Ring plugin now support Ring smart lights and beam controllers

[jrhocker]

I have an existing security system now and didn't want to buy all new security devices to utilize the Ring alarm system. However, I may switch to the Ring alarm system down the road. It would be nice if it was all integrated.

Alternatively, there is (or will be in next drop) a disable/enable motion detection options for each camera, I would think that would do the trick, no?

Based on your description above, I think I can accomplish my wishes with the 'disable/enable' motion detection option in your next update. That sounds like a good way to go. I'll wait for the update and give it a try.

[dcorsus]

I have an existing security system now and didn't want to buy all new security devices to utilize the Ring alarm system.

Ok, now I understand. In this case you would make an event (or virtual device + event) to set/disable motion detection on all relevant cameras to "arm" or "disarm" them.
Close to releasing next version drop

[jrhocker]

I think you have me covered and I'm onboard. Will be unavailable for a couple of weeks. I'll test it when I get back. Thanks.

[jrhocker]

dcorsus This is probably off-topic.

I have been thinking about your PI and its advantages over what I currently have and have decided to switch my security system to Ring. I currently have an eero Pro 6 as my gateway. If I switch to the Ring Alarm Pro Base Station with built-in eero Wi-Fi 6 router, it appears to be only an eero 6 and not an eero pro 6 (which is a tri-band). From what I can tell, this is a step backwards for me and will limit my speed from today's performance.

My question to you is which Ring alarm base station are you using? I am thinking
short-term to go with the Ring Alarm (2nd generation) base station and then upgrade the Ring Alarm base station down the road.

[dcorsus]

dcorsus My question to you is which Ring alarm base station are you using? I am thinking
short-term to go with the Ring Alarm (2nd generation) base station and then upgrade the Ring Alarm base station down the road.

There is a difference of what I have and what I use.

I have 2 doorbells, 3 chimes and 2 floodlights that I've had for a few years and I wanted to get control over (especially turning the floodlights on when I want), so I began writing the plugin. Whilst I learned about these ring devices and was thinking about making this plugin available for others, I felt I needed to add control of alarm components from Ring as well, so I bought a Ring Alarm kit (Base stations, keypad, motion sensor, window/door sensor, range extender). So I have alarm components but I only use them to develop the functions of the plugin. Subsequently I bought some smart lighting components and a stickup Camera, purely for development purposes.

One of the folks testing this plugin has an alarm pro and he was so kind to send me capture information so I learned about that Ring device that way, and added support as well.

A few observations:

1. I really like the simplicity of the Ring alarm component and I would seriously consider next time I need an alarm system to go that route and I wasn't aware you simply add professional monitoring to the capability by a few clicks on your Ring App.

2. The Pro Alarm hub looks like quite the Swiss Army Knife, supporting a wide range of interface, besides the zwave interface for the sensors etc., as you stated, it has a wifi AP (eero 6), it natively can control Ring smart lighting and it has this ability to add additional batteries in a stacked fashion. All quite impressive. What I learned over the years, is that technology changes so rapidly, especially with WAPs, that if you buy a device that has a lot of functions crammed into one, the chance that constantly, one of those functions have changed and you want to upgrade them, now you're stuck (a bit). Secondly there is location of this device. if you have something that has z-wave, Wifi6 and whatever they use for the smart lighting (suspect zigbee), where do you put it to be central to all the different devices it supports? So I prefer to use dedicated devices (WAP, ZNET Controller..) and place them where they need to be, whilst keeping "controllers" more central and easily accessible. Counter arguing my own argument, if you live in a small(er) apartment or condo, a device like this might be exactly what you want

Just my $0.02

[jrhocker]

Thanks for the feedback. I am looking forward to getting the alarm system and using the features in the next update.

[dcorsus]

V1.0.0.10 just posted. Recommend you upgrade and then use the "delete all devices" to start from scratch