Ring doorbell and security lights

#1

Hi everyone

I’m thinking of getting a ring doorbell and ring security camera. I’ve seen a few posts and wanted some feedback before I took the plunge.

How reliable is it when setting it up in pistons. The most I would want (I think) is: when motion turn on x. I’ve seen a few posts which people say there are issues?

Also in terms of motion; I will get the ring pro and security camera which allows you to define the area which will wake it up. I take it that when you use motion as an action point it will only be for within this defined area?

Thank you

Dave

#2

Hi Dave,
I use two Ring Door Bells.
Pistons work good, no problem on that area BUT sometimes, Ring registers the motion with delay.
90% of the time ring sees the motion as it happens, instantly.
5% of the time the person is already at the door and 3-4 seconds later Ring sees the motion (I see someone at the door through cameras but Ring has no idea yet)
3% of the time unless someone rings the bell, it wont register.
2% of the time a leaf coming down from a tree, or a strong wind shaking the plants will trigger it:))))

After noticing the 10% I added a motion sensor close by.
My piston checks the Ring and the motion sensor on top of that (Motion sensor became Rings sidekick:))))

  • My Ring is not PRO because I didn’t have wiring at the door. So battery might be causing the 10%
#3

Ah that’s very interesting, thank you.

Is the motion sensor outside or at a window?

I don’t have wiring either but thinking of installing (or using something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07H3JDKX4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_918jCb94GDDSR ) As I like the idea of defining the the area unlike the other models.

#4

Oh I love this…
Had I known this was around, I would have gone for it.
The motion sensor is outside but under the roof so no rain can come close and where I live temp is almost always same (70 to 80) (Hawaii) so, it’s been about a year and still functions perfectly.

#5

Ha. Always the way!

Out of curiosity, what do you have the ring set up to do with pistons? Just wondering what else I could use it for…

#6
  • First of motion, when there is motion at the door, the entrance lights turn ON for 2-3 minutes (if it’s after sunset until sunrise)
  • If my presense sensor is not present, I get a SMS message stating that someone is at the door. (though ring app also warns you anyway - if notifications are ON)
  • When someone at the door, presense sensor is PRESENT but main door is not opening more than a minute (open close sensor) that means I am away from my phone and/or I am in the backyard and not hearing the door. Sonos speakers make an annoucement through out the house "Someone is waiting outside.
    And actually today I will start working on, when motion, echo show automatically shows the camera feed (I am not even sure it’s possible yet) but worth trying :)))
#7

Any chance I can have a screen shot of the sonos one. That sounds cracking.

I was also going to have it that my echo dots play a ding dong when bell pressed (so it doesn’t interrupt the tv sonos / other speakers) but your one would be a good backup.

If I got the sonos to act as a chime I assume they wouldn’t resume back to what they were previously doing?

#8

I installed the Ring 2 and used this (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DJ7RHS5/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1) to power it. Works great and shows battery full all the time. I then changed the device type to ‘ring pro’ in the ST IDE and it improves the functionality considerably in the ST app. I created a simple piston to ring my alarm/chime whenever the doorbell is pressed so I can hear it throughout the house.

#9

Sure thing…

Sonos and Resume are not the best of friends in my experience…
Sometime, sonos resumes the music it was playing, sometimes not…
I tried to read some forums about it but got a headache because everybody was saying something different and finally stopped worring about it… Now if it doesn’t resume, I’ll just start playing something instead:))))

here is the piston I use (orriginally written by @WCmore for my front door locks… but I changed it a bit and started using also for this)

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#10

Thank you. I’ve never used variables, can I see at the beginning how you set them?

#11

There is no beginning, this is the full piston:))) these are global variables…
When you are editing a piston, on the right side you will see bunch of stuff,
Under GLOBAL VARIABLES, there is “Add a new global variable” option…
Click on that and add your variable…

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#12

Ok. Can I see that global variable? Sorry I have no idea how to use them. :grinning:

#13

Hey i have ring doorbell 2 its very good device. Few days ago i was also need this and my friend suggest me ring doorbell 2.