Skip to main content

Everything you need to set up your Ring home security system

Given the plethora of user-friendly and accessible security systems out there, there’s no shortage of good options. One of our favorite systems comes from Ring, a global home security company owned by Amazon. While its offerings may not be as flashy as those from Nest, which was acquired by Google’s parent company Alphabet in 2014, Ring is a relatively simple and affordable home security option. Wi-Fi-enabled, it easily mounts on walls or flat surfaces and can be set up in less than an hour. Pair this with the company’s diverse product line and excellent customer service, and you have a system that will work hard for your home (without you having to work too hard yourself).

Setting up a smart security system requires you to consider the size of the space you want to protect, the tech capabilities that are most important to you, as well as the tech stack you want to use. Ring’s products are all Alexa-enabled, meaning they can be easily integrated into your existing smart home set-up. Plus, the company offers Protect Plus 24/7 Professional Monitoring for $10 per month. (Compare this to Nest’s similar service, which will ding you $19-29 over the same period.)

We’ve rounded up everything you could possibly need from Ring (plus a few extras) so you can simply and completely secure your home.

Ultimate Ring Security System Bundle

If you’re looking to upgrade your home with the latest in Ring Security tech, we’ve put together the ultimate bundle to help keep you protected.

[amazon-product-bundle id=2222513]

Ring Alarm Security Kit — $199

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Ring Alarm Security Kit should be every buyer’s first purchase when organizing their security system. It comes with a base station, which is like the central command hub for your Ring devices. The base station connects to your internet to keep your alarm system online; it can also activate sensors and receive notifications from your connected devices.

Inside the Security Kit you’ll also find a keypad (which arms and disarms your system, just like a traditional alarm system), a motion detector, an indoor motion sensor (that fits on either doors or windows) and a range extender to amplify the signal from your base station.

Ring Alarm Security Kit

Ring Contact Sensor 2 Pack — $40

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Since the Security Kit only comes with one detector and one sensor, you’ll likely need to invest in more sensors if you’re looking to cover any space with multiple access points. The advantage of the Ring contact sensors is that they work on both doors and windows, meaning you can easily swap them from one location to another as you configure your set-up. When triggered, the sensors will send instant alerts to your phone, letting you react in real time. While a little bigger than traditional sensors, these come in a bright white color, blending in with most door and window frames.

Ring Contact Sensor 2 Pack

Ring Alarm Motion Detector — $30

Image used with permission by copyright holder

For larger spaces like your garage door or back patio, it might benefit you to invest in an additional motion detector. These devices can be configured to detect movement up to 30 feet, sending alerts to your phone whenever something enters the monitored area. As long as you mount the detector on a wall or corner of a room above seven feet, it shouldn’t be triggered by movement from small pets or pests, though that has still been known to happen.

Ring Alarm Motion Detector

Ring Video Doorbell 2 — $199

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Never wonder who’s knocking at your door again. With the Ring Doorbell, you’ll receive alerts when your doorbell is pressed or motion is detected, allowing you to hear and interact with visitors. In addition to acting as a two-way communication device for your front door, it works as a security system; you can set motion detection zones from five to 30 feet outside your door. The sensor is quite sensitive, so it’s probably best to set its range and awareness levels as low as you’re comfortable with. If you’re willing to venture off Amazon (and pay a little more), the Nest Hello doorbell is another favorite option that works with Alexa.

Ring Video Doorbell 2

Ring Stick Up Cam — $180

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Ring system offers many different types of cameras; which one (or ones) you choose will depend on your unique configuration needs. The Ring Stick Up Cam is a fairly versatile option, letting you monitor both indoor or outdoor areas in 1080p HD video. It can also rest on a flat surface or be mounted to a wall or ceiling. Like the Ring Doorbell, this camera allows two-way talk, so you can see and speak to whoever’s on the other end of the lens using your phone or connected device.

