User Guide

What Is Virtual Bell?

Virtual Bell is a QR-code doorbell service for any physical location. You place a printed QR sign at a gate, office entrance, storage unit, vacation rental, or anywhere else you need to know when someone arrives. Visitors scan the code with their phone, tap the doorbell button, and you receive an instant notification — by push, email, or SMS — along with their GPS-verified location. From that notification you can open a two-way text conversation directly with the visitor, all without the visitor ever needing an account or app.

Each Virtual Doorbell costs $5 per year and you can add as many as you need on a single account. All management, ring history, and conversation tools are available through the web dashboard at ddqrc.com and the Virtual Bell mobile app.

Quick Start WEB APP

Follow these five steps to go from zero to your first ring.

1. 1
   Create your account Go to ddqrc.com → Sign up. Enter your name, email address, and a password. A verification link will be sent to your email — click it to activate your account.
2. 2
   Add your first Virtual Doorbell On the dashboard, tap Add Doorbell. Give it a name and set the GPS coordinates of where you'll place the sign (use Use my current location if you're already there). Customize the wait time and any other settings, then click Create Doorbell.
3. 3
   Subscribe ($5/yr) New doorbells need an active subscription before they can receive rings. Click Subscribe on the doorbell card and complete the Stripe checkout. Your doorbell is active instantly.
4. 4
   Print and place your QR sign Open your doorbell → QR Code tab → Download PDF Sign. Print it, laminate it if needed, and post it at the physical location where visitors will arrive.
5. 5
   Download the mobile app and test Install Virtual Bell on your phone, sign in, and allow notifications when prompted. Then scan your own QR code from a second device to send yourself a test ring. You should receive a push notification almost instantly.

Your Account WEB

Registration

Create an account at ddqrc.com/register. Your full name and email address are required. A US cell phone number is optional but enables SMS ring alerts. If you enter a phone number you'll be prompted to check an SMS consent box before your account is created.

Verifying your email

After signing up, check your inbox for a verification email from Virtual Bell. Click the link inside to activate your account. Until your email is verified, some features may be limited. If the email doesn't arrive within a few minutes, check your spam folder.

Updating your profile

Go to Account Settings (click your name/avatar in the sidebar). From here you can update your display name and mobile phone number at any time. Click Save changes when done.

Changing your login email

In Account Settings → Login Email, enter the new address and click Send confirmation. A verification link is sent to the new address. Your original email stays active until you click that link. Once confirmed, you'll be signed out and need to sign back in with the new address.

Resetting your password

On the login page, click Forgot password?, enter your email, and check your inbox for a reset link. The link expires after a short time — request a new one if needed.

Email notification opt-out

To stop receiving ring alert emails for all doorbells on your account, go to Account Settings → Email Notifications and click Unsubscribe from ring alerts. You can re-subscribe at any time from the same place. You can also unsubscribe by replying to any ring notification email or visiting the unsubscribe link in its footer.

Your Virtual Doorbells WEB

Creating a doorbell

On the dashboard, click Add Doorbell. The creation modal has the following fields:

• Name — required; shown to visitors on the doorbell page (e.g., "Front Gate," "Studio B," "Suite 400").
• Location label — optional secondary line shown under the name (e.g., "123 Main St").
• GPS coordinates — latitude and longitude of the physical location. Click Use my current location to auto-fill from your browser. Required if Require GPS to ring is turned on.
• Proximity radius — how close a visitor must be to ring (default: 50 m; range: 5–200 m). Tighten this for secure locations; loosen it for areas with poor GPS accuracy.
• Visitor wait timeout — how long the visitor's countdown timer runs before showing "No answer" (default: 5 minutes; range: 30 seconds to 60 minutes).
• Require GPS to ring — when enabled, visitors must be within the proximity radius to ring. Disable for locations where GPS is unreliable or location verification isn't needed.
• Landing page message — custom text displayed on the visitor's doorbell page before they ring (e.g., "Ring and we'll be right with you. Please have your ID ready.").
• Theme color — the brand color shown on the visitor's doorbell page (button, accents). Defaults to black.
• Notification email — optional; overrides your account email for this doorbell (requires verification — see §8).
• Notification cell phone — optional; overrides your account phone for SMS alerts on this doorbell (requires SMS consent).

The QR Code tab

Open any doorbell and click the QR Code tab to access your QR assets.

• Download PNG — high-resolution image for digital use or custom design work.
• Download PDF Sign — print-ready PDF with Virtual Bell branding, sized for standard signage.

Ring History tab

Every ring is logged automatically — pending, answered, timed out, or rejected. The Ring History tab shows a paginated table with the time, visitor name, their distance from the doorbell, status, and a link to the full ring detail. Click the gear icon on any row to open that ring's detail page where you can review or continue a conversation.

