have a disability that requires me to have 24 hr. caregivers. They have their own bedroom and there are times during the night that I might need to call them during the night. My thought was to try a cordless doorbell. We taped the bell part to my bed and the chime goes in their room. It was probably the cheapest one they had and it works just fine. I'm not sure what the range is but that is probably listed on the packaging. You can put the chime on a table or carry it from room to room if you would like.

Well I think ours is wireless and they run by a battery. We have one at the front door and one outside the screen room that comes into the kitchen door area. They both have different ring tones. We also have notes that we have laminated beside the door bells so that people know I only answer the kitchen door. They work fine until the batteries run down. I don't even know if the front doorbell works. I am handicapped so unless my dog runs to the door I never know that someone is there if the battery is dead. One day my neighbor had the nerve to walk into my home just because we didn't answer the door. I could have been in the shower. She didn't care she had a mission on her mind and because our car was in the carport she knew we were home. She is a busy body. She is older and so am I. I would never walk into anyone's house. I check the doorbell to make sure the batteries are working. lol

I have had mine for years and don't recall ever changing the battery but then, it probably isn't used but a couple times a month, if that. The button used a AA and I don't remember what goes in the chime unit. Easy enough to test it every so often.

Your replies are so helpful. Jae...if one works from one room to another...it will work where I need it to work. And grandmamary...I'm impressed with your set up. Thankfully...I only have the one entrance to be concerned about...and...very thankfully...no intrusive neighbors...yet. LOL Such an entrance would have scared me half to death. She's lucky you didn't throw something at her or worse...call the police from your shower room area. These days...I would have. I'm older, too...but that doesn't give me or anyone else an excuse for unannounced entry. I do have a host of busy-bodies in my area...but they wouldn't dare march up my stairs unannounced. LOL

Do either or you know the brand/manufacturer name of your bells? They both seem very reliable and that's a major concern of mine. I have several outlet/big box stores in my area that sell them...but I'd sure love some personal experience recommendations brand/manufacturer wise.

Thanks so much for your input. It's appreciated.

You can get them at Lowes, home depot, Walmart, lots of places. I would go with a better quality brand. I have had some that were so quiet we could not hear them standing a few feet away. Some are for very short distance and don't do well through certain types of walls. It should tell you that information on the package, distance etc. Some use sticky tape, some velcro, some screw on, the screw on will be less likely to fall off. I went to Lowes they have a display where you can actually try them out to hear them so you at least know what it sounds like.

Here at this house I have a regular wired one for the front and side door but the bell is located down the hall, I can hear it from the bedroom but not at all from the other side of the house where I am most of the time. My little dog is the best way to know that someone is here.

I saw this I don't know anything about the site but it has some good information about the door bells. I have used Honeywell products with decent results.

Ratings

I have a Honeywell brand that I bought from Home Depot after my wired one went haywire. There are several settings on it such as " front door, back door on it. I have had it a couple of years and no problems so far. The chime sits on my file cabinet which sets about 15 feet from the door. I forget what range it has now, but I like it and you can of course make it louder.

Raven...I have a Lowe's here, too...and that's exactly where I'll head as soon as this demonic weather subsides. Not one of my feet is going more than a few feet from my ACs. The temperature and the humidity level are about equal here in CT right now. Neither are desirable! LOL As an aside...I wish I had a little dog, too. I'd much prefer that to a mechanical device any day.

Thank you Mary. Honeywell is an old and very reliable manufacturer. I've had Honeywell thermostats that far outlasted their rivals. I shall look for them at Lowe's. I have a secretary in the living-room area at the top of my entry steps area. Your mentioning your use of the cabinet made me think that the top of my secretary might be a very good area to place the chime. I really don't want to apply it to the wall if I don't have to.

Your welcome Anne. I just checked the book on mine and it has a range of 450 ft. I think I will have to break down and mount the button with the screws that came with it as the sticky tape is starting to dry a little, but it stuck on the wood for 2 yrs. at least so not too bad as it is in the sun. Mine has the option of just a blue light blinking, both the sound and the blinking light or just the sound which is the way I have it set. In addition to the chime sounds, the chime has a visual indication to show which device activated it . An icon will illuminate. The chime box is flat on the bottom so will set anywhere or it can be mounted to the wall but I didn't want to do that either.

We have one of these. The 'bell' part just plugs into a wall outlet somewhere, and the button attaches to the door frame (sticky tape or screws).

http://www.lowes.com/pd_77745-85538-UT-7366-02___?productId=50237329&pl=1&Ntt=wireless+doorbells

I learned from this too, Ann. My wired one still works but if it decides to retire, i know what my options are.

