The Video Doorbell II is similar in its feature set.
> On 7 Apr 2019, at 2:06 am, Gordon Smith <gor...@mac-access.net> wrote: > > I have to admit that, were I able to do so, I would be. Tempted to buy the > Ring Doorbell Pro. It has a lot of things going for it according to what I’ve > been reading today. > > > > On 6 Apr 2019, at 14:04, Dane Trethowan <grtd...@internode.on.net > <mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net>> wrote: > > Horses for courses mate. > I didn’t have an intercom system before so the expense wasn’t a problem in > that regard though the Ring system as I’m finding does have some serious > limitations that the Raspberry Pi III doorbell doesn’t. > The obvious limitations concern the Ring system itself which is closed. > This will be fine for most people who want easy setup but even then > connecting additional Ring devices can prove difficult as I discovered when I > tried to connect additional wireless door chimes. > So back to the drawing board and back to chat with the people who helped me > out with the first Raspberry Pi doorbell system I had installed here. > > >> On 6 Apr 2019, at 9:40 pm, Gordon Smith <gor...@mac-access.net >> <mailto:gor...@mac-access.net>> wrote: >> >> Seems like an awful lot of expense to go too, just for a doorbell device. I >> don’t doubt that there are advantages. But to be honest, I personally still >> find that the intercom system I’ve been using since 2016 is perfectly >> adequate. It’s loud enough, and the buzzer tone of the bell can be heard >> easily all over my house. The intercom works solidly from everywhere, >> including my back garden. >> >> I could have installed a camera as well but, to be honest, I didn’t see much >> point in going to all that expense. My intercom was professionally >> installed, and the guy who did the work certainly didn’t skimp on what he >> did. All of the wiring between the power supply and the bell itself is >> absolutely invisible. When he drilled through the wall to bring the cable >> from the external part of the bell, (the push-button), he made sure that the >> hole is sealed so no draft comes through the wall. You can’t even see that >> the work has been done. All cables are discretely tacked to the wall. But >> I’m getting off the point. >> >> I am sure that there are more advanced systems available now and yes, I may >> consider adding one to my side door, as that’s the one I routinely use >> anyway. So we’ll have to see. >> >> >> On 27 Mar 2019, at 11:00, Dane Trethowan <grtd...@internode.on.net >> <mailto:grtd...@internode.on.net>> wrote: >> >> Hi Everyone, >> I’ve had the Ring Video Doorbell 2 for a week now so thought I’d write down >> my impressions of the product. >> Before that I had a Doorbell which I built around a Raspberry Pi machine >> however the machine packed up so I had to get something quickly. >> I looked for Raspberry Pi Doorbell projects to build and boy has the >> landscape changed since I built mine back in 2013, if you go to Youtube and >> look for Raspberry Pi Doorbell you’ll soon see what I mean so plenty for me >> to choose from and to think about. >> The Raspberry Pi I was using was of a considerable age and there have been >> several generations of Raspberry Pi since, I think we’re now up to the Third >> Generation? Anyway the newer Pi machines are far more powerful than the one >> I was using and offer far more flexible connectivity options but one thing >> at a time and back to the Ring Doorbell Video 2 >> The idea of the Ring Doorbell is to have the unit installed at a location >> while you use your Smart Phone to interact with the doorbell. My Ring >> Doorbell is installed at the front door. >> If you have the old trusty electro mechanical type doorbell already >> installed then you can choose to have it work in parallel with the Ring >> Doorbell. >> In my case I needed a sparky to come and give me a hand with my installation >> but if its just a case of sticking the Ring Doorbell on a wall then you >> should be able to perform the whole installation job yourself. >> Depending on the type of\The Ring Doorbell has several power options and the >> one you choose will depend on your installation requirements. I already have >> a mains supply installed for my doorbell requirements so the ring Doorbell >> can take advantage of that. >> If you’re just going to stick the doorbell on a wall then you can use the >> supplied rechargeable battery which clips into the bottom of the Doorbell >> unit. >> Connecting the Ring Doorbell to your network may take a little time and can >> be a little tricky so be sure to follow the prompts in the Ring App and be >> sure to create your account at http://www.ring.com <http://www.ring.com/> >> which I suggest you do before you stat the setup process. >> Its during the setup process that I started encountering disappointments >> with the Ring product. >> Firstly the Ring Doorbell Video 2 will only connect to 2.4GHZ networks and >> the unit doesn’t have a LAN port which is odd given the Doorbell will be >> mounted most likely in most homes in a fixed position. >> The Setup procedure in the Ring App was quite easy to follow and I have >> everything connected in around 10 minutes along with having completed tests >> to ensure that the doorbell was functioning as required. >> Ring sends you a couple of optional eMails containing tips and so on which >> are worth reading. >> The settings panels in the Ring App seem perfectly accessible. >> So now to actually trying the Ring Doorbell out with my mobile phones and >> here I started to get annoyed. >> When the Ring Doorbell detects motion or the button is pushed to ring the >> Doorbell a notification is sent to your phone. >> In order to interact with the person at your door you have to interact with >> the notification on your phone so that means that you not only have to >> unlock your phone - if it is locked - but enter your Fingerprint or facial >> ID before you can even interact then with the Ring Screen. >> The Screen contains several buttons including an “Accept” button which you >> can double-tap to start viewing video form your doorbell or speak to the >> person at your front door. >> And here’s another thing to be wary of, the orientation of your phone is >> changed to landscape regardless of your orientation preference so you may >> need to change your method when you try to navigate the Ring App screen >> whilst interacting with the Doorbell. >> The interactivity can be ended by double-tapping on the “End” button in the >> Ring App. >> There is an easier way with which to interact with the Ring Doorbell by the >> use of an Echo Show or Echo Spot device and your voice. >> You Suppose the Doorbell rings you can say to Echo Show, “Alexa View Front >> Door” where upon the Doorbell will be activated and you can start >> interacting with the person at your Front door. >> The video is displayed on the Echo Show or Spot screen and you can talk to >> the person at your front door using hands free on the Echo Show or Spot >> device. >> Note that the Ring Doorbell Video 2 cannot work with an Echo or Echo dot >> device which is a shame. Okay the Dot etc aren’t capable of receiving video >> but they do receive audio and the quality of audio the Echo Dot 3rd >> Generation and Echo put out is very reasonable. >> As for the audio quality of the Ring Doorbell itself? Well I can describe it >> best as very average but certainly not too bad. I would have liked to see a >> control for volume of audio on the Doorbell itself. In most situations this >> should be loud enough for the person at the front door to hear but certainly >> not in reasonably noisy environments, say near a road with a lot of traffic >> running up and down. >> Extra chime and camera units can be installed and I intend to experiment >> with a couple of extra chimes around the house. >> >> > >