Settings tab

All doorbell settings are editable after creation. Make your changes and click Save changes. Navigating away with unsaved changes will prompt a confirmation. The Settings tab also has:

• Notification Settings — set a per-doorbell email or SMS number (see §8).
• Subscription — subscribe, view billing status, or manage your subscription via the Stripe portal.
• Delete Doorbell — permanently deletes the doorbell and all ring history. This option only appears when there is no active subscription (cancel first if needed).

Responding to Rings: Web Dashboard WEB

There are two ways to respond to a ring from a web browser — the Express Ring page (no login required) and the full dashboard Ring Detail page.

Express Ring page — from your notification email or SMS

Every ring notification email and SMS text includes a direct link to the ring. Clicking it opens the Express Ring page — a self-contained card showing the ring details and message thread. No login is required. This is the fastest way to respond when you're on the go.

1. 1
   Click the linkOpen the link in your notification email or SMS text. The ring details load automatically.
2. 2
   Accept the ringTap Accept Ring. The visitor is immediately notified that you've seen their ring and the messaging channel opens.
3. 3
   Send a messageType in the reply box and press Send (or Enter). Messages appear on the visitor's page in real time.
4. 4
   End the conversationWhen finished, tap End Conversation. The visitor sees a "Conversation ended" message on their screen.

Ring Detail page — from the dashboard

While logged in, you can access any ring through the dashboard: open a doorbell → Ring History tab → click the gear icon on any row. The Ring Detail page has the same accept/message/end interface as the Express Ring page, plus additional ring metadata (IP address, geo validation result). Active rings update in real time.

Responding to Rings: Mobile App APP

Installing and signing in

Download the Virtual Bell app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android). Sign in with the same email and password you use on the website. Your doorbells and ring history sync automatically.

Allowing notifications

The first time the app opens after sign-in, it will ask permission to send notifications. Tap Allow — this is required to receive push alerts when a visitor rings. If you accidentally deny it:

• iOS: Settings → Virtual Bell → Notifications → Allow Notifications.
• Android: Settings → Apps → Virtual Bell → Notifications → turn on.

Doorbells list

The app's home screen shows all your doorbells. Each card displays the doorbell name, subscription status, total ring count, and — when a ring is waiting for you — an Enter Conversation button. Pull down to refresh the list.

Responding from a push notification

When a visitor rings, a push notification appears immediately — even if the app is closed. Tap the notification to open the ring screen directly. The app handles cold-start routing automatically: you'll always land on the ring screen with the back button intact so you can return to the doorbells list when done.

The ring screen

1. 1
   Accept RingTap the button to acknowledge the visitor. Messaging opens on both sides.
2. 2
   Send messagesType in the message field and tap Send. The visitor's replies appear automatically — no refresh needed.
3. 3
   End ConversationTap End Conversation when the exchange is complete. The visitor sees a "Conversation ended" screen.

Manage and settings

Tap Manage on any doorbell card to open that doorbell's settings page in your browser. All doorbell configuration — GPS, wait time, notifications, QR code — is managed from the web dashboard.

The Visitor Experience

Visitors never need an account or app. Here's what they see from scan to conversation end:

1. 1
   Scan the QR codeThe visitor points their phone camera at the QR sign. It opens the doorbell page in their browser instantly — no app download required.
2. 2
   Doorbell landing pageThey see your doorbell name, location, and any custom message you've set. There's an optional field to enter their name so you know who to expect.
3. 3
   GPS check (if required)If your doorbell requires GPS verification, the browser will ask the visitor for location permission. They must be within your configured proximity radius to proceed. If GPS isn't required, they can ring from anywhere.
4. 4
   RingingThe visitor taps Ring Doorbell. You receive a push notification, email, and/or SMS immediately.
5. 5
   Waiting roomA countdown timer shows how long the visitor will wait. The page reads "You've been noticed!" to reassure them the ring was received. The timer duration is set by your Visitor wait timeout setting.
6. 6
   Conversation opensOnce you accept the ring, both sides enter a two-way text chat. The visitor can type messages and see your replies in real time.
7. 7
   Conversation endsEither party can tap End Conversation. The visitor sees a "Conversation ended" confirmation and is prompted to scan the QR code again if they need further help.
8. 8
   No answerIf nobody responds before the timer expires, the visitor sees "No answer — scan the QR code again to try." The ring is logged in your history with a Timeout status.

Notification Settings WEB APP

Email notifications

By default, ring alerts are sent to your account's login email for all doorbells. To opt out entirely, see §3. To route alerts for a specific doorbell to a different address:

1. Open the doorbell → Settings tab → Notification Settings.
2. Click Edit next to the email row and enter the target address.
3. A verification link is sent to that address. Ring alerts continue going to your account email until the new address is verified.
4. Use the toggle to enable or disable email notifications for this doorbell independently.

SMS notifications

SMS alerts are opt-in and tied to a US phone number. To set up SMS for a doorbell:

1. Open the doorbell → Settings tab → Notification Settings.
2. Click Add next to the SMS row, enter a US cell number, and check the consent checkbox.
3. Click Validate & Save. The number is verified via Twilio.

