Intercom Doorbells: Ultimate Guide for Modern Homes
Modern homes are becoming more and more popular with doorbell intercoms. They are convenient, secure, and connected. In this guide, we’ll cover all you need to know about doorbell intercoms, from what they are to what type of intercom doorbell to buy. We’ll also highlight some of the best intercom doorbells available on the market today. Let's dive in!
What is an Intercom Doorbell?
An intercom doorbell is a two-way communication system that allows you to see, hear, and talk to visitors at your door. It’s made up of an outdoor doorbell unit with a camera, microphone, and speaker. It connects wirelessly or via wires to an indoor monitor with a screen, microphone, and speaker.
When a visitor presses the doorbell button, it triggers the indoor monitor to stream live audio and video from the door. You can then communicate with the visitor from the indoor unit. This allows you to see and speak with visitors before deciding whether to open the door or not.
Types of Video Intercom Doorbell
There are a few main types of video intercom doorbells available today:
Wired Intercom Doorbells
Wired intercom doorbells connect the outdoor and indoor units via low-voltage wiring. This provides a reliable and constant power supply. Installation is more complex than wireless models, as you need to run wires through the walls. However, wired systems generally have better video quality and fewer connectivity issues.
Wireless Intercom Doorbells
Wireless doorbell intercoms use WiFi and wireless transmission between the outdoor and indoor units. This makes installation quick and simple, as no wiring is required. The outdoor unit usually has a rechargeable battery or solar power. The range is 100-500 feet, depending on the model. Video quality can be more compressed compared to wired models.
Smart Intercom Doorbells
Smart intercom doorbells integrate with smart home platforms like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This allows you to pull up the doorbell camera feed, communicate with visitors, and control other smart devices using voice commands. Smart doorbells typically send alerts to your phone and may have additional features like package detection.
Cell Phone Intercoms
Some intercoms use your existing cell phone service to connect the doorbell and indoor unit. The systems call your phone when the doorbell is pressed. This allows you to see and talk to visitors on your smartphone from anywhere. Cell phone intercoms avoid the need for WiFi or hardwiring.
Top 5 Best Doorbells with Intercom in the Market
With many models available, here are 5 of the best intercom doorbells on the market today:
1. Aiphone JO Series Video Intercom System
The Aiphone JO Series is a high-end, wired intercom system built for luxury homes. It has a sleek 7" touchscreen monitor and a wide-angle camera with night vision. The system can network up to 4 outdoor stations and eight indoor monitors. It has crisp, clear audio and video quality. This is one of the best options for a fully-featured, professionally installed system.
2. Reolink Video Doorbell WiFi
Reolink's WiFi smart doorbell captures 2K+ video with a wide field of view. It has AI person detection two-way audio and works with Reolink's app and NVR systems. The weather-resistant design is easy to install anywhere. Overall, it provides good value at an affordable price point.
Smart 5MP Video Doorbell with Chime
5MP Super HD Day & Night, Person Detection, 2.4/5 GHz Dual-Band WiFi, 180° Diagonal Viewing Angle, Two-Way Audio, Rich Notification.
3. Wuloo Wireless Intercom Doorbell
This wireless doorbell has an impressive 1/2 mile range and a long-lasting battery life of up to 6 months per charge. The plug-in receiver can be placed anywhere in the home. With 20 chime options and adjustable volume, you can customize alerts. It's easy to install and expand the system with additional transmitters.
4. Zmodo Greet Smart Video Doorbell
Zmodo's Greet has 1080p HD video with night vision, two-way talk, and intelligent alerts. It integrates with Google Assistant and Alexa for smart home control. Local video storage and cloud storage plans provide security footage playback. Overall, it's a feature-packed smart doorbell at a very reasonable price.
5. Ring Video Doorbell Pro 2
Ring's Video Doorbell Pro 2 captures video in 1536p HD with advanced 3D motion detection. It has convenient pre-recorded quick-response messages and works with Alexa for voice control. Privacy zones block out unwanted areas. Ring offers various storage subscriptions to access video history. It's one of the top choices for major smart home integration.
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What to Consider When Choosing a Video Doorbell Intercom
Here are some key factors to consider when selecting an intercom doorbell for your home:
- Two-way audio communication - Clear audio is essential for conversing with visitors. Look for noise cancellation and reduced echo.
- Video streaming capabilities - Prioritize high resolution and wide field of view. HD or Full HD is ideal. Night vision is also useful.
- Mobile app integration and remote access - The ability to see the doorbell feed and speak to visitors on your smartphone from anywhere is a major benefit.
- Motion detection and recording - Doorbells that can detect motion and record video clips provide an added layer of security.
- Durability and weather resistance - Ensure the doorbell can withstand your local climate conditions, including rain, snow, heat, and cold temperatures.
How to Use a Doorbell Intercom System
Using an intercom doorbell system is simple. Here's an overview of how to use the main components:
- Outdoor Doorbell Unit - This waterproof unit houses the doorbell button, camera, speaker, and microphone. It's installed outside, above, or next to your door.
- Indoor Monitor - The monitor with a screen and two-way communication sits inside your home. Place it in a central area where it can be easily accessed.
- Doorbell Button - Visitors press this button to trigger 2-way audio and video communication to the indoor monitor.
- Mobile App - For systems with app integration, you'll receive alerts on your smartphone and can access the live feed and speaker anywhere.
- Electronic Door Lock - Some systems can connect to your electronic door lock. This allows you to remotely unlock the door via the indoor monitor or smartphone app.
When the doorbell is pressed, you'll hear a chime, and the video feed will appear on the indoor monitor. You can then talk to visitors using the indoor monitor microphone and speaker. View them on the screen and decide whether to open the door or ask them to leave a package. It's that simple!
FAQs
Can I use a Ring doorbell as an intercom?
Yes, Ring doorbells can provide intercom functionality when paired with a Ring Chime or Echo device indoors. You're able to communicate via two-way talk with visitors at your door through the Ring app on your phone or with Alexa-enabled devices.
Do intercoms still exist?
Yes, intercom systems are still commonly used in apartment buildings and businesses. However, smart intercom doorbells for residential use have recently surged in popularity due to their convenience and connectivity. They adopt intercom technology for modern home security.
What is a door intercom called?
A door intercom system is sometimes referred to generically as a door phone or door intercom. Video intercom doorbell is the most specific name for the modern smart camera-enabled style. They may also be called IP intercoms or IP video doorphones when using network connectivity.
Conclusion
The newest way to see, hear, and talk with visitors at your door is with intercom doorbells for increased security and convenience. When choosing a video or smart intercom doorbell, it’s all about ease of installation, video quality, smart features, and performance. Now that you’ve read this guide, you have a general overview of the great things that intercom doorbell systems can do. Pick the right intercom doorbell to update your home entry access.
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