Ring

We purchased the doorbell and loved it so much, we added the entire security system and stopped using Arlo. 5 days ago, our unit just died. The keypad was locked into Arm mode and we had to unplug everything. Several tries to reboot accomplished nothing. This morning, hubby tried to 'chat' and after 38 minutes it was supposed to be resolved and we were getting a replacement unit ordered. Then, we get this bizarre email telling us we abruptly ended the chat. I am beyond livid as he kept telling them he could not stay online. He just got out of ICU but was so concerned about no alarm system right now that he sat up way longer than he is allowed right now at the PC AND then he started having pain. We asked multiple times to have it escalated to a manager or supervisor without success. SURELY someone in the company, particularly as you are connected to AMAZON who has outstanding customer service, must actually care about the horrid level of service. I have the chat staff name but will not post it here. I also have a copy of the entire chat. Until they get their act together, I highly recommend finding another service or at a minimum purchase from Costco or Amazon who actually provide customer service.

Ive been dealing with Ring since April of this year. For several months, April to July I was trying to get the original Ring Doorbells to work. They would work. Few weeks, they would stop working, or constantly send black video to the cloud. The stick up cam is not any better. In July I was sent one of the Brand new wired spotlight cams. I thought this was a great device, but well get to that in a minute. When I was having problems with the original Doorbells I was sent a Chime Pro (actually 2). I had to use these between my Router (even though my router is closer) to get a connection, because if your Router is too new or mesh (Google WiFi) the first generation ring Doorbells or stick up cam always have a problem staying connected or recording video that isnt black. After several months of inconsistencies Ring agreed to trade my 3 originals Doorbells for 2 Ring Doorbell 2s and another Spotlight Cam. The spotlight cams stay connected to my Google WiFi Router and bridges as they should. However, after about 3 days of use my new doorbell 2s kept losing connection and uploading black video again. So back to the Chime Pro. Which didnt work either, even though the Chime Pro was about 10 feet from the doorbells I kept getting weak signal warnings. So I pulled out my 7 year old linksys 2.4Ghz Router and set it up as an access point, with its own SSID for my Doorbells. This worked for about 3 weeks until sometime in the middle of the night a firmware update was loaded on the router. Who would have thought a 7 year old router would still be getting updates. Anyway after the uptate my Doorbells were totally useless again. So I removed the router, and put one Chime Pro in my garage, and the other in my foyer so they would be within a few feet from the Doorbells. So far this Setup is working but Im not hopeful it will continue to work. Back to the spotlight cams. At first I thought these were a great product. During the day if a gnat flys by the motion sensor it goes off. However, I noticed my motions were quiet at night. This past week, we had some Halloween decorations stolen from our front yard. There is a Spotlight Cam in the front yard. The crooks got away with some $3 styrofoam graves, and almost stole some expensive projectors. The motion lights on the cam did active but no notification was sent to my phone or chimes and no video recorded. I emailed Ring support about this. I received a reply that stated they are aware of some of their products not detecting motion at night, and they were looking into it. WTH! This is something that could have been brought to my attention during our correspondences, and there were several. I quickly moved this spotlight cam to another area of my home where it will not be as depended on, and put up a Nest Outdoor Cam in its place. So needless to say Im not a satisfied customer. Ring could have a great product, but they need to pay more attention to detail.

It took 13 e-mails for them to finally tell me that they were not going to replace their faulty ring pro.At one point I was asked if I could send them a picture of the original box! Their condescending e-mails remained consistent with phrases such as "I am so sorry for your experience with the Ring product! I understand how it is important to have a working device, and I would be frustrated as well in this situation! I do apologize for all inconveniences, but due to our policy, we can not replace the device"

