Probably a silly idea, but...

I have a wireless doorbell with one chiming unit (I doubt if that's the
correct term, but you know what I mean, I hope). This doorbell works
flawlessly, looks neat and modern on the door and unobtrusive indoors, and I
don't really want to change it.

But it's not loud enough.

So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very basic
amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying lead) which
could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably adjusted to make it
audible over a wider area.

Does something akin to that already exist? And if not, how simple or
otherwise would it be to construct one? The sound quality wouldn't have to
be up to much...

Many thanks.

The makers are missing a market. They have the technology, but they need to
be selling modules, repeaters, etc - and better buttons.

On Tue, 26 Jan 2021 23:20:31 GMT, JohnP wrote:





The makers are missing a market. They have the technology, but they need to
be selling modules, repeaters, etc - and better buttons.

I have two front doors due to several extensions that were added
before we moved here. A bell push on each and a receiver upstairs and
one downstairs. Friedland works a treat.

Bert Coules wrote:
So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very basic
amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying lead) which
could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably adjusted to make it
audible over a wider area.

Isn't that going to detect any sound near the chime? For example if
somebody sneezes it'll be broadcast around the house.

Could you not detect the bell push in some way? Voltage across the chime
unit, or something? Since bells are often AC, a non-invasive way might be a
coil wrapped around one of the leads running to a detector circuit.

Theo

On 27/01/2021 00:42, Theo wrote:
Bert Coules wrote:
So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very basic
amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying lead) which
could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably adjusted to make it
audible over a wider area.

Isn't that going to detect any sound near the chime? For example if
somebody sneezes it'll be broadcast around the house.

Could you not detect the bell push in some way? Voltage across the chime
unit, or something? Since bells are often AC, a non-invasive way might be a
coil wrapped around one of the leads running to a detector circuit.

The OP has a wireless door bell. The push button would comprise a
battery, switch and transmitter. So no easy means of detecting the
switch closing.

I have thought about this and can't really see any alternative other
than get a doorbell and purchase more than one sounder of the same make
and type. If you choose the same channel one push button should be able
to transmit to a dozen or more sounders. If you choose a respectable
make there might also be visual indicators too.

I think an email to Friedland or similar. The OP isn't unique and there
are countless properties when one or more of the residents is deaf.

"Fredxx" wrote in message
...
On 27/01/2021 00:42, Theo wrote:
Bert Coules wrote:
So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very
basic
amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying lead) which
could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably adjusted to make it
audible over a wider area.

Isn't that going to detect any sound near the chime? For example if
somebody sneezes it'll be broadcast around the house.

Could you not detect the bell push in some way? Voltage across the chime
unit, or something? Since bells are often AC, a non-invasive way might
be a
coil wrapped around one of the leads running to a detector circuit.

The OP has a wireless door bell. The push button would comprise a battery,
switch and transmitter. So no easy means of detecting the switch closing.

I have thought about this

Clearly not very well.

and can't really see any alternative other than get a doorbell and
purchase more than one sounder of the same make and type. If you choose
the same channel one push button should be able to transmit to a dozen or
more sounders. If you choose a respectable make there might also be visual
indicators too.

The other obvious possibility is to modify the sounder so its much louder

I think an email to Friedland or similar. The OP isn't unique and there
are countless properties when one or more of the residents is deaf.

But those likely get a better system which calls their
phone and use the vibration alert or flashing light etc

On 27/01/2021 05:48, Rod Speed wrote:

The other obvious possibility is to modify the sounder so its much louder

If the sounder is just a speaker then perhaps just soldering a high
impedance piezo horn across the speaker may work.


https://tinyurl.com/y69mql6a


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/p-150W-Pi...AOSwLiBeHzB Q


--
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On Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:48:47 +1100, cantankerous trolling geezer Rodent
Speed, the auto-contradicting senile sociopath, blabbered, again:

FLUSH the senile idiot's latest troll**** unread

--
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"Rod speed is not a Brexiteer. He is an Australian troll and arsehole."
Message-ID:

In article , Fredxx wrote:
On 27/01/2021 00:42, Theo wrote:
Bert Coules wrote:
So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very
basic amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying
lead) which could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably
adjusted to make it audible over a wider area.

