Besides its well-known video doorbells, several cameras, and various outdoor lighting options, Ring also produces a do-it-yourself security solution for homes and apartments called Ring Alarm.
And now there’s the Ring Alarm Pro, which merges our favorite router, the Eero 6, with our top selection for a do-it-yourself security system, Ring Alarm.
After using Ring Alarm Pro for over a week, we can confirm it is an excellent security system that provides an extra layer of comfort by maintaining your home network even when the power goes out and providing extensive privacy settings. Let’s go into why it’s the best new security system out there.
General information
If you own your house or rent and want an extra layer of security that works even if your connection or power goes down, consider the Ring Alarm Pro.
The Alarm Pro is a replacement base station for existing Ring Alarm users. It provides a fallback to keep Wi-Fi operational in the event of a failure and enables local storage of recorded videos. Internet backup is an option, but it may get pricey fast because while the base $20/month subscription includes 3GB, every additional GB costs an additional $3.
Unlike other security systems, Ring Alarm Pro can function as a backup over the internet, and it interacts seamlessly with Eero. An essential feature of the original Alarm is now complete with the addition of local video storage and processing capabilities. It also makes the Alarm Pro a better choice for individuals with many Ring devices, and it syncs with other systems and products like Wyze, which lets you store files locally.
The base station
The base station is the heart of the Ring Alarm Pro system. It is noticeably bigger than the base station used by the previous generation of Ring alarms. It’s a big, white plastic square with rounded corners that sits on a table, and the status may be seen from the top LED ring.
The primary benefit of the Alarm Pro is that it also functions as an Eero 6 router. Ring supplies a USB-C cable and wall adapter for powering the device out of the box. You’ll find the Ethernet connectors and an SD card slot on the back. Ring claims that the backup battery, housed within the base station, may function for up to 24 hours.
In contrast to its predecessors, this base station must be close to the modem or the point where your internet connection enters your home. How so? You can ditch your router and use the Alarm Pro as the hub of your mesh Wi-Fi network. You’ll need it close by to finish the installation and connect the Alarm Pro’s Ethernet cable.
The Alarm Pro incorporates a fully functional Eero 6 mesh router. This router is faster than the one your cable company gives you for free because it supports Wi-Fi 6 and has two different bands your devices can connect to (2.5GHz and 5GHz). The Eero 6 system is compatible with Ring Alarm Pro, making it simple to increase your network’s coverage or incorporate the latter into an existing setup.
We powered up the Ring Alarm Pro and used the Ring app to scan the QR code for the initial setup. To make it the primary Wi-Fi node, we were sent to the Eero app after being invited to connect it to the modem’s Ethernet. We already used an Eero 6 Pro system in our demo house, so this was an ideal upgrade. However, a hiccup required us to unplug and replug the Ring Alarm Pro’s power supply base station. In a matter of minutes, we had that part of the setup completed, and we were handed off from the Eero app to the Ring app. After that, you can add as many sensors as you like. If you’re switching to this latest base station, it will automatically import all of your existing sensors and configurations.
The setup is simple in either case. If this is an entirely new system, it will guide you through the process step by step, asking what you want to set up before installing it. The app will ensure everything transfers without a hitch if you only replace the base station.
The security
Like the original Ring Alarm, the Alarm Pro’s primary role is to ensure you’re aware and secure. Thanks to its usage of the same sensors as its predecessor, it’s a great upgrade option. It offers the same solid performance we observed in our tests. Not only did sensor alerts accurately reflect the current state, but they were updated within seconds of a change being detected.
There is much room for personalization, and we like that the sensor can reflect that. Overall, Ring Alarm is an excellent preventative security measure.
These motion, touch, and glass break sensors provide reliable communication and rarely fail. After utilizing the identical sensors from the second-generation kit with the new base station for over a year, we have only experienced one bad trip from a sensor. The flexibility of the Ring Alarm kit means that it may be tailored to your specific needs.
