Does a Ring Thermostat Exist? Integrating a Thermostat in your Smart Home

Smart voice recognition services like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa have drastically changed how we operate our home life. Now more than ever, we are creeping into the world of the Jetsons, where at home automation and connected technology can control almost everything we desire with nothing more than a simple voice command. If you’re someone who loves the Ring Product and are looking for a Ring Thermostat, then you’ve probably had a hard time finding it.  

Take heating your home, for example. There are so many smart assistants that can operate and control most of your devices, so why not a ring thermostat?

It only makes sense that a native device made by Ring can operate and communicate with your front door camera and home heating/cooling system. The company already produces so many great products. So why not add a quick and easy way to integrate your ring device with your smart thermostat?

 

Is there a Ring Thermostat?

Unfortunately, the answer is no. While Ring doorbell is widely a popular selection for many people, there currently is no explicit Ring Thermostat smart device that you can install in your home. The good news is some workarounds act as a bridge between your smart thermostat device that will work with your Google Voice Assistant or Amazon Alexa and some Ring products.

The real goal is to create a third-party solution for using a single Ring app on your mobile device to control everything in your home. We’ve collected some of the best methods to integrate your smart thermostat devices and Ring cameras, so you don’t have to flip through endless apps to make everything work the way you want.

 

Amazon Alexa with Echo Show

It is super convenient to add Ring devices with Amazon Alexa smart platforms. Almost all Amazon devices will communicate with each other, but the Echo Show is our favorite. This wireless device fits easily into the corner of your kitchen, home office, garage, or even in your bedroom. In addition, the Alexa virtual assistant is highly adaptable and provides you with the most options for utilizing your Ring cameras.

Before you can utilize a smart thermostat with Alexa, you need to set up your Ring Camera so your app can control the settings. Once you’ve done that, you can communicate with thermostats like the Nest, Ecobee, Honeywell, Lux, and Sensi.

 

Simple Instructions for Connecting a Smart Thermostat to Alexa

1. Open the Alexa app (Amazon Account required)
2. Tap the menu icon (3 bars) in the upper left corner.
3. Select Skill & Games.
4. Find your device and select
5. Enable Skills and Games. You might have to allow/deny some permissions.
6. Choose and add your devices through the Discover button, or say, “Alexa, discover my devices.”
7. Finish your setup by following the rest of the on-screen steps.

 

About Amazon Echo Show

The Amazon Echo Show is a complete multi-media smart device that leverages Amazon voice assistant Alexa for practically everything. It has an 8” HD display with a camera and double speakers. You can make voice calls, make notes to your shopping list, call up your favorite music, monitor security cameras or even see the latest news headlines, all from the power of Alexa.

The display is angled up towards your eyes for a pleasant viewing experience when placed on a counter or desk. The sound quality is surprisingly excellent, considering the small form factor and the other features packed into the device. The best thing is that the Echo pairs with practically every additional smart device on the market, making it incredibly versatile for your home.

Pros

• Probably the best solution if you have many different smart products from other brands as the Echo Show uses Alexa to communicate with all of them.
• The sound and internal microphone are really sensitive, making your face-to-face meetings clear and enjoyable.
• There is a shutter switch included to cover the camera if you prefer a little more privacy.

 

Cons

• Compared to its competitors, the Amazon Echo Show is a bit bulkier. Even though we like the form factor, it may not be for everyone.
• There isn’t a lot of support for watching YouTube videos as of yet. That probably has to do with Google being a significant competitor.

 

Click here to check out the Amazon Echo Show

 

Using Google Assistant to Control a Ring Thermostat

Google’s voice assistant is a solid competitor to Amazon’s Alexa. It leverages all the information inputted into the Google Search Engine and API to interpret and understand commands from a wide variety of topics.

Unfortunately, those commands do not include as many as Alexa when it comes to the native Ring application. That doesn’t mean it won’t work as a Ring Thermostat control, but rather you have more limitations and won’t be able to live stream your cameras through the application like you could on the Echo Show.

