Combining RING Security Alarm system with Cameras
I have several ring cameras and the video doorbell which I have used through the app. Recently I also added the security system to the mix. I'm a little confused how they all tie together though. This is my understanding, am I correct?: _The cameras I control and monitor through the app, and the Modes. _ _The security system is controlled through the keypads, that I activate when I enter or leave the house._ _The cameras and the security system (base station, keypads, motion sensors) seem to be two separate systems I think? Cameras for monitoring, Security Alarm for break-ins and emergency services._ _And I activate them separately? I set up all the motion sensors through the app yes, but for the security system is there any further control done in the app?_ I'm playing around with it trying to get familiar and I'm not sure what is happening with the security system when I change between Modes. I think it is arming but I'm not sure why. It's a little terrifying actually. I have also found this to be a very tricky - and fragile - set of products to use. My internet went down for a couple days and my entire RING security/camera set up was offline and totally useless. I don't understand how the cellular data plays in, because no cellular back up kicked in while my internet was down (Is that how it is supposed to work?) Thanks for any feedback on managing these systems together. Additionally, when my internet came back I had to reconnect every device and it took half a day. Honestly the whole thing is a total pain in the a\*\* to manage in my opinion.
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22-08-2020 08:36:20
Responses (3)
- B
@Solaris , To just add you what [@Chelsea\_Ring](https://community.ring.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/13823) has already provided you, when you said, "_The cameras and the security system seem to be two separate systems I think? Cameras for monitoring, Security Alarm for break-ins and emergency services."_ YES YES YES! That is the best way to think about it, for the most part. And that these two separate systems just happen to share one single Ring App. The heart of the **Alarm system** is the Alarm Base Station. It is the main brain and hub of all the Motion-sensors, and Contact-sensors (doors & windows), and Keypad, and other alarm devices. All the sensors and alarm devices 'talk' back using a Z-Wave frequency to the Base Station. The alarm sensors and devices and never OFF. They are always Z-Wave 'chatting' to the Base Station whenever they have a change in their status. You can even eavesdrop on this chatting by looking just below the 3 major Mode Icons (Disarmed, Home, Away) on the main Dashboard. You'll typically see "All sensors cleared" until a sensor 'chats' a status change to the Base Station. The Base Station then can communicate to your Ring App through the Internet (using either Wi-Fi to your router or direct Ethernet cable to your router). Once you set up each alarm sensor to your desired settings, that include "Notification Alerts" (text-type Alert messages that 'push' to your App) and the "Chirp Alerts" (the sound Alerts that you hear on your App, Base Station, and Keypad), then you control the Alarm system via your 3 Alarm Mode button icons on your App. You can customize how each sensor is utilized in each of the modes: DISARM MODE: Base Station will not trigger an alarm (except in unique cases, like through the Keypad buttons, Panic button, Fire/CO device, etc.). HOME MODE: This mode can trigger an **alarm**. Used mostly to secure the perimeter of your home via Contact Door & Window sensors. Allowing you to be roaming around safe inside. AWAY MODE: This mode can trigger an **alarm** , for when nobody is home and the perimeter and interior motion-sensors can trigger the alarm. You **Video system** does surveillance and communicates to your App by using Wi-Fi. Because the Alarm system 'listens' through Z-Wave for triggering information and the Video system only 'talks' using Wi-Fi (can't 'speak' Z-Wave), so it can never trigger an alarm response! The Video system is primarily controlled via individual Camera App settings and then Alarm Modes can then modify the camera's behavior in each mode. So for the most part, consider the Video system and Alarm system as pretty much independent, but complementary systems with each other. :) When your Internet Wi-Fi goes down, so does your Video system. But the Z-Wave chat continues and with battery-powered sensors and battery back-ups in the Base Station and Keypad, you still have an Alarm system. Communication between your App and the Base Station uses Wi-Fi, so you cannot 'talk' to the Alarm system that way. Use the keypads. If in HOME or AWAY and a sensor triggers the alarm, the Base Station can go off and use the cellular back-up to call for the Cavalry! :)
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25-08-2020 07:44:14
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- U
I'm looking for a way to SEPARATE the two. The cameras have nothing whatsoever to do with the Ring Alarm system. Ring alarm only uses its sensors; cameras are completely separate. The only thing they share is that they are ARMED TOGETHER. Once you arm your Ring alarm to Away and start to leave, your indoor cameras begin ringing and alerting and recording, then your outdoor ones are going off. There is no synergy here; it's a hack and very annoying. As to the cameras, when your landscapers come and you want to snooze notifications from your cameras, you have to snooze each and every device that receives notifications separately. You have to snooze individual cameras, and then separately go an snooze any Ring Chimes you have. There is no way to arm Ring Alarm but disarm Ring cameras. If you want daytime camera notifications, you have to enable notifications in the Disarmed state unless you keep your Ring Alarm armed. Ring camera snapshots rarely work no matter what settings you use or how strong your network signal is. But I digress... Ring system has very weak integration and for the years I've used it there have been NO improvements.
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20-11-2024 05:32:10
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Chelsea_Ring
Hey @Solaris. Happy to help answer your questions here! You can learn more about Modes and how Modes works in our Help Center Articles [here for your cameras](https://support.ring.com/hc/en-us/articles/360036107792-Control-All-your-Ring-Cameras-with-Modes) and [here for the Ring Alarm](https://support.ring.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005312623-Arming-Disarming-and-Setting-Modes-on-your-Ring-Alarm). I think this will explain how Modes works very well for you and what happens when you're changing in between modes. After reading this, if you have any follow up questions, let me know. In regards to the Cellular Backup, this is only for the Ring Alarm Base Station, as there is a SIM card in the Base Station to help keep it connected to the internet so your home is still protected and monitored. The cameras are wifi enabled cameras and do not have Cellular Backup, so they will fall offline without internet and not function. If offline for awhile, you may need to manually reconnect them as you have once before.
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24-08-2020 11:06:38
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