Does Ring Alarm Work Without Wi-Fi?

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Some individuals are unable to have a decent wi-fi network and this should not stop them from purchasing a Ring Alarm and protecting their family and property.

Does Ring Alarm work without wi-fi? It can work without wi-fi, but only during a certain time constraint. The Ring Alarm has cellular and battery backup. This means that if you already have wi-fi and the power gets knocked out, either two of these backups will kick in, but for only 24 hours at a time.

In order for you to access all of the features in a Ring Alarm system, you have to be connected to wi-fi. Without wi-fi, you are unable to control your device when you need to. So, what happens during the cellular and battery backup?

When Your Ring Alarm Has to Work Without Wi-Fi

Should the power go out in your home, you want to still feel as though you are protected at all times. The Ring Alarm has the option of being connected to 2.4 or 5 GHz wi-fi or an Ethernet connection. There are measures in place to make sure that things continue to stay in order.

  1. Cellular Backup
  2. Battery Backup

Cellular Backup

For a cellular backup to kick in, you need a Ring Protect Plus plan. The Ring Protect Plus plan lets you have the option of enabling the 24/7 Ring Alarm Professional Monitoring and LTE cellular backup. This LTE cellular service is provided by AT&T and you do not need to be a customer of AT&T to have this backup plan.

So, whenever your Ring Alarm’s Base Station loses its connection to the Internet, the cellular backup system will turn on for 24 hours only.

Read about if the Ring Alarm is smash proof or not!

Battery Backup

With your Ring Alarm Security Kit, your base station will have a battery backup that will keep your alarm system continuously running for 15 minutes with no hiccups. If someone accidentally trips over the base station and it becomes unplugged there is no need to worry.

Now, after your 15-minute window, your base station will still look after your sensors and send any alarm signals if needed for 24 hours. However, the base station will choose self-preservation of its battery and shut down any other features that are not needed.

Should the battery backup kick in, in your Ring app, the battery icon on your base station’s device details page will show you that it has been activated. The base station will also tell you when this happens by flashing a yellow power icon.

Once the power comes on again, you do not need to worry about the battery itself. The base station will recharge it to its fullest power.

Related Post: Ring Alarm Guide – Setup, Tips, Tricks, Troubleshooting

Ring Alarm Security System Battery Life

For each device that is a part of the Ring Alarm Security System, there is a battery that has a certain lifespan depending on the usage. The lifespans for each Ring Alarm Security device are:

  • Ring Alarm Base Station: The hub for your Ring Alarm has an Internal rechargeable battery that can last up to 24-hours if the base station has been unplugged or the power has been knocked out.
  • Ring Alarm Contact Sensor: These sensors are the sensors that are on your entry points. They use a 3V Lithium battery that comes with it, which can last up to 3 years. If you live in an area that has cold temperatures, this could affect the drain on your battery life.
  • Ring Alarm Keypad: Used for activating your security modes. This keypad uses an Internal rechargeable battery that has a potential battery life of 7 months. It is recommended that you use the power save settings when you can.
  • Ring Alarm Range Extender: Helps to push the signal to further Ring Alarm devices in your home. The extender uses an internal rechargeable battery that has 22 hours of battery life if it is unplugged.
  • Ring Alarm Motion Detector: The motion detector sits in a corner of your home. It uses a 3V Lithium battery that can last up to 3 years.  
  • Ring Alarm Panic Button: Use for when you need immediate help. This button has a 3V Lithium battery that also lasts for 3 years.

Can the Ring Alarm Base Station Stay Unplugged?

The location of your base station is important. The reason being is that, yes, your base station needs to be plugged in at all times. The base station will continue to lose battery power in a 24-hour window if it is not plugged in.

When you do not have your base station plugged in, your battery will drain, and you will then lose the connection to your Ring Alarm. Even though your sensors may work, this will prevent your Ring Alarm from sending a signal and your home will no longer be protected.

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