everything I like and don’t like about the Amazon system

Europe is one of the countries in Europe where alarm systems are most installed. During the last years The number of homes choosing to install cameras, sensors or sound alarms has increased, partly for security and partly for occupancy-related information, which is very common these days.

Even telephone operators have collaborated with companies in the sector to offer their customers proposals integrated into the monthly bill. But stay, The most normal thing is to call on companies expressly dedicated to this.but with a monthly subscription that not everyone can afford.

For that It is becoming more and more common to use security cameras controlled by the inhabitants of the house themselves., whether or not they integrate an alarm and sensor system. One of the best known is Ring, a company acquired by Amazon in 2018 and which is currently fully integrated into its home ecosystem, including Amazon Echo and Alexa.

Why ring?

A little over two years ago, I bought a house of a certain size and decided to install an alarm system in it, because I sometimes spent several days away from it. After reviewing several, I decided on the Ring because of its reliability, according to reviews and reviews, in addition to the monthly plan is not obligatorywhich we will talk about later.

Ring is a subsidiary of Amazon, but operates as an independent company and on its website you can see the products it has. The alarm system is similar in all cases, with a control keypad that allows you to arm and disarm the system, and it works on battery. This allows it to be transported from one part of the house to another without any problem. In addition, its built-in battery lasts more than six months, with daily use.

The system has a configurable activation delay so that you have time to leave the house without problems, and also a programming system that allows you to arm the house during the night and disarm it early in the morning, just before leaving for work. This system can alternate between Three alarm modes: Home, Away or Off

. The best thing is that these modes are also configurable. And if you have a large house, like I do, it’s a good idea to buy a range extender, so that the signal reaches all the devices.

The control keypad itself is not the alarm, this device being a slightly larger box, which will normally be placed in the center of the house. HAS a blue light ring that turns red when the alarm is active, so as not to open a window or door by mistake. If you do, the siren will sound at full volume and we will have to deactivate the alarm. And in the event of a power outage, the alarm not only has a small battery, but also a mobile data system to temporarily maintain connection.

Sensor system

The alarm controls the various devices connected to the network. In my case, In addition to cameras, there are motion sensors and aperture sensors. The former are designed to be installed in rooms without cameras and the latter on doors and windows.

The pack I purchased came with a motion sensor, which I placed in the bedroom, where I don’t want to have cameras. It can be placed on a surface or stuck anywhere thanks to an adhesive on the back. If the alarm is activated and movement is detected in addition to the siren sounding, it will notify the mobile phone with a notification.

The sales box also came with several access sensors, although I subsequently purchased more. In this case I placed it on the doors of the house, configuring only one as the main access. This means that if you enter through this door, instead of triggering the alarm, you have a 10 second window to deactivate it. However, the notification arrives instantly on your mobile, so if someone enters you can always know about it. If you wish, you can emit a slight beep on the alarm every time you open one of the doors or windows equipped with one of these sensors. It’s something that lets you know a door has been opened, and it doesn’t bother you at all on a daily basis. In two years, I have never wanted to deactivate it.

camera system

The other type of devices that can be integrated are cameras. Ring offers several models, purchased separately and available with cable or batteries. In my case, I opted for two Ring Spotlight Cam Plus Battery units without cable for outdoors and two more with cable for indoor rooms.

Outdoor cameras have a light that illuminates the area at night when they detect motion, although they also have night vision. The application allows you to control cameras, as well as establish blind zones,

in case you are focusing on a neighbor’s house or the street but don’t want to get in trouble because of that. Through the app you can listen to the audio captured by the cameras and speak through them.

The indoor models are the most basic, with a cable that does not require recharging the battery, as is the case with the outdoor models, although they have a battery that lasts 6 months and the ability to use two at the same time. But in the case of indoors, the requirements are much less and I opted for the second generation Ring indoor camera.

There are other models, with much higher lighting power, others that have no light and are cheaper and even others with solar panels so you don’t have to charge the battery. All cameras can be viewed not only from your mobile phone, but also from a web page, from any computer, as well as on Amazon speakers with a screen.

Alexa, the key

One of the benefits of these cameras is that they integrate with Alexa, and It is possible to see the video signal directly from Amazon Echo Show which have a screen. This way, you can do without your cell phone to be able to see the cameras, if you are at home.

Another benefit of Amazon Assistant integration is be able to arm and disarm the alarm by voice, which avoids having to search for the telephone or the control keypad. Of course, to turn it off you have to say the unlock number out loud, so it might not be a good idea if we live near our neighbors. It is even possible to open the door if you buy a Ring Intercom, although in my case I don’t have it.

Advanced application

But the main control of the alarm is done from the mobile application. It is available for Android and iOS, and allows you to activate or deactivate the alarm, view the different cameras and even configure the Modes. This is what allows the system to behave differently when we are at home, away from home or when it is turned off.

Each of these three modes allows you to control elements in detail. For example, in my case, I turned everything off in Off mode, everything on in Away from Home mode, and only the perimeter items in Home mode. Thus, it is possible to move around the house without the alarm going off, but it is not possible to open the doors and windows.

Subscription system

Although one of the reasons I opted for this system was that it did not require a monthly subscription, it is true that some features require a fee. can be paid 3.99 dollars per month for each camera in the house or 9.99 dollars per month to cover all those that exist. His planes Protect Basic and Protect Plus.

The biggest advantage of these plans is that they not only allow you to view the video in real time but alsoaccess records from the past, which is not possible in free mode. However, in my case, I usually don’t rent it except when I go on vacation because What I like most about the system is being able to see cameras from another city and having peace of mind. because I know nothing is happening at home.

I buy it?

All alarm systems have their positives and negatives, but the main choice is whether you want one permanently connected to a human-operated switchboard and paying the monthly fee, or have one managed ourselves, with the option of paying a very reduced monthly fee if necessary.

If this last case is the one that attracts our attention, the Ring system is a good option. Additionally, being from Amazon, They usually have great deals on Prime Day and Black Friday.times when it is even possible to find many products at 50% of their official price, which, on the other hand, is not particularly high compared to other alternatives.

In addition, being a modular system, You can purchase the alarm with certain sensors and later add other units of the preferred type, add cameras, buy an Echo Show to view them, etc. This versatility, as well as the possibility of paying the monthly payment only at specific times of the year, is an element to consider if it corresponds to our lifestyle.

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