Ring Video Doorbell Cold Weather Charging

This is a follow-up to an earlier post I made concerning the cold weather performance of the original Ring Video Doorbell. I have had the opportunity to observe the behavior of both the original Ring (i.e., the non “Pro”) and the Pro versions through several cycles of very cold (down to -30C) weather over the past two years, and I can now draw some conclusions.

Background information:

I have both the original Ring and the Ring Pro
The original Ring is hardwired to my mechanical chime doorbell
The Ring Pro is hardwired to my mechanical chime doorbell
The voltage at each doorbell is in the 19-20 VAC range (Klein CL1000 portable DVM)

Conclusions:

The Ring Pro doorbell seems unaffected by external temperature.  It operates properly even through prolonged stretches (10 days or more) of -20C to -30C outdoor temperatures.

The original Ring doorbell … Read More »

NEST Thermostat Network Isolation

With the proliferation of IoT (Internet of Things) objects such as smart thermostats, sensors of all kings, video cameras, video doorbells, light bulbs, media hubs and the like it comes as no surprise that security problems are cropping up.  These IoT devices are proving to be a door through which malicious software can gain direct access to your home network behind your router.  An excellent summary of the potential security problems with IoT devices can be found here InfoSec Resources Iot Security Summary.   The takeaway is that these devices are vulnerable, and attackers can use them to penetrate your home network.  Once an attacker gains access to the network behind your router, they have the “keys to the kingdom”.  What is the solution?  As usual with home network security, there are several solutions ranging from relatively … Read More »

Ring Video Doorbell Cold Weather Charging Problem and Solution

I installed a Ring Video Doorbell (RVD) last spring (2015) and overall, I am quite happy with the utility and performance of the unit. Like any new IoT (Internet of Things) device there will be issues, growing pains and problems to be solved.  This post concerns the cold weather performance of the Ring Video Doorbell.

There are several relevant background points:

The Ring Video Doorbell is installed hardwired
The Ring Video Doorbell charges from the wiring above about -19C (-2F)
The Ring Video Doorbell is installed in a single family residence with the camera facing the street
The Ring Video Doorbell wireless signal has to penetrate wire mesh stucco and several walls to get to my router

Initially, I had my RVD motion settings to maximum sensitivity (30 ft radius) and “Standard” Alert frequency.  This meant I was … Read More »