For instance, you can install a touch sensor on each and every window if you desire. Alternatively, you may decide to install a few touch sensors and a glass break detector. All of them communicate via the base station, and a range extender can be used to cover a greater area. You can pair Ring Alarm with other devices like wall sensors and door locks for an intelligent house. The rest of the Ring line is compatible as well.
Because the Alarm Pro serves as the primary router, it can remain connected to the internet via its built-in cellular modem, whether used alone or as part of an Eero mesh network. The base station includes a backup battery that can be activated during a power outage or if your internet service provider (ISP) goes down.
For just $20 per month, you can subscribe to the Pro Protect Plan and receive round-the-clock monitoring in addition to this cloud-based data storage service. The included 3GB of data will be consumed quickly, especially if you set your Wi-Fi to automatically connect “LTE Internet” to any and all devices connected. Ring offers more bandwidth for $3, but be wary of this and be selective of which devices you allow access to.
We put this backup to the test by cutting electricity to our modem, and the transition to cellular data occurred almost instantly. Although it is slower than a FiOS gigabit connection, it is still sufficient for most online activities. Perhaps some of our “smart house” features would still be operational today if we had this set up before Hurricane Ida or a significant power outage. In the same way that monitoring the real security system does, this provides further comfort.
Video storage
The other major update to Alarm Pro is the addition of local video storage, formally known as “Ring Edge,” which lets you save footage from cameras and doorbells to an SD card. We recommend the $20 monthly Ring Protect Pro subscription for features such as internet backup and 24/7 monitoring. Even though we don’t like that it’s behind a price, Ring makes it more appealing by including Eero Secure+.
Furthermore, this step prioritizes privacy and openness, which is especially important considering Ring’s checkered history with recordings. Your network is the only place where the videos go, and any processing or identification of what might be in the shot also happens locally. Nothing is uploaded to the cloud, and none of our tests showed any lag in delivering video, pre-roll, or motion alerts.
The amount of space required to store these recordings is proportional to the number of linked cameras and the quality of the recordings. The combined footage from quad cameras and a doorbell took up 20% of a 64GB SD card in just over two weeks. If it fills up, you may either schedule automatic deletion of the video or access it yourself to remove it. No SD card is included with the Ring package, unfortunately.
The apps
The Ring Alarm Pro’s reliance on the Ring and Eero apps is a potential drawback. Even though Amazon owns both brands, each stands on its own. The Ring app is where you’ll keep tabs on your security systems (alarm, camera, and doorbells), while Eero is where you’ll keep track of your network and connected devices.
Getting the base station on the internet during setup also requires visiting Eero. You’ll have to stick around in the app to decide which devices will be granted access to “LTE Data.” It’s important to stress this point once more, as you might not require every gadget online during an internet outage, and some of these gadgets may consume quite a lot of data.
Final words
While Ring Alarm Pro doesn’t alter your alarm’s functionality much, it does provide an extra layer of security for your home. Ring’s backup won’t just keep the alarm going if the power goes out or the internet goes down; it may also keep your Wi-Fi network alive. Since videos may be stored locally and reviewed on the device, Alarm Pro is a huge victory for privacy.
In addition, it has some of the most adaptable sensors we’ve tested and provides superb home monitoring. Additionally, the price of upgrading to Pro for new users isn’t excessively high. Compared to the Alarm Pro’s reduced price of $299.99, the base Ring Alarm eight-piece package costs only $249.99. If you own an Eero system already, spending the extra $50 on this will be a no-brainer because it will improve your network’s performance.
For those who already have Ring Alarm, the two primary advantages will need to be considered. Video recordings may be saved locally, a fantastic added feature for Ring cameras and the Ring doorbell because it provides you more control. In addition, the Alarm Pro can get you online even if you lose power or your service provider. The Pro Base Station is $249.99 and requires a $20 monthly subscription.
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