June 04 Newsletter

Hearing Assistive Technology

Doorbell Signalers

By Curtis Dickinson

Welcome, readers, to the greatest consumer-oriented Hearing Assistive Technology Column in the universe. In this issue we will discuss and explain doorbell-signaling devices.

Hearing the doorbell (or not) is a common concern for those who have hearing loss. There are many things to take into consideration when shopping for alerting devices. No two people have the same needs, desires, or funding ability. Of the numerous things to consider prior to purchasing an alerting system, some of the most common are:

1. Tone: Do you need a certain tone/frequency or volume to be able to hear the doorbell?

2. Visual Needs: Has your hearing deteriorated to the point of needing a visual cue for the doorbell?

3. Home or Apartment Design: Is your home large or do you often move around from room to room, necessitating multiple receiver units (strobe lights or bells in various areas)?

4. Lifestyle Differences: How much can you reasonably afford to do the job necessary?

5. Personal Preferences: Do you desire to be alerted while sleeping?

6. Travel Considerations: Do you travel often enough to warrant getting a mobile alerting device?

Making a list of what you desire of your doorbell device, and comparing it with what your home and lifestyle can afford, is time well spent. Otherwise, should you miss a special visitor or delivery you will not appreciate your investment and may even suspect the system itself is faulty. (Hearing loss tends to confuse us this way).

There are many different options to choose from, keeping in mind, the considerations above, let’s explore the four main options:

1. Hard-wired Doorbell Alerting: This requires running an electric wire from the doorbell to the receiver unit(s) (that is the unit that flashes, vibrates, or makes a certain sound in a certain frequency). This has a limited range with standard installation, but is the least expensive option. One can, however, elect to hire an electrician to install a system that is hardwired throughout the home (Did you just hear that ol’ Ca-Ching sound?)

2. Hybrid Hard-wired Doorbell Alerting: Same as above except the receiver is able to send a wireless signal to remote receivers located in other rooms throughout the house.

3. Wireless Doorbell Alerting: A wireless doorbell is not connected to the light flasher by wire. Thus, it is easier to setup. Its remote capabilities allow it to send a signal to an infinite amount of receivers set up in your home.

4. Receivers: These are the units that either plug into a wall outlet, an individual lamp, or may be battery powered. One factor to be aware of is whether the receiver needs a lamp to flash, and if that lamp can be used for reading and lighting or only for alerting.

A Partial List of Offerings Follows:

SINGLE RECEIVER DOORBELL ALERT SYSTEM: A single use system consisting of one battery-powered doorbell and one receiver. The receiver can be self-contained, that is, powered by a battery. This can blink its built-in light and/or emit an audible signal. These are great for traveling for use in motels, dorms or other one-room areas etc.

MULTIPLE RECEIVER DOORBELL ALERT SYSTEMS: These systems send a signal to any number of receivers provided they are all on the same channel. They consist of a doorbell that can be either hardwired to the receiver or not. But the receiver will send out a signal to other (remote) receivers placed throughout the house.

Generally these systems will work with a distance of around 75 feet to 100 feet between the doorbell and the receiver. Get a remote receiver for each room you are concerned about. Most likely you will need to plug a lamp into the receiver. Check the specifications before purchasing.

WORKING WITH EXISTING DOORBELLS: Some manufacturers have a sensor device that can be placed over the chimes of an existing doorbell system. This device picks up the magnetic radiation produced by the activation of the chimer. This device results in your being alerted by whichever method you have chosen to use. Other types of receivers, which work with existing doorbell chimes are wired to the terminals of the doorbell chime.

OPTIONAL RECEIVERS: You may purchase a pager-type receiver that will vibrate. Good for being out in the yard or elsewhere that a doorbell receiver is not installed. A vibrating receiver can be placed between the mattress and box spring in your bedroom. (Generally all these are available mostly with multiple alert systems. These systems alert to the telephone, smoke alarm, doorbell, door-knock, baby cry, etc).

Two caveats:

(1) If you will be leaving an existing doorbell in place, be sure to alert visitors which doorbell to activate. I tend to find it confusing when more then one doorbell is seen--which to push?

(2) Wireless systems could produce false signals. The more expensive systems allow resetting of channels by your self (another term is frequency). The least expensive systems only have one set channel. If you need to buy the least expensive single-channel device be sure you learn if it can be returned for channel interference. Sometimes these companies can change the channel for you otherwise it will have to be returned for a different model. . The more expensive ones also tend to have a stronger signal translating to less interference and better traveling distance.

The Hearing Loss Help Company has a picture of wireless single system here:

http://www.hearing-loss-help-co.com/1060.htm

Examples of a single use Doorknocker device can be found here:

http://www.hearing-loss-help-co.com/c212.htm

Examples of multiple receiver systems can be found here:

http://www.hearing-loss-help-co.com/c102.htm

Examples of a multiple-system notification system, which includes the doorbell can be found here:

http://www.hearing-loss-help-co.com/c81.htm

Here are the manufacturer and contacts of some systems:

Global Assistive Devices, Inc
4950 North Dixie Highway, Suite 121
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334-3947
TEL: 954 784 0035

Website:www. globalassistive.com

Ultratec
450 Science Drive
Madison WI 53711
TEL:800 482 2424