Update: See the video. It looks as if these two are dressed as plumbers but the only tool they carry is a drill. They wear black rubber gloves because California this time of year is so breezy. I ran this by three expert opinions.
1 - a plumber) No tool belts, no tools except for the drill, no holster for the drill. These are burglars not plumbers
2 - the cops) Every detail is consistent with burglary. Do not treat this as a joke or prank.
3 - Ring customer service) The video and audio are coming out great! Those are burglars.
I called the plumbing company. Yes they had staff on the job at my location that day. But, it was an outside line that needed work. The only reason for anyone to knock on a door would be to get access to a power line. No electrical extension cords on these two. I conclude this plumbing company has a criminal ring inside of it. The cover story is they are just a bunch of jokers. Management is not clueless but they are afraid of going out of business and unable to handle the situation.
Out of some sense of kindness to the company, I've withheld the name, BUT they are located in the Bay Area. If you are a local resident and would like to follow through contact me directly lindy.cheng@gmail.com
Moral of the story: I went and purchased two Ring Security Cameras. One for each bozo.
End update
I had my troubles getting the Ring Video Doorbell to run smoothly. I finally traced my troubles to my VPN. Shut down your VPN and the setup goes smoothly (more or less).
Next when I went to mount the doorbell, the only bolts that fit were too short to reach the mounting bracket. So, i put the video doorbell in the closet, and by pure luck aimed it at the door handle for the front door. It stayed there for over a week.
During the week, I managed to cry a bunch on Peter's shoulder, Ring's Customer Service Angel. Because during all these weeks of trying to set up Ring, the O-Beast, my very own personal stalker had tried to break in twice (that I could detect) and the stress had gotten to me. The truth is, by the time Peter appeared to fix things, the equipment was WORKING but I was so stressed out I couldn't figure out simple things - like how to mount the Ring Video doorbell without the correct bolts.
Peter got to work and did he pull off a doozy. He set up an more advanced configuration of sensors so I could keep windows open. With so many sensors, the software can't keep up with all the possibilities! But the new versions are coming! Even limited to current software, the option to keep window and patio doors cracked open but alarmed has made a huge difference in livability.
But here's the big one: I had completely forgotten about my smoke & carbon monoxide detector. It was old and needed replacing. It didn't occur to me my O-Beast might try and set the place on fire. Since many of my evening medications are sedatives this kind of attack means CERTAIN DEATH. I would die of smoke inhalation before I woke up. But the Ring fire alarms goes straight to the fire station.
May I respectfully advise everyone who uses sedative medications to PLEASE GET AN ALARM that ALERTS the FIRe DEPARTMENT DIRECTLY!!! You don't want to wake up dead.
Meanwhile, forgotten in the closet the Ring doorbell had dutifully recorded my passing feet...exits/entry. And two mysterious events. At 1:30 AM and then at 5 AM on two very different days, something triggered the Ring doorbell and it recorded something for over two minutes each time. Unfortunately, the resolution is too low (it's near pitch dark) and the audio pickup too faint. There are no other incidents which occur this late at night. My best guess, there is PLENTY of other evidence which shows someone has been trying to pick my lock using the credit card method. My previous doorknob was worn down useless, my weatherstripping around the locks *only* was in tatters. In fact, I listened to her do this for one night but she ran too quickly for me to wake up enough to do anything sensible like chase after her.
Even though I only put it up today (I decided to skip the "right" equipment and just use JB Weld Steelstik - metal epoxy). The camera has been working great on everyday tests.
I suspect I'll have results before the week is out.
Update, Sept. 2, 2018
The Treasure Truck is a great deal!
But it sure don't give you time to research before you're forced to make a buy decision.
About Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) - the RSSI number indicates the strength of a wireless signal with zero being perfect and -100 worthless. If you routinely experience trouble viewing video, since the Ring video is HD, you need a better signal. Signs of bad signal, B&W video in daylight, you get motion detection but the video hesitates and may not turn on all.
The reason why my wireless signal is pathetic is because I live in Silicon Valley in a huge apartment complex. Everyone has souped up wireless except me.
First - download a wireless analyser app and check your environment. 15 or so wireless networks with stronger signals than yours is bad news.
Second - move your router closer to the video doorbell. It's worth trying.
