It started with a car break in; they popped the locks (better than breaking the window) to steal the change in the ashtray. Then it got worse when my neighbours had their car window smashed to steal a bag of clothes. And worse still when my window got smashed and my new dash camera got swiped. Along with stupid stuff like $5 sunglasses. And gum. After a neighbors a couple streets over had their car broken into and torched, we decided it’s official. There’s a crime wave in our formerly safe neighbourhood. Time to increase security.
Good timing then that Best Buy has asked me to take on a series about making your home and entryway safer and more secure. Over the next few weeks I’m going to test out a variety of smart home and security gadgets like the Ring Stick Up Cam, a remote, smartphone controlled garage door opener and a smart lock from August Yale. I’ve also already got a Ring Video Doorbell and a Weiser smart lock too and I’ll see how the system integrates with these components, as well as things like Google Home, Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit.
We’re kicking things off with Ring Alarm.
Ring Alarm kit review
Get the Ring Alarm starter kit at Best Buy 
What is Ring Alarm?
Ring Alarm is a fully wireless home security system. Each of the components is battery powered; either using a rechargeable battery or a replaceable one. You have the option of choosing a closed system, which emits audible sirens in the home, or a monitored system (costs extra) that can dispatch authorities.
Ring Alarm – What’s in the box?
The Ring Alarm system is a do it yourself home alarm system module. It comes with several components; the alarm base station, a wireless keypad, a motion sensor, and a door or window or ‘contact’ sensor and a signal booster. To prepare for installation, you need to charge the Alarm keypad.
How do I set up Ring Alarm?
Getting things set up is pretty straight forward and you can probably have the whole system up and running in an hour.
The first thing you’ll do is download the Ring app if you don’t already have it. If you do have it, and are perhaps using it for something like a Ring Video Doorbell, you can add these new components to your existing set up.
To start your Ring Alarm set up, you’ll need to get the base station up and running. The base station is what will send out the audible alarm if your sensors are triggered while you’re away.
4 Comments
Erin,
no I haven’t tried SimpliSafe yet or Ring Alarm either. I have been researching and racking my brain to decide which DIY security system would be the best fit for me: SimpliSafe, Ring Alarm or Abode. I was incorrect in my previous message about Ring missing some of the components that other systems have, as Ring Alarm apparently does have Smoke Listeners and Flood & Freeze Sensors as options.
Good to know. I’ll have to look them up.
Erin,
have you had the chance to try SimpliSafe? If so, do you like Ring better than SimpliSafe? The Ring Alarm system does appear to be missing a few component options that other systems have, like smoke detectors. I am hoping that they rectify that in the near future.
Hi Michael, I’ve not tried Simpli Safe, have you? Would love your feedback. Perhaps I can request a trial.