FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Wireless Chimes, Doorbell, & Entrance Alert Products

You will need to contact Thomas and Betts customer service, and their number is 1-800-346-2646

USA Customers:

Phone: 1-800-346-2646
Fax:(440) 914-8921
Address:
T&B Retail 32425 Aurora Rd. Ste: A Solon, OH 44139
Attn: Customer Service

Or you can reach them by email at techsupport@tnb.com

Canada Customers:

Phone: 1-888-777-7947
Fax: 1-888-480-8818
Address:
Carlon/TNB
700 Thomas Ave St.-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec J2X 2M9

Most wired doorbells DO NOT have volume control. What you hear is what you get on my wired chimes. There are a couple of models that play electronic melodies and they have some volume control, but we do not feel like these products are the solution for the problem "I cannot hear my doorbell."

A wireless doorbell system is the best solution when you cannot hear your current doorbell. With that, there are a couple of options:

  • Use a doorbell extender to convert your existing wired doorbell to a wireless door chime system and then use wireless receivers throughout your home. Most wireless doorbells do have volume control.
  • Add a wireless door chime to your home. Bypass the existing wired doorbell and simply install and use a wireless one. Most wireless products have volume control, and you can also add as many receivers as you want, meaning you can add one in the kitchen, one on the patio, one in the bedroom, etc.
  • A very popular series of products we have are the flashing doorbells for the hard of hearing. The products have a visual indicator that alerts you to a visitor at your door. The WC180 Flashing Doorbell is our most popular product because it is very bright, loud, and cost effective.

Doorbell Extender Information:

The way to get this type of functionality is to use what is called a doorbell extender or the Extend-A-Chime by Safeguard Supply. These products work by using a transmitter that wires into your existing doorbell transmitter or a transmitter that "listens" for your current doorbell. When the transmitter is triggered, it sends a wireless signal to a compatible wireless receiver. With almost all brands of wireless door chimes you have the ability to add more receivers, whether plug-in, battery power, or both, to increase the listening range of your existing wired doorbell.

The Extend-A-Chime is just what you need. This device is available in either a battery powered or plug in receiver.

LRA-EX1000

LRA-EX1000 Long Range Doorbell Extender kit Business Grade Door Chime

The LRA-EX100 is an Extend-A-Chime. The system ships with 1 x LRA-EXTX transmitter and 1 x LRA-DCRX wireless receiver/speaker. To use the Extend-A-Chime you simply need to wire the LRA-EXTX transmitter into your current doorbell push button wiring. You then place the receiver into the area of your house where you cannot hear your doorbell at. You then plug in the receiver and you are all set up!

Among being the perfect product to extend your door chime into an area of the house where you are unable to hear it, this device is also a life saver for anyone whose current chime is currently not working. As long as your current doorbell push button is working you will be able to salvage your current door bell system with out buying a brand new system.

It is very easy to change the sounds of your wireless chime. It can be done in seconds with very little effort. The article below covers how to change doorbells sounds for the main products we carry.

Click to read how to change your wireless chime sounds

Programming a transmitter (push button, door sensor, motion sensor, etc.) to the plug-in receiver is necessary for the two pieces to work together.

Take a moment to watch this short video that demonstrates how to program a transmitter to the receiver.

Most Wireless buttons are NOT available lighted as the they would require power 24/7 and drain the batteries too quickly.

The only lighted wireless buttons we are aware of is the GE 19211. This wireless transmitter uses a LED bulb to illuminate the center push button, allowing visitors to find it easily at night.

Heath-Zenith does make a few buttons that use LED lights which do not require as much power. Please note, these Heath-Zenith wireless doorbell buttons are not compatible with Carlon/Dimango receivers and at the moment are not available for purchase on the website.

To view our selection of lighted wireless push buttons click the link below

Lighted Wireless Push Buttons

This is usually caused by your privacy code settings. This problem is easily fixed within seconds, but how you do it really depends on your specific product and who manufactured it. Click the link below to read how to avoid this interference.

