Ring Alarm 2 Review and thoughts after 4 years

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It’s been several years since Ring, the company known for its Video Doorbells, cameras, smart home lighting and overall security, launched it’s Gen 2 Ring Alarm wireless home security system. This DIY kit is billed as an easy path to home security and has the option of monitoring too for an extra fee. I've had a chance to spend a lot of time with the ring alarm system and several other components that connect in with it over the last few years. So four years on, what do I think about the system now- and will I still recommend it for you? Let’s dig in.
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What do you get in the box?
I opted for the eight piece Ring Alarm 2. I will also note there is now an option for Ring alarm 2 Pro, but the only difference here is the alarm base station offers a built-in Eero Wi-Fi router. If you've already got a router or have no need to upgrade, you will do just fine with the Ring Alarm 2 version.
Ring Alarm 2 comes with the Base Station, which is the brains of your system. This flat panel is what emits the audible siren and audible ‘blink-blink’ door-open alerts, so you want it to be located somewhere you can hear it.
You also get a Keypad for arming and disarming the system. You can wall mount this, and it also works as a portable remote control too since you can remove the keypad from the mount easily.
Depending which kit you opt for you’ll have a different amount of sensors. I had the 8-piece pack, so I got 4 magnetic door/window sensors, one motion detector, and a Wi-Fi booster.
Additional Contact Sensors, Motion Detectors, Keypads, Range Extenders and future Ring Alarm components can be purchased separately to expand the coverage of your system. Over the years I have added additional door and window sensors, as well as Ring’s flood and freeze sensors too.
Since I travel quite a bit I find the entire system gives me a major feeling of confidence about leaving the house empty. I know that if anybody comes inside, not only will I know it, I'll be able to see it, and if there ever was any type of power outage that killed the heat, or a burst pipe that led to a flood, I'd hear about it in short order.
Set up
Ring’s set up process is super easy. Just set up the base station first. Cleverly, the app will recognize your kit once you add the base station, and then list all your components for set up inside the app; you just follow the prompts. If you need to figure out which sensor is which, each one has a small number next to a QR code which identifies it.
If this is your first Ring device, you’ll have a few extra steps like creating an account and adding your home’s Wi-Fi, but if you have other Ring devices, the app will re-apply your settings, making set up fast and convenient.

[@reggie2803]

Thanks for the update. Seriously considering the alarm since I already have multiple cameras.

[@10OF9OFBORG]

Very nice! I am not it would work on me due I am deaf in my sleep. Thanks for sharing Erin! Have an awesome day!

[@janetbrown64]

That's the same system that I have ring 2,😅 and I love it

[@ronm6585]

Thanks Erin.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

You are so welcome!

[@dankelley9361]

Hi Erin, great coverage on the Ring alarm system. Quick question, do to want to pay for monitoring, do you get sensor notifications on your phone without paying? Also can you use these sensors in Alexa routines?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Yes I get alarm notifications on my phone even without paying.

[@jvcex]

thanx mrs

[@veganguy74]

Great review, I have no problem with the Ring service and have a number of sensors. I've had a keypad die for no apparent reason and a motion sensor rendered useless simply by changing the batteries with that little tamper pin breaking off when I opened the battery door. So that was annoying.

[@johnszatkowski6898]

Well, NO alarm system or ANYTHING for that matter is "perfect". Still WAY better than have to schedule a "tech" guy to come out at EXTRA costs like Vivant and ADT has to fix an issue. I just recently bought an Echo Hub which also works with Ring and provides a keypad on-screen to arm/dis-arm the system and works GREAT for my smart-home setup. Everything can be controlled through this Echo Hub once setup the way you want it with NO special programming skills needed and VERY low learning curve. Been VERY happy with Ring and the added Echo Hub. Watch KZbin videos on the Echo hub. IMO it's not for everyone but for me serves my needs and then some.

[@johnszatkowski6898]

The Ring alarm PRO hub takes things to another level - as it lets you have connected devices NON-Ring and stay connected via. the cellular and still function! As far as I know NO other system has this feature! You can also use your HOT-SPOT on your phone to keep devices connected in an internet outage. I have used this feature several times now and has worked well! Providing you have the PRO plan setup.

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

Great points. Thanks for posting.

[@abioduna5040]

Is professional monitoring now available in Canada??

[@johnszatkowski6898]

I believe it has been for some time. But, check the Ring's web-site as I know Ring works in the UK and many other areas.

[@jackiw7]

Is this suitable for an apartment where you can’t use outdoor components?

[@johnszatkowski6898]

YES! Using door/Motion sensors that are mounted via. 2-way tape and you can EASILY take the system to the next place when you decide to move. Ring and other systems have battery powered doorbells that you can mount directly to the entry door as well so you can monitor activity in your hallways outside your apartment and see potential intruders. I own a home and have a Ring 3 Plus battery doorbell with a solar panel installed so I NEVER have to worry about power.

[@gunit6815]

What about setting it to away mode with pets?

[@johnszatkowski6898]

The motion sensors if placed above seven feet off the floor and set for "Pets" they do NOT trigger the alarm from cats or smaller dogs. If you have larger dogs you can back-down the sensitivity even more. My cat had free reign of my home and always slept on the back of my couches and NEVER set the alarm off when I was at work. I still have my Gen 1 Motion sensors but I do know the 2nd Gen work the same. At night when I'm sleeping I setup Alexa routines to turn on certain lights using these Motion sensors at a dim setting so I'm not walking around in the dark between 12am-7am per my routine. I've had my Ring Alarm since 2019 and later upgraded to the Ring Pro hub when it released and have been REALLY happy with the entire system. Only ONE false alarm event which when the 24/7 monitoring called I was able to determine it was a false alarm so NO police were dispatched when I was at work. I also have a smoke/CO2 sensor and a few water-leak sensors. The system just works and has been stable with NO hiccups. The yearly operating costs for the PRO plan can't be beat by ANY other system and is a small price to pay for safety and security. The smoke/CO2 sensor is an absolute MUST for ANY system. It's a complete DIY setup with NO contracts.

[@jonnymakers9560]

I have missed several break-ins and outside accidents because ring did not capture it. They do NOT have 24/7 monitoring even thought 4yrs ago they said it was coming. I hate Ring..they suck

[@johnszatkowski6898]

You must NOT have had your system setup correctly. And YES they do indeed have 24/7 monitoring and their response times have always been around 20seconds or less for me because I test my system regularly about every 2months. They call and I tell them I'm testing my system and provide the "verbal" pass-code you setup and I have had NO issues since 2019!

[@IamGroot786]

So what happens if the Wi-Fi goes out? Is it completely useless?

[@ErinLawrenceTV]

No! It has backup power and cellular .

[@IamGroot786]

@@ErinLawrenceTV Thanks for responding.

[@johnszatkowski6898]

Ring Alarm Gen 1 & 2 has backup cellular but you have to have the PRO plan for this to function. With the Ring PRO hub you can have as many devices you want use the backup cellular even if they are NOT Ring devices using your WiFi which can all be setup through the Eero app that is part of the Ring PRO hub. This has been a godsend for me on several occasions as my other "smart-home" devices stay connected in an internet outages I've had through the years now...