Ring Mailbox Sensor

[macjeff]

Ring has a mailbox sensor.  If you dont have one it also requires their smart bridge.  I like it because my mailbox is at the end of a long driveway and it lets me know when mail is received.

 

Because Amazon owns Ring it works with Amazon Alexa. 

 

Problem is its not supported by the API and in addition to that the bridge wont even respond to pings which Amazon says is for security (yet all the doorbells and Alexa devices do. LOL)

 

But I have a hack to get it into the ISY.

 

1.  Setup your Ring Mailbox Sensor

 

2.  Load Nodeserver called Virtual

 

3.  Setup Virtual device called Mailbox Status or something like that.  Dont name the same as your actual Mailbox Sensor!!!

 

4.  Expose that to Alexa as an open/close sensor in the ISY Portal

 

5. Discover Devices

 

 

IN ALEXA

 

1. Write a routine that says if open set Mailbox Status (your virtual device) to On

 

2. Write a second routing for closed.  This is a little difference.  You say If NO MOTION is detected for how many minutes (I put 5 which may be too long but make sure its at least a minute to give you time to get the mail out and close it) then set the Mailbox Status (your virtual device) to Off

 

IN ISY

 

Now when the Ring mailbox open and closes the Virtual Device will change also allowing you to trigger things off it in ISY programs like Notiifications.

 

 

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Jeff

 

[landolfi]

Thanks for this!

In my case, to detect the mail arriving, I use a Yolink motion sensor (which is fortunately magnetic) attached to the inside side wall of the mailbox to monitor the lid opening. I then have a program use the Yolink node server to detect motion and fire a Sonos MP3 clip.  It's very accurate and the time to reset to no motion is perfect if I happen to get the mail within 1-2 minutes after it's delivered. But in my case the mailbox is right outside the front door, once again proving how lazy I am.

[macjeff]

24 minutes ago, landolfi said:

Thanks for this!

In my case, to detect the mail arriving, I use a Yolink motion sensor (which is fortunately magnetic) attached to the inside side wall of the mailbox to monitor the lid opening. I then have a program use the Yolink node server to detect motion and fire a Sonos MP3 clip.  It's very accurate and the time to reset to no motion is perfect if I happen to get the mail within 1-2 minutes after it's delivered. But in my case the mailbox is right outside the front door, once again proving how lazy I am.

Just yesterday I said Alexa turn on kitchen lights and it was one of the 10% of the time she heard me wrong.  My son then flipped the switch and said DAD you are literally 2 feet from the switch.  How lazy can you be.

Honestly I forgot how to use a light switch and when the power goes off or internet goes down thats why I am in a panic.

LOL

 

[EW1]

Thanks for posting.  I've been using an Insteon Hidden Door Sensor, but I'm not 100% happy with it, so nice to know there are other options.

[macjeff]

16 minutes ago, EW1 said:

Thanks for posting.  I've been using an Insteon Hidden Door Sensor, but I'm not 100% happy with it, so nice to know there are other options.

Another option is wireless tag but you MUST get the Pro model.  The normal tags only work left and right and most mailboxes open and close up and down.

I used that method but found the batteries due to high heat or low winter temps did not last long and the range was bad.  I have had very good results with the Ring Mailbox Sensor but until now I did not use it with the ISY.

[dwengrovitz]

2 hours ago, landolfi said:

I use a Yolink motion sensor (which is fortunately magnetic) attached to the inside side wall of the mailbox

I also use the Yolink sensor (but I think it's actually the Smart Door and Window Sensor).  I first tried using a Yolink vibration sensor attached to the bottom of the mailbox but there were too many false alerts. The Yolink sensor works really well, and my mailbox is at the end of a very long driveway (~150 yards from the house). 

For old times sake, I have it set so the speaker hub plays the "You've got mail" audio file (from AOL?) when the sensor is activated. 

[landolfi]

15 hours ago, dwengrovitz said:

For old times sake, I have it set so the speaker hub plays the "You've got mail" audio file (from AOL?) when the sensor is activated. 

My notification includes that. It's Homer Simpson saying "Three simple words: (AOL You've Got Mail) Woohoo!"

[macjeff]

I use Notification nodeserver and at this point I dont think you can add custom sounds there but I asked (sorry this is off topic).

[TheA2Z]

A few years ago I put a cheap ecolink Zwave+ sensor in mailbox.  When mailbox is opened, we announce "mail door is open" over our elk alarm speakers and also get a notification on UD mobile.

Change battery about once a year.

Works great and doesnt rely on ring cloud or Internet.