Re: wireless doorbells
RicodJour
> I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with wireless doorbells. The
> last couple of days mine has been ringing a couple of times on its own (no,
> it isn't a pre-Halloween prank). I have some neighbors about 80 feet away
> who have an electronic garage door opener, but there's a wooded area
> between us and I don't think this could be causing it because it hasn't
> happened until now. The main unit inside uses 4 "C" batteries, then the
> actual doorbells (one on the front that has a two-tone ring; one on the
> back that has a single ring) use some kind of weird tiny batteries. It's
> the single ring doorbell that's been acting up, so maybe that's where the
> actual problem is.
>
> I'm wondering if wireless doorbells are like smoke detectors, in that
> they'll start ringing out of the blue when their batteries start to go low.
> The batteries have been in the main unit for about two years now, also
> about the same for the actual doorbells.
Easiest thing is to swap out the batteries and see. That's probably
it. I have a wireless extender that has the transmitter attached to
the existing bell ringer, and the remote speaker is plugged into an
outlet upstairs. I get sick of replacing batteries all over the
place, so I eliminate them whenever I can.
R
Bill
contacts. Might want to inspect the rear door button and see if any
"critters" have invaded.
Also water can sometimes get in there and short things out.
I place fine mesh screen over electrical vent openings to keep the bugs out.
If heat is not a problem as it would not be with a battery operated doorbell
button, you may be able to seal any openings with a dab of caulk or caulk
around the back edges. (Get any bugs out first!)
If water is getting in there, maybe build a little covering over it?
BTW this is where the term "computer bug" came from. A bug was crawling
around on the wiring of one of the first computers and caused quite a bit of
trouble!
"Dennis M" wrote in message
Jeff Liebermann
M) wrote:
>I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with wireless doorbells.
Ummm... yes.
>The
>last couple of days mine has been ringing a couple of times on its own (no,
>it isn't a pre-Halloween prank).
Any particular maker and model number? Actually, what I would like is
the FCC ID number from either the remote or the receiver so I can
lookup the frequency. It's usually 418MHz(EU), 433.925Mhz, 315MHz,
320MHz, 335MHz, 350MHz, 2400Mhz, etc. The frequency might also be
inscribed on the device somewhere.
If it's on 433.925Mhz, so are weather station remote sensors, which
will cause some interesting interference, especially since both use
OOK (on-off keying) for data.
If your unspecified model doorbell has a user programmable security
code, you might try changing it.
>I have some neighbors about 80 feet away
>who have an electronic garage door opener, but there's a wooded area
>between us and I don't think this could be causing it because it hasn't
>happened until now.
Walk 80.0ft and talk to the neighbors. Have them bring their garage
door opener remote over to your house. Do some testing.
>The main unit inside uses 4 "C" batteries, then the
>actual doorbells (one on the front that has a two-tone ring;
Have you tested the batteries? If you don't have a tester or DVM to
measure them, just replace them and see if it fixes the problem.
>one on the
>back that has a single ring) use some kind of weird tiny batteries.
Button cell batteries? They do have a part number.
>It's
>the single ring doorbell that's been acting up, so maybe that's where the
>actual problem is.
Do you have two receivers, one for single ring, and one for the
unspecified other ring?
>I'm wondering if wireless doorbells are like smoke detectors, in that
>they'll start ringing out of the blue when their batteries start to go low.
No. They tend to go comatose when the battery goes low. Range
decreases dramatically so it's unlikely that your neighbor is causing
more problems now. If this has been going on for several days, it's
unlikely to be a dying battery because it would have totally quit by
now with all the ringing.
>The batteries have been in the main unit for about two years now, also
>about the same for the actual doorbells.
Well, if the C batteries were originally new and good quality alkaline
cells, they should not be dead in 2 years unless you use the doorbell
excessively. My guess(tm) would be 1 to 5 years with good batteries,
and maybe a year or two with junk batteries. Get out the DVM and
measure the battery voltage for a clue. Anything under about 1.1VDC
is a near dead alkaline battery.
--
Jeff Liebermann je...@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
Van Chocstraw
> I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with wireless doorbells. The
> last couple of days mine has been ringing a couple of times on its own (no,
> who have an electronic garage door opener, but there's a wooded area
> between us and I don't think this could be causing it because it hasn't
> actual doorbells (one on the front that has a two-tone ring; one on the
> back that has a single ring) use some kind of weird tiny batteries. It's
> the single ring doorbell that's been acting up, so maybe that's where the
> actual problem is.
