My house was built in the 1930s and came with an original-looking Friedland doorbell, complete with bell transformer (with clunky wylex switch on a nicely-finished piece of wood). This was ok for many years but as I'm now a bit deaf, I thought I'd switch off the Friedland and replace it with a wireless doorbell as it's easier to hear in the lounge.

What had I not considered? That when the batteries run flat in the receiver after a matter of a few weeks, the receiver unit does not make a noise when someone presses the button at the front door, and of course you are unaware that this has happened. I tried it today and - nothing!

Needless to say that the wireless has now been "retired" and the old Friedland switched back on again.

Do you ever notice that when you rashly replace old, faithful technology with something else, the old item has a habit of coming back?

Sounds ideal for me.  I removed the batteries from the Friedland a couple of years ago.  Damn thing made me jump every time someone pressed it!  

 

I'm sure the batteries should last more than a few weeks in a wireless receiver though.  Were they cheap Poundland batteries?  I've noticed Duracell AA's last nearly twice as long as the Poundland Kodak AA's I'd used before.

I'm not a fan of devices operated by 'batteries' for that very reason, they don't work when the battery dies. I have an old Friedland doorbell powered by electricity, installed 32 years ago and works perfectly. You can replace the 'bell' unit for an extra loud one should hearing decline warrant it.

I also have a major beef with the UK landline system being tossed in the bin shortly, where if you currently have no internet, and there's a power cut, you can still dial 999 in an emergency. Once it's all 'improved', you'll need an internet connection, and during a power cut, you'll have no access to a landline whatsoever - that's progress for you.

It bugs me so much as my elderly mum doesn't have internet, nor a mobile phone (of limited use anyway as the signal in her house is fairly non existent).

 

6 hours ago, Oriskany said:

What had I not considered? That when the batteries run flat in the receiver after a matter of a few weeks...

I just realised that you mentioned the batteries ran out in the 'receiver'. I have a friend that wears 2 x hearing aids. I put in a wireless door bell for them a few years ago, and the receiver just plugs into a standard 13a socket. The volume can be adjusted so they can hear it really clearly. Obviously, if there's a power cut, it doesn't work! LOL

1 hour ago, StephenFord said:

I just realised that you mentioned the batteries ran out in the 'receiver'. I have a friend that wears 2 x hearing aids. I put in a wireless door bell for them a few years ago, and the receiver just plugs into a standard 13a socket. The volume can be adjusted so they can hear it really clearly. Obviously, if there's a power cut, it doesn't work! LOL

You're right of course, there is a plug-in version of the very bell I bought, but I only found this out after I had bought the battery version.

On 8/15/2023 at 4:19 PM, StephenFord said:

I also have a major beef with the UK landline system being tossed in the bin shortly, where if you currently have no internet, and there's a power cut, you can still dial 999 in an emergency. Once it's all 'improved', you'll need an internet connection, and during a power cut, you'll have no access to a landline whatsoever - that's progress for you.

I absolutely agree with you on this Stephen. Of course it's not progress, it's just a money-saving exercise and people, mostly old and vulnerable, with no internet or mobile phone are being "thrown under a bus". It's a total disgrace.

On 8/15/2023 at 12:31 PM, Oriskany said:

My house was built in the 1930s and came with an original-looking Friedland doorbell, complete with bell transformer (with clunky wylex switch on a nicely-finished piece of wood). This was ok for many years but as I'm now a bit deaf, I thought I'd switch off the Friedland and replace it with a wireless doorbell as it's easier to hear in the lounge.

What had I not considered? That when the batteries run flat in the receiver after a matter of a few weeks, the receiver unit does not make a noise when someone presses the button at the front door, and of course you are unaware that this has happened. I tried it today and - nothing!

Needless to say that the wireless has now been "retired" and the old Friedland switched back on again.

Do you ever notice that when you rashly replace old, faithful technology with something else, the old item has a habit of coming back?

You can get a Ring doorbell that runs off the doorbell power, no need to charge.

And you can get a ring extender with a chime to boost signal and be able to hear when it goes off

1 hour ago, DaveT70 said:

You can get a Ring doorbell ...

Downside is they're made by Amazon, though other brands are available...

Yes these wireless battery operated door bells are quite a pain. In just 6 years I've replaced one twice. As for batteries I only use the duracell ones but what I find is that the actual door push button needs pressing every few days. It's like the contacts within somehow get tarnished and the contacts become useless. Weird as my front door is in an enclosed porch.

As for the good 'ole loud bells. I remember my Dad running an extention wire and putting a 2nd bell over the kitchen door. By ruck when they went off everyone knew lol.

31 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Downside is they're made by Amazon

I think Ring is now Chinese and you know my opinion on that.