After more than 3 years, I'm still disappointed & frustrated with equipment, app, tech, & "support"

My 2 closest friends reached out in the midst of pandemic height, worried for my physical & home safety as I’ve lived alone and at that time they werent able to visit regularly. As a precaution, they collaborated to purchase several ring battery cameras that i would later have to install myself. After the first month i became aware of how limited the battery life actually is. At first, i thought this could be remidied by purchasing more new ring batteries & accompanying chargers. My positive hopes were not fulfilled, as i came to witness the slightest improvement in lifespan by using 2 ring batteries per device. At this point, I’d spent nearly $500 on “additional” batteries in hopes that would help. I learned quickly that investment would not and did not pay off. My friends had already gifted me nearly $3000 USD retail ring products. 6 battery cameras, 1 dual spotlight hardwired camera. Plus 4 accompanying spotlights, etc. Only then did we all discover that a separate bridge was required in order to connect everything. Hello, theres another $60 spent. Fast forward 18 months, me – a middle aged woman, who lives alone hauling out the ladder every 30-35days in the dark stormy weather changing out batteries that were supposed to last 4-5x as long. I should also mention id already disabled 99% of the notifications and sensitivity settings thinking that might improve longevity. It didnt help. While on the topic of stormy weather, theres a very distinct shortfall in ring hardware, tech, and app when it comes to power outages. – if it wasnt already bad enough to have to spend nearly an hour every 30days, climing on ladders by myself in the dark to replace batteries… enter power outages… i learned first hand ring cameras dont reconnect to the home network on their own. So to add insult to i injury, every time there was a windstorm that flickered power for 3 seconds or 3 minutes I’ve had to pull the ladder out and do the whole lengthy setup process for each unit ALL OVER AGAIN. To recap, this includes 6 spotlight cameras, 1 dual spotlight camera hardwired, 4 spotlights, and the bridge unit. ITS ENOUGH TO DRIVE ANYONE INSANE. oh, and did i mention theres no reset function for unit connectivity through the ring app. The only way to fix the problem is to be within arms reach of these devices. Seems like a flaw in design considering surveillance cameras get mounted in places that arent typically accessible to the general person. Its especially infuriating when your wifi hasnt changed and youve been standing perched on a ladder alone in the dark for 30 minutes while getting drenched with rain, and for no reasonable explanation the camera STILL WONT CONNECT. Moving on… having ALREADY SPENT A SMALL FORTUNE on this system that IS MARKETED to MAKE ME FEEL SAFE, I was willing to take another chance… I ordered 10 more batteries and 6 ring solar panels… So woot woot, theres another $1200 down the metaphorical drain. Did the batteries work – yes. But not for longer than 30days, even doubled up in each camera. Did the solar panels work – no. Ive troubleshooted, ive called customer care, ive watched all the support videos… not 1 of the 6 has worked. Not even a little bit. Moral of the story, in all the time ive had the cameras the moat interesting thing that’s happened is the doorbell cam thinking that schoolbuses are people. Seriously, the cameras meant to recognize PEOPLE have only picked up large yellow buses from 40ft away and translated that as a person in my driveway. If this sad excuse for security data provided continues on a regular basis, ill happily revert to my primary security system: My 2 golden retrievers who bark loudly anytime anyone approaches the house or yard.