Isn't that going to detect any sound near the chime? For example if
somebody sneezes it'll be broadcast around the house.

Could you not detect the bell push in some way? Voltage across the
chime unit, or something? Since bells are often AC, a non-invasive way
might be a coil wrapped around one of the leads running to a detector
circuit.

The OP has a wireless door bell. The push button would comprise a
battery, switch and transmitter. So no easy means of detecting the
switch closing.

I have thought about this and can't really see any alternative other
than get a doorbell and purchase more than one sounder of the same make
and type. If you choose the same channel one push button should be able
to transmit to a dozen or more sounders. If you choose a respectable
make there might also be visual indicators too.

I think an email to Friedland or similar. The OP isn't unique and there
are countless properties when one or more of the residents is deaf.

we have 2 mains 'bells' one at the top of the house (near my wife's study)
and one at ground level. The latter means the person pushing the bell can
hear something. We also have a battery operated 'bell' which we can take
into the garden (not at this time of yesr),

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle

On Wednesday, 27 January 2021 at 10:04:46 UTC, charles wrote:
In article , Fredxx wrote:
On 27/01/2021 00:42, Theo wrote:
Bert Coules wrote:
So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very
basic amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying
lead) which could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably
adjusted to make it audible over a wider area.

Isn't that going to detect any sound near the chime? For example if
somebody sneezes it'll be broadcast around the house.

Could you not detect the bell push in some way? Voltage across the
chime unit, or something? Since bells are often AC, a non-invasive way
might be a coil wrapped around one of the leads running to a detector
circuit.

The OP has a wireless door bell. The push button would comprise a
battery, switch and transmitter. So no easy means of detecting the
switch closing.

I have thought about this and can't really see any alternative other
than get a doorbell and purchase more than one sounder of the same make
and type. If you choose the same channel one push button should be able
to transmit to a dozen or more sounders. If you choose a respectable
make there might also be visual indicators too.

I think an email to Friedland or similar. The OP isn't unique and there
are countless properties when one or more of the residents is deaf.
we have 2 mains 'bells' one at the top of the house (near my wife's study)
and one at ground level. The latter means the person pushing the bell can
hear something. We also have a battery operated 'bell' which we can take
into the garden (not at this time of yesr),

--
from KT24 in Surrey, England
"I'd rather die of exhaustion than die of boredom" Thomas Carlyle
We got frustrated with our wireless doorbell not even ringing so invested in a Ring doorbell camera now if someone presses the bell all the echo devices chirp in to tell you its been rung and in addition with the Echo Show we can see and speak to the person at the door. It also detects anyone passing the camera which can be annoying at times but you can adjust the sensitivity and detection zone and detection period. I even have an Echo device in the garage which is loud enough for people outside to hear it and know they have been clocked.

Richard

Fredxx wrote:
The OP has a wireless door bell. The push button would comprise a
battery, switch and transmitter. So no easy means of detecting the
switch closing.

Ah sorry, I missed 'wireless' in the OP.

I have thought about this and can't really see any alternative other
than get a doorbell and purchase more than one sounder of the same make
and type. If you choose the same channel one push button should be able
to transmit to a dozen or more sounders. If you choose a respectable
make there might also be visual indicators too.

Indeed, it would seem simpler to pair another sounder with the push button.
And if the system isn't capable of doing that, to purchase one that is.
It's not like wireless doorbells are expensive or rely on pre-existing
infrastructure.

Theo

On 27/01/2021 00:52, Fredxx wrote:
On 27/01/2021 00:42, Theo wrote:
Bert Coules wrote:
So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very
basic
amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying lead) which
could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably adjusted to make it
audible over a wider area.

