I recently installed the above doorbell, a Battery Doorbell Plus model. Set it all up and it worked fine for a month then dropped off line. I tried using the reconnecting procedure and it dropped off again in under 24 hours. Somewhere I'd heard the only way to get it back on line would be to reboot my router so I tried that and it worked ok again for about another month before dropping out again. Now I'm having to do this every 2-4 weeks. I've tried fitting a freshly-charged battery but it makes no difference to how long it stays online. Dropped out again last night with 70% indicated on the battery.

Its installed around 2 metres from the router, albeit through two brick walls. I'm beginning to wonder if there's a compatibility problem with the router. Honestly it's virtually useless at the moment because it could easily drop out whilst I'm away from home which completely defeats the object of having it. Looking on the Ring community it appears this could be quite a common problem. I'm seriously considering just binning it and cancelling my Ring Home subscription.

Any other members experienced this or have any suggestions?

If you do decide to bin it I find that the Eufy ones work well and don't require a subscription. I'm using a Eufy E340.

3 hours ago, mjt said:

Any other members experienced this or have any suggestions?

Yes, I had exactly the same problems 5 years ago and never ever did find a solution. The router was in direct line of site and only 2 metres from the doorbell. I even went to the trouble of running mine from a doorbell transformer to ensure it always had a good supply.

I came to the conclusion it is a rubbish product that never works as advertised. At the time I bought mine there was no mention of a monthly subscription charge which further p###ed me off. Now that Ring is owned by Amazon I don't expect it will ever be improved.

I suspect you're right. I might take a look at the one Paul has suggested though I imagine it's Chinese. I like the idea of it being able to store video locally and not need a subscription though.

Just a suggestion but I would get the blink doorbell with the sync module, the sync module stores the videos so no monthly subscription 

1 hour ago, mjt said:

I imagine it's Chinese

It is. I have no problem with the Chinese knowing who visits my house. It does work best with their Homebase to analyse and store the footage which pushes up the cost.

Looks like the Ring is destined for the bin. We're away for the weekend and the useless heap of junk has gone offline again!!

3 hours ago, mjt said:

the useless heap of junk has gone offline again!!

If you have a place that you can mount the little Tapo Camera to keep it out the rain then I'd strongly recommend: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2153852

Mine has been mounted outside under my porch roof for nearly 5 years and has never been a problem.

Tapo also do more expensive outdoor waterproof cameras, which my daughter has two of. Again they work without any issue.

I used to be an electronics engineer, playing with electrics, electronics and computers from almost 60 years ago until fairly recently. Programming computers in 1975, and building my own computer a few years later.

This thread does rather epitomise everything I hate about "electronics" today. My 3 pet hates in this area:

Software written by anyone other than me or someone I know and trust. Especially software controlled by Microsoft, or by any other greedy, monopolistic corporation - Apple & Amazon are names that come immediately to mind!

Electronics that I can not trust, understand, modify, improve and repair.

Tecky junk that has to be chucked in the bin less than a year or two after buying.

Call me old fashioned --- Please!

Never mind, AI will solve all our problems. One way or another!

I am not as grumpy as all that sounds. Being semi-retired and financially secure I don't care so much about all the ridiculous stuff, and can still find a lot to enjoy in the world of today, but modern electronics is not part of that, though I do enjoy poking fun at its many failures!

 

1 hour ago, Tdci-Peter said:

I used to be an electronics engineer,

I'm going to help you out. I think you mean that you are now retired, you will always still be an electronics engineer 👍

My Ring Camera is unreliable - it does not record everyone who gets near my front door if they do not press the buzzer button.

I agree wih Unofix, get a Tapo

I have the C530WS model since July to mainly protect my car since my last car was stolen. It is brill, even in the full darkness it gives excellent colour pictures. It is IP66 rated and no need for a subscription, just a top quality SD card. It does have to be plugged into the mains. If the cable it comes with is not long enough you can get an extension off fleabay for around £5

It is £95 direct from Tapo or Currys but Amazon have it on offer at £57 for last 3 months and it still is today

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Tapoc530ws&crid=11RNLJJXD8UQP&sprefix=tapoc530ws%2Caps%2C135&ref=nb_sb_noss

 

14 hours ago, Tdci-Peter said:

This thread does rather epitomise everything I hate about "electronics" today. My 3 pet hates in this area:

Software written by anyone other than me or someone I know and trust. Especially software controlled by Microsoft, or by any other greedy, monopolistic corporation - Apple & Amazon are names that come immediately to mind!