Doing some looking about, it appears there are options for the base stations, varying by brand and by model. Some plug into a wall socket and just stay there like a permanent wall wart. If you have a somewhat obscured socket, you could use that instead of having it sit on your secretary desk.

(edit - simultaneous with the preceding)

Marylmi, you can purchase double sided sticky tape. Or even Velcro with sticky backs.

My parents use these doorbells as my mother needs help occasionally. The buttons are on her nightstand. One bell rings in my father's room and the other is in the living room.

I think ours is NuTone. It came from Home Depot. If I remember correctly they had a very nice display of cordless doorbells. And tones. You could stand there all day listening to thm. Its been several years. By the time I got up to go to the door to see who it was my neighbor was already down the hall coming to the bedroom areas of our house. I was using a walker so I am slow my dog right behind me. I wasn't kind to my neighbor. I told her to never walk into my house again. That she was lucky I didn't shoot her. I could have. She has done it once again recently. Our dog now does a low growl when she comes over. We just don't answer the door fast enough I guess. We have started locking the door. But I think she is very brazen to walk in our house. Even my own family always knocks or calls out. She doesn't do either.

Anne here are pictures of mine. I bought at HD. Not sure, what size the push botton battery is... but the main unit is D-cell. I mounted both where not functioning wired one was... and a new one would not work. Easy peasy. :) Darn have problems loading the pictures... check the photobucket link.

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/tahlequahgardens/library/KT/tahlequahgardens

I've had one like Pooh Bear's for about 8 years. Works very well.

WOW! You people are just wonderful!!! I'm so impressed with all the knowledge you've given me. It's so much nicer to read it from the "table members" than it is to go wandering around the internet.

Pooh and Moni...I love the pictures. Thank you. I was wondering how the exterior bell button would look. I'm so pleased to see that it's about the same size...although cleaner looking...than the electric appliance I removed. That's going to eliminate any need to go back to plead my case to the association. That, in itself, is worth millions. :-)

Mary...that range is more than enough for me. The top of my secretary is no more than 13' from the door...going up 13 stairs...and is at the base of the stair case leading to my second [bedroom/office/media room] floor level. It will be ideal for "ear" recognition. And I love the thought of a blue light. Once I come up here in the early evening...I rarely go back to the lower level. It would be wonderful to have the blinking light as as notifier, as well. I'm amazed at all these wonderful options. Where have I been all these years?!?!? LOL

Flamingo...I'm a hobbyist much like you and am never without a supply of Velcro...both heavy duty as well as the sewing variety. I had been wondering about how it would weather. Initially...I may...thanks to you...use just the Velcro to affix the bell button to the siding. The area gets full sun light and constant "weather" so if the Velcro doesn't do the trick completely...I may use a combination of the Velcro and a couple of screws. Thanks for reminding me.

Snidely...if I had an outlet at or near waist [or higher] level...I would do exactly as you suggest. But...alas...I do not so I'll either rest the chime on top of the secretary...or if that isn't the best place...I'll have to look for a wall area. My mind is working on that solution as I write. :-)

Grandmamary...that neighbor is truly fortunate she's still standing. I, too, have the facilities to do serious harm if need be and under those circumstances...and considering my past history...she might have become a sieve. I don't know anyone in this day and age who would be as brazen as she's been. It's a shame her actions have made it necessary for you to be on constant guard...having to lock your doors all the time. There are enough things in life that need that kind of attention without it being so close to home. I wonder if she is suffering from dementia. That would account for her behavior. If she has family that you might be able to talk to...perhaps you could drop the info into their ears or a note to them. If it's dementia...her behavior will get more and more bazaar...and beyond annoying you...it may endanger her life.

Thank y'all. You've been wonderful and I feel well informed to carry forth with this project. What a delightful relief that I don't have to wrestle with something more complicated.

I live on the top floor of a triplex, and beside the front door are 3 doorbells....one for each apt. Our unit plugs into the outlet. When I get a delivery they ring the doorbell and I'm on my way downstairs to meet them.

Thanks for the heads up, chloecat. I did some equipment research last night and found that the wireless doorbells I'm considering don't need to be manually reset because there are tone choices built into the models themselves. Plus...my neighbors still have operative wired doorbells that I strongly doubt would be influenced by my intended wireless. Although...I had a garage door opener many moons ago that caused much neighborhood confusion because it opened a few neighbors doors as well as my own. LOL

Jasdip...it's nice to read that your wireless works several feet above the doorbell button.. Although I don't have a visually compatible outlet for a plug in unit...I'm still going to investigate their properties. I suspect that socket connection may influence your good reception.

Now I just wish the temps and humidity would drop to a tolerable level so I could get going with this project.

Sorry I don't know any details but my daughter has one at her house (a ranch style home) and she is very satisfied with it.