Re: I need a doorbell!!!

[Kim Wall <kim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

noel_pilot wrote:

> First challenge....I don't have a doorbell....
>
> So...I'm appealing to you all for all/any ideas, some far out ones be
> good, some doable ones would be helpful but really i'm looking for
> what can i do that will help justify my HA need!

At risk of sounding cynical[1], it doesn't really matter what you do for
a doorbell.  You can guarantee that the courier or whatever you're
waiting for will ignore the bell push and any stonking great signs
suggesting that they use it in favour of ineffectual tapping which will
be completely inaudible if you're in bed / on the other side of the
house / got the radio on / etc.

Knock sensors are a potential solution, with about the reliability you
can expect from occupancy detection.  My attempt makes a fantastic
seismometer / low frequency microphone, which does as good a job at
detecting the boiler firing and fireworks from the local chinese
community as actual knocking.

I reckon some sort of automated "Hang on - I'll be down in a sec"
message would be useful.  For when you've just got out of bed/the shower
and the time taken to dry off or work out the correct orientation of a
dressing gown approaches the limit of how long the average delivery
person is willing to stand around a seemingly empty house.


Kim.

[1] I've been living in Sheffield too long, where doorbells seem to be a
rare and unusual technology.