How Does the Ring Alarm Range Extender Work?

Ring Alarm devices connect to the Base Station using Z-Wave. If you have a large home, the Base Station may not be able to communicate with all your devices. The Ring Alarm Range Extender can help solve this problem, so below is some information on how this device works.

The Ring Alarm Range Extender increases the range of the Base Station’s Z-Wave connection so that it can reach all the Ring Alarm devices in a home; this is ideal for large and multi-story homes. The Range Extender plugs into a wall outlet and has a maximum range of 250 feet.

There are a lot more details to learn to fully understand how the Ring Alarm Range Extender works. For example, you will want to know how to set up your Range Extender. You may also want to see if it works with your other Ring devices.

About the Ring Alarm Range Extender

All Ring Alarm devices must communicate with the Base Station to function properly. The Base Station’s Z-Wave connection reaches up to 250 feet without a Range Extender. This range may be reduced by physical obstructions such as walls or large pieces of furniture.

If obstructions are interfering with your Ring Alarm connections or you have a large home, you can use a Ring Alarm Range Extender. It will extend the connection from your Base Station to ensure all your Ring Alarm devices function properly.

The Range Extender and the Base Station both have a 24-hour backup battery, so if your power goes out, your home will still be protected.

How Far Does the Ring Range Extender Reach?

The Range Extender can be installed up to 250 feet away from the Base Station and can reach up to an additional 250 feet. This means that the Range Extender can double the reach of your Base Station, giving the Z-Wave network a maximum range of 500 feet.

Keep in mind that 500 feet is the maximum range without any obstructions. The layout of your home or business may reduce this range.

Setting Up the Range Extender

The Ring Alarm Range Extender is easy to set up using the steps below:

1. Plug your Range Extender into a wall outlet that is about halfway between your Base Station and the Ring Alarm device that is the furthest away from the Base Station.
2. Disarm your Ring Alarm.
3. In the Ring app on your phone or tablet, select “Menu.”
4. Tap “Set Up a Device.”
5. Tap “Security Devices.”
6. Choose “Range Extender.”
7. Follow the steps on your screen to complete the setup process.

If you have a large or multi-story home, you may need to experiment by plugging the Range Extender into different wall outlets to find the location that gives all your Ring Alarm devices the best connection.

Once your Range Extender is set up in the Ring app, you can move it between any of the outlets in your home without having to set it up again.

How Much Wi-Fi Bandwidth Will My Ring Alarm Require?

Ring Alarm’s Base Station connects to your home’s Wi-Fi to send notifications to you and emergency services when needed. Because all other Ring Alarm devices connect using Z-Wave instead of Wi-Fi, your Ring Alarm system doesn’t require a lot of Wi-Fi bandwidth.

Ring recommends 2 Mbps of upload and download bandwidth for your Ring Base Station. Click here to check your Wi-Fi bandwidth. 

The Base Station can connect using a 2.4 or 5 GHz network. You can also connect your Base Station using an ethernet cable for a more stable connection.

Will I Need a Separate Subscription for the Ring Alarm Extender?

The Ring Protect Plus subscription plan covers all your Ring devices at a single location, so it will automatically include your Range Extender. You will not have to make any changes to your subscription.

The cheaper Ring Protect Basic only covers one device, so it will not cover your Range Extender. Professional monitoring is also not available with the Protect Basic plan, so if you have a Ring Alarm, we recommend the Protect Plus plan.

Check out this article for more information about Ring’s subscription plans.

Ring Doorbells and Cameras

The Range Extender only works with Ring Alarm devices. It does not work with other Ring devices such as Ring video doorbells or cameras.

Ring doorbells and cameras connect using Wi-Fi rather than Z-Wave. If you want to extend your home’s Wi-Fi signal to reach all your Ring doorbells or cameras, you can purchase a Ring Chime Pro using this link.

The Ring Chime Pro has the following features:

• Extends your home’s Wi-Fi signal up to 2,000 square feet
• Chimes when motion is detected and when your doorbell rings
• Has a built-in automatic night light
• Plugs into a wall outlet for easy setup
• Can connect using a 2.4 or 5.0 GHz network

In Summary

Use the Ring Alarm Range Extender to double the reach of your Base Station’s Z-Wave network from 250 feet to 500 feet. The Range Extender is extremely easy to set up; all you have to do is plug it into a wall outlet and add the device in the Ring app. It’s also included with your Ring Protect Plus subscription plan.