Ring doorbell and Kindle Fire Tablet setup
If you are looking for a cheap and easy way of viewing the ring doorbell, this could be a solution for you. We have used this in a hallway as a way of displaying who is at your door as you approach it. The reason we did this is as only one person in the household is using the ring app on the phone.
Also by using the kindle fire tablet as a monitor you can use this to display the weather outside, photos, news and calendar events 24/7. Our setup cost about £50 for the tablet and the case, making this solution affordable to any one.
**Known Versions still working
Automate 3.0.241
Fully kiosk browser 1.35.2
Ring 3.18.0
Fire OS 5.6.4.0
Google play services 19.2.75
Google Play Store 16.9.10**
Step 1
Buy a Ring Doorbell and install it.
Step 2
Buy a Kindle Fire tablet or Android Tablet.
Step 3
Install Google play store onto the Fire Tablet. (Android Tablet Users skip to step 4)
In order to have the ring app and other apps on the tablet you will need to sideload the Fire tablet with the Google Play Store. To do that you will need to download the following APK files onto the tablet (use the browser on the tablet to visit this page). Once they are downloaded you will need to go to the docs app on the home screen of the Fire Tablet and view the local files. In there will find the download file. When you click on it you will be asked if you want install the file. Click install. Repeat this for each of the files below. An example of each step needed to install is shown below.
- Google Account Manager APK
- Google Services Framework APK
- Google Play Services APK(if you have a 2017 Fire HD 8 use this version)
- Google Play Store APK
APK download and install.
1.Click the link above to go to the page where the APK file is located. Scroll down the page till you see a box with “Download APK”. Click that
2. The download will start automatically but if not click where it says to
3. Next you will see a pop up warning you that the file may harm your device. It hasn’t for us, so tap “OK” on the popup
4. Close out of the Silk browser and open up the built-in file manager app on your Fire tablet called “Docs”.
5.Tap on “Local Storage”.
6. Tap on “Downloads” folder. In there you will see the APK files you have downloaded
7. Click each one in this order and install each one
9. Google Services Framework APK
10. Google Play Services APK(if you have a 2017 Fire HD 8 use this version)
12. As you click on each one a new screen will appear with “Install”in the bottom right. Toward the upper-left corner it will say which APK you’re installing. Make sure you install in the order above.
NOTE: If your “Install”button is greyed out, try turning the screen off, turning it back on, and unlocking your Fire tablet. The Install button should turn from grey to orange, allowing you to continue with the installation.
Step 4
Download the Apps on the Google Play Store
Having completed the above steps you will now find the Google Play Store app on the home screen of the Fire Tablet. Click on the app and sign into the store with your Google account. Once you have signed in the Google Play Store and Google Play Services will automatically update in the background. Give it tens minutes to do this before searching for apps. This saves having to update the Google services for some apps, which may occur when you try to install some if the update hasn’t finished automatically.
Start searching the play store for the apps you will need. For the automated ring pop up to work you need to down load the Automateit app and the Fully Kiosk Browser. You can add what ever you like. Download these onto the tablet.
Step 5
Download the Ring APK
By downloading this older Ring App APK it will allow the app once loaded to automatically display the outdoor view when activated. The latest version on the app store you will have to manually select the live view once the notification triggers. This isn’t what we want to achieve with this tablet.
Download the Ring Always Home v3.18.0 APK here
Step 6
Install the Ring APK
- Once again visitClose out of the Silk browser and open up the built-in file manager app on your Fire table called “Docs”.
- Tap on “Local Storage”.
- Tap on “Downloads” folder. In there you will see the APK files you have downloaded
- Click the Ring Always Home APK
- As you click on each one a new screen will appear with “Install”in the bottom right. Toward the upper-left corner it will say which APK you’re installing.
NOTE: If your “Install” button is greyed out, try turning the screen off, turning it back on, and unlocking your Fire tablet. The Install button should turn from grey to orange, allowing you to continue with the installation.
Run the app once installed and set up your account. Test your doorbell links to the app.
Step 7
Launch Automateit App
Once the app launches you will need to create two rules
Rule 1: On notification from Ring, run the Ring App
In order to do this you will need to start a new rule, scroll down to apps, select the “Notification Trigger” then select the magnifying glass over icons icon on the next screen and select the Ring app.
Select Next, then select “Start Application Action”, again select the magnifying glass over icons icon and select Ring. Then hit next and save.
Rule 2: On notification from Ring, run the Fully App with a 1 minute delay
In order to do this you will need to start a new rule, scroll down to apps, select the “Notification Trigger” then select the magnifying glass over icons icon on the next screen and select the Ring app.
Select Next, then select “Start Application Action”, again select the magnifying glass over icons icon and select Fully. Before saving, click the delay start button and delay for a minute or two. This will mean after the period you have specified, the screen saver (Fully Kiosk App) will reappear on the tablet.
Step 8
Setup a Dak Board website to setup a display for your Device
Visit the Dakboard website at https://dakboard.com. Next Signup for an account. Once you have done this set up a screen. We used the predefined screen in the “Screens”menu option on the left side. Once you have selected this you will bring up a menu where you can specify Layout, Background, Calendars, Date / Time, Weather and News. Follow the instructions for each step. Once complete preview the page by clicking “View Screen”top right. This is the screen that will be displayed on the tablet once Fully Kiosk Browser is installed. Make sure to copy the web address for this page.
Step 9
Set up the Fully Kiosk Browser App
On the tablet home screen you will find the Fully Kiosk Browser App. When you first load this application, you can specify a website page to display as default and you can set this to full page. Once you have done this it will display the dakboard on opening.
Step 10
Test it works
With the Fully Kiosk Browser page displayed press the ring doorbell button. After a few seconds the door bell will sound on the device, then the app will load straight onto the live view page. After a minute or so, the dakboard on the Fully Kiosk Browser will reappear.
-DISCLAIMER- Digital Connoisseur is an Amazon Associate. As an affiliate I may earn a small commission for the review, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this video (at no extra cost to you).