Axis Door Station Tested (A8105-E)

By: IPVM Team, Published on Jul 19, 2017

Axis continues their push into niche markets, especially audio, with network speakers, an IP horn, and video door stations.

We bought and tested Axis' compact door station, the A8105-E, checking:

Audio quality
Echo cancellation
Noise reduction
VMS integration
WDR performance
Low light image quality

And more. See our full results inside.

Note: This is our first test of a video intercom. We plan to expand this coverage in the future. Comment with your suggestions/requests below.

**** ********* ***** **** into ***** *******, ********** audio, *********** ********, **** ****, ******** **** ********.

** ****** *** ****** Axis' ******* **** *******, the*****-*, ********:

***** *******
**** ************
***** *********
*** ***********
*** ***********
*** ***** ***** *******

*** ****. *** *** full ******* ******.

****: **** ** *** first **** ** * video ********. ** **** to ****** **** ******** in *** ******. ******* with **** ***********/******** *****.

[***************]

*******

** *** *****, *** A8105-E ****** ****, **** several ****:

*** ***** ***** ** Exacq, *******, *** ********* as * ******* **** camera, ********* ***** *** audio ******* ******* ********** configuration.
******* ***** ********* ******** subject ***** ** *** tests, ****** ****** **** intelligible **** ********** **** road ***** (~**-** **).
**** ************ ********** ******** talkback ***** **** ********** into *** **** ******* mic ** ******** ***** (e.g. **********), * ****** problem ** *********.
***** *** **** ********* worked ******** ** *******, notifying **** *** ******* was ****** ** ******* from *** *********.

*******, *** ***** *********** was **** ***** ~*.***, despite ****' ****** ** "0 ***" ***** *** call ****** ***.

************, ***** *** ********* events *** *** ***** integrated **** *** *****, requiring ***** ************* ** receive ************ ** ********* button *******. ***** **** set ** */* ***/** TCP ****** ******* ** integrate ***** ****** **** Exacq, *** *** ******** as ****** ********* ** Genetec *** *********.

*****

*** **** *****-* *** be ***** ****** ***~$*** ***.

Physical ********

*** *****-* ** * compact **** ****** **** station, ***** ****** ** fit ** **** **** mullions (***** *****). *** station *** **** ** wall ******* ** ***** mounted (******** ** ******** mounting ***).

*** ***** ***** ******* the ******** ******** ** the **** *******:

Wistia video player

Audio ******* ********

** *** *****, ********** and ******* ***** **** the *****-* *** **** and *****, **** *** latency, ************ *****.

*** *******, *** **** below ***** *** ******* at ~*' **** *** door *******, ******** ******** in * ******* ******** vestibule **** ****** *****.

Wistia video player

*******, **** **** *** traffic ***** ** *** background, *** ******* ** still **** ** ****. Noise ** *******, *** very *** ******** ** the *******'* *****.

Wistia video player

** **** ** *** specifics ** **** ************, digital ***** *********, *** other ******** *****.

Noise *********

***** ********* **** ******* speech **** **** ******* in ***** ************, **** as *** ******** ***** shown *****. **** ****** off, **** *** **** noise ****** ***************. **** turned **, ***** ** greatly *******, ****** ****** more *****.

Wistia video player

Echo ************

*** *****-*'* **** ************ features ****** ****, ********** in ******* ******** ****** such ** *** ********* below ***** **** ** typically *********. **** ****** on, ******** ***** ***** not ** ***** *** the ********* ***, *** echo *** ******* **** turned ***, ************ ****.

Wistia video player

**** **** ***** ******** are ** **** *** in **** ** **** configurations ******* ** **** VMSes, ** ********** ***** is ********* ***** **** speaking. *******, ** ************ where *** **** ******* is **** ** * SIP ********, **** ************ may ** **** ******, as ***** ** ************* full ******.

Shock/Tilt *******

*** *****-* **** ******** shock *** **** ******* which ****** ******** ** remove ** ******* *** station, *** ******* ** access *** ***** ****** connections ** ******* * connected ****. ** *** tests, ******* *********** (** shock/75 ****) *** ********** to ****** ***** ******** without ***** *********** *** to ****** ********** ** activations.

***** ****** *** *** integrated **** *** *****, but ******* ******** ****** receives ***** ** ****** tampering, ***** *****, ** does ********* ********.

