Although the protection of your home is essential, there are very effective, affordable and easy-to-use solutions to protect yourself. Ring offers its second generation of connected alarm for this purpose, to install yourself in a few minutes. We tested it for a month and here’s what we think.
Whether you live in a house or an apartment, the security of your home is paramount. In France, a burglary takes place every 90 seconds, of which about a third occurs even when the occupants are present.
These statistics are a godsend for security companies, which often charge exorbitant prices for the installation of an alarm system, which must often be associated with a subscription, which is also frequently expensive.
In order to avoid any disappointment, many trust professionals and do not necessarily seek savings, favoring tranquility. However, there are various do-it-yourself alarm systems, which have the advantage of costing only a fraction of the price, but above all of offering the freedom to choose the equipment you want to install.
Of course, installing such a system can be scary. This is why it is recommended to move towards an easy to install, scalable and connected solution. The second generation of Ring Alarm seems to meet all these criteria on paper. We tested it by installing it ourselves and using it for several weeks, in order to give us a detailed opinion on the product.
Introducing Ring Alarm 2nd Gen
The main advantage offered by Ring is the customization of the system, whether in terms of application settings, but also the hardware itself. The basic kit includes five elements, namely a base, a keypad, a motion detector, a contact sensor, and a range extender, but it is possible to add other components that can be purchased separately. You can enhance your security system with additional Ring sensors or keypads, an outdoor siren, but also compatible third-party sensors or products, such as connected locks operating on the Z-Wave protocol.
For our test, we made the choice to add two more detectors and the Ring outdoor siren. It is therefore possible to choose exactly the installation that suits you by adding opening sensors or motion detectors to ensure that your house or apartment is fully covered. Additionally, Ring components are backwards compatible, so first-generation sensors and keypads can be added to a second-generation system.
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
The other advantage of Ring is that all of the components work wirelessly. It is thus very simple to place the sensors, since they do not require drilling or wires. They are powered by batteries and the keyboard can be recharged via a micro-USB socket. Only the base will have to be plugged into the mains, although it has a backup battery in the event of a power cut.
It will also be necessary to choose its location wisely, since it also serves as an indoor siren and it is therefore necessary to avoid placing it in a closet. Fortunately, it connects to your router via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, which allows it to be placed above a piece of furniture. In addition, each numeric keypad also has a loudspeaker which acts as a siren, even if their volume is more limited than that of the base.
Getting started
Once the kit is unpacked, installing it is a snap and only takes a few minutes. The Ring app offers a step-by-step guide, explaining each step of the process through images and videos. All the elements of the kit are also pre-paired at the base, so that you just have to remove the tab from the batteries to connect them automatically. You will simply have to follow the instructions on your phone to install each part of the kit, namely the base, necessary for the operation of the system, then the numeric keypad and the sensors.
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
During the start-up process, you will be asked to create a PIN code, which will be personal to you and will identify you when entered on the keyboard. It is of course possible to share the system with other users, who will each have their own personal code.
Each sensor is delivered with double-sided adhesive, which eliminates the need to drill to install them. It is also possible to screw them or even magnetize them, depending on the surface on which you want to place them. In the same way, the opening sensors are designed in such a way that it is possible to hang them without the two parts necessarily being opposite each other.
For my front door, I preferred to put the magnet perpendicular to the part on the frame, without encountering the slightest false contact. It should be noted, however, that the contact sensors are relatively visible, in particular because they house the batteries and the Z-Wave radios to communicate with the base. Similarly, it is impossible to use a Ring system with pre-installed sensors in the openings.
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
Source: Hagop Kavafian for Frandroid
Once the detector is placed, the app allows you to configure it in a few simple steps. For example, a front door sensor will trigger a customizable countdown, while a motion sensor in the living room will sound the alarm instantly. The sensitivity of each sensor is also configurable, which avoids being triggered inadvertently. During our four weeks of testing, my quadruped of about 25 kg sounded the alarm only once, by standing up with its paws on the front door – it will serve as a lesson to it.
So ! It only took a few minutes to install the Ring system, now let’s see how it behaves on a daily basis.
Application and use
The use of the Ring Alarm is very simple, so that once installed, it can be used without having to worry about much. Thus, the system is armed via the keypad, the application, or even thanks to Alexa. There are two modes, Home or Away. The first allows you to deactivate certain sensors when you are at home, such as motion detectors, preventing the siren from sounding inadvertently. Away mode activates all sensors, ensuring that an intruder is detected.
The Ring app also offers geolocation functionality, allowing you to automatically receive a notification when you arrive or leave your home, reminding you to arm or disarm the system. Unfortunately, it did not work during our test and we must therefore remember to do it manually.
Once the system is armed, the Ring Alarm has proven to be reliable, since it does not trigger inadvertently, but proves to be formidable in the event of an intrusion or an attempt to manipulate your system. During a power outage, the base automatically switches its power supply to the built-in battery and sends a notification warning you. In the same way, in the event of manipulations with the sensors or the siren, the application immediately sends a notification letting you know that a malicious person has potentially tried to break into your home.
Mermaids
In the event of an intrusion, the exterior, base and keypad sirens are triggered immediately. The first sounds at 104 decibels, which is roughly equivalent to a car horn. Although it is well audible indoors, it is also not deafening and can sound weak. The outdoor siren can produce a hundred decibels, intended this time to be heard by neighbors and passers-by, as well as a visual alert thanks to the integrated LEDs.
In addition, the Ring system tracks all actions taken and movements, even when the system is not armed. It is very easy to know who armed the alarm, when, and from which device. In the same way, any movement or opening on a sensor is recorded, whether the system is armed or not. In case of danger, it is also possible to trigger the sirens manually, either via the app or directly via the dedicated buttons on the keypad.
The only big complaint we could have with the Ring Alarm is its integration with third-party systems. Although it is possible to easily connect different compatible Z-Wave devices and control it via Alexa speakers, no integration with other systems is offered. Forget Google Assistant or even IFTTT, since the Ring applet only works with the connected doorbell and not the cameras and the alarm. It is therefore not possible to connect the Ring Alarm to other services, unless you remain within the Amazon ecosystem.
However, Ring offers a web administration interface, rare on this type of product, which allows you to control the status of the security system and to arm it.
Ring Protect Plus Subscription
For added security, Ring offers an optional Protect Plus subscription, which costs $10 per month or $100 per year. On the other hand, unlike subscriptions offered by security companies, Ring’s subscription does not include professional surveillance or dispatch from law enforcement.
However, it allows you to benefit from emergency cellular connectivity in the event of a Wi-Fi connection failure, as well as automatic sending of an SMS alert in the event of an incident. Finally, the Ring Protect Plus subscription also offers an extension of the warranty for your Ring devices, even beyond their legal coverage period. This extension will be valid as long as the Ring Protect Plus subscription is active.
Price and availability
The basic Ring Alarm kit, including five elements, namely the base, the keypad, a contact sensor, a motion detector and a range extender, is available for 250 euros. The seven-piece kit, including an additional contact sensor and motion detector, is sold for 280 euros.
The installation tested in our test, namely the 8-piece kit including the outdoor siren, is sold for 340 euros. Other configurations are also available, depending on the number of sensors you need.
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