>
> they'll start ringing out of the blue when their batteries start to go low.
> about the same for the actual doorbells.
I have the same thing. In place 4 years now with no problems.Maybe I
should change the batteries in the ringer and buttons by now. Still
works, doesn't get very much use.
WW
"Dennis M" <denn...@dennism3.invalid> wrote in message
news:dennism3-ya0240800...@news.datemas.de...
> I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with wireless doorbells. The
> last couple of days mine has been ringing a couple of times on its own
> (no,
> it isn't a pre-Halloween prank). I have some neighbors about 80 feet away
> who have an electronic garage door opener, but there's a wooded area
> between us and I don't think this could be causing it because it hasn't
> happened until now. The main unit inside uses 4 "C" batteries, then the
> actual doorbells (one on the front that has a two-tone ring; one on the
> back that has a single ring) use some kind of weird tiny batteries. It's
> the single ring doorbell that's been acting up, so maybe that's where the
> actual problem is.
>
> I'm wondering if wireless doorbells are like smoke detectors, in that
> they'll start ringing out of the blue when their batteries start to go
> low.
> The batteries have been in the main unit for about two years now, also
> about the same for the actual doorbells.
Had same problem today with a carbon monoxide alert. Uses 9 volt battery.
Low battery light did not come on but monoxide alert triped.. Checked
battery ( carbon battery 2 years and 10 months old) Read 7.19 volts. Changed
battery. Problem solved. Called manufacture, they recomended alkaline
batteries. I shall purchase one. WW
hr(bob) hofmann@att.net
> On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 18:22:09 -0500, denni...@dennism3.invalid (Dennis
> Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
I would replace them if they are under 1.3 V.
Stormin Mormon
junk carbon battery is for testing and shipping, you're
expected to install an alkalline battery when you install
the detector. And once a year, ever after.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"WW" <cc...@nospambresnan.net> wrote in message
news:KdCdnRoDPeWIuEjX...@bresnan.com...
Stormin Mormon
(twelve) volt battery. Those are used in doorbell remotes,
and I can't remember why. Probably to suck more money out of
your pocket.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"Dennis M" <denn...@dennism3.invalid> wrote in message
news:dennism3-ya0240800...@news.datemas.de...
No, if I recall correctly they don't resemble a button,
they're like a
really tiny "AA" battery. I'd probably have to buy them at
Radio Shack.
Jeff Liebermann
M) wrote:
>>Any particular maker and model number? Actually, what I would like is
>>the FCC ID number from either the remote or the receiver so I can
>>lookup the frequency. It's usually 418MHz(EU), 433.925Mhz, 315MHz,
>>320MHz, 335MHz, 350MHz, 2400Mhz, etc. The frequency might also be
>>inscribed on the device somewhere.
>
>It is a Heath/Zenith Wireless Mechanical Battery Operated Chime,
>manufactured by Desa Specialty Products of Bowling Green, Ky.
>On the back the only thing that looks like a model number is "TR-6505-RX."
>For some reason it also says "Canada: 3984 104 559A."
Canada has the CRTC equivalent of the US FCC.
<http://www.crtc.gc.ca/eng/statutes-lois.htm>
Manual online:
<www.trineonline.com/interior/support/235%20inst%208-14.pdf>
Looks like you have 7 jumpers to program the code. Try a different
combination in both the receiver and the remote (just in case someone
else has a similar model). Incidentally, one manufacturer of garage
door openers ships their units defaulted to the code used for
production testing. Buyers are not in the habit of changing the code,
so code duplications were epidemic. If you called the dealer, the
first thing they would suggest is "change the code".
>But luckily I kept the manual. Some relevant excerpts:
>
>"In typical use, aklaline batteries will last up to 2 1/2 years"
That should be a clue. Are you a "typical" user?
>"Troubleshooting: Low battery indicator: When the push button designated
>for the "Ding-Dong" tone is pressed, only a "Dong" will play when battery
>power is low in chime unit..."
Nice. There's your built in battery tester.
>"Regulatory Information: This device (WB-94A-TX or WB-97-TX/TR-6505-RX)
>complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules and RSS-210 of Industry Canada..."
