New doorbell

[TimberWolf]

Parents doorbell has given up the ghost and temporary solutions using radio controlled replacements turned out to be an easy and carp solution (batteries run out quickly and they are quiet and unreliable). Two (loud) bells are needed, one near the front door and another in the rear of the house. I think a wired solution is the way to go. Preferably one where the bell sound boxes are battery powered, as connecting them to the mains may be a PITA. Any recommendations? Or tell them to call an electrician?

[norrahe]

You can get any of these at your local diy merchant.
Easy to install and you can adjust the volume accordingly, some even have flashing lights to indicate when the ball has rung.

[Zippy]

You are in IT man! Set up a PC, connect to the doorbell and have an app send an SMS to the folks mobiles. Shouldn't cost more than a grand.

[Paddy]

You are in IT man! Set up a PC, connect to the doorbell and have an app send an SMS to the folks mobiles. Shouldn't cost more than a grand.

Webcam with a click button £5 and SMS software free.

[d000hg]

Buy a door-knocker... £10 should get a nice one, £20 something very classy.

[threaded]

Parents doorbell has given up the ghost and temporary solutions using radio controlled replacements turned out to be an easy and carp solution (batteries run out quickly and they are quiet and unreliable). Two (loud) bells are needed, one near the front door and another in the rear of the house. I think a wired solution is the way to go. Preferably one where the bell sound boxes are battery powered, as connecting them to the mains may be a PITA. Any recommendations? Or tell them to call an electrician?

I have an antique brass door knocker on the door, but actually to tell me people are at the door I have PIRs at the gate, down the drive, and in the alcove. (That way if they get lost and end up in the wrong yard I know where to go and find them and it appears I was there anyway ;-) During evenings/nights the electric gates are normally shut and there's a video link for unexpected visitors.

I think what you're looking for is something like this from Maplin. Get two or three and select the same frequency. Robert's your mothers brother.

[Clippy]

Tell them to just leave the door open.

Problem solved.

[OwlHoot]

Why not go retro and fit one of those vertical bog chain type handles, that visitors can pull and hear a faint tinkle of bells the other side of the house?

[Platypus]

This is the one you need:
http://www.friedland.co.uk/en-GB/pro...ges/D417E.aspx

The chime plugs in to a mains socket anywhere in the house and the button is batter powered and lasts ages (in my case the bell push has lasted > 2 years, maybe longer, I can't remember changing the battery)

EDIT: Buy 2 kits, gives an extra chime for the back of the house

[HairyArsedBloke]

Get a butler or a maid that isn't deaf.

I think Bob has a second cousin that he could sell you for a much cheapness price.