The Ring sounds better than the Google version.

I've already had to charge it, but that was probably because the people working on the porch kept it going throughout several days.

The Google version does not offer the option of an indoor chime with the wireless bell. You have to do the workaround of buying a Google Mini speaker, which you can use for music and probably a million other things that I'll have to bestir myself to learn what they are and how to do them if I hope to get my fifty bucks out of it.

The Google Mini arrived yesterday. After setup, I believe we will have a doorbell that functions. My remaining concern is whether there is a delay between pushing the doorbell and hearing a sound indoors. If the delay is significant at all, it ain't real useful as a doorbell.

I'll keep y'all posted.

There's even a ring that installs through the peephole in a door - our neighbor in the condo got one. I think she pays for the recording capabilities, but like Steve wrote, there are free options after the purchase price.

MA, I enjoyed your post. I love language particularly words. You don't read the word-- "bister" often and almost never hear it spoken.

I was reminded of one of my favorite Emily Dickinson poems---

C. 1858

48 (Thomas H. Johnson, Ed.)

Once more, my now bewildered Dove
Bestirs her puzzled wings
Once more her mistress, on the deep
Her troubled question flmgs -
Thrice to the floating casement
The Patriarch's bird returned,
Courage! My brave Columba'
There may yet be Land!

Good luck!

quote:

Originally posted by ShiroKuro:
Steve, Ring sounds pretty good. How much are the upfront and monthly subscription costs?

Basic wireless doorbell is about $50. Plug in door chime is another $35. There are fancier versions but I’m not sure what all they do.

No subscription is required for basic doorbell and/or real time notifications. If you want Ring to store your videos you have to get a subscription but I don’t bother.

Thank you for the Dickinson poem, Daniel. I love her work.

I got the Mini up and running, and it works!

I have a doorbell chime after living in this house for almost three months without one, and those were months when contractors and delivery people have been coming and going in droves.

I'm so happy about this!

Congrats MA!

Steve, thanks for the details. I think I would want a subscription bc I’m more interested in it for safety than anything else (since our regular doorbell works)

Hmmm

It didn't work this morning.

I did move the speaker, but I would'nt have thought that would change the settings, which are on my phone.

Now I've gotta debug something that used to be an invisible and seamless part of my life. Oh, joy.

The question one must ask before buying any new tech is does it work for me or do I work for it. if I have to futz about with it I don't need it.

Same, Mik, but I own it now. I'm trying to work with it.

It seems to need charging every couple of days, which is more frequent than touted.

Also, although the doorbell seems to be talking to the speaker (at the moment), the speaker is not talking to my phone. I don't know why. It seems that my phone is prone to disconnecting from wifi. It switches to cell service, which has never bothered me at all, but it loses contact with the speaker and now I can't get them to talk again.

I don't know that I care about this, as the doorbell seems to be working (although now I'm paranoid and am going to test it), but I don't like it that I don't understand why my possessions are not talking to each other.

Yeah, I've done that sort of thing too. I like the idea of my Tablo a lot but it's just not dependable enough to cut cable. Still a bit buggy.

This might help on the disconnect.

https://www.howtogeek.com/7733...s-getting-in-the-way