Door Bell: Constant Problems

[Jennykenny]

When we moved in five years ago the door bell was fine, then stopped working (new batteries in both parts, nothing). Left it in situ and bought a new one from Wliko, two parter, same as original. Worked for a while, then stopped.
Old one worked for a while again then stopped, but what was really odd was when either of them rang it was someone in the houses across the road ringing their bell.
Am a bit demented with this.
Any thoughts. It's awful having a notice on the door saying that the bell might work or not.

[woofgang]

you have got one on the same frequency as you neighbour. Most of the radio doorbells have a facility to change the radio frequency, take a look at your instructions.

[alavahalf]

From past experience I can tell you that your problem lies within the bell. Imagine a conveyor belt in China. Whoever assembles the bells sets the same code on each bell. Those bells get sent to the UK in a container will 10's of thousands of others. The wholesaler sends 100's of cartons full of bells that get distibuted all over the country.
When you go to your local Wilkos to buy a bell ... so do your neighbours. End result is when someone presses your neighbours bell, they might as well be pressing yours as it has the same code set on it. The only solution is you re-set the code on your bell and bell push, or if your bell is of poor quality it is unlikely to be able to reset.
I have attended many incidents where the Police have asked me to sort it out .. where someone is reported to be pressing a doorbell and running off. In actual fact it is always the same problem.... cheap bells from China sending their signal to the neighbours.

[gingejbee]

Sometimes intermittant problems occur if rainwater/dampness get to the "workings" of the outside bellpush.
And, as woof has said, nearby units on the same frequency affect yours.
I've recently bought a really good one (Amazon) that has a guaranteed waterproof bellpush and changes the frequency (all by itself!) if a nearby unit is causing the interference problem.

[EDDIE51]

Get an old fashioned bell that just connects by wire!

[Jennykenny]

Thank you Alava, that was very interesting.
Hadn't known any of that.
May have get a handyman to wire something in or when I'm next up in London will buy one from there.

[Jennykenny]

Ginge what was the make of the one you got from Amazon. Thanks.

[Old_Geezer]

They all seem to be radio these days. A few years back I recall having problems trying to find a barely adequate or better replacement doorbell for the one I had that'd stopped working. All jumping on the latest tech bandwagon and overcomplicating things. The more basic one I found simply wasn't loud enough to be of use.

[alavahalf]

Ladies of a certain age have often asked me to fit a doorbell that they have just purchased. My heart sinks when they hand me a wireless bell, because I know they will soon be back on the phone saying "That bell you fitted isn't working". I dont care if the manufacturers claim the bell push is weatherproof, going from past experience, most of them aren't.
As a rule there is only one bell I would recommend ... it is easily fitted by a handy person and it has propably been around in it's same form for at least 40 years. It is battery powered and rings like a fire bell. Over the years I have tried to convert owners of troublesome wireless bells over to it... it is called a 'Friedland bell in one'.

[gingejbee]

This is the one I bought (in white)....the bellpush is mounted in THE most exposed place and no problems.


Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[rockyracoon]

How long have you had this one ginge? I've gone through about 7 wireless doorbells in 10 years and have given up hope of ever having one. When the dog has finally popped his clogs, I won't ever know if anyone's at the front door.

[gingejbee]

rocky...I've had mine only about 10 weeks, but my father has had exactly the same one for well over a year with no problems. Still, not too long a time I agree to be too pleased with it!

[Jennykenny]

Thanks Alava and Ginge.