As with all cameras from Ring, the Stick Up Cam provides live on-demand video of your home, so you can check in anytime, anywhere. You can also limit the areas where the cameras will detect and notify you of motion, ensuring the right parts of your home are protected.

Ring Stick Up Cam

Ring Spotlight Cam — $199

Image used with permission by copyright holder

While fairly similar to the Ring Stick Up Cam, the Spotlight Cam is built for the outdoors. That means it comes with a few added security features, such as a siren that you can activate remotely to scare away anyone who triggers its motion detector. The camera is also built with infrared night vision, meaning you’ll be able to check in on your home and your surroundings when you need to the most.

Ring Spotlight Cam

Ring Floodlight Cam — $249

Image used with permission by copyright holder

This is the Spotlight Cam’s bigger, badder older brother. Equipped with two ultra-bright floodlights and a siren, the Floodlight Cam is impressive enough to scare away any potential intruders who approach your home. However, its extra power means it must be hardwired to weatherproof electrical boxes, an installation process that may limit where you’re able to set it up. However, if you want to feel secure and safe at all hours of the day, it might be worth the extra effort.

Ring Floodlight Cam

Ring Chime Pro — $50

Image used with permission by copyright holder

This one is for anyone who lives in a medium to large size house. The Ring Chime Pro boosts the Wi-Fi signal from your router so that even your most remote Ring devices are supported. This also amplifies any notifications they send. Most users have found that this significantly improves the strength of their doorbells, which makes sense as the front door is often far away from your living room or office. Possibly the simplest item to install on this list, simply plug the Ring Chime Pro into a wall outlet and you’re good to go.

Ring Chime Pro

Amazon Echo Show — $230

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If the base station is the control center for your Ring devices, then the Amazon Echo Show is the main stage. This 10.1-inch HD screen with built-in speakers was practically made to complement your home security system. Set it up in the kitchen or living room, and you’ll be instantly connected to video and notifications from around your home. Someone at the door but you’re making dinner? Use the Amazon Echo Show to see who’s arrived. In addition to syncing with cameras and alarms, it can even listen for the sound of smoke detectors or broken glass. Talk about a smart security product.

Amazon Echo Show

Leah Bjornson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Leah Bjornson is a writer and editor living on the West Coast. Because of her inability to ever stop moving, she enjoys…
Want a second display for your laptop? Get this screen extender for just $110
The Kefeya S1 laptop screen extender attached to a laptop.

If you're taking advantage of laptop deals for the portability, but you want some extra screen real estate, you should consider getting the Kefeya S1 laptop screen extender. Now is an excellent time to make a purchase because it's on sale from Amazon with a 39% discount that slashes its price from $180 to just $110. This is a limited-time deal though, so if you need this accessory, proceed with the transaction as soon as you can so that you don't miss out on the $70 in savings.

Why you should buy the Kefeya S1 laptop screen extender

Read more
Top electronics to buy (and skip) at Costco and Sam’s Club
Sam's club associate scanning a product

If you're following our ongoing saga dedicated to investigating Costco and Sam's Club for electronics, you may think that we're under the impression that all electronics are best purchased at these warehouse stores. That's not the case. There are some categories of products that tend to be great to buy at these stores and others that you should avoid. Here, we're aiming to provide a comprehensive warehouse club electronics buying guide, so you can stick to the good stuff and avoid the duds. We're hitting all the major product categories and things you'll see, with some helpful tips and notes along the way.
 

Best buys categories

Read more
The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro laptop with 16GB of RAM, 1TB SSD is $400 off
The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro laptop on a desk.

Shoppers usually keep an eye out for Samsung when looking for phone deals and TV deals, but it's also a good brand to consider when you're planning to buy a laptop. Check this out -- the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD is on sale with a $400 discount from Samsung itself, bringing its price down from $1,550 to $1,150. The device will be within reach for more people with these savings, which means you're going to have to hurry with your purchase if you're interested as stocks may run out quickly.

Why you should buy the Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro laptop

Read more