 

Connecting Your Ring Device to Your Google Voice Assistant

1. From your computer or phone, access the link to Ring action for Google Assistant. If you used your phone, the Google Assistant app might open right away. If so, press Link, then skip to Step 4.
2. Tap on Send to Device, then select your Google Home device.
3. You’ll receive a Ring notification on your phone. Open it.
4. Log in using your Ring account on the next page.
5. Authorize Google Home to complete the process.

 

There used to be only the Google Home speaker as a smart device, but now everything from Google tends to fall under the Nest mantle

 

About the Google Nest Hub

In 2018 Google launched its new Nest line of products that function the same way the Home did, but with an added touch screen to add to your arsenal of home smart devices. The action-packed little device utilizes all the same features of the Google Voice Assistant while also allowing you to flick through photos, videos, recipes, and your favorite music from the touchscreen.

Pros

• The touchscreen is highly responsive, and the Google Assistant integrates easily into the form factor so you can pull up your calendar, pictures, or videos.
• A smart ambient light sensor detects the relative room settings. It changes the brightness and warmth of the screen to match the environment.
• This device comes with a control panel screen that makes it simple to organize all of your smart devices, including a Ring thermostat workaround.

 

Cons

• The sound isn’t as high definition as the Echo Show but is good enough for background ambiance.
• You have to speak clearly for it to understand everything you are trying to say.
•  Doesn’t come with an internal camera for online meetings.

 

Connecting Through Samsung’s SmartThings

The two previous examples of the Amazon Echo Show and Google Nest Hub are very straightforward in their design and interface. From here on out, we’re going to get a bit more technical. The advantage to many of these solutions is that you get way more customized commands, but you sacrifice mainstream simplicity.

Samsung has entered the crowded Smart Home industry that will work with many devices including your Ring doorbell. The device known as SmartThings, can allow you to control everything in your house through your mobile app. 

 

Configure Your Connect Home SmartThings Hub

1. Open SmartThings on your phone, and then tap Menu (the three horizontal lines).
2. Select the Location where Connect Home is saved, and then select your Connect Home from the list of devices.
3. Tap the switch next to SmartThings Hub to use your Connect Home as a SmartThings Hub.
4. You are now ready to connect all compatible devices and start using your Connect Home as a SmartThings Hub.

 

About Samsung SmartThings Hub

This small smart device uses open-source software and voice recognition similar to both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa to control and compatible devices, including Ring and smart thermostats. Their voice control assistant is named Bixby, which we simply love.

SmartThings focuses more on privacy and local control and even suggests using the versatile Raspberry Pi as a starting build hub instead of a fully integrated system from a significant Brand like the Show or Nest.

Pros

• Extraordinarily versatile and communicates with practically every device utilizing smart technology available on the market.
• Works with Zigbee and Z-Wave devices.
• Allow for more automation than other hubs because it doesn’t view itself as a significant competitor but rather a universal hub.

 

Cons

• There is not screen, camera, or media presentation like the quality you get from an Echo Show or Nest Hub.
• Incredibly hard to update from older models without having to reinstall and re-bridge all previous smart devices. That means you have to reinvent the Ring Thermostat wheel when you do purchase a new one.
• It takes a bit more technological “know-how” to really make it work seamlessly with all your smart-home devices.

 

Click Here to Check Out the Samsung SmartThings 

 

Connecting HomeBridge with Your IPhone

 Without the benefit of a straight Ring Thermostat, you sometimes have to get creative. For example, suppose you are a proud Apple user and understand a little about HomeBridge. In that case, you already have a great solution to creating a Ring Thermostat in your home that can communicate with your camera and temperature settings all through Apple HomeKit compatibility.

This solution takes a bit more insider knowledge because HomeBridge is completely open-sourced software that is run and updated by a community of developers. Unfortunately, that makes it harder to configure from the beginning and a little more challenging to update as time moves on.

Apple uses its voice assistant Siri and the native app HomeKit to communicate with all the devices possible. Whatever that combination cannot support, HomeBridge can likely utilize from the extensive library of tools created by devs on the web.

The instructions for this system will vary depending on what kind of hub you purchase to integrate Apple HomeKit with HomeBridge. We suggest using the Starling Home Hub.

 

Pros

• There are always new updates and smart devices being onboarded routinely from the large community.
• Way cheaper to install in your home because of the small form factor and integration with a Raspberry Pi.
• It can work with most major models of Ring devices and smart thermostats.

