I have a ring camera. It came with the townhouse and it sucks. We’re considering replacing it because it doesn’t even consistently work as a door bell because either we keep needing to charge it or it’s on too crowded a wireless band, not sure which.
Did you know you have to subscribe to even record videos? Screw that.
Also the privacy concerns, but that ship has sailed in my particular case because both my nextdoor neighbors have ring cameras, as well as at least 3 units across the street.
What really gets me is part of its purpose is letting you know you got packages, IE, from Amazon, but then it does not detect Amazon drivers, because I assume they have some sort of jammer.
Reolink, Eufy, and UniFi Protect (if you’re into that sort of thing).
Eufy is the closest to Ring (it’s not perfect, still some concerns, but miles ahead of ring and gives at least a bit more control of your data). It’s convenient to use for sure.
Reolink is ideal if you don’t want to buy into a closed ecosystem and less convenient but probably the most willing to let you control your data.
UniFi would be great, but you get locked into their ecosystem from the jump. Data is all yours, forever, but you have to exclusively use their (overpriced) hardware. And I believe the doorbells need wiring to work. Whether old school 2 wire doorbell wiring, Ethernet cable, or even a USB C cable in the wall.
Personally, I have UniFi Protect because I bought them second-hand from work. I REALLY do like them, but the 75 percent discount made it even CLOSE to my budget.
If I had to start again, Reolink and Eufy would be the two I’d compare. Eufy seems easier for my family, but Reolink would be my goal.
I appreciate the suggestions, but last I heard we were looking at the sort of basic battery-operated doorbell you install using 3m strips at your 1890s triple-decker college apartment, no camera or anything half as fancy. I’d be happy with a door knocker (low tech and reliable) if the HOA wouldn’t have kittens.
(I know, I know, HOA, but the condo is so much cheaper than renting, and shared governance makes sense when you share a roof.)
Reolink claims their battery doorbell can last 300 days on one charge and Eufy sells a doorbell with 2 batteries so you can swap out without forgetting to put the battery back in after it charges. If you’re in a townhome, interference could definitely be a problem and Reolink can use 5 GHz wireless which, for a townhome, should be able to get to the door.
Not trying to sell you on a video doorbell for sure, but if you like the idea, I think there’s options that work a bit better than Amazon can do.
I have a ring camera. It came with the townhouse and it sucks. We’re considering replacing it because it doesn’t even consistently work as a door bell because either we keep needing to charge it or it’s on too crowded a wireless band, not sure which.
Did you know you have to subscribe to even record videos? Screw that.
Also the privacy concerns, but that ship has sailed in my particular case because both my nextdoor neighbors have ring cameras, as well as at least 3 units across the street.
What really gets me is part of its purpose is letting you know you got packages, IE, from Amazon, but then it does not detect Amazon drivers, because I assume they have some sort of jammer.
Reolink, Eufy, and UniFi Protect (if you’re into that sort of thing).
Eufy is the closest to Ring (it’s not perfect, still some concerns, but miles ahead of ring and gives at least a bit more control of your data). It’s convenient to use for sure.
Reolink is ideal if you don’t want to buy into a closed ecosystem and less convenient but probably the most willing to let you control your data.
UniFi would be great, but you get locked into their ecosystem from the jump. Data is all yours, forever, but you have to exclusively use their (overpriced) hardware. And I believe the doorbells need wiring to work. Whether old school 2 wire doorbell wiring, Ethernet cable, or even a USB C cable in the wall.
don’t trust eufy
https://www.theverge.com/23573362/anker-eufy-security-camera-answers-encryption
I have a reolink and it works great! I get all the features that ring puts behind a paywall, plus keep everything local/private.
I’m very happy about it and in the process of expanding the system.
Personally, I have UniFi Protect because I bought them second-hand from work. I REALLY do like them, but the 75 percent discount made it even CLOSE to my budget.
If I had to start again, Reolink and Eufy would be the two I’d compare. Eufy seems easier for my family, but Reolink would be my goal.
I appreciate the suggestions, but last I heard we were looking at the sort of basic battery-operated doorbell you install using 3m strips at your 1890s triple-decker college apartment, no camera or anything half as fancy. I’d be happy with a door knocker (low tech and reliable) if the HOA wouldn’t have kittens.
(I know, I know, HOA, but the condo is so much cheaper than renting, and shared governance makes sense when you share a roof.)
Reolink claims their battery doorbell can last 300 days on one charge and Eufy sells a doorbell with 2 batteries so you can swap out without forgetting to put the battery back in after it charges. If you’re in a townhome, interference could definitely be a problem and Reolink can use 5 GHz wireless which, for a townhome, should be able to get to the door.
Not trying to sell you on a video doorbell for sure, but if you like the idea, I think there’s options that work a bit better than Amazon can do.