Ring Video Doorbell Pro Review and Setup with Wink Hub 2.0

Today I’m going to do something that I personally have no reason to do. Well, that’s not entirely true.  One of the first devices I installed in my smart home was a video doorbell.

At the time, the only video doorbell on the market with true HD video was the SkyBell.

And I should say that I’m very happy with my SkyBell, so there really is no reason to replace it.

But I get a lot of questions about the Ring Video Doorbell, so I decided move to the Ring just so I could make this video.

And, for the record, I don’t accept paid endorsements for these videos, and I personally purchased my Ring Pro. The product links are, however, affiliate links, and in some circumstances, I receive commissions when products are purchased through these links.

The holidays are rapidly approaching, and reports of package theft is out of control. Video doorbells are a great way to keep an eye on your front porch.

All of the video doorbells that I have looked at offer motion detection, real time video and two-way voice. You can access all of these features from your smart phone.

All of this is true for the Ring. But one of the features that convinced me to switch to the Ring was the integration with the Wink Hub. A quick review of the SmartThings website shows that this doorbell is also support by Samsung as well.

Let’s get this unpacked and installed, and then we will cover how you can enhance your security with the Ring Pro.

When you open the box, you will see the Ring Pro, a screwdriver, and three additional faceplates. Under the Ring, you will see a doorbell kit. This acts as a power booster for the night vision function, and will need to be installed at the chime inside the home.

Ring provides these handy speed splices for the interior wiring. You will also find exterior splices and jumpers just in case you need them outside at the push button. Under the screwdriver you will find a drill bit. This is just in case you need to mount the Ring Pro in a brick or stucco wall.

Now, this next piece is very important. The Ring Pro is only compatible with digital chimes or mechanical bells. If you have an older mechanical chime, pay close attention. This doorbell will only work in situations where the doorbell switch completes the circuit from the transformer to the chime.

To figure this out, you will need to look at your doorbell chime. If you see a layout with two wires, clearly labeled Transformer and Front, you should be in the clear. Here’s what’s happening. Somewhere in your house there is a 16 – 24 volt AC transformer. It’s usually located near your furnace, water heater, or in the garage somewhere. One wire from the transformer runs to directly to the chime, the other to the doorbell switch. In some cases, both wires run to the chime, and one is spliced and sent back out to the front door switch.

The wire from the switch completes the circuit and returns to the terminal lug labeled Front.

If your doorbell uses the power from the transformer to power the chime constantly, and a separate circuit to detect the the pushbutton then the Ring is not compatible. The Ring does not like to share transformer power. It must be in control.

This is easily fixed by purchasing a new doorbell, which you must do if you want the Ring to actually make your doorbell ring. <that just feels redundant> The Ring Pro does have an option not use an actual bell or chime. This is setup in the app.

I’m not going to go through the setup process. Ring makes one of the best setup videos I’ve ever seen, and I have a link to that video in the comments below.