Cons

• HomeBridge isn’t a brand company and doesn’t have the tech support you get from Google or Amazon.
• There is no hub with a speaker, microphone, or video screen. The entire thing runs off of your iPhone and possibly a Raspberry Pi.
• Requires reasonable effort to make this work.

 

Click Here to Check Out the Starling Home Hub

 

Using the Application IFTTT to Connect Your Ring to Your Smart Thermostat

IFTTT is a cool mobile app founded after the common programming idea of “If This, Than That.” It is a simple equation that means if you take action, the application will cause a preselected reaction.

Instead of using a fully controllable application native to the smart thermostat like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, this uses a trigger event to communicate with your smart thermostat in your home.

For example, you can program your IFTTT app to lower the temperature inside the house with your smart thermostat every time the Ring camera detects you are coming home. This option doesn’t have any of the bells and whistles of the other mentioned programs or devices, but it is a fun little application that doesn’t require any extra hardware making it price competitive.

The IFTTT option is also straightforward to test. You can set up the system to work and intentionally activate the trigger, then go up to your smart thermostat to make sure everything is working properly.

 

And the Winner is? Alexa!!

We suggest using Amazon Alexa to connect your Ring and smart thermostat as the best option. We have shown you many options and think the Amazon Alexa voice assistant is the best solution for your home, especially with the Echo Show. If having a compatible thermostat for your smart home is essential, check out our top picks for smart thermostats to purchase and use with your Ring device through Amazon Alexa.

 

Honeywell Home T-10 Pro Smart Thermostat

The real advantage of the Honeywell Home T-1o Smart thermostat is that it is directly compatible with Ring. You only have three simple steps to connect it to Ring to communicate clearly when you speak through Alexa. Once completed, you’ll be able to see your thermostat tile on the Ring app dashboard so you can see the current temperature at all times.

 

Click Here to Check Out the Honeywell Smart Thermostat

 

Ecobee Smart Thermostat

The Ecobee smart thermostat works best when you use IFTTT with your Ring system. The touch screen display even offers you a “follow me” feature that will set temperatures in any room you are in, depending on the number of Ring cameras or thermostat sensors you have set up that can communicate through your Alexa device.

The thermostat has a built-in microphone that Alexa can use to listen for any command when you are away from your Echo. This works well when you are traveling, at work, or on the road and want to change your home’s temperature to be comfortable when you arrive.

 

Click Here to Check Out the Ecobee Smart Thermostat

 

Nest Learning Thermostat (3rd Generation)

 

The Nest thermostat is the best smart thermostat for a home that has a larger family. The smart device allows for multiple accounts that can control different areas of the home temperature settings from near and far. This way, you can set up your living room to be one temp while another family member changes their room settings.

You can easily set up voice commands with the Nest thermostat as it is native to Google but works well with Alexa and IFTTT. The only real downside here is that it doesn’t support Siri from Apple. So if you’re an iPhone user, you should probably consider the other two smart thermostat options.

 

Click Here to Check Out the Nest Smart Thermostat

 

Wrapping it Up

There are currently no products that are direct Ring Thermostats, and as far as we can tell, there aren’t any plans for creating that kind of product in the future. However, that doesn’t mean you cannot have the same technology in your hands.

Many third-party applications and smart devices combine to create the same effect as a Ring Thermostat. For example, using voice recognition tools like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and others allow you to control both your Ring and smart thermostat in your home. This provides you with a way of connecting the two devices, so they work together whenever you are away, home, or on your way back and want a comfortable temperature.

We strongly suggest using Amazon Alexa as the hub of your home for connectivity to any smart devices, especially Ring and thermostats. It is the easiest to install, understand and has the best voice recognition across the board.

There are other options available, but Alexa is our favorite. We also suggest having some fun with the IFTTT application on your mobile device as a secondary solution. It is a lot of fun to set up and play with all of your smart home devices.

We think one of these solutions will help you achieve better integration with your Ring video doorbell. Check out the items we reviewed for those in the market for a new smart thermostat or a smart hub. Almost all of these suggestions are on Amazon and can easily be returned for a full refund if you’re not satisfied.

 

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