Doorbells

Marc

Marc

TPer Emeritus
Suspended / Banned
Messages
34,670
Edit My Images
Yes
We need a new doorbell. Haven't had one for years but it's a pain as it's hard to hear anyone knocking if we are upstairs.

The last one we had was a problem because it wouldn't work because of the uPVC front door. Apparently the metal within the door/frame interferes with the signal. Is this still the case with the most up to date ones? Anyone have a suggestion for workarounds? Anyone use a specific one that works fine with uPVC doors?
 
I got one from Asda a couple of years ago. It worked through my uPVC door. It also sounded when one across the road was activated. It had two user selectable channels to help avoid that, but the alternate channel just picked up another unwanted signal from somewhere. Probably a more expensive model would avoid that.
 
strumstrum said:
our previous house was UPVC door and we had a Byron wireless set up, door button on door 1 chime box at the other end of the house in the kitchen 1 chime box in the converted loft, never had a signal problem
Click to expand...

Cheers David. Had a look at the Byron ones, they look exactly the same as the homebase branded ones so wonder if they are the same.
 
arclight said:
I got one from Asda a couple of years ago. It worked through my uPVC door. It also sounded when one across the road was activated. It had two user selectable channels to help avoid that, but the alternate channel just picked up another unwanted signal from somewhere. Probably a more expensive model would avoid that.
Click to expand...

I think we went cheap last time so maybe that was the problem, might have to clear some more moths from the wallet this time around
 
strumstrum said:
could well be, Homebase(well my local anyway) have excellent CS so I would expect if you had an issue they would take it back no quibble.
Click to expand...

Homebase is our nearest DIY store so we're going to go there this afternoon. Hopefully our local one's CS is as good as yours if we have to return it.
 
Got a cheap and cheerful Homebase one here too. Been working happily for eight years with no signal issues. :-)
 
We've got this weird stuff called "wire" between the button and ringer (good old fashioned brrrrrrrrring!) - no problems with signal loss. When we had DG and a new front door fitted a few years ago I made sure they left the wire and routed it between the frame and wall. So many of the wireless systems have problems that many delivery people now knock on the door rather than trust the bells to work, especially since a lot of people have the ringer unit so far from the door that it's inaudible when they try the bell.

Currently after a ding-dong wired system for my wife's studio so classes aren't disrupted when latecomers ring for entry and so we can stick a magnetic switch in parallel as an entry alert. Can't find any anywhere!
 
Nod said:
We've got this weird stuff called "wire" between the button and ringer (good old fashioned brrrrrrrrring!) - no problems with signal loss. When we had DG and a new front door fitted a few years ago I made sure they left the wire and routed it between the frame and wall. So many of the wireless systems have problems that many delivery people now knock on the door rather than trust the bells to work, especially since a lot of people have the ringer unit so far from the door that it's inaudible when they try the bell.

Currently after a ding-dong wired system for my wife's studio so classes aren't disrupted when latecomers ring for entry and so we can stick a magnetic switch in parallel as an entry alert. Can't find any anywhere!
Click to expand...

Wires are a no-no, I'd probably end up garrotting myself with it! :cautious:
 
As others have said Marc, I bought a cheap and cheerful one from flea bay years ago,
that had 2 "bells" the bell push is mounted on a UPCV door frame,
one bell inside in the living room, (there is a porch)
and the other upstairs in my "office"
No issues to date.
Having said that the bell push has finally "fallen apart", and I am looking for a new one too. :)
 
Cobra said:
As others have said Marc, I bought a cheap and cheerful one from flea bay years ago,
that had 2 "bells" the bell push is mounted on a UPCV door frame,
one bell inside in the living room, (there is a porch)
and the other upstairs in my "office"
No issues to date.
Having said that the bell push has finally "fallen apart", and I am looking for a new one too. :)
Click to expand...

Yep, just back from Homebase with a Byron (They come in Homebase packaging but are Byron branded) and have placed the unit on the window sill half way up the stairs. All tested and working. (y)
 
Cheapskate, I have an entry phone so don't have to answer the door ;)
Comes in handy when you get unwanted callers, you can tell the to go away politely or otherwise
without opening the door (y)
 
Gremlin said:
Cheapskate, I have an entry phone so don't have to answer the door ;)
Comes in handy when you get unwanted callers, you can tell the to go away politely or otherwise
without opening the door (y)
Click to expand...

Cheapskate? £30 for a button and a box? We can't all spend like you Rockerfellas & Vanderbilts you know. :p
 
We had a wireless doorbell when we first got one. You could change the ringger but you did this via the button, not the bell. The problem was a neighbour must have had the same one cos ours kept randomly going off in a different tone to what we set. This sounds funny but after a while it was doing our heads in so we got an old school wire one. Problem solved.
 
Quite a few years ago, the NHS had fitted a power unit to the mains so that all the lights throughout the house flashes every time someone presses the doorbell (even if they switched off or on). Quite handy for someone like me who is deaf as mutton.
 
Ian D J said:
Quite a few years ago, the NHS had fitted a power unit to the mains so that all the lights throughout the house flashes every time someone presses the doorbell (even if they switched off or on). Quite handy for someone like me who is deaf as mutton.
Click to expand...
I have to ask, although it was a real boon for you,
was it intentional or a cock-up?
(ref the other thread about wiring :D )
 
Cobra said:
I have to ask, although it was a real boon for you,
was it intentional or a cock-up?
(ref the other thread about wiring :D )
Click to expand...

Hi Chris! I would love to say that it was a cock up just for comedy effect. However, it does come with it's own flaw, the flashing lights doesn't show up well when there is bright sunshine coming into the house, especially in my west-facing hobby room. But then again, I shouldn't be indoors on such a day like those anyway. :cool: :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top