Doorbells for Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Strobe and Vibrating
Compare strobe, vibrating and portable doorbells for deaf and hard-of-hearing users, plus how to add a flashing alert to a wired doorbell you already have.
Door chimes and business doorbells
This article is here to help you choose a door chime that fits the space, the noise level, and the way people actually enter the building. The useful comparisons are range, power source, receiver style, and whether you need sound only or sound plus a visual alert.
On This Page
- Start with how the person needs to notice the door
- Strobe-light doorbells (visual alert)
- WC180-SS: a simple strobe kit for most homes
- ERA-DCKIT: a 4,000 ft strobe kit
- Strobe options for larger spaces
- Vibrating and portable receivers (touch alert)
- ERA-VPRX portable vibrating receiver
- Dakota Alert PR-4000 vibrating pager
- Already have a wired doorbell? Add a flashing alert
- Plan for more than one room
- Choosing in one minute
- Frequently asked questions
- Can the strobe flash without any sound?
- Do these need Wi-Fi, an app or a subscription?
- Can I tell the front door from the back door?
- Will this work with my Ring doorbell?
Related Categories And Products
Quick answer: a doorbell can reach someone who cannot hear a standard chime in three ways: light (a strobe that flashes when the button is pressed), touch (a portable receiver that vibrates in a pocket or on a belt), and more sound (a louder receiver closer to the person). Pick by how the person lives: a strobe for the rooms they use most, a vibrating receiver if they move around the house or work outside, and more than one receiver if one room is not enough. Many homes combine a strobe and a vibrating receiver on the same button.
Start with how the person needs to notice the door
A traditional doorbell relies on sound alone. For someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, that can mean missed visitors, missed deliveries and missed medication drop-offs. Visual and vibrating alerts close that gap, and they help everyone else in the house too: a strobe still works when the TV is loud, the kids are noisy, or someone is running a vacuum.
Before choosing a product, answer three questions:
- Where does the person spend time? One main room, several rooms, or outside in a yard or shop?
- Can they see a flash from where they sit or sleep? If not, a vibrating receiver they carry is more reliable.
- Is there already a wired doorbell? If it works, you can add a flashing receiver to it instead of replacing it.
Strobe-light doorbells (visual alert)
A strobe doorbell has a push button outside and a receiver inside that flashes a bright light when the button is pressed. Most can be set to flash only, sound only, or both.
WC180-SS: a simple strobe kit for most homes
The WC180-SS 600 ft strobe doorbell pairs the SS111 push button with the SS155 plug-in strobe receiver. Facts from the product page:
- Up to 600 ft range in open air; walls, metal and masonry reduce it.
- 15 flashes each time it is triggered, and the flash color follows the selected melody, so different doors can flash differently.
- 58 melodies and 4 volume levels up to 90 dB, plus mute. Mute does not stop the strobe, so it can be a silent, flash-only doorbell.
- The button comes paired from the factory and runs up to 16 months on the included battery.
- Each receiver takes up to 58 transmitters. Add an SS155 strobe receiver for another room.
ERA-DCKIT: a 4,000 ft strobe kit
The ERA-DCKIT 4,000 ft strobe doorbell kit pairs the ERA-PBTX push button with the ERA-RXPG plug-in receiver. It is the choice for brick or block homes, larger homes, or a button far from the main living area.
- Up to 4,000 ft range, line of sight.
- The strobe flashes for about 15 seconds at 2 flashes per second.
- 12 melodies and 4 volume levels up to 90 dB, and a sound only, strobe only, or both setting.
- The ERA-PBTX button has a low glow ring so visitors can find it at night.
- Each receiver takes up to 12 transmitters, and you can add as many receivers as you need.
Strobe options for larger spaces
For a home business, shop or garage, the WDK-ERA-STROBES kit wires a 12V LED strobe (in a choice of colors) to the ERA-DCRX receiver. The strobe can stay on for 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 1 minute or 2 minutes, set by DIP switches, which helps someone working with their back to the door.
Vibrating and portable receivers (touch alert)
A strobe only works if the person can see it. For someone who moves between rooms, naps, or works in the yard, a receiver that rides with them is more dependable.
ERA-VPRX portable vibrating receiver
The ERA-VPRX is a rechargeable receiver with a belt clip. It can be set to sound only, vibrate only, or both, has 4 volume levels up to 80 dBA plus mute, and runs about 6-7 days on standby between charges. It has the same 4,000 ft range as the rest of the ERA Series, so it can answer the ERA-DCKIT push button from the back of the property. The LED backlit display keeps a time and event log, so the person can see when someone rang.
To buy it as a kit with a transmitter, see the ERA-UTVPR, which pairs the ERA-VPRX with the ERA-UTX push button / door contact.
Dakota Alert PR-4000 vibrating pager
If your home already uses Dakota Alert 4000 Series sensors, the PR-4000 is a pocket pager that gives an audible tone or a silent vibration, pairs with up to 16 transmitters, stores up to 400 alerts with date and time, and runs about ten days per charge.
Already have a wired doorbell? Add a flashing alert
If the home has a working wired doorbell, you do not have to replace it. A doorbell extender wires into the existing chime and sends a wireless signal to a strobe receiver whenever the button is pressed.
- The LRA-EX1000S-L extender kit pairs an extender with a plug-in strobe receiver on the 1,000 ft LRA Series.
- The ERA-EXKIT pairs the ERA-EXTX extender with the ERA-RXPG strobe receiver on the 4,000 ft ERA Series, for standard 5V-28V wired doorbells.
Both pages note they do not work with video doorbells. None of our wireless products pair with Ring.
Plan for more than one room
One receiver is rarely enough. A person who spends time in the living room, bedroom, kitchen and garage needs an alert in each place, or a vibrating receiver that goes with them. The SS, LRA and ERA Series all let one button trigger more than one receiver, so a strobe in the living room, a strobe in the bedroom and a vibrating receiver in a pocket can all answer the same press.
Choosing in one minute
| Situation | Best fit |
|---|---|
| One main room, wood-frame home | WC180-SS (600 ft strobe) |
| Brick or block home, or a long distance to the door | ERA-DCKIT (4,000 ft strobe) |
| Person moves around or works outside | ERA-VPRX vibrating receiver |
| Home shop, garage or workspace | WDK-ERA-STROBES |
| Keep the existing wired doorbell | ERA-EXKIT or LRA-EX1000S-L |
Frequently asked questions
Can the strobe flash without any sound?
Yes. On the WC180-SS, mute does not stop the strobe. ERA and LRA strobe receivers have a strobe only setting.
Do these need Wi-Fi, an app or a subscription?
No. The button talks directly to the receiver by radio. There is nothing to connect to the internet.
Can I tell the front door from the back door?
Yes. Give each button its own melody. On the SS155 and WC180-SS, the flash color also follows the melody, so each door can flash a different color.
Will this work with my Ring doorbell?
No. None of these wireless products pair with Ring or other video doorbells.
Compare everything above in the hearing impaired products collection. For background, see our earlier articles on choosing doorbells for hearing-impaired users and the expandable flashing doorbell.