They were responsive and reliable, even in slightly odd conditions. Ring's devices did exactly what they were supposed to do in my testing. Hobie Crase/CNET Ringing the alarm, pro-styleīefore I talk about Ring's unique features, the first big question to answer is, "Is it a decent home security system?" The answer is a solid yes. Ring suggests keeping the keypad wired, though its battery should last for months. Ditto for that Wi-Fi range extender and the microSD card, which don't make sense for other systems because those systems don't offer the same features. Likewise, you probably wouldn't spend $130 on a backup power pack for other home security systems, and you wouldn't for the Ring Alarm Pro if it didn't enable backup Wi-Fi. Remember, Ring's $250 base station is also a router, meaning you'll get a lot of extra functionality that you won't get with SimpliSafe's $115 base station. That brought me to a total bill of about $600.Ī similarly scaled build from SimpliSafe might cost $400, but it's important to understand the broader value Ring offers compared to its competitors. To give an example of one possible setup: I got the $300 Ring Alarm Pro package, along with a $100 Ring Stick Up Cam, a $130 Alarm Pro backup power pack, an $89 Eero 6 Wi-Fi range extender (on sale for $62 when I got it) and a $15 microSD card (though you can get one for free by redeeming a code after purchasing the system) for local storage. You can also buy a bigger package for $380 (it adds four more door/window sensors, an extra motion detector and another keypad), or you can buy the individual sensors a la carte, expanding the system beyond these basics to include a wide range of Ring cameras, video doorbells, backup power packs, Eero Wi-Fi range extenders and so on. You can opt for just the base station for $250 - but then you won't get all the security sensors that make the system work. If you buy the Ring Alarm Pro system, you'll probably pay $300 to get a router/base device, four door/window sensors, a motion detector, a Z-Wave range extender and a keypad. In short, the Ring Alarm Pro isn't just a game-changing device for Amazon it's a ground-shaking product for the entire DIY home security market. Ring even offers admirable data security and privacy options if, like me, you're worried about the company's spotty track record when working with police and subsequently degrading community privacy. It costs $249.99 and, if you live in the US, you can apply for an invitation to buy it right now.Ring Alarm Pro is an affordable system with impressive smarts, lots of flexibility and a rock-solid base that will make most happy. Keeping things weird and the flying Ring Alway Home Cam (pictured above) also got some air time (see what I did there?) at the launch event. Unless you're into that, and that's fine. Ring also announced some new features for existing users including a new security guard option whereby you can pay someone $99 a month to keep an eye on your home security cameras. There must be more to it than that though as it will cost $400. It looks like the Ring Alarm system, but orange, and protected in a padded carry case. There will be plans with 3GB of cellular data included per month.Ĭellular plays a big part in another big Ring launch: Ring Jobsite Security.įor this, Ring has teamed up with The Home Depot "to bring Ring Alarm Pro and other Ring smart home security devices to the jobsite for the first time." Speaking of the Ring Protect subscription and you can stay online with cellular now too. Ring stats that 64GB gets you 47 hours of Ring video clips. You'll need both a Pro system and a Ring Protect subscription to do this. Using Ring Edge, you can insert a microSD card - you get a 64GB one as part of the Pro setup - into your Ring Alarm Pro and keep things away from the cloud. Secondly, you can now keep things local with a Ring smart security system. (You can, of course add extra Eero nodes to this router to form a bigger, stronger home Wi-Fi mesh network, too.) Amazon-owned security specialist Ring has taken the covers off of its latest (and greatest) security system: The Ring Alarm Pro was announced as part of Amazon's big hardware launch event.Īvailable to pre-order now and costing $249.99, the Ring Alarm Pro system looks a helluva lot like the 2nd-gen Ring Alarm setup, but there are a few notable additions to the mix.įirstly, the hub has an Eero Wi-Fi 6 router built in, to give you a more reliable connection to not only your Ring security devices, but smart home tech that you can use as part of Alexa Routines you setup to work with your smart security system.
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