The Ring doorbell completely redefined home security and peace of mind when it was launched in 2012. Founder Jamie Siminoff’s wife described it as “Caller-ID for your front door.”. Originally branded as ‘Doorbot’, Ring grabbed hold of a market that was more than ripe for enhancement. So too did NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal who took an equity stake in 2016. Amazon subsequently bought the company for $1.2-$1.8B in February 2018.
Enough of the history lesson – this review is going to be a hands-on installation of the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus to replace a very old (and hopeless) intercom system that on my last rough count in my suburb, is on almost 40% of front gates.
As you would expect the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus comes in distinctive packaging and for all the DIY enthusiasts out there – everything* you need to install it is contained in the box. There’s even a small box called ‘Install Tools’ that contains a screwdriver, spirit level, screws, a drill-bit, and masonry plugs.
(* You might need a hammer-drill if you’re installing on brick.)
I’m installing the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus at our front gate on an existing wooden post. It will be great to have more peace of mind when we’re not at home and to ensure any deliveries are able to be accepted securely.
I’ve removed the old intercom system, patched the holes with some filler, sanded it back and then given the areas a couple of coats of paint to clean the surface up, ready to install the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus.
The box also contains special wedge blocks to mount your Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus on an angle to account for a corner or high mounting.
If you have power running from an existing doorbell or intercom system, you may be able to hardwire your Ring unit to ensure that the battery is constantly trickle charged and healthy.
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 can’t be installed without the battery. My old system wasn’t able to be used so I just pushed the red and white wires back into the post on our front gate and placed the Ring over the front of the hole. The Ring app will step you through the installation process and will let you know if your existing wiring is usable. Otherwise, you might need to call in an electrician if you want to hard-wire your Ring.
Remove the silver face-plate and attach the small orange spirit level on the front on the unit. Take a pencil and mark out the location of the four screws that will attach the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus to the post or wall. Remember to measure/check twice and drill once.
Once you have secured the Ring, you can remove the spirit level, and press the orange Setup Mode button to customise your Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus for your home. The app helps you take into account if there are steps leading up to your home or if you live on a busy street. The Ring unit is able to monitor for Motion outside your home as well as people that come to your door.
The app also provides access to Live View, battery health, Motion Snooze and Settings, as well as Modes for when you are at home and when you are away. The battery health is determined by how sensitive you have the settings on your Ring Doorbell. I found turning off Record Motion was a good way to get more out of the battery.
It’s worth checking to see if your WiFi strength is good at your front door or gate. If not, it might be a good idea to see what new home WiFi options might improve performance.
Once you have the Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus all set up, you can apply the Silver or Dark Bronze face plate. We have oil-rubbed bronze fixtures all over the house and this option was a hit with the wife as she hated the silver monstrosity we replaced.
We’ve also installed a Ring Chime in the house to extend the convenience and security. Again, with the Ring App this is installed and configured in a matter of minutes. All that’s needed is an empty wall socket.
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is an excellent piece of technology. As you have seen above, super easy to install and set-up. Adding a Ring Chime makes a world of difference too as you can easily miss alerts on your phone letting you know that someone is at the door.
The Ring Video Doorbell 3 Plus is $369.
The Chime is $59.
Both are available from the Australian Ring website.
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