Is the Ring Indoor Camera Wireless? Yes and No...

Author
Recent Posts

Gained early experience with automation technology in the private and industrial sector, can turn his living room into a movie theater with one voice command and is the owner of this website. He is happy to share his accumulated experience with every new article.

How does wireless communication work?

Communication between two devices can be done in two ways: with or without cables. Think of the first PCs: they also had cables to connect to other PCs. Optionally, they had to be connected to a modem, which in turn had to be connected to the telephone line.

Wireless is not a new invention: The first wireless communication was radio! Our mobile phones are also wireless.

We use different types of transmission for this, for example electromagnetic waves and acoustic signals.

Surely you could install an Ethernet interface on every cam, then you could also use a LAN cable. But what for? Since there is WLAN, this is superfluous. Your smartphone uses Wi-Fi, you probably have it all over the house, so why add another cable?

Examples of other wirelessly functioning devices

Tablet
Smart household devices, for example Echo speakers
Notebook via Wi-Fi

Already the connection to the socket limits a little bit the freedom of mounting the Ring Indoor Cam. Unfortunately, this cannot be avoided, because the cam needs electricity.

But wireless is not just there, it has several advantages. For example, WLAN is significantly cheaper than the network connection via cable. In addition, the networked devices are much more mobile. Imagine your smartphone with a cable – that’s not possible!

The third advantage is crucial for small, compact models like Ring’s Indoor Cam. If it had an Ethernet port, it would probably have to be larger.

This is one of the main reasons why modern surveillance cameras work via WLAN!

Advantages of a wireless cam in general

Devices remain small
WLAN available practically everywhere
this will not cost you any extra
inexpensive technology makes the devices also inexpensive
no dependence on network cable
no limit on data volume

What are IP cameras?

Such a surveillance camera simply doesn’t make sense if you don’t connect it to a network. Because it communicates with the network via Internet Protocol (IP) nowadays, we also call such cameras IP cameras.

If you look at it more closely, the camera first communicates with the Internet protocol. Your WLAN at home, i.e. your home network, does the same. Another name for IP camera is therefore network camera.

The Cam itself does not therefore have to be part of the Internet, but it communicates via it. It is therefore often considered part of the Internet of Things (IoT).

The technology of the network includes all devices that you need to use the Indoor Cam. In addition to the cam, this is your smartphone. Alternatively, a PC with a screen or an external display, for example on the Echo Show. Of course, you should also have the technology for the WLAN itself!

Freedom of location

Along with all of these things, it doesn’t really matter where you hang a Ring Indoor Cam. It’ll work on a nursery shelf as well as on the ceiling in the hallway or on the wall in the living room. Provided always that you have the network to operate it with Wi-Fi.

Data processing

Wireless cams like the Ring Indoor Cam also make the processed data instantly available. You can access it immediately after you receive an alarm. So not only from anywhere, but also very quickly! The data is either stored in the cloud or on an internal SD card in other models.

How does the Ring Indoor Cam work?

Back to the cam: It has a motion detector inside. If it detects movement, it sends an alarm to the user’s mobile phone.

This also requires the Ring app. With its help, users can control the surveillance camera, change settings and get help with the setup.

Useful features include night vision, motion alert, motion zone restriction, person-only detection, and more.

Probably most important is the motion detector inside. This cam really only activates when something happens that it senses: Is a window opening somewhere? Is your dog messing around in your absence?

Of course, you could also transfer all this via LAN cable. Then the cam would be even better prepared for problems once your WLAN fails.

Nevertheless, the developers of the Ring company have of course thought of something with the wireless variant! They have seen all the advantages that a cheap indoor surveillance camera brings.

It is easier to handle than professional models. You will also find the most important functions here, more is hardly needed in the private sector.

By connecting it to other smart devices, you can build a smart home that is perfectly tailored to you and your needs.

What’s the point of knowing that?

So you can find the cam that suits you! You should therefore already know a little about the terms. We have already explained that a network camera can also work with LAN.

Each network camera is therefore IP-capable. It is connected via LAN or WLAN (= IP surveillance camera = IP camera).

The video surveillance works with the help of a network.

It can also be a dedicated network especially for this purpose! Professional facilities use this by connecting several cameras together.

Of course, you can also do this with the help of Alexa. Then the network is your home network = WLAN.

Your advantages of a network camera:

a) Easy installation Plug and Play:

The network automatically detects the Ring Indoor Cam. If you already use other Amazon smart devices, you can control them through Alexa.

Be sure to download the Ring app as well, if you haven’t already. You’ll need it to set up and adjust the settings.

b) Video stream via mobile device:

In case of messages, simply call up the cam on your smartphone. If you have a device with a display and Alexa, command the voice assistant to show you the camera. A possible command for this is: Alexa, show me the ring camera!

(c) thus be accessible from anywhere, if necessary:

Are you sitting on the train, in the office? Or on the beach on the other side of the world? Even there, if you have a network, you can monitor your home!

d) The device only needs power:

Unfortunately, it is not possible without a cable, because the Ring Indoor Cam does not run on battery power. So if you read the term “wired” somewhere and then wonder: This means the connection to the mains!

Are there any downsides to wireless cams?

Like all things, wireless cams have drawbacks. However, in the case of the Ring Indoor Cam, the main drawbacks are not dramatic.

Disadvantage 1) Transmission speed

In general, the transmission speed is a bit slower than it would be with comparable LAN models. However, this is not a real problem.

Pretty much every household now has the 2 MBit/s upload in the WLAN that the manufacturer Ring recommends. Especially since 1 MBit/s should be enough!

Disadvantage 2) WLAN interruptions possible

Wi-Fi is more susceptible to interference. In addition, problems can occur if a device is located far away from the Wi-Fi source. But here too, something can be done with the Ring Indoor Cam:

The remedy is the separate purchase of Chime Pro. This not only works as an acoustic door chime, but also as a WLAN amplifier!

And what about the security of wireless devices?

The security depends on that of the network. Of course, you register the Ring Indoor Cam in the network. For this you need the password, which you should handle as carefully as any other password.

So you should always make sure that no unauthorized person hacks into your network – otherwise he could also access the cam! This problem does not only exist with wireless cameras, but with every network camera.

With ring and two-way authentication to more security

In 2020, the manufacturer Ring already made sure that there is two-way authentication for Ring cameras. It is no longer enough to log in with a password, you will also be sent a code, without which the cam will not run!

Ring also offers this option for the Ring Indoor Cam. This is how it works:

When you first set it up, you’ll need to access a Ring account.
There you enter the code that the company will send to your mobile phone upon request.

Please note that this will not change your settings in the Cam. You won’t be prompted to do this every time you get a new alert and want to access the Ring app.

This does not make the communication of the wireless cam more difficult – but much more secure!

Conclusion: Ring Indoor Cam is wireless!

This indoor camera from Ring is a network camera. As part of the home network, it communicates with other smart devices. It doesn’t need a cable for that.

Therefore, it is wireless in the classic sense. It can’t do anything else: there is no LAN connection. But it has all the advantages of a wireless camera: small and fast data transmission, it can be controlled from anywhere in the world.

Check Price:

AMAZON*

Attention: When installing electronic equipment, please be sure to observe the manufacturer’s safety instructions. You have to take care of your own safety. The information on this site only helps you to learn.
Disclosure: This website is the property of Martin Lütkemeyer and is operated by Martin Lütkemeyer. Martin Lütkemeyer is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Affiliate Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to enable Web sites to earn advertising revenue through advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Links marked with * are affiliate links.

Is the Ring Indoor Camera Wireless? Yes and No…