How to Choose a Wireless Doorbell

The latest models of wireless doorbells come with an integrated home security system and/or an intercom.

A wireless doorbell, as the name suggests, is a doorbell that has no wires attached to it. While there are a host of advantages offered by a wireless doorbell, the prime advantage is that these bells can be installed by anyone, without relying on professional help.

What's more, a wireless doorbell is ideal for people residing in rental properties, as these bells can be easily removed and one can carry the bell along when shifting locations.

The wireless doorbell functions on radio waves, and is available in different designs, sizes, shapes, and features. While the price of the bell is determined by its features, most models are pretty affordable.

While choosing a wireless doorbell can be a bit confusing because of the array of features on offer, all you need to do is consider a few important factors in order to make a successful purchase. Here, we shall learn about the factors that should influence your choice of the right doorbell.

While most average doorbells work fine for small to average-sized houses, they are of little use in a large house, where the sound of the bell might not be audible from certain parts of the house. A larger house demands a doorbell with a larger operating range. The presence of interfering walls also needs to be considered.

Another option is to opt for a portable ring unit that can be carried along as you move around the house, thus saving you the trouble of installing multiple units. However, a single portable unit means only the person carrying it will be able to hear the sound of the doorbell.

When you choose a doorbell, choose one in a design that complements the decor of the house. Nowadays, you'll find wireless doorbells in a range of shapes, colors, and designs. You're likely to find doorbells with porcelain, plastic, metal, glass or wood finish covers. Just look online or visit a store near you to choose from an array of options.

Most of us tend to get carried away by the features and/or the looks of the products we buy, without considering the type of power supply required by the device. While some models of wireless doorbells run on electricity, most units run on batteries.

Hence, before you make a purchase, make sure you have easy access to the type of batteries used in the device, and also find out if they can be recharged.

While some basic models have a select range of tunes that you can choose from, others are compatible with most digital devices, and you can upload your favorite music from your smartphone or iPod and hear it every time someone arrives at your door! Sounds great, isn't it?

The sound quality of the bell is important, because it is the sound that's going to ring in your ears every time a guest arrives or you order your favorite pizza. When you choose a wireless doorbell, make sure it has a sound that everyone in the house loves listening to.

The unit of the wireless doorbell that is installed outside your front door should be made of a material that can withstand the different weather conditions, such as rain, frost, and snow. You should get one that is made from UV-resistant plastic. However, this might not be a major cause of concern if there is some sort of protection over your main door.

If you have a really big house, then you'd require a wireless doorbell unit that supports multiple push-buttons so that you can have one for every room in your house. Most units support 6 push-buttons, but you can get one that supports more, if that is what you require for your house.

This is a two-way feature, and is designed to work for you as well as the guests who come to visit you. A doorbell should be designed such that it's visible to your guests even when it is pitch-dark outside. To cater to this purpose, your wireless doorbell should have an illumination feature that makes it visible in darkness.

The visual alert feature uses a flashlight, instead of the ring sound, and can be really useful when there are kids sleeping in the house.

Why is it essential to have a doorbell with frequency blocking, you may ask? Well, the sole reason is that a wireless doorbell operates on the principle of transmission of radio waves, and we have radio waves all around us―FM radios, cell phones, TV remotes, Bluetooth devices, and so on.

In such a scenario, without a frequency blocker, your wireless doorbell might ring every time you transfer stuff using Bluetooth or surf channels on TV!

Last but not the least, your budget should play a key role in your decision. You're advised not to get carried away by looks alone, but focus more on the aspect of utility. Before you go around shopping, make sure you have decided on a budget, based on the features you want, such as size, operation range, multiple push buttons, etc.

So, you have considered all the required factors and decided on a model that fits the bill. What next? Of course, the next step is to bring it home, but before that, don't forget to check the warranty period offered by the brand, as well as the return policy. Good luck!