Progressing beyond the typical ding dong, the wireless doorbells today are available with pre-recorded chimes or you can record your own announcement of visitors. The doorbell is probably not one of the things you give a lot of thought to when it comes to your home. But with the many available today it is time to think about changing that typical chime to something more personalized.

The Awesome Features

Recording your own message, song or noise is the way to go when it comes to wireless doorbells. Get rid of the boring chimes and record your favorite song or something a little more formal. It can be anything you choose usually up to 10 seconds to announce your guests. Many are available with the cable you need to record from your I-pod or stereo.

The doorbell has only been around since about 1831 but thank goodness we have progressed from the irritating buzz that was one of the first sounds to be used. The doorbells of today are much more pleasant sounding even if you go with the pre-recorded sounds that are available.

What are the Different Types?

Today you have a variety of doorbells from which to choose. The long range doorbell is perfect for those with larger homes. You can hear the doorbell from upstairs just as well as the living area.

Not only is the technical aspect of doorbells considered by manufacturers but the design is now a top priority. Advancing from the plastic box that was the basic choice, there are many options available today. Metal, glass, wood, brass, stainless steel, lighted or non-lighted and even one that looks like a grandfather clock are options.

Whether it is a Victorian style or contemporary there is a doorbell that will stand out and add to the beauty of your home. The range is another aspect that has improved with distances of 150 feet and more if you have an intercom system. These can be heard up to 3000 feet.

Options are Available

With the wireless doorbells of today, you can have CD quality that will resound throughout your home. Many models have a speaker hidden in the great looking design that improves the sound of the doorbell. Affordability is another option. There are many doorbells available with all the features you want and more for under $100.

Weatherproof doorbells, built-in antennas, intercom doorbells and flashing doorbells for the hearing impaired are a few of the options. Adding a unique sound to fit the holidays such as Christmas or Halloween is also a consideration. There is no doubt the doorbell has evolved.

Most people today value their privacy. They keep their doors and gates locked to keep out solicitors and unwanted company. But in doing so, they sometimes miss that important package because most delivery drivers can’t get on their property. For those that want to get their packages without sacrificing their security, an intercom doorbell is the best choice for your home.

Using radio wave frequencies, these devices allow you to hear visitors from anywhere in your home. Most are easy to set up and require no tools or having to rewire your house and come with the option to have additional intercoms that can be placed in different areas of your household. This is very convenient if you spend time in your home office, in the basement, or are out in the backyard.

With doorbell intercoms, there is no more having to wait by the door for hours for deliveries and no more having to drop what you are doing to rush for the doorbell only to find an unwanted solicitor has ruined your dinner. Also, this handy device allows you to screen visitors without having to go to the gate to meet them.

There is an endless variety of options available in intercom doorbells and most depend on your budget and needs. The simplest systems cost below fifty dollars and are fine for small homes. These devices usually have a range of 500 feet, five channel bands and a stationary monitor that runs on an AC adapter with the doorbell running on 9-volt batteries. Most of these brands come with the options of having extra monitors so that you can respond from any room in the house.

For those that have bigger homes or need a system with more capability, there are doorbell intercoms that offer features like increased range and portable monitors. These devices can include infrared sensors, video monitoring, and batteries that last up to six months. Some of the more sophisticated models have a built-in feature that turns on your lamp and shakes your bed to alert you of visitors during the night and are extremely useful for those that are handicapped or hearing impaired.

Whether you want a simple alert system to complete video surveillance of your front door or gate, wireless intercom doorbells are perfect for those who value their privacy.

Ever been sitting at home alone in the evening, reading a good book, and suddenly “BAM BAM BAM!” on your front door? You drop your book losing your place, and now your heart is racing like crazy. Surprise visits can be annoying, so you want an idea to keep them from happening? Driveway doorbells!

These little beauties are installed in your driveway using a motion sensor to detect when a vehicle pulls into your driveway. A light chime sounds throughout your house, letting you know that company is on its way to your door. Also, a long tube is placed across the entrance of your driveway that will sound only if enough weight is placed on it. And only a vehicle will have enough weight to set it off, so your new driveway doorbell won’t be sounding over every little thing that wanders into your driveway.

Some driveway doorbells come equipped with a light that is triggered when a vehicle pulls in and seems like it lights the way for your visitors, but what it is really doing is giving you a brighter view of exactly who is cruising up your driveway. Some models can be installed with a call box, so when the visitors pull in, they can call up to your house and announce their arrival in person, yet still giving you plenty of warning that they are coming.