On the back of the Carlon/Dimango product you should see a small white sticker. On this sticker you will see QC with a four digit code right under it. The last two digits of this code show the year the product was manufactured. If the number is "00" or higher, then your product will be compatible.

  • The LRA-DCRX, LRA-DCRXA, and LRA-VPRX each have four zones.
  • Each of these zones can only have one (1) transmitter at at time stored in that zone's memory.
  • It does not matter what Zone you program or pair your transmitter(s) to..they are all the same. The purpose of the zones is to allow you to assign a distinct melody to each zone so that you may determine what sensor triggered the receiver.
  • When trying to pair a transmitter, such as the LRA-DSTX, LRA-DCTX, & the LRA-PBTX, if there is already a transmitter paired to a zone, then you must delete that memory for the zone in order to program the new transmitter to the zone.
  • Even though you may not have intentionally paired a transmitter to a zone, if you are having trouble programming, it's good practice to delete the zone and start over. For more information on deleting a zone from memory, click here.
  • The instructions below illustrated how to pair a push button (LRA-PBTX) to a receiver (LRA-DCRXA). The process for pairing other receivers is similar. For information on pairing the LRA plug in strobe receiver, the LRA-DCRXS, please click here.
  • Once you are in programming mode (step 3 below), the unit will automatically exit programming mode after 10 seconds.
    1. Ensure the receiver has fresh batteries or you are using a plug-in wall transformer to power the unit.
    2. Open the cover of the receiver
LRA-D1000A-PAIRING-NO-BUTTON
    1. Press & hold the "Zone selector button" for approximately three (3) seconds until the strobe light flashes, and zone "ID" one (1) starts to blink. Then, stop pressing the Zone selector button.
    2. IMPORTANT: If you want to program or pair a transmitter to Zone ID 1, move to the next step. If you already have a transmitter / sensor programmed to Zone ID 1 and want to pair an additional sensor/ transmitter, push the Zone selector button to scroll to the zone ID you would like to program. Once the Zone ID you want to program the sensor to is blinking, move to the next step.
    3. Press the "Melody selector" button to scroll through the melodies available on this receiver. When you hear the melody you would like to program to that zone, stop pressing the Melody selector button.
    4. Press the button on the push button transmitter
LRA-PBTX-Doorbell-Drawing
  1. If you have additional transmitter / receivers to program, go back to step 4. Otherwise, go to the next step.
  2. Now your transmitter(s) are programmed to the receiver. To exit programming mode, press the Zone selector button to scroll through the Zones. Once you pass Zone ID 4, the unit will automatically exit programming mode.
Watch the video below for a programming demonstration:

Here's a short video that outlines how to pair the LRA-D1000 kit (one push button and one receiver).

The LRA-C1000 is a long range entry alert product designed for businesses, shops, warehouses, and larger homes.

The kit has two components, a transmitter/sensor (LRA-DCTX) and a receiver (LRA-PBTX).  When the sensor is triggered, it transmits a radio signal up to 1,000 ft. to the LRA-PBTX receiver.

PLEASE NOTE:  whenever a manufacturer provides you with a range, in this case, 1,000 ft., it is derived by an algorithm.  Sometimes you get a little more range, but in most cases you get less range because of interference from environmental factors.

What this means to you is that if you need exactly 1,000 ft., or very close to it, you might have to look at another product like the LH-2500 (entry alert kit with a range of 2,500 ft.)  There is also a range extender that works with our long range doorbell/alert products, the LRA-RPX.

This product, the LRA-C1000 has an additional challenge in that it is mounted on the door and the door frame.  In commercial environments that usually means a metal door and or a metal door frame.  This will cut down on the projected range of this product.

If you know you have the product programmed correctly, but it isn't working, try moving the receiver closer to the transmitter.  If it starts working, it is a range issue.  If it is a range issue, there are three things we can do:

  1. Try placing double-sided tape, a cardboard shim, or something that will provide some separation between the transmitter and the metal or concrete on the door frame.
  2. Get the LRA-RPX to extend the range up to an additional 1,000 ft.
  3. Upgrade to the LH-2500 long range doorbell entry alert kit.

If you are having problems programming the LRA-C1000, watch this quick video.