Not exactly legal. The serial number tags are suppose to show the FCC
ID number. I tried various combinations of model number and company
names on the FCC ID site and couldn't find anything. I'm too lazy to
dig under the hundreds of Heath and Zenith products.
>"If you experience a problem, follow the guide. You may also want to visit
>our Web site at www.desatech.com...."
Useless. Their manual search forwards to a Google web search.
>>If it's on 433.925Mhz, so are weather station remote sensors, which
>>will cause some interesting interference, especially since both use
>>OOK (on-off keying) for data.
>
>Interesting, but I haven't heard about any weather stations being
>constructed around here lately.
It's not just weather stations. It's any kind or thermometer that
uses wireless for communications. Most of them are on 433.925Mhz.
Also remotes for air conditioners, room lighting, door locks, vehicle
alarms, vehicle keys, SCADA systems, and mess of other gadgets that
involve key fobs and very low speed/thruput wireless data. Just enter
"433.925" into a Google search for some hints.
>No, unfortunately I don't have a battery tester. I don't mind replacing
>them but I thought I'd get some input about other possible problems first.
Well, the built in battery tester (one ding instead of two) should be
sufficient to test the batteries. DVM's (digital volt meter) start at
about $5 and are quite handy.
>>Button cell batteries? They do have a part number.
>
>No, if I recall correctly they don't resemble a button, they're like a
>really tiny "AA" battery. I'd probably have to buy them at Radio Shack.
A-23 12V "alarm" battery. Something like this:
<http://www.batteryprice.com/sizea2312vbattery.aspx>
and available at any hardware store. However, the remote is probably
not the problem as a dead battery would result in no operation. There
is one really remote possibility that I've never actually seen. Water
condenses inside the remote and causes it to falsely activate. Remove
the doorbell and see if it's wet inside.
>>>It's
>>>the single ring doorbell that's been acting up, so maybe that's where the
>>>actual problem is.
>>
>>Do you have two receivers, one for single ring, and one for the
>>unspecified other ring?
>
>No, it's the same receiver, you differentiate between the two-tone and
>single tone by placing small plastic "jumpers" in different locations.
I have no idea why it would fail to ring once, but ring correctly
twice, unless the distance or power output between the two doorbell
remotes is radically different. A slightly dead battery on the
receiver would cause the one that's furthest away to possibly fail.
However, I can't tell from your description what you mean by "acting
up". If it falses with two rings instead of one, it's probably just
coincidence controlled by whatever is falsing the receiver.
>They're pretty decent batteries, Duracell copper tops with a Mar 2014 date
>on them.
I'm not a big fan of Duracell batteries. See:
<http://www.powerstream.com/AA-tests.htm>
Note the Duracell Coppertop (DC) discharge curve and capacity are far
from the best (for AA cells). I've seen similar lack of capacity
problems using a West Mountain Radio CBA-II battery tester:
<http://www.westmountainradio.com/CBA.htm>
Current favorites (for AA) are cheapo Kirkland cells found at Costco.
However, they don't sell these in C size.
>I'm also going to follow "Bill"'s suggestion and inspect the back push
>button unit; I live close to a heavily wooded area and I'm constantly
>battling spiders and other insects outside the house.
Good idea. I'm betting on water instead of spiders or bugs. Alcohol
does a good job of dissolving bug goo and displacing the water. While
your at it, change the code anyway.
Jeff Liebermann
>I would replace them if they are under 1.3 V.
See:
<http://www.powerstream.com/AA-tests.htm>
If you look at the 4th graph (100ma discharge curve), the battery
still has plenty of life left at 1.3VDC and hits the knee at about 1.1
volts. (I'm assuming that a C cell has a similar discharge curve). My
tinkering with various designs and contrivances have found that many
devices will operate somewhat below 1.0VDC/cell. It's just that the
battery is well down the knee of the curve at 1.0V and simply goes
instantly flat. I've run AM/FM/SW radios with one cell jumpered and
the radio still works.
I'll stay with my 1.1VDC/cell recommendation for alkaline cells.
--
Jeff Liebermann je...@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558
Bob M.
news:m9bad5l68mh8jh9jb...@4ax.com...
>
> It's not just weather stations. It's any kind or thermometer that
> uses wireless for communications. Most of them are on 433.925Mhz.
> Also remotes for air conditioners, room lighting, door locks, vehicle
> alarms, vehicle keys, SCADA systems, and mess of other gadgets that
> involve key fobs and very low speed/thruput wireless data. Just enter
> "433.925" into a Google search for some hints.