Wistia video player

WDR ***********

*** *****-* ******** ****' Forensic ******* ***, *** same ******* ******** ** many ** ***** **** end ****** **** ** the*****/*****, ************ *** ********** in ****** *********. ** *** *****, Forensic ******* ******** ***** quality ** ******** *** scenes.

********* *****

*** *******, **** ******* indoors ** *** ******** vestibule, ******* ******* **** clearer **** *** **, while *** **** *** partially ******** **** ****** off. ************, ******* ******* were **** *******, **** in *******/******** ****** *** parking ***.

Wistia video player

******* ********

******* ******* *** ******** entrance, *** ***** ******** better *******.

Wistia video player

Low ***** ***********

*** *****-* **** *** include ********** **, ******* ***** the ***** *** **** around *** **** ****** for ************. **** ****** * lux ******* ************ **** using **** ***, *** in *** ***** *********** was **** ***** ~*.* lux.

** * ***** *********** scene (~*.***), *** ****** is *****, *** ******** subject ******* ******* ** ~3-4', ************* *** ******** at ***** *** ******* is ******** ** * subject.

*******, **** ****** *** (~0.08lx), *** ** **** itself ******** ****** *****, with *** ******* ********* to *** *** *** rest ** *** ***** almost ******* ****.

VMS ***********

** *** *****, *** A8105-E ***** ** * standard **** ****** ** Exacq, *******, *** *********, with **-*********** ***** ********* by *** *****. *** camera ***** *** ******* to ******** ******* ****** in *** *****.

**** **** **** ** the ***** ****** ************* created ** ***** *** the **** *******'* **** button, *** ** ***** be ******** *******.

Axis ******/******* *** *******

*** *****-* ** ********** **** Axis' ********* ***, **** mobile *** *******, ***** allows ***** ** ******* popup ************* *** *****, talk ****, *** ******* the ****. ** ****** port ********** ** ******** for **** *******.

*** ***** ***** ***** this ******* *** *** ******* ***, with ***** ******* ** on **** *** **** release ****** *****.

Test **********

**** *****-* ******* ***** Door *******:*.**.*.*

Comments (29)

Ethan Ace

IPVM | 07/19/17 05:03pm

Note that this is our first test of a network video intercom. We'd be interested to hear what readers are using for future tests. We are tentatively planning on 2N (owned by Axis), possibly Aiphone or Commend.

Are there other options we're missing? Let us know below.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Ethan Ace | 07/19/17 06:35pm

Zenitel/Stentofon Turbine are very popular in my area. I hear they are very good intercoms but difficult to configure.

Michael Miller

In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 07/19/17 06:44pm

Stentofon has very good audio quality.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Ethan Ace | 07/19/17 07:26pm

Commend is the most overly complicated product ever designed. Solid product, and once installed it works great but incredibly difficult to program/commission if doing anything slightly difficult. Customer support is nearly non-existent.

Undisclosed Integrator #4

In reply to Undisclosed Integrator #2 | 07/20/17 04:59am

And the preposterously overly-complex and over-priced Siedle

Undisclosed #5

In reply to Ethan Ace | 07/20/17 05:43am

Hi Ethan,

Here are some more for you that might be worth a look at.

Dahua

Hikvision

Mobotix

Comelit

Aiphone

Fermax

Michael Miller

In reply to Ethan Ace | 07/24/17 02:12am

Ethan, Acti has an interesting intercom (ACTi Q950)with "high-accuracy face identification technology". Could add this one to the test list?

John Honovich

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 07/24/17 10:55am

Michael,

We'll consider the ACTi Q950. The main concern would be how appealing the unit will be given its online price point is ~$1,500 (or more) which makes it fairly expensive.

Dwayne Cooney

07/19/17 05:36pm

Great product!

I have standardized on Axis A8105-E & A8004-VE enterprise wide. Most all of our Aiphone units at our main campuses have been replaced. In addition, Axis IP intercoms will be installed in all new projects going forward.

The SIP integration works perfectly and allows us to use the intercoms with our IP phone system.

I also worked with our integrator to standardize a configuration that integrates the A8004-VE with Lenel (requires the Axis A9801 Security Relay) to unlock a Lenel door remotely by pressing 9.

Unfortunately, we learned that we cannot do this with the A8105 but we do use them when an entry requires the smaller form factor.

In addition, we have upgraded our IP phones in key areas to include LCD displays. These units have the color LCD which allows the intercom video to be displayed on the phone.

If anyone is interested, I have the parts list and other requirements needed to integrate the larger A8004-VE with Lenel.