If you like tinkering go for it but if you want a cheap/easy solution go
one bellpush many plug in receivers route

I have thought about this and can't really see any alternative other
than get a doorbell and purchase more than one sounder of the same make
and type. If you choose the same channel one push button should be able
to transmit to a dozen or more sounders. If you choose a respectable
make there might also be visual indicators too.

I have a system much like this .

I have one bellpush but three receiving units, one in the hall, one in
the Living room one at the top of the stairs . It was trivial to adjust
the units so they all reacted to the one bellpush.

Each of these units has an option to have flashing lights only or
'tunes' and lights and also each has a volume control.

The bell units were a cheapo Amazon thing, nothing very technological
or expensive
The one I have :-
https://preview.tinyurl.com/y4k8gd25

One bellpush three sounders system if you don't feel you want to faff
(trivial) yourself :-
https://preview.tinyurl.com/y3h7ulxm


I am a tad hard of hearing so I have the three sounders
1) the one in the hall lets the pusher know the bell works
2) The on in the living-room can be heard even over my headphones (I am
wearing if on the computer)
3) The one at the top of the stairs allows me to hear the bell even if
in the hobby room.

Son has overly good hearing (hyperacusis[this was actually a problem
when he was younger]) he can hear people at the door even if they don't
ring or knock

soup wrote:

One bellpush three sounders system if you don't feel you want to faff
(trivial) yourself :-
https://preview.tinyurl.com/y3h7ulxm

Many thanks for that: it looks (and hopefully will sound) ideal for my
purposes.

Bert Coules explained :
I have a wireless doorbell with one chiming unit (I doubt if that's the
correct term, but you know what I mean, I hope). This doorbell works
flawlessly, looks neat and modern on the door and unobtrusive indoors, and I
don't really want to change it.

Yes, a silly idea!

Some of the better wireless kits (Friedland is one), can have extra
sounders added to them, all you need is an extra sounder or two to
cover most homes.

On 26/01/2021 23:10, Bert Coules wrote:
Probably a silly idea, but...

I have a wireless doorbell with one chiming unit (I doubt if that's the
correct term, but you know what I mean, I hope).Â* This doorbell works
flawlessly, looks neat and modern on the door and unobtrusive indoors,
and I don't really want to change it.

But it's not loud enough.

So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very
basic amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying lead)
which could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably adjusted to
make it audible over a wider area.

Does something akin to that already exist?Â* And if not, how simple or
otherwise would it be to construct one?Â* The sound quality wouldn't have
to be up to much...


Like others, I think you'd do better to get a second receiver.

I don't suggest you try this while you have only one receiver but FWIW
we had 3 old Byron plug-in receivers but still couldn't always hear
them. One of them now sits in a box with wires soldered to its speaker
terminal which go via coupling capacitors to a little amplifier module
(c. £2 from eBay) powered from a wall wart next to an old speaker.
Looks like **** but sits on a shelf out of sight. And we mostly
remember to turn off the wall wart at night. Someone (i.e. nearly
everyone) less ham-fisted than me could no doubt drill the receiver's
case and do a neater job.

--
Robin
reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

Bert Coules wrote:
Probably a silly idea, but...

I have a wireless doorbell with one chiming unit (I doubt if that's the
correct term, but you know what I mean, I hope). This doorbell works
flawlessly, looks neat and modern on the door and unobtrusive indoors,
and I don't really want to change it.

But it's not loud enough.

So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very
basic amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying lead)
which could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably adjusted to
make it audible over a wider area.

Does something akin to that already exist? And if not, how simple or
otherwise would it be to construct one? The sound quality wouldn't have
to be up to much...

Many thanks.

It would make more sense to get a second chiming unit.

*******

You could do a magnetic pickup, an acoustic pickup, all
depending on the chiming unit characteristics. But that's
a lot of work... for a door bell :-)

If going with an audio amplifier, you want a kit you
can construct with a soldering iron, to save money.
As soon as a finished amplifier has the word "audiophile"
in the advert, the price goes up by a factor of four.

Here, I just randomly select a mono amp, for pricing purposes.