Also add "ham radio" to that list. 420-450 mHz is a popular ham radio band.
The same 420-450 mHz band is where the US Air Force's "Pave PAWS" radars
operate; they have a range of over 3,000 miles. Located at Otis AFB, MA,
Beale AFB, CA and Clear AFS, AK, these radar beams extend out over the
ocean, primarily.
And, does the OP's house have metal siding? Metal siding greatly reduces
the penetration of the transmitter signal to the inside the house. I had
steel siding at the old place & this one; the old place had wireless
doorbells that didn't always work, even with new batteries. This place has
wired doorbells that always work.
The OP's remedy is to install wired doorbells.
Tony
> I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with wireless doorbells. The
> last couple of days mine has been ringing a couple of times on its own (no,
> who have an electronic garage door opener, but there's a wooded area
> between us and I don't think this could be causing it because it hasn't
> actual doorbells (one on the front that has a two-tone ring; one on the
> back that has a single ring) use some kind of weird tiny batteries. It's
> the single ring doorbell that's been acting up, so maybe that's where the
> actual problem is.
>
> they'll start ringing out of the blue when their batteries start to go low.
> about the same for the actual doorbells.
Change the code. Someone close by got a new one and like you left it at
the factory settings.
Ian Jackson
<n...@nospam.com> writes
Don't forget that these wireless devices are "made to a price". They
usually employ the minimum amount of circuitry which enables them to
function. They may respond to an RF signal on almost ANY frequency,
provided it is strong enough. It doesn't have to have the correct coding
etc.
Of course, 'electronic' wired devices (even those where no 'frequency'
is involved) also can also suffer from RF interference. But a purely
'electrical' device - like a doorbell - should be OK.
--
Ian
BillGill
That was about what I was going to recommend. I had a wireless for a
few years, but gave up. I would change the code and it would work
for a while, then I would start getting it ringing in the middle of
the night again. I finally gave up and put in a new wired one.
Bill
GregS
I had one at the old house, except I wired it to the mailbox.
It worked great. I did it mostly for my father.
My father passed, and I was remodling the house.
The was a couple times I did hear the chimes go
off, thinking abut the problem of interference.
One day I get the transmitter and look outside
and pressed the button. Sure enough a neighbor up the street
came out the front door. A good while later
I was at the neighbors house and talking led to the doorbell.
She told be for a year or two they heard the doorbell go off
almost every day and would look outside. Every time
the mailman would be comming up the street and they would wait
for their mail. I explained everything and it was funny.
greg
amdx
"Dennis M" <denn...@dennism3.invalid> wrote in message
news:dennism3-ya0240800...@news.datemas.de...
> last couple of days mine has been ringing a couple of times on its own
> (no,
> it isn't a pre-Halloween prank). I have some neighbors about 80 feet away
> who have an electronic garage door opener, but there's a wooded area
> between us and I don't think this could be causing it because it hasn't
> happened until now. The main unit inside uses 4 "C" batteries, then the
> actual doorbells (one on the front that has a two-tone ring; one on the
> back that has a single ring) use some kind of weird tiny batteries. It's
> the single ring doorbell that's been acting up, so maybe that's where the
> actual problem is.
>
Mike :-)
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Years back a cop cruiser keying his mic out front could make many
garage door openers operate.
propman
>
> Years back a cop cruiser keying his mic out front could make many
> garage door openers operate.
....real bummer if using said garage for growing a little personal
stash. ;-)
Jeff Liebermann
M) wrote:
(...)
"Turning a Heath / Zenith Wireless Doorbell into a Remote Control
Relay"
<http://www.hackersbench.com/Projects/ding-dong/main.html>
JIMMIE
> I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with wireless doorbells. The
> last couple of days mine has been ringing a couple of times on its own (no,
> it isn't a pre-Halloween prank). I have some neighbors about 80 feet away
> who have an electronic garage door opener, but there's a wooded area
> between us and I don't think this could be causing it because it hasn't
> happened until now. The main unit inside uses 4 "C" batteries, then the
> actual doorbells (one on the front that has a two-tone ring; one on the
> back that has a single ring) use some kind of weird tiny batteries. It's
> the single ring doorbell that's been acting up, so maybe that's where the
> actual problem is.
>
> they'll start ringing out of the blue when their batteries start to go low.