Third - The Ring video doorbell will alert the app but it won't alert the base station. You may want a Ring Chime or Chime Pro. The Chime Pro will extend the wireless signal while chiming every time the video doorbell gives the alert. The doorbell operates much more like a doorbell.
Finally, Costco has their usual get-a-deal-if-you-buy-the-economy size on Ring security devices. I found the prices fair but the packages were much more thoughtfully sized for a small apartment. It comes with equipment that I wasn't sure was necessary but I'm discovering is essential.
Update: Dec. 2018 Sometimes old-fashioned is as good as anything
It looks like the O-Beast is up and raring to go for the holiday season. On Thanksgiving day roundabouts dinner time and 11:30 PM. I got home, dis-armed the Ring alarm to enter. Then when I tried to re-arm it, it kept telling me "a sensor is out of place". One by one I checked my two windows and two doors. I tracked it down to one window in particular. It was less than 1/4" out of place. The window had not opened any further because I'd cut wooden dowels to fit when I moved in. This was enough to break sensor contact but not enough to trigger the alarm; it takes 1/2" of movement to get the alarm.
Sigh, my windows are two stories up. At this, I was afflicted with a vision of the O-Beast up precariously, over 200 lbs of suet flapping in the breeze trying to break in. TMD. I would pay money to erase that.
I checked the windows again. The one with the dis-placed sensor had a strangely clean fly-screen. The window that read OK was just plain dirty with fierce dust bunnies defending it still. Huh. Too bad, the O-Beast hadn't cleaned the windows. I might have some forgiveness.
Why, oh why hadn't I put cameras on the windows?
Once you start putting up videocameras on your wireless network, you quickly realize that most routers can't handle it. Not only did I need a router that could push signal out far but it needs to handle large volumes of HD quality video. I was getting garbage when I tried to put cameras on the windows.
I wrote a really long email to Peter, my Ring Customer Service Angel describing the problem and he wrote an treatise on how to handle wireless for Ring.
Option 1) I can stick with the mandatory AT & T router and daisy-chain Chime Pros all the way out to the bedrooms. I guesstimate it would take 3 Chime Pros to throw the wireless out that far. This doesn't handle the AT&T routers issues with massive amounts of data. At Blk Friday prices, that would have been $150
Option 2) Get a better router: Peter recommended the Netgear Orbi's (high end solution) or the Netgear Nighthawk Dual Band series (lower cost solution). Both effective with Ring devices.
I ended up going with the Orbi because 1) my TV is about 5' away from the AT&T router and has trouble picking up the signal and 2) I ran into the Orbi RBK40 Blk Friday sale price ($200) and I just fell in love...with the specs, yah, ya. That's right, it was a cold decision based purely on performance (and looks and price. I'm just a calculatin machine I am.). Plus, it's not real clear that I'm done adding videocamera's to Ring. Higher end is safer for me.
Now, after Orbi, the RSSI signals from the video doorbells and cameras at the window are SWEET (RSSI's all around 30-ish)
and....
I ordered two more video cameras from Ring.
Why two more?
One for my window w/o a camera
and one for my door where I already have a video doorbell.
Huh?
The kind policeman explained it (yes, I have been known to roam the landscape searching for answers):
The two cameras protect each other. Mount them so each camera sees the other. When the crook tries to take out the first camera you have 1) evidence that a crime was committed, 2) enough $$$ damage that they can be prosecuted for something meaningful and put away and 3) Ring has a warranty on the video equipment. If the cameras are stolen (must file a police report) and if you get the 1-year protection plan ($100) then they will replace the stolen equipment.
And yeah, Ring just announced their series of *indoor* cameras. Sigh. Just as soon as I finish the outer Ring camera system, I'll have to think about the indoor Ring of cameras.
I sure hope I don't need more Orbi satellites....
Did I forget to mention that?
The base Orbi system can be extended beyond it's original 5000 sq ft specs....
And since the Ring system can support up to 99 devices...
I can probably get signal out to my car. On the freeway.
Don't laugh.
The O-Beast will trash my car if she thinks she can't get to me. This is the next logical step after the windows/patio door are denied her.
Luckily, she thinks she's a suuu-per geN-iUs. That's right. She thinks... I'm dinner?
I guess, she never actually paid attention to that show?
Gotta go build my Acme Beastie-Blaster specially designed for our automobile lifestyle. Beep-beep.
Remember the value of autos is automatically high enough to put her away. I just need a camera that can take video in all directions at once....