the ones that may cut their own, have chemical guys come to their homes once a month (or more) to spray chemicals at $40 a month. My own son of all people pays an exterminator a yearly contact to spray for ants! *LOL*
Hey just having fun here... dont take stuff to serious... peace ... one thing for sure, everyone should have a doorbell camera, it is a deterrent and in every super safe community its still good to have a deterrent to keep the place safe, just as it is to have an effective police force and I have the highest regard for the tough job police have.

 

[ad244]

Lorex Doorbell has been great. No monthly fees.

 

[Cropduster172]

Ring did increase it's monitoring fees but mine are locked at $10/month until January 2025. I'm ok with that because there's likely going to be a host of other options by then.

 

[walterjay]

Well thank you for all the replies. I have found this very interesting. So I have excellent wifi coverage everywhere and have a gaming router that can easily handle multiple applications...and did when other people were living here who have since moved out. I believe that my setup of Ring is on spot and just have a defective product. I am going to return the product and get another one. I do not live in a high crime area and am relatively safe. Biggest problem is donkeys and peacocks occasionally showing up on the property. If I still have problems I am going to get the Honeywell product. They have a new model that looks good. Thanks alarmguy for your insight it was helpful. Just for fun I may get one of those cameras you recommend. And the Russian bear dog post was just great.

 

[Schandyman]

I have the Wyze bell works good. I had ring on my old house never had an issue with it. Like mentioned you need a good strong WiFi connection and I’d recommend hardwired