Ring: The Ultimate Technology to Protect Your Home or Business?


Ring: The Ultimate Technology to Protect Your Home or Business?

If you have 15 minutes to spare this weekend, you can use that time to protect your home by installing the Ring Alarm system.

Just 10 or 15 years ago, this would have been indeed unthinkable. But under the guidance and financial backing by Amazon, the Ring Alarm is here to revolutionize home security. Best of all, its equipment and service can usually fit into anyone’s budget.

When the Ring Alarm system arrives, the contact sensor, motion detector and range extender are already paired to the hub, so all you need to do is pull the battery tab to activate the connection. Then download the app to connect the base station to your home Wi-Fi network (or you can use an Ethernet cable).

That’s basically it. It really is a snap, and you’ll definitely feel better with that extra layer of home security.

The system itself is only $199, and it comes with a base station, one contact sensor, one motion detector, one keypad and one device that can extend the range of the communication signal between devices. As expected from an Amazon product, the design is modern and sleek and it does exude a very professional look. Extra contact sensors are available for a reasonable $20 each, and additional motion detectors are $30 each.

Here is where it gets even better. You can get professional monitoring for only $10 a month or $100 per year. This is indeed revolutionary considering that other companies that offer a similar service can charge about $30 a month. Many times, they’ll give you the equipment for free in knowing that you’ll be paying over a $1,000 over the course of a three-year contract.

With the Ring Alarm, there is none of that. No set contracts, and if you feel up to it, you can self-monitor via a smartphone app without paying a dime. If you choose the $10/mo. option, it’ll include cellular backup and 60 days of recorded events for an unlimited number of security cameras, plus the obvious 24/7 monitoring in which an actual human being could call the police or the fire department on your behalf.

It’s true that most other home-security systems emphasize door and window sensors and motion detectors, but Ring Alarm chiefly takes a camera-based approach. What this means is that you become aware of an intruder’s presence before any potential break-in. If there is one, the base station uses a plenty-loud 110-decibel siren.

As an Amazon product, some have complained that the Ring Alarm has limited third-party compatibility and zero Google Assistant integration. It probably isn’t a coincidence. With this in mind, it does seem like it’ll end up being a two-horse race for home-security dominance, as Google’s Nest boasts its own set of products that look to quell the enthusiasm over Ring Alarm.

Ethen Kim Lieser is a Tech Editor who has held posts at Google, The Korea Herald, Lincoln Journal Star, AsianWeek and Arirang TV.


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