Companies that make these kits, make soldering versions (cheaper
but not by much), as well as AS assembled units. This one is assembled.
When I decided to do an amp kit, I did the soldering version.
But this saves work, and the wiring is screw-down.

"AS3050KT - 25W Hi-Fi Audio Amplifier (LM1875)"

https://quasarelectronics.co.uk/Item...-module-lm1875

"Product Formats PRE-ASSEMBLED Electronic Module (AS)

Output Type Up to 30W into 8 Ohms
25W RMS, 8 ohm load, +/- 25V supply

Output impedance 4 - 8 Ohms (your parts bin probably has 8 ohms)

Total Price: £15.79 Exc VAT, £18.95 Inc VAT
Stock Info: In Stock (Our UK Warehouse)."

Power Supply e.g. CFS020 (includes transformer) or
kit 3114 with a 35V centre tapped 60VA mains transformer (not included)

The audio power stated, is pure poppycock. You get 25W at 10%
distortion. The undistorted output might be in the 2W to 5W range,
which is still adequate for many purposes. You won't be
playing the Electric Light Orchestra through this thing at
25W output.

Amp kits need a power supply, and again, a good supplier offers
a range of transformer-based power kits.

The transformer is the expensive item, so the power kit *must*
include transformer. You don't want to get tricked into
spending more money with yet another supplier making transformers.
The transformer end of my project, blew the economics of my
project "out of the water". It turned a fun project into a
boondoggle.

"Cebek FS-20 (CFS020) - ±24V, 2A Dual Polarity Power Supply with 230Vac Chassis Transformer"

https://quasarelectronics.co.uk/Item...th-transformer

"Item Number: Cebek FS-20 (CFS020)

Total Price: £31.44 Exc VAT, £37.73 Inc VAT
Stock Info: In Stock (Our UK Warehouse)."

The example power source is 2X the price of
the (monophonic, single speaker) amplifier itself.

And amplifiers work with 1V rms line level inputs, as a
general rule. You cannot connect a 0.002V rms dynamic microphone
and expect to hear squat that way. The signal source may need
to be boosted, but at least you've got a ready source of
power :-)

I'm assuming you already own a "left-over" ancient bookshelf
speaker. I have left-over speakers here, which can be pressed
into service. Older kit was 16 ohms or 8 ohms. Modern kit can
be 4 ohms or even 2 ohms. The 2 ohms style can be easier
to drive with lower voltage power sources. To drive an 8 ohm
speaker at decent volume, your home stereo might use a 60VDC
supply inside. A 2 ohm speaker, you might get away with
18VDC at a number of amperes of current. But if your kit
doesn't state "2 ohms", then it can't drive that low of
an impedance of speaker. If you were going out to buy a
bookshelf speaker, you would examine all the combinations
of power supplies (their cost), amplifier characteristics,
and speaker impedance, to get lowest product cost. Fun, eh ?

My amp runs off a bit less than 18VDC, as that's the
voltage limit of my kit. The enjoyable power level is
likely to be around 2 watts. An efficient tuned port
speaker might help.

*******

How many chiming units can you buy for £57 plus shipping ?

Paul

On 26/01/2021 23:10, Bert Coules wrote:
Probably a silly idea, but...

I have a wireless doorbell with one chiming unit (I doubt if that's the
correct term, but you know what I mean, I hope).Â* This doorbell works
flawlessly, looks neat and modern on the door and unobtrusive indoors,
and I don't really want to change it.

But it's not loud enough.

Then you are better off buying a louder one.

So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very
basic amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying lead)
which could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably adjusted to
make it audible over a wider area.

That won't work.

Even if it doesn't howl round immediately if it is louder than the chime
in the room it will get ever louder until it clips the rails. You can
sometimes parallel a piezeo speaker across the existing transducer to
get a second remote sounder. That is how I have done mine. I couldn't
hear the doorbell from my office otherwise.

Does something akin to that already exist?Â* And if not, how simple or
otherwise would it be to construct one?Â* The sound quality wouldn't have
to be up to much...

