You get a warning if a contact sensor is open, and open sensors are added to the bypass list, where they will not set the alarm off. Setting the alarm is easy with the keypad: just type in your PIN and select the mode that you want. Motion sensors don’t chirp by default as this would most likely get annoying quickly, but you can turn on the option if you prefer. These sounds can be turned off per device. Make sure you have your sensors in the correct operating modesīy default, contact sensors make the base station and keypad chirp when triggered, so you can use them as a general alert to know when somebody has opened a door or window. It has a battery inside that will give you 24-hours of runtime in the event of a power failure. It must be connected to power and can hook up to your home internet connection using Ethernet or Wi-Fi. Given that this is the main alarm, you should have it somewhere that it can be heard easily. The former seems neater to me, keeping it out of the way. You first need to find somewhere to mount the base station, which can be screwed to the wall out of the way, or it can sit flat on a desk. Installation is easy following the instruction booklet. I’ve been told that accessories will come to the UK at a later date. In the US Ring also sells a flood and freeze sensor to tell you if there’s a leak and warn you if your pipes are in danger of freezing a smoke and carbon monoxide listener, which will alert you if your existing sensors go off a panic button to trigger the alarm and a third-party dome siren to make your alarm easier to hear throughout your home.
I recommend placing motion detectors in hallways and to cover large rooms, and contact sensors on all external doors and windows that can be easily reached. Neatly, all kit in the box comes pre-paired to the base station, so they’re ready to go as soon as you pull out the battery tab.
You probably won’t need it if you stick to the kit, but those with larger houses will want to install it as they can add additional contact sensors and motion detectors. The latter boosts the range of the Z-Wave sensors to give you more range. There are different packages available with different sensors, but I started with the Ring Alarm Security Kit (£249), which has the base station that connects to your router and doubles as a siren a keypad for arming and disarming a contact sensor (for windows and doors) a motion detector (pet safe) and a range extender. The Ring Alarm is incredibly easy to install.
There’s not quite the full flexibility we would want on offer and some minor tweaks would make it perfect, but as it stands, the Ring Alarm is the best smart security system that you can buy in the UK. Impressively, the Ring Alarm is one of the cheapest DIY security systems, and you can add assisted monitoring on top for just £8 a month. That changes now with the launch of the Ring Alarm.įrom the same people that brought you the Ring Video Doorbell Pro, the alarm system shows the company’s continued ambition to protect all aspects of your home.
The UK has been rather lacking in smart security systems, with older products not getting any updates and new products failing to materialise. There are some new features, which have also been rolled out to the original alarm, so check out the newer review for the most recent information.
This new alarm system has new sensors and a new Keypad, but the same base station, so you can upgrade your existing alarm with the new devices.
UPDATE: the Ring Alarm has now been replaced with the Ring Alarm (2nd Generation).