Question

I have a couple Ring cameras, but I do not have the Ring alarm system. My mailbox is close to the street and it is impossible to trigger recording if someone approaches my mailbox without recording every car that drives by. I was thinking I could put a door sensor on my mailbox to let me know if someone opened the mailbox and then just record on that event. Our neighborhood is having problems with people stealing mail. If I bought the door sensor and put it on my mailbox could I have it trigger my camera to record? Do I need to also purchase the base unit? I don’t think I want any other alarm components, if I have to buy the base unit can I get it alone or do I need a full system? What is the smallest system available? Thank you.  

Answer 1

Type “mailbox” in the search box for this FB page, a few ideas have been posted.  

Answer 2

Hi, @syck7543! Unfortunately, you would have to purchase the base unit and more than likely an extender from Ring to reach the mailbox. The good news is that you can order the base station, extender, and contact ala cart, without having to purchase the whole system.  

Answer 3

Maybe a steplight for the back of the mailbox. Kind of a motion detection / light combo approach. Then I would only have to purchase a bridge in addition to the steplight to get it to work. Anyone try this approach? Could I tell the camera to record when the steplight detects motion?  

Comments

@syck7543 that would work . I actually did that . when the pathway light detected motion I linked it to my doorbell camera and floodlight camera to start recording as soon as the pathway light detected motion

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I switched it though because like u i wanted to know when the mailbox was opened . so I put a peephole cam on the back of my mailbox and linked it to the front doorbell and side floodlight . I used the peephole cam because it has knock detection so it lets me know when it’s opened. plus i get a view on the doorbell of the people coming to my door and down my driveway well before they get to my door since they are linked together

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This is what I did too, works great

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J. T. Schlotman yes its awesome , I love it

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@myongmyopia is the peep hole cam a Ring product or something different? Does it integrate with Ring?  

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@syck7543 yes it’s a ring product . It’s meant for people who don’t have a traditional doorbell . they put it where their peephole in their door would go. but I put mine on the back of my mailbox by drilling a hole on the back

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@myongmyopia very clever!  

Answer 4

So I think I either need an alarm base with a door contact OR a lighting bridge with a steplight. So maybe the question is, which is better and does anyone have experience with either approach?  

Answer 5

There a a few less expensive solutions than the Ring Alarm if all you need is to be notified if someone opens your mailbox. I am not aware of a way a sensor triggers a Ring camera to record. You could purchase a base station and one sensor . Set the sensor to chime the base and notify you if it’s been tripped. That would give you the notification you want. The concern for this would be the distance from the mailbox to the base and the fact the sensor is enclosed in the mailbox. Distance and perhaps the metal of the box would hinder it unreliable.  

Answer 6

Here is posible solution $45 on Amazon

Answer 7

Get a locking mailbox