 I think you and I are soul mates, Peter. I was/am also an electronics engineer, retired 20 years now. I would add Google to that list.

Thank you for your suggestions @unofix and @TrevorB but I really want a doorbell that will allow 2-way audio communication, rather than just a security camera, which is why I opted for the Ring in the first place.

7 hours ago, mjt said:

but I really want a doorbell that will allow 2-way audio communication,

The Tapo Cam, has full two-way audio.

9 hours ago, mjt said:

I would add Google to that list

I left out Google because you have to allow someone in, and they may be the least worst of a bad bunch! They don't seem to seek direct control of markets, but like to sit in the middle like a giant spider, taking in a proportion of everything that passes through.

They may be the most heavily fined company in history! I counted up about 15 billion Euros of fines for anti-competitive and similar practices in a Wikipedia article. Good old friendly, helpful Uncle Google!

So maybe they should be there too.

 

With my original, which was a V1, I used a range extender by the front door with the SSID changed so that only the door bell connected to it.

I also turned off the frequency that the door bell doesn't use, but I can't remember what that was now, sorry

22 hours ago, mjt said:

Thank you for your suggestions @unofix and @TrevorB but I really want a doorbell that will allow 2-way audio communication, rather than just a security camera, which is why I opted for the Ring in the first place.

Ben, If required, you can pay Tapo a yearly subscription (I think its £24.95) you get other benefits including 2 way audio communication

I've removed it from the wall now as it would only confuse callers and my original classic doorbell is still in working order - and totally reliable!

Now to see about cancelling my Ring Home subscription.

The point about two-way audio on a doorbell is that when someone presses it whilst you're out you can have a conversation. It's not the same as a security camera picking up a movement and you saying "smile - you're on candid camera"

27 minutes ago, TrevorB said:

If required, you can pay Tapo a yearly subscription (I think its £24.95) you get other benefits including 2 way audio communication

Perhaps because mine is an older or simpler model, I have full two-way audio for free ! 😀

Tapo Doorbell Camera: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5647389

Ahhhh, you have the Doorbell model, whereas I am referring to the C530WS camera model

2 hours ago, mjt said:

 

The point about two-way audio on a doorbell is that when someone presses it whilst you're out you can have a conversation. It's not the same as a security camera picking up a movement and you saying "smile - you're on candid camera"

I think the Tapo C530WS is about just as good re talking to someone and far better than Ring Doorbell to see who is on the property.

My block paved front is approx 6 metres deep up to the pavement. The camera "looks out right across to the other side of the road" but it is set only to "ping" my phone as soon as anyone steps on my block paving, that's well before they get to my front door.

As soon as my phone "pings" I click straight onto my Tapo and can see straight away who is on my land, the Tapo is far far  quicker giving notification of a visitor than Ring, then, if I want to speak to the person I just press "speak" on my phone for 2 way audio, providing you have paid the yearly subscription of £24.95.

I can see and speak to anyone well before they are in Ring Doorbell range

You can set the C530WS to only record when someone enters the ring fence you have preset, record continuously, pan up and down the street etc etc     

Reading this thread makes me think it's only a matter of time until I accidentally walk too close to one of these and crap myself as a random front door starts to speak...  Had no idea about the range on them.

I took the batteries out of my conventional doorbell.  Got fed up of jumping every time someone rang the damn thing!

1 hour ago, TrevorB said:

Ahhhh, you have the Doorbell model,

No, you misunderstand my post. I have the basic Tapo camera (model C200, I think). It's an indoor camera which I use outside, mounted under the roof of my porch. 😀

The reference to the Tapo doorbell was just for the benefit of Mike.

Hi Unofix, sorry, I have my old brain, or whats left of it, just about in gear now, ha ha

The Tapo doorbell looks interesting @unofix and at a very good price.

However, before I thow any cash at a replacement I'm trying a little experiment. I've set the Ring up in the cloak cupboard housing the router. It's now only about one foot away so that should show if the problem is simply signal strength. If it turns out to be reliable I have the option of mounting it on the other side of the front door where it will be much closer to the router, probably less than a metre away, and separated by just one wall rather than two.