To begin with, I do indeed stand by my original statement. I have several points to add, but I must admit Ring did reach out in a big way and stood up to try to resolve my issues. I will say at this time, they have succeeded.
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Immediately after posting the initial review (10-2-17) 3 separate representatives from Ring contacted me and their first step was to send out all new equipment to eliminate the possibility of faulty gear. This arrived within about 3 days. It would require removing the first light and disconnecting the electrical wiring. I had a licensed electrician perform this as I did not want to be responsible for damage of gear voiding whatever arrangement there may have been. Once completed, they contacted me by phone to review what had occurred to date. They did do much of the same useless stuff (checking modem speed, moving of the signal enhancer 'Chime Pro', resetting the floodlight, etc.) This was to no avail.
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Out of desperation, I purchased a new, faster modem/router combination figuring if this did not do it, then that was that. The new modem, at first, proved to be of NO help. It still did not work! So before my head exploded, on the advise of several tech support people from Apple and my own internet service provider, I would start from the beginning and make sure all system software was up to date, including wifi firmware, de-installing all ring apps of all devices, and making sure all security updates were current. THEN AND ONLY THEN would I reinstall ring software, attempt to re-establish connection, and FINALLY the signal showed strong enough to operate as it is commercially advertised. It now works perfectly well. Ring was involved throughout the entire re-upgrading and did their level best from their end.
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IN FINAL SUMMATION:
If anyone reading this wants this product, it does indeed do what it advertises...
Providing a number of elements on the owner's end are dutifully fulfilled FIRST:
1. Likely the speed of your home internet will not be fast enough
2. Prepare to pay for faster internet
3. Likely the modem/router provided by your ISP will NOT be able to let that new service you are now paying for exercise its full potential
4. Prepare to pay for a new modem/router in my case this was a Netgear D7000
5. Prior to hooking up the new modem, ensure system software and security are up to date, for BOTH home (to properly run the new modem) and cell phone (to run Ring App)
6. Make sure you have a newer cell phone
7. Do everything listed in the order I have or you will be chasing your tale for several days
8. THEN install the Ring App on the cell phone(s)
9. THEN attempt the connection of the Ring device as the absolute final step
10. Any breeches or omissions will likely result in the nightmare I have wrestled with for several months.
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Many of the things I have listed here may seem obvious to more tech savvy folks, but it is worthy of note that in the case of Ring products ALL things must require addressing or it simply will not perform with any consistency. Follow these steps and you likely will have a headache free experience. All totaled it was more than the $250 outlay for the floodlight, but it did do as they stated and very well.
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Thanks to Kandyce Kercy, Ashlei Osborn, and George Davis, all from Ring

Ring is great because is sells piece of mind and delivers absolutely jack $#*!. Where oh where should I start?
1. There is no 'simple installation', to do it right you need a electrical source that isn't already maxed out, so don't connect it to a breaker in your garage that already has stuff dedicated to it.
2. There is no simple broad band connection, if your speed is not enough you need to seriously upgrade your internet service
3. There is no guarantee of service. It periodically blinks out and no longer works. The system has to be completely reset with requires going up on a ladder if you are unfortunately to have one of the flood lights over your garage or above a front door to access the reset button.
4. There is no simple way to connect. The process to establish a connection is confusing and simply fails.
5. proximity is irrelevant. You could be standing under it as it is connected to a passing satellite in the sky piloted by NASA astronauts and it won't give your phone a image.
6. You get to buy a new cell phone that works with Ring... only to discover... it doesn't work with Ring.
7. Tech support is useless. All they can do is tell you to turn off data, stand next to your router and check signal speed... this is how they determine you now need high speed broadband (see #2)
8. They have you checking all around your home like looking for paranormal activity in a haunted house only to inform you that an additional item is needed called a "Chime"
9. Then repeat numbers 1 thru 7 once the chime arrives to help amplify the signal.
10. Then you are scammed into paying for the service for a year with promises of the images are backed up and so on and so forth.
11. Enjoy it as refunds don't happen, so you are stuck to make it work. It will off and one periodically, but do not count on this as a viable means of support.
--- again, great idea, but executed by typical enterprising morons that get the business down before they get the tech down.
I truly cannot conceive of a better way to scam people out of cash, make them buy more internet, a new phone, and additional perks only to deliver nothing.
PLEASE AVOID AT ALL COSTS.

Cameras (2), too many times, take a long time to go live and disconnect from the Ring on-line server too often - rendering them not very useful in situations that require really fast 'live' activation. My ISP is super fast and reliable, the signal strengths of the two Ring units are strong. All technical specifications are met.

Ring's customer service has improved a bit over that of a year or so ago,

3 months in with the doorbell pro, the floodlamp camera and the chime pro. The system DOES NOT work as shown on TV by its inventor. The system's processing, done at Ring, takes the data from the doorbell or floodlight camera, processes it and returns it to you for viewing on a smart phone, etc. It is supposed to allow you to immediately respond to the doorbell or an intruder picked up by the camera and also immediately speak to them or trigger the siren. IT DOES NOT! The processing by Ring blocks the immediate viewing of the image and using the intercom. The display showing a fuzzy stationary image of a past recorded event and a spinning cursor. During this signal processing time at Ring, the unit is dead to you. Whatever was picked up by the camera(s) and recorded can been seen only after a minute or more (I have experienced up to 4 minutes delay)- after the triggering event. IT IS, IN MY OPINION, TOTALLY WORTHLESS as a rapid response security device or access monitor. POST EVENT reaction is not what is advertised.

Many hours (yes, many) have been spent talking with Ring people and via e-mail to no avail. Also, I am now on the 3rd. Chimepro - apparently quality assurance is not a priority. IN MY OPINION RING IS NOT LIVING UP TO ITS PROMISE AND I CAN NOT RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE PURCHASE A RING PRODUCT. PERHAPS IN THE FUTURE... BUT NOT NOW!