If no per-doorbell SMS number is set, alerts fall back to the cell phone on your account profile (if one is saved).

Push notifications (mobile app)

Push alerts are registered automatically when you sign in to the app and grant notification permission. Each device registers independently. To re-enable push after denying permission, go to your device's Settings → Virtual Bell → Notifications. Signing out and back in will also re-trigger the permission request on a fresh install.

Billing & Subscriptions WEB

• Price: $5 per Virtual Doorbell, per year. There is no per-account charge — you only pay for the doorbells you activate.
• Payment: Credit or debit card via Stripe. Your card is charged at subscription time and renews automatically each year.
• Inactive doorbells: Doorbells without an active subscription will not accept rings. Visitors will see a "This doorbell is no longer available" message.

Subscribing

On the dashboard, doorbells without a subscription show a Subscribe button. Click it, complete the Stripe checkout (takes about 30 seconds), and the doorbell activates immediately. You can also subscribe from the doorbell's Settings tab → Subscription card.

Managing or canceling

Open the doorbell → Settings tab → Subscription card → click Manage subscription. This opens the Stripe customer portal where you can update your payment method, download invoices, or cancel the subscription. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period — your doorbell stays active until then.

Reactivating a canceled doorbell

If a doorbell's subscription lapses, it becomes inactive but is not deleted. Visit the doorbell in the dashboard and click Subscribe to reactivate it with a new annual subscription.

Reference: Web Dashboard WEB

Quick reference for every page and its available fields and actions.

Reference: Mobile App APP

Quick reference for every screen in the Virtual Bell mobile app.

Troubleshooting & FAQ

• I'm not receiving push notifications on the app.

  First, check that Virtual Bell has notification permission in your device Settings. If it does, try signing out of the app and signing back in — this re-registers your device token with our servers. Also confirm the doorbell has an active subscription; inactive doorbells do not trigger notifications.

• The "Enter Conversation" button isn't showing on my phone.

  This button only appears on the specific device that accepted the ring. If you (or another device) accepted via the web dashboard or a different phone, the button will not appear on other devices. You can still view the conversation by tapping Manage to open the dashboard.

• A visitor got a "you're too far away" error.

  Your doorbell's Proximity radius setting determines how close a visitor must be to ring. Adjust it in the doorbell's Settings tab. GPS can be imprecise indoors or in dense urban areas — consider increasing the radius or turning off Require GPS for indoor locations.

• A visitor says the QR code doesn't scan.

  Ensure the sign is well-lit and not damaged. Most phone cameras work best when the code fills roughly 30–50% of the frame. If the sign is worn or exposed to sunlight damage, download a fresh PDF and reprint it.

• I regenerated my QR code and now my printed sign doesn't work.

  Regenerating creates a completely new QR token — the old sign is permanently invalid. Download the new PDF from the QR Code tab and reprint and replace all copies of the sign.

• My ring notification email is going to spam.

  Add support@ddqrc.com to your contacts or safe senders list. You can also set a per-doorbell notification email that routes to a different address — some shared team inboxes have more permissive spam filters.

• The conversation ended before I could reply.

  Increase the Visitor wait timeout in the doorbell's Settings tab. The default is 5 minutes; you can extend it up to 60 minutes. Conversations also auto-close after 10 minutes of inactivity once messaging has started.

• I received a ring but didn't get an SMS.

  Check the doorbell's Notification Settings — confirm the SMS number is saved and the toggle is on. If you previously replied STOP to a Virtual Bell message, SMS delivery is paused for that number. Reply START to any prior Virtual Bell message to re-enable it.

• How do I change my login email address?

  Go to Account Settings → Login Email. Enter the new address and click Send confirmation. Click the link in the email sent to your new address to complete the change. You'll be signed out automatically and need to sign back in.

• How do I cancel my subscription?

  Open the doorbell → Settings tab → Subscription card → Manage subscription. This opens the Stripe customer portal where you can cancel. Your doorbell stays active until the end of the current billing period.

• Can multiple people receive ring alerts for the same doorbell?

  Currently each doorbell has one notification email and one SMS number. To notify a team, set the notification email to a shared team inbox or distribution list, and the SMS to a group texting number. Multiple team members can also all sign in to the app with the same account credentials.

• The visitor's location shows as "—" in the ring history.

  Location sharing is optional unless you've enabled Require GPS on the doorbell. If GPS isn't required, visitors can ring without sharing their location — the distance column will show "—".

• How do I reset my password?

  On the login page, click Forgot password? and enter your email. You'll receive a reset link within a few minutes. If it doesn't arrive, check your spam folder.

• The app is showing an old ring status after a conversation ended.

  Pull down on the doorbells list to refresh. Ring statuses update on the next poll cycle — a manual refresh will always show the current state immediately.