monitored burglar alarms
Ring sensors have an LED that lights up when activated, and the base station but not the keypad will chirp when a sensor is activated, but that’s about it. But it’s worth noting that a basic Nest Secure system costs $499 to the Ring Alarm’s $199, and Nest Detect sensors cost $59 each where Ring’s cost just $20 extra Ring motion sensors are priced at $30 each. You can also disarm the system from the app, but in a break from convention, Ring does not offer a key fob for arming and disarming the system. Geofencing that would automatically arm and disarm when you leave and return isn’t supported either. Harris said those were conscious design decisions. “What it came to was security,” Harris said. People said ‘Hey, I
want this to automatically disarm my security system when I get close. ’ The question then becomes: How close?And is it really you with your phone?Or did someone pick it up at the park, find your address, drive to your house, and let themselves in?”Ring Alarm hits nearly all the right notes for a basic DIY home security system. I’ve already touched on a couple of its shortcomings—including an absence of support for smart speakers—but tighter integration with Ring’s own cameras would be another welcome development. When an alarm is tripped, the cameras should begin recording to perhaps capture a glimpse of
what triggered it—potentially valuable forensic evidence you could provide to the police investigating a break in. And if Ring Alarm could control your home’s smart lighting, it could turn on all the lights if the alarm is triggered after dark, which might convince an intruder to make a hasty retreat.
