Yes. I read about it just recently in another topic:
If you skim or read through that one, you’ll see where I quoted Wyze as saying around the time of Duo Cam Doorbell’s launch that they planned for the Wi-Fi Chime to be sold as a separate accessory, perhaps by December of last year, but so far that hasn’t materialized. We’re still waiting on that one.
Wyze definitely has room for improvement when it comes to communicating with their customers.
Thank you. It is at the level of misleading claims and false advertising when Wyze is allowing a retailer like Home Depot to say " Wi-Fi chime sold separately" when they refuse to sell it separately.
You’re welcome. The messaging can be frustrating, even messaging directly from Wyze that they’ve had to walk back at times. I’m trying to get an update on this.
You’re right @sabresfan90. I can see how confusing and frustrating this is. In some cases, customers want to use the Duo Cam Doorbell with our Wyze Chime Controller and the Wi-Fi chime isn’t needed.
But I know we can do better on this. I am starting some conversations internally and will come back soon.
Thank you for the quick reply Veronica.
I’m going to lose money in my current situation because the chime-less unit I purchased was new and an unopened but from eBay.
The most reasonable and fair solution would be if Wyze simply lets me purchase a Wi-Fi chime to use with the chime-less Duo I was sent.
Another idea might be letting me exchange the chime-less unit I received for a “normal” Duo that includes the chime.
Wyze could also provide me with a discount on the purchase of a “normal” Duo w/ chime compensatory of the additional cost I must incur to return the chime-less unit I bought.
I think that’s been the plan all along, because Wi-Fi Chime is supposed to be compatible (I imagine via Automations) with all Wyze Cam and Doorbell models. We just haven’t yet been given a solid ETA on its separate availability, and now, as you note, that’s starting to become more of an issue with Duo Cam Doorbell being offered without Wi-Fi Chime. I won’t pretend to speak for her, but I think that’s the piece that @WyzeVeronica is trying to figure out.
Yes, there has been internal delays. Originally the plan was for the Wi-Fi Chime to be available early in the year. Which would have aligned with the device being sold on its own. The new expected date is May but it does look like we’ll be able to make this timeline.
I appreciate the update.
I would feel better about my current situation if Wyze can promise me that I can get a stand-alone chime from them by May (and at a price that won’t result in me paying a total more than the Duo+chime model.)
I description mentions the doorbell will ring the chime and other wayze cameras. I can not find anything talking about this. How does it work? Also can it ring the wired doorbell chime or just one or the other?
I can’t speak directly to Duo Cam Doorbell’s capabilities, but I would expect them to be similar to Video Doorbell v2’s, and with that model I can have a doorbell button press actuate both my home’s built-in mechanical chime and the cameras (I’m using Cam OGs and Cam Pan v3s) I’ve designated with the Cameras as Chime feature. Note that you may want to consider obtaining and installing the Wyze Chime Controller, which recently became available as an accessory purchase, if you intend to use your Duo Cam Doorbell to ring your wired chime, as indicated in the Help Center:
Otherwise, if you wire it without using the Chime Controller, you may experience unwanted buzzing, humming, and “phantom” rings from your chime, as others have reported in numerous Forum posts.
I wish I could promise dates myself. That would be amazing. But I can’t even begin to properly address the complexity of operations and logistics.
If you want to keep your current Duo Cam Doorbell and wait for the chime, then PM me. I’ll see what I can do to help you. As an alternative solution, you can use a Cam OG (if you have one and Crease lists out more models) or Alexa/Google/IFTTT as your chime (integrate through our app). I believe these options will work. Unfortunately, I don’t know what the final price of the Wi-Fi Chime will be, but I don’t see it being cheaper to buy the Duo Cam Doorbell and chime separately. The difference between buying only the doorbell vs the combo is $10. If you can’t wait or don’t want to risk the possibility of delays, then it might be best to return your current cam and rebuy the combo pack.
Update: Originally, I mention chiming through Alexa/Google/etc, but I might be outdated or misunderstanding what that integration enables as functionality. Chiming through a compatible device and/or Chime Controller unit are still ways to have a chime though.
@Crease gave the perfect answer. I have the Doorbell v2 myself and use the Pan v3 as our chime. We have a smaller 1 story house and the chime that comes from the single camera works fine.
I don’t really like to disagree, especially because I appreciate how helpful @WyzeVeronica is, but I don’t think that’s entirely accurate, at least not for Video Doorbell v2 and Google Home, which is why Wyze had to change their messaging after that product was released and after a lot of complaints/discussion about it here in the Forum. After saying on the product page at launch that Google Home smart speakers could be used as accessory chimes, Wyze later amended that language, and apparently they say the same thing about Duo Cam Doorbell. This is what the Help Center says:
I haven’t actually attempted it, but it looks like IFTTT should work. (I can’t test that right now, because my Video Doorbell v2 is currently disconnected.) Alexa has been hit-or-miss with button presses in my experience (and that’s been an ongoing complaint in some other Forum topics, as well), though it seems pretty good with person detection announcements if you have a subscription attached to your doorbell. Google Home announcements can work, but that requires a work-around (most of us who do that use a Wyze Plug, I think, and I can point to some directions if anyone’s interested) because it’s not a natively-supported integration.
I also really like the Cam OG solution. That’s an easy an inexpensive (especially when they’re on sale!) way to pick up an accessory chime…oh, yeah, and it also doubles as a camera in its spare time.
The betrayal on a Monday! I’m kidding. Thanks for saying something. I honestly can’t keep up with each of our products myself (I own many but not all). This integration information was shared internally… now that I think about it, it’s possible that the wording on our integration with Alexa/Google/etc is a little mixed up. I’m going to look into it, but it’s possible the compatibility text is meant for the functionality of pulling up a camera feed and not the chime function.
Believe me, I’d really like to be wrong in this case, because it would mean at least two things:
A Wyze/Google native integration actually works for doorbell button presses.
I learn something new!
Clear and accurate communication can be a challenge, though, especially when y’all have so many different products (and so many other smart home systems for integrating with) to manage!
Thanks for looking into this, too! It’s not like you don’t already have plenty of other things to juggle.
Yeah, that’s what I linked above, as well. Google Home can be made to generate announcements with the Wyze Plug work-around, but I’ve never seen a native integration that does that. I don’t have a Duo Cam Doorbell to play with, but I’ve heard Alexa make announcements on Echo devices when a subscription is attached to a Video Doorbell v2. When I’m able to get that reconnected, I might get around to doing some more testing for doorbell presses, but I just haven’t made that a priority.
I honestly can’t keep up with each of our products myself (I own many but not all). This integration information was shared internally… now that I think about it, it’s possible that the wording on our integration with Alexa/Google/etc is a little mixed up. I’m going to look into it, but it’s possible the compatibility text is meant for the functionality of pulling up a camera feed and not the chime function.