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Original poster

Dull question of the day - doorbells

21 replies

JLbaby · 12/09/2018 19:04

I have a plug in doorbell which has been fine for the past few months. Recently it has started chiming randomly (and there is no one at the door!) and ringing all the other chimes it has, not the one it is set to. Can anyone help?!

Alternatively can anyone recommend a plug in doorbell that doesn’t do this?

Thanks!

OP posts:
LookImAHooman · 12/09/2018 19:12

en-uk.ring.com/collections/video-doorbells

Game. Changer.

Original poster
JLbaby · 12/09/2018 19:25

Thanks, I’m not sure I really want to pay £90 for a doorbell though...

OP posts:
bluemoonchances · 12/09/2018 20:17

Oooooo a couple of people I work with have the Ring doorbell.... I'm thinking I'm going to get one too having seen their phones!

hugoagogo · 12/09/2018 20:20

Door bells are a pain in the arse.

LadyOfTheCanyon · 13/09/2018 08:01

Mine does this when the batteries need changing.

Iruka · 13/09/2018 10:37

There should be a series of switches inside both units which need to be set the same for it to work. However if someone nearby has the same series they all talk to each other. You need to open them up and choose a different pattern. If you can google the type you have it will tell you how to do it

Original poster
JLbaby · 13/09/2018 10:55

oh interesting thanks, i'll have a look later.

OP posts:
mommybear1 · 13/09/2018 10:58

@LookImAHooman are these easy to self install and do they need to be hardwired? Sorry to hijack the thread OP

LookImAHooman · 13/09/2018 15:16

The one below the Pro doesn’t need to be hardwired. They’re all a doddle to install beyond the wiring for the Pro. DH loves his gadgets even more than I do and I’ll admit it; it’s of those things that once we got it, we couldn’t be without it again. It did give us a laugh at work at first!

HemanOrSheRa · 13/09/2018 15:20

What Iruka said! Yours might be on the same frequency as a neighbours!

Coconutcake0 · 13/09/2018 15:46

Change the Battery! We have one in school.

TyrionsNextWife · 13/09/2018 17:27

I have the ring doorbells, they’re brilliant! The way mine are positioned, they act as security cameras as well so that I can see anyone coming on my property from front or back. Definitely worth the money!

TyrionsNextWife · 13/09/2018 17:29

mommybear1 they’re easy to install, just a case of drilling 4 holes and screwing it to the wall. They’re battery powered, but can be hardwired too - ring emailed me instructions for the electrician, and he reckoned it was simple enough.

mommybear1 · 14/09/2018 11:22

@TyrionsNextWife @LookImAHooman thank you

Idontbelieveinthemoon · 14/09/2018 12:38

We have a Ring Pro and it's brilliant. It came with the Chime, too, but you can buy those separately. When we're on holiday or even just at work it's a lovely bit of reassurance. We started with that at the front then moved to the cameras across the back and patio doors, too, and now there's not really a way in/out without being spotted.

madmother1 · 14/09/2018 12:40

It's happened to me in the past. Agree that you need to set yours to a different channel.

blitzen · 14/09/2018 13:16

My parents' doorbell does this either when the batteries are low or when their neighbour across the road opens their electric garage door. Bizarre!

LanguidLobster · 14/09/2018 13:34

It's OK OP, I nearly started one about curtain rails the other day but thought it would be as dull as ditchwater.

Hope you find a good doorbell

Goldenbug · 14/09/2018 14:33

Trying to inject some excitement into the thread with a rock music doorbell fact:
The song Granddad by Clive Dunn got it's inspiration from the notes of a doorbell. "Bing bong, bing bong" made the writer think "Granddad, Granddad" to the same tune.

wanderings · 14/09/2018 15:26

Door bells are a pain in the arse.
A doorbell should be such a simple device, but they're so complicated and expensive! And if most of MN had their way, nobody would have doorbells, because visitors are supposed to book three months in advance anyway.

Why old ones were better:

  • The ones with a pull handle didn't need electricity, and could usually be heard. They're also very satisfying.
  • Electric ones that actually had a hammer hitting a dome were OK. (Although they did make wavy lines on the TV, which is probably why they're so hard to come by now.)
  • The person ringing it could hear it.
  • The button might say "press", in case a visitor is in doubt. I love those ones!

Why modern ones are rubbish:

  • They're expensive: even basic ones are about £30.
  • They often sound very synthetic.
  • Often the visitor can't hear it ring. Even if a little light comes on, it's no guarantee of the bell sounding.

I have an old-fashioned one with a handle, but many delivery people won't use it; they just knock. It's high up, so on October 31st we attach a rope to it so children can reach it (with a sign that says "ring if you dare!").

Dull question of the day - doorbells
MargaretDribble · 14/09/2018 15:30

I had several from Amazon and in the end got a cheap one from Wilko's. It has a portable unit which we leave on the stairs, but it can be carried from room to room. It was in the region of £10 and has lasted longer than any of the others.

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