Many thanks.

It won't do what you want. You are better off with something like this.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It is *LOUD*.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

Many thanks for all the replies, most of which were happy to reinforce my
thought that it was a indeed a silly idea.

It seems that a replacement, possibly one specifically equipped with an
extra loud chime, is the logical way to go.

On 27/01/2021 09:40, Bert Coules wrote:
Many thanks for all the replies, most of which were happy to reinforce
my thought that it was a indeed a silly idea.

It seems that a replacement, possibly one specifically equipped with an
extra loud chime, is the logical way to go.

Amazon do a radio door bell with four remote sounders plus two
bell pushes for both the front and back doors, but the sounders
make the same noise for both pushes.

I used to have an early digital bell it had a selection of sounds, my
favourite was a cow bell.
Which as we all know, cows have bells because their horns don't work.


Brian

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"gareth evans" wrote in message
...
On 27/01/2021 09:40, Bert Coules wrote:
Many thanks for all the replies, most of which were happy to reinforce
my thought that it was a indeed a silly idea.

It seems that a replacement, possibly one specifically equipped with an
extra loud chime, is the logical way to go.

Amazon do a radio door bell with four remote sounders plus two
bell pushes for both the front and back doors, but the sounders
make the same noise for both pushes.

Blimey I remember a project in Practical Electronics many years ago like
this. It was very very simple and as it ran off the mains it could remain on
at all times. the microphone was simply a tiny loudspeaker in a thing behind
the chime.
It had a good name which escapes me right now, but a small ic power amp and
a regulated 12 v supply a decent speaker and a box with a thin screened
cable going to a high impedance small speaker would seem to be all you need,
however all the major companies make extension bells and chimes for the hard
of hearing I notice.


Brian

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Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Bert Coules" wrote in message
o.uk...
Probably a silly idea, but...

I have a wireless doorbell with one chiming unit (I doubt if that's the
correct term, but you know what I mean, I hope). This doorbell works
flawlessly, looks neat and modern on the door and unobtrusive indoors, and
I don't really want to change it.

But it's not loud enough.

So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very
basic amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying lead)
which could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably adjusted to make
it audible over a wider area.

Does something akin to that already exist? And if not, how simple or
otherwise would it be to construct one? The sound quality wouldn't have
to be up to much...

Many thanks.

In article ,
Bert Coules wrote:
I have a wireless doorbell with one chiming unit (I doubt if that's the
correct term, but you know what I mean, I hope). This doorbell works
flawlessly, looks neat and modern on the door and unobtrusive indoors, and I
don't really want to change it.

But it's not loud enough.

So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very basic
amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying lead) which
could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably adjusted to make it
audible over a wider area.

Does something akin to that already exist? And if not, how simple or
otherwise would it be to construct one? The sound quality wouldn't have to
be up to much...

Since many have a mains operated receiver, never really understood why the
sounder is so pathetic. Or have the option to add a louder sounder (like a
real bell) easily. Except for cost, of course.

But it wouldn't be difficult to take a feed from the sounder circuit and
use that to drive a relay etc. That's what I did with my digital alarm
clock to switch on a decent sound system.

--
*Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On 26/01/2021 11:10 pm, Bert Coules wrote:
Probably a silly idea, but...

I have a wireless doorbell with one chiming unit (I doubt if that's the
correct term, but you know what I mean, I hope).Â* This doorbell works
flawlessly, looks neat and modern on the door and unobtrusive indoors,
and I don't really want to change it.

But it's not loud enough.

So the silly idea is to build a small self contained unit with a very
basic amplifier, a speaker, and a microphone (perhaps on a flying lead)
which could be placed next to the chime unit and suitably adjusted to
make it audible over a wider area.

Does something akin to that already exist?Â* And if not, how simple or
otherwise would it be to construct one?Â* The sound quality wouldn't have
to be up to much...

Many thanks.

If it's a wireless unit, why not just buy another one, to be placed in
an additional location, paired to the same bell-push?