Texecom Odyssey X-BD: When a Backlit Dummy Bell Box Makes Sense

The Texecom Odyssey X-BD is a backlit dummy bell box designed to pass for a working Odyssey X sounder, using flashing LEDs and an illuminated installer logo. It is best used as an extra visible deterrent on the side or rear walls of a property that already has a live alarm. It has no siren and detects nothing, so it should never take the place of a real external sounder.

What is the Texecom Odyssey X-BD?

Texecom announced the Odyssey X-BD in October 2022 as a backlit dummy deterrent for its Odyssey X bell box family. The idea is to give installers and property owners a low-cost box that matches a live Odyssey X closely enough that someone looking from the street cannot easily tell which one is real. Texecom says it "looks & acts like a 'live' Bellbox/Sounder".

We list it as the Texecom WDL-0001 Odyssey X-BD Backlit Dummy Sounder. Pulling together Texecom's announcement and our product listing, the key points are:

Flashing LEDs, plus a backlit area that shows off the installer's logo
Takes either an Odyssey X1 or an Odyssey X3 cover
A cover that clips on and off easily, with mounting positions you can move
Branding that can be customised, and a straightforward circuit board with room for two AA batteries
A flash pattern that changes by itself to copy either the wired Odyssey X or the wireless Odyssey X-W, according to the type of input it receives

Texecom says the X-BD is offered across the Odyssey X series colour options. We list the WDL-0001 version, so if you need a particular colour finish, contact us to check availability.

How it is powered, and why that matters

The Odyssey X-BD can run from a 12V wired input or from two AA batteries, but the two options do not give the same result. Our product page sets out the difference:

Power source	Comfort LEDs	Backlit logo	Notes
12V wired input	Yes	Yes	Full effect, but needs a cable run
2 x AA batteries	Yes	No	3-5 year battery life quoted on our product page

If a glowing logo after dark is the main reason you want the X-BD, plan for a 12V feed. On batteries alone you still get the flashing LEDs, which may be all you need on a rear or side wall.

When a Texecom Odyssey X-BD dummy bell box makes sense

Covering extra elevations

The live sounder usually goes on the most visible wall, which can leave the sides and back of a building looking unprotected. Adding an X-BD to those walls means a bell box can be seen from more angles, which is the main coverage benefit Texecom highlights for this product. Our alarm installation checklist also covers siting the live external sounder as a deterrent.

Keeping installs consistent

For installers, a matching dummy avoids fitting a second live sounder while keeping the branding the same on every elevation. Texecom's case is that it sidesteps the more involved installation a second live box would need, saves time and money on site, and gives the end user a more consistent look because the live box and the dummy match.

Wired and wireless Odyssey X systems

Because it can copy either the Odyssey X or the Odyssey X-W flash pattern, the X-BD can sit alongside a hard-wired Odyssey X or a Ricochet wireless Odyssey X-W without looking out of place.

The limits of a dummy bell box

No sound. It is an imitation sounder. If someone breaks in, the X-BD will not alert anyone.
No detection or signalling. It cannot detect intruders or send alerts. That still needs a proper alarm panel, detectors and a communicator.
Not a replacement for the live sounder. Fit it alongside a working external sounder, never instead of one. A dummy on its own is only a bluff.
Backlight needs 12V. Battery-only installs lose the illuminated logo.
Check the cover. It takes X1 or X3 covers, so confirm the style and colour you need, and whether a cover is supplied, before you order.

Odyssey X-BD compared with other Odyssey X options

Feature	Odyssey X-BD (WDL-0001)	Odyssey X-D (WDE-0001)	Odyssey X-BE (WDC-0001)
Type	Backlit dummy sounder	Dummy backplate	Live external sounder backplate, Grade 2
Makes a sound	No	No	Yes, 109dB(A) piezo
Lights	Flashing comfort LEDs, backlight on 12V	None (no electronics)	White LED indication and backlight LEDs
Covers	Odyssey X1 or X3	Odyssey X1 or X3, sold separately	Sold separately

The Odyssey X-D dummy backplate is the most basic way to add a box: it has no electronics, so it never lights up. The Odyssey X-BE backlit sounder backplate is a genuine sounder for your main elevation. The X-BD sits between the two, lighting up like a live box without making any sound.

Choosing the right setup

For most homes and small businesses with a Texecom system, a sensible pattern is one live Odyssey X sounder on the main elevation and an X-BD on any other wall that can be seen from a road, garden or car park. Browse all Texecom alarm equipment or our full range of alarm sounders and bell boxes. For a more active outdoor deterrent, the Texecom D3 Series Light Blade lights up a drive or yard as soon as its built-in PIR detects movement. Sites with classified hazardous areas need a different class of device, covered in our guide to intrinsically safe sounders.

Odyssey X covers come in several colour combinations, such as the white/blue Odyssey X1 cover and the white/blue Odyssey X3 cover. If you need help matching covers, colours or power options, our team is happy to advise.

Texecom Odyssey X-BD FAQs

Does the Texecom Odyssey X-BD make a noise?

No. It is an imitation sounder with flashing LEDs and, when powered from 12V, a backlit logo. It has no siren, so pair it with a live external sounder.

Can the Odyssey X-BD run on batteries alone?

Yes. Two AA batteries power the comfort LEDs only, and our product page quotes a battery life of 3-5 years. The backlit logo needs the 12V wired input.