If you are looking at a rather long or winding driveway, maybe a camera installation with your driveway doorbell is a good idea. It gives you not only proper warning that someone is on their way to your house, but it gives you a clear view of the vehicle as well. And some models will actually record the video, and this is a great criminal deterrent. The would-be criminal sees the video recorder, and is scared away. And if they are not, the video will have evidence of their presence, and can be used for an arrest.

Installing driveway doorbells is simple and quick. Many can be installed by the homeowner in one afternoon. The more complicated models can be purchased and then installed by a professional. The choice belongs to the homeowner. Whichever model that is chosen and no matter the method of installation, driveways doorbells are a great way to end surprise visits, and give you peace of mind when someone pulls into your drive. You will know they are coming, and can know who they are, even before they turn the car off and get out.

Mechanical doorbells got their start during the early Victorian era, and though we have moved on to more technologically advanced pieces, these charming bits of history still hold a place in the hearts of those with a fascination for old fashioned architectural accessories, and the people who like to add interesting bits of unusual style to their homes.

What makes mechanical doorbells such delightful pieces is their simplicity. These doorbells do not run on electricity, but are simply a bell on the inside of the door attached to a lever on the outside. The external handles vary from a twist handle (which tends to sound similar to a bicycle bell), and a push lever, which has a stronger, singular tone.

Mechanical Doorbell

Most of these unique historic pieces are made of a heavy brass. Although you can find a style that is simple, you will find many more that are intricate in design. The lever designs are almost always elaborately fashioned; you will generally find them in golden hues, with complex scroll work patterns, or leaf and flower etchings. These ornamental outlines extended to the twist handle (or rotary) styles as well. However, they also included fun touches such as bold geometrical patterns, words sayings things like, “turn here,” and occasionally an animal bust. The twist handle design can also be done in a simpler fashion; these are generally smooth and sleek, and look similar to a vertically placed inn bell. This style, as well as the more elaborate counterpart, can be seen in a golden tint as well as silver, bronze and a patina copper.

When it comes to choosing this style of doorbell for your home, it is important to know exactly what you are looking for, and how much you would like to spend. Do you want an antique, or a reproduction? Will it be a showpiece, or something functional as well as stylish? Whether they are antique or reproductions, these doorbells are relatively inexpensive; the antiques ranging from $100 to $20 dollars depending on size and quality; the reproductions generally cost between $70 and $15 dollars. The originals tend to be made of studier material; however, due to their advanced age, they may require some repairs. On the other hand, reproductions are usually made of fine quality materials that will last a while, but they are not usually as heavy, and you may not find pieces that are as ornate as the originals.

Whether using them as a functional piece, or for purely aesthetic purposes, mechanical doorbells are certain to add a bit of old fashioned flair to your home.

Types of Doorbells

• Standard Doorbells – Nothing unexpected here. There is a button at the front door, wiring to the bell or chime unit and the actual “bells”. The standard door bell system requires electricity to allow the doorbell button to activate the relays that turn on the doorbells.
• Wireless doorbells – Wireless doorbells are a great invention for anybody that wants to replace or remodel the area where their current doorbell system resides. They are also an easy way to add a door bell to a door that doesn’t currently have a door bell. Wireless doorbells typically have a range of about 100 feet.
• Doorbell intercom – Easily answer your door without opening it! Doorbell intercom systems can be found in wireless models and you can even expand some systems to include multiple intercoms and make a whole house system.
• Mechanical doorbell – Mechanical doorbells require no electricity and they are just bells attached on the inside of the door with the level on the outside. When a visitor turns the level the bells ring on the inside. They are most often mounted at mid-door height they come with different types of twist levers. Mechanical doorbells are often called mechanical twist doorbells due to the twisting motion you make to use them.
• Driveway doorbells – Driveway door bells (also called driveway alarms) have a sensor that you place at the front of your driveway to detect vehicles and the doorbell chime unit in your house. Many detectors are passive infrared sensors, some are motion detectors and others use a rubber hose so that they trigger only when a vehicle drives over them (the others will trigger for people and pets). Almost all of the driveway doorbell systems are wireless these days.

Parts of a Doorbell System

• The bell or chime system. These can be actual bells are a speaker system that plays pre-recorded chime sounds.
• Wiring (or wireless) connection from the button to the chime unit.
• The doorbell button or level. It all begins here with the push of a button or a twist of a lever.

I hope that you can see that there is more to doorbells than most people realize. I hope to explore more of the doorbell world with future articles.