Either way, you cannot go wrong with these devices.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Dwayne Cooney | 07/19/17 06:37pm

Dwayne, great feedback. Why can you not unlock the door with the A8105 vs. the A8004? Is it a relay issue, DTMF signaling issue, or something else?

Dwayne Cooney

In reply to Ethan Ace | 07/20/17 05:03pm

The A8105 only has one relay.

Scott Bradford

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Dwayne Cooney | 07/21/17 06:48pm

Axis recently gave us a demo on this unit and suggested their relay interface module if you needed more outputs A9188

Michael Fusco

In reply to Dwayne Cooney | 07/20/17 04:53am

Dwayne - curious about what IP telephone platform you were able to integrate the Axis station to?

Dwayne Cooney

In reply to Michael Fusco | 07/20/17 05:03pm

Cisco

Michael Miller

07/19/17 05:47pm

We have a number of these intercoms connected to Avigilon ACC5 and ACC6. They connect and record on motion without issue. You can even use the ES analytic appliance and run Avigilon analytics on them.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 07/19/17 06:36pm

Good to know, that's strange that the one we have won't connect. I'll check some things and contact support to see what's up.

Michael Miller

In reply to Ethan Ace | 07/20/17 03:28am

Looks like an issue with firmware 1.65.1. Mine has been working fine until tonight when I installed Axis Companion which upgraded the firmware from 1.58.3 to 1.65.1. I downgraded the firmware and camera connected without issue.

Ethan Ace

IPVM | In reply to Michael Miller | 07/20/17 06:21am

That'll do it. Same firmware here.

Undisclosed Integrator #2

In reply to Michael Miller | 07/19/17 07:28pm

Thank you Mike, I have an immediate need and this information is invaluable.

Shannon Davis

TED Systems | 07/19/17 05:48pm

I just got one of these to test as well. Of course the Axis rep says they are amazing. From what i have seen so far very nice.

Stanley Design

07/19/17 09:31pm

We use Zenitel /Stentofon Turbines on all our IP Intercom projects. I can't fault them

Undisclosed Integrator #3

07/19/17 11:13pm

I think there is an IP video intercom made by DoorBird (Germany) that uses Ethernet as well.

Ronald Meshenberg

07/20/17 11:55am

We install dial-up telephone entry intercom for multi-unit apartment buildings. Demand is growing for a competitively priced model that will (1) call resident cell phones, (2) automatically open an app on the cell phone that shows live video of a visitor at the entry door without answering the call, (3) allows audio communication with the visitor by answering the call, and (4) can trigger the door release during the call.

Butterfly and iDor offer a touch-screen solution, but at a significant premium over traditional dial-up intercom. Mircom claims their Nano will do the same for less, but problems with the their app have delayed the release here. We believe a model that is priced to compete with traditional dial-up will be well received.

#STILLPATIENTLYWAITING

Undisclosed Manufacturer #6

07/20/17 04:34pm

Ethan....TOA Electronics recently introduced their SIP-compliant N-SP80 IP video intercom system at ISC West and InfoComm. The 1080p video is ONVIF and tested with several VMS platforms. Integrates with their N-8000 IP industrial intercom system. Mobile apps are free. Master monitor station can run Android apps. Heated back box, tamper detection, competitively priced. Suggest you add it to your list for testing.

Vance Lai

07/25/17 03:54am

FYI. Axis own VMS - Axis camera station, also support event integration of camera shock and on the interface, ACS automatically shows icon to open/lock door or talk to visitors.

Phil Shanahan

07/26/17 08:39am

I would like to see the SIP capability tested with this and future intercom tests. We normally use Genetec Sipelia plugin but gave used Cisco Call Manager and 3CX in the past.

My yest suggestion is 2N Helios (2N is part of Axis)

Geoffrey King

08/08/17 02:39am

Can it send video to an Avaya or Cisco phone to avoid having a "master station"? Seems like it just sends audio.

Dwayne Cooney

In reply to Geoffrey King | 08/08/17 05:05am

Yes. It works perfectly with the Cisco 8865.

All you need to do is configure the SIP settings on the A8004-VE.The video is received on the 8865 color LCD without any special configuration.

I did learn the hard way that the privacy shutter must be open on our 8865's to display the incoming video. That was disappointing but is a Cisco issue.

Geoffrey King

In reply to Dwayne Cooney | 08/08/17 11:00am

Thanks Dwayne. I'm not aware of any other door station being able to do this with Cisco or Avaya, which if that's the case, could be a game changer for me in terms of intercom design.

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