From start to finish, the process shouldn't take more than 30 minutes, but most vendors provide professional support for those who aren't sure about how to install their devices. They may come at a small extra cost, but it's sometimes advisable to make sure that every step has been carried out properly. Using the Ring Video Doorbell with Popular Smart Technology Resilience – There's rarely any need to worry about extreme temperatures or conditions damaging the abilities of a Ring Video Doorbell. Each unit is assessed to function between -20 and 50 degrees centigrade without any adverse effects.

There are currently two models of Ring Chime on the market; a base and pro model. The key difference between the two is in the Chime Pro’s ability to act as a WiFi extender for Ring devices. Flexible power options – If you need to place doorbells discreetly, or in hard to reach positions, that's no problem. The Ring Video Doorbell allows users to operate them via batteries or power cables, allowing users to create their own setup.If you’re a confident DIYer, and you have a normal doorbell powered by a mains transformer, you may even be able to simply connect up your new doorbell using the existing wiring. Video recording – The original Ring Video Doorbell is able to capture video footage in 720p HD – more than detailed enough to detect facial features and any other smaller details that grainy, imprecise older video access systems failed to deliver. Ultimately the answer will come down to user preference and what’s already in place in your house. For us, a wired doorbell is the best choice because you don’t have to worry about recharging batteries and you can connect the doorbell to a regular wired chime, giving you the best of both worlds.

You can use the Doorbell Plus as a battery powered doorbell or mains powered and connect it to an existing mechanical/electrical chime if you want, and the only real caveat is that it doesn’t come with some of Ring’s more advanced features: video pre-roll, for instance, or 3D Motion detection. You have to opt for the Ring Doorbell 4 for the former, or the Ring Doorbell Pro 2 if you want both. The Doorbell Plus also only works over a single-band Wi-Fi connection but that shouldn’t affect its performance unduly. Video doorbells have a long history. As long ago as the 1960s, businesses in the USA were employing cameras to screen visitors, and rudimentary video access systems have been available for homes worldwide since the late 1980s. However, the footage provided by these devices was rarely clear, and users had very few options regarding customisation. So take-up wasn't very high.

In this case, you may want to consider a battery-powered Ring doorbell instead, which can be easily fitted with a few screws. And don’t worry too much about recharging as it doesn’t need to be done too often. Ring quotes battery life at anywhere between six months and a year, depending on use. What is a Ring Chime and do I need one? READ NEXT: These are the best video doorbells to buy today Ring Video Doorbell 4 review: Could it be better? The app is similarly intuitive and lets you easily tweak variables such as sensitivity, shape detection and notification times. Whenever someone presses the doorbell, your phone will ping and you will be able to interact with the caller remotely, which worked perfectly in our tests. The cheaper models only support single-band 2.4GHz Wi-Fi and may struggle for a reliable connection in areas of particularly high Wi-Fi congestion. More expensive models support dual-band connectivity. It can be connected to your mains doorbell wiring if you can’t be bothered to charge it, although a monstrous claimed battery life of up to six months means that shouldn’t be too much of a bind anyway.

Is Ring Video Doorbell waterproof? – As we noted earlier, Ring has engineered the Ring Doorbell to be rugged and resilient, and this includes ensuring that it can withstand heavy rain, freezing temperatures, and scorching heat. Obviously, we don't recommend dunking the unit in a bath, but it should deal with any UK weather conditions admirably. However, if you're worried about water getting into the Ring's casing, it may be a good idea to place a hood over the unit. A simple plastic shield can divert any moisture away from the casing, ensuring that it works perfectly for years.Secondly, the ability to speak with visitors helps when updating them about your location. So, if you are on your way home, you can let them know, or provide instructions about where to leave parcels. And if it's a stranger who seems suspicious, speaking to them suggests that you are at home, making forced entry much less likely. It comes at an additional cost compared to the standard Ring doorbell, but that extra money gets you a camera capable of capturing 1536p footage with a wide 150-degree field of view, as well as HDR processing and colour night view. You will also get brilliant motion detection. The Pro 2 is not only able to detect movement within the field of view of the camera but it also allows you to set how close objects need to be before they set off an alert – especially useful for houses that have short front garden paths. Its headline feature, however, is its new Advanced Pre-Roll functionality. This allows the camera to capture full-resolution video footage from six seconds prior to motion being detected. Above all, video doorbell systems provide homes with the ability to see not just who is at the door, but what they are holding, and what is behind or around them. So you can detect if someone is hiding an item or if additional individuals are hiding away from the doorway.

With a hefty asking price, the Elite doesn’t come cheap, but it benefits from a sleek design and superior internet stability thanks to the way the device is installed. Instead of Wi-Fi connectivity for video and data (although it does support this, too), the Elite is designed to hook up to your home or business network via Ethernet cable; it can even be powered via Ethernet using PoE (Power over Ethernet), although you need a PoE switch of your own to supply power. All Ring doorbells have the same 1080p HD video quality, core features and the Ring app, so how much you spend depends on power and how you want the doorbell to look. See and hear visitors – The doorbell comes with a reliable two-way microphone system. This allows users to chat to anyone outside their door and hear their responses. You can also listen in to those outside, which could help to understand their motives, and whether to provide access. This can be linked to mobile devices as well – a handy tool for allowing builders or cleaners into properties should you be absent. On the other hand, if your existing doorbell is battery powered or there are no existing wires, you’ll need to have a professional electrician fit the doorbell, which will add to the cost. In our view, the improved camera makes the Ring Doorbell Plus the best Ring doorbell for most peope, notwithstanding the missing advanced features. It’s our new favourite Ring doorbell.

First, users need to set up their Ring App and Ring Account. After that, they have to fix the mounting on a surface near their door, at about chest level. Video access systems also come into their own when users are away from home, but important visitors arrive. How many social calls have you missed from people you know, just because you were at the shops or working? You'd never really know, unless you could refer to video evidence or mobile phone updates when people arrive. The Video Doorbell 4 supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi networks and Ring recommends upload speeds of at least 2Mbits/sec to ensure an uninterrupted video steam.