Blink Doorbell Advice

Sunshine_and_Roses

I have bought the Blink video doorbell with sync module 2 to install at my Mum's house as a security measure.  She does not use internet or phone apps apart from Whatsapp, so my thoughts were to have this installed so I can see who is at her door and also to alert me if she does not answer the door to visitors.

I bought this one as I have Ring, and cannot have more than one location on my app, so I can have Blink as a standalone app on my phone for Mum's property. 

Is it better to have it hard wired or wire free?  I would like it to be as simple as possible for both myself and Mum - her current doorbell has a chimer which she can take from room to room with her as she is hard of hearing.  Can they link together so she can still have chimes?  I want her to remain as independent as possible but for me to be able to keep an eye on unwanted visitors.

Any help would be appreciated.

PixelPound

I went with Eufy myself as it's subscription free.

If you hard wire then you don't have to worry about charging the battery (depending on the amount of use/traffic this could be once a month or several months)

Would you be using existing wired doorbell wiring to power, as if so then yes (but you have to put a connection in the chime so it supplies electric to the bell all the time, may want to get an electrician in if not competent/comfortable with DIY). If not you could also add an Alexa device for your mum to use which will notify someone at the door.

chrisw

Both Ring and Blink require Wi-Fi and an internet connection, despite the Blink being able to save to usb in the sync module.

moneysaver1978

I am sure that wired Blink doorbell still requires batteries - the wired part is really for the chime which I assume is what OP is asking.

Sunshine_and_Roses

I'm trying to install it now, set up of app and sync module 2 all good.  Problem is that the existing doorbell is not wired, so where will it chime to if Mum is not using an app or Alexa? 

Sunshine_and_Roses

I have spoken to Blink helpline and they have told me to attach to existing chime wiring (there is none as it was battery operated) or use a mini camera.  I don't understand how a camera would provide a chime, and the advisor could not clarify this either. 

I need a chime box like the existing one that Mum can carry from room to room.

Any suggestions please? 

knightstyle

Install the app on your phone and then you can talk to callers and tell them to knock on her door or window.
Or install on her phone and she can take it from room to room.

Sunshine_and_Roses

knightstyle said:

Install the app on your phone and then you can talk to callers and tell them to knock on her door or window.
Or install on her phone and she can take it from room to room.

Thsnks.  I've put the app on my phone so I can see and talk to callers if needed.  She is not really confident with apps and is quite poorly at the moment, so I was hoping that I could keep things as normal as possible for her, with a straightforward portable chime box.  There is some very old wiring from an original doorbell, possibly 40 years old, so I don't think it would be safe to wire a new one to this.  

moneysaver1978

Sunshine_and_Roses said:

knightstyle said:

Install the app on your phone and then you can talk to callers and tell them to knock on her door or window.
Or install on her phone and she can take it from room to room.

Thsnks.  I've put the app on my phone so I can see and talk to callers if needed.  She is not really confident with apps and is quite poorly at the moment, so I was hoping that I could keep things as normal as possible for her, with a straightforward portable chime box.  There is some very old wiring from an original doorbell, possibly 40 years old, so I don't think it would be safe to wire a new one to this.  

What is the portable chime box? It might be worth speaking to the council if they are able to loan a new alerting system, like https://www.connevans.co.uk/product/26365855/44BE1470/Bellman-Visit-Portable-Pager-Receiver---BE1470 - an elderly friend has one and found it really useful.

Sunshine_and_Roses

moneysaver1978 said:

Sunshine_and_Roses said:

knightstyle said:

Install the app on your phone and then you can talk to callers and tell them to knock on her door or window.
Or install on her phone and she can take it from room to room.

Thsnks.  I've put the app on my phone so I can see and talk to callers if needed.  She is not really confident with apps and is quite poorly at the moment, so I was hoping that I could keep things as normal as possible for her, with a straightforward portable chime box.  There is some very old wiring from an original doorbell, possibly 40 years old, so I don't think it would be safe to wire a new one to this.  

What is the portable chime box? It might be worth speaking to the council if they are able to loan a new alerting system, like https://www.connevans.co.uk/product/26365855/44BE1470/Bellman-Visit-Portable-Pager-Receiver---BE1470 - an elderly friend has one and found it really useful.

Great idea, will look at that. The chime box is like a little square box which she can take around the house so she can hear the doorbell ring.  The old wiring is to a box on the kitchen wall so she cannot hear this upstairs. 

moneysaver1978

Sunshine_and_Roses said:

moneysaver1978 said:

Sunshine_and_Roses said:

knightstyle said:

Install the app on your phone and then you can talk to callers and tell them to knock on her door or window.
Or install on her phone and she can take it from room to room.

Thsnks.  I've put the app on my phone so I can see and talk to callers if needed.  She is not really confident with apps and is quite poorly at the moment, so I was hoping that I could keep things as normal as possible for her, with a straightforward portable chime box.  There is some very old wiring from an original doorbell, possibly 40 years old, so I don't think it would be safe to wire a new one to this.  

What is the portable chime box? It might be worth speaking to the council if they are able to loan a new alerting system, like https://www.connevans.co.uk/product/26365855/44BE1470/Bellman-Visit-Portable-Pager-Receiver---BE1470 - an elderly friend has one and found it really useful.

Great idea, will look at that. The chime box is like a little square box which she can take around the house so she can hear the doorbell ring.  The old wiring is to a box on the kitchen wall so she cannot hear this upstairs. 

Had a cup of tea with our friend just now, turns out that you can keep your existing doorbell and chime so the alerting system can be programmed to "listen" to the chime (right now, the listener is next to the chime so no wiring). When the chime goes, it sends an alert to the portable receiver hooked in his belt. 

This system wouldn't need Blink but if you want to monitor who rang the doorbell, I am sure the system can be programmed easily to listen to the Blink's chime.