> The batteries have been in the main unit for about two years now, also
> about the same for the actual doorbells.
No but you can get crud in the cheap switches. The way mine worked was
that the battery was in series with the switch so until you press the
button its just off. Battery should last similar to shelf life. The
only way it could have sent a false signal is if the switch was
shorted.
Disclaimer: There is more than one way to skin a cat.
Jimmie
amdx
"Dennis M" <denn...@dennism3.invalid> wrote in message
news:dennism3-ya0240800...@news.datemas.de...
> ;)
I had to see if alt.psychology.psychoanalysis was real. It could be a lot
fun, to bad it's
not a busier newsgroup. Light on spam though!
mm
M) wrote:
>I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with wireless doorbells. The
>last couple of days mine has been ringing a couple of times on its own (no,
>it isn't a pre-Halloween prank). I have some neighbors about 80 feet away
>who have an electronic garage door opener, but there's a wooded area
>between us and I don't think this could be causing it because it hasn't
>happened until now. The main unit inside uses 4 "C" batteries, then the
>actual doorbells (one on the front that has a two-tone ring; one on the
>back that has a single ring) use some kind of weird tiny batteries. It's
>the single ring doorbell that's been acting up, so maybe that's where the
>actual problem is.
>
>I'm wondering if wireless doorbells are like smoke detectors, in that
>they'll start ringing out of the blue when their batteries start to go low.
No. Smoke detectors have to have a special circuit to keep track of
when the battery voltage goes down, because it's a matter of life and
death.
OTOH if the doorbell doesn't work, people can knock. They can bang on
the window, they can telephone, they can send a letter.
>The batteries have been in the main unit for about two years now, also
>about the same for the actual doorbells.
Carbon zinc, alkaline, nickel-cadmium, lithium ion, NiMH3?????
But I didn't post just to be sarcastic. As it happens, my wireless
doorbell rang at 5 this morning, well before I had to get up. I was
going to ignore it but I thought, Maybe my car is on fire. If it
were, it would probably be too late to do anything about it, but I got
up. I looked out the front window and saw no flames, and no one on
the sidewalk who could have rung the bell.
I went back to bed, and 10 minutes later it rang again.
bzzzzz-=-==bzzz=-=-=bzzzz. By this time I was awake. I'd forgotten
and left the computer on so I went to the computer. It went off 10 or
15 times in the next hour. I've had this thing for about 10 years and
this is the first trouble it gave me. A real cheap one too, maybe
%2.50 from Sunset House, a mail order place.
But I didnt' use any batteries. I have a real doorbell with a
transformer and a bell in the front hall and the basement, but
couldn't hear it in my 2n'd floor office with the computer fan and
radio. In the basement, I rectify the 18 volt transformer output
and use a resistor to lower the voltage to what the button should
take, and when someone pushes the front door button, the button is
powered and the receiver in the upstairs hall makes noises.
Anyhow, I unplugged the receiver and the wall was very dirty behind
it, even though I had had this thing there for maybe 10 years, and 2
months ago it was barely dirty at all. That's as far as I've gotten
so far.
P&M After tomorrow at noon or so, I won't be around for several days.
mm
wrote:
>
>But I didn't post just to be sarcastic. As it happens, my wireless
>doorbell rang at 5 this morning, well before I had to get up. I was
>going to ignore it but I thought, Maybe my car is on fire. If it
>were, it would probably be too late to do anything about it, but I got
>up. I looked out the front window and saw no flames, and no one on
>the sidewalk who could have rung the bell.
And btw, the main doorbell button is as good as new (It's only a year
old) and I have to press it against spring pressure a full quarter
inch to ring the bell. That's not the problem.
Mark Allread
had a set of movable jumpers in both the receiver and transmitter to set
a code. I played with it a little (no manual!) until I got them talking
to each other with a different setting - and the problem went away.
Tony Hwang
> Just place a sign at your door reading:
>
> I don't have a doorbell. Please yell out Ding Dong.
Hi,
No bell? I have door gong, it plays Westminster chime
LOUD. It is a motorized mechanism with 5 tunes pipes. 3 different tunes
for front, side, back door.
Babu H.
As the batteries start to lose its voltage it does strange things like
statics. Since the Controller
inside works on pulses the unit thinks its Data and may turn on and send a
signal to the Receiver
--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/maintenance/wireless-doorbells-400070-.htm