Rankings ********
******* *** *** ***** ******, ******** by * ***** *********:
*** ********* **% ** ***** **** distributed **** **** ****** *********** ****** to **** ********** ********. *** **** notable ** *** '******' *** ***** with * ****** ** ***** ***** Hikvision *** ****** **** ***.
*******
*** ** *** ****** *********** ***** registered *** **** '********' *****, ** a *** ******. *****'* *******, *** claims ****** ** ***** [**** ** longer *********] ** *** ********* ******, registered **** **** ** *** ****** of ***** ** *** **** ******* brand.
**** * ***** ********* ** **** two-wire ****** *** ** ***** *******, the *****'* ********* ***** ** * wide ***** ** ******* *****. **** responses ****** ******* '********' ************ ********* good *******, **** ******* ********, *** comparable ******* ** ***** ******:
- "*******. ***** *** **********. *****/***** ***** available **** ******** ***** *** ***** old, ******* ************* ******. ** ******** with **** ***** ****** ***: *** I ***** *** ***** ** ** years ****? *** ***** ***** ***** to ******* ******** *******? **** ***** firmware ******* ***** ******** ******* *******? We **** ***'* *** **** ***** with *******."
- "*******. ***********, ***** ***** ************* ***** resulted ** **** ******* ******* *** performance. ******* ** *** ***********, *** built ** **** - **** *********!"
- "*** ** ** ******** ** *******. We **** ****** ******** ***** ******* from **** *** ***** *** ** line ** ******* ******** ** **** the *****."
- "*******. **** ***** *******, *** ********** and ******* *** ***** *** ****. The ***** ** * ****** **** which *** ****** *** ***** ** sell **."
- "*******. **'* **** ******* ******** ******** equipment **** **** *** ******'* ******."
- "*******- * **** **** ***** **** for ******* *** *** ****** ** to *** ***."
- "*******. ***** **** **** ******, *** Aiphone ** *** ** **."
- "*******. **** ** *******. **** ***********. Cost *********."
- "******* ** *** ************ ** ******, works **** ****** *** ** *** network, ******* *** ************."
- "******* *** ********* *****. ***** ******* from ************. **** ***** **** *** years."
- "******* *** ***** ***** ******* - bullet ***** *** *******. ** ** anything *** ********* **/********* ******** ** happy **** - ***** ** ** a *** ***** ***** *****."
- "******* - *** ********* *********** ** their ******* ** *** **** ** any ******** ************ *** ****** ****** & **** **** ***** *******"
**
* ********-***** '**' ******** ****** ********** second *****. **** ***** **'* ********** operation, **** *******, *** ******* ***** deployment *** ******* ** *** ** is * ********:
- "** **** ****** **** * *** fan ** **. **** *** ********, easy ** ********* *** **** ***** construction. *** **** **** **** ********* by **** * **** *** ******* doesn't ******. *** **** **** ***** are **, *** *** ** **** are *********."
- "** ******. ****** *** ********** **** SIP ************ *** ** **** ***** them ** ** ********* ******** **** very **** ***** ******* *** *** option ** **** * **** ****** integrated **** *** *******. **** *** also ***** **% ******* **** ******* but **** **** ** **** *** same ******* ******"
- "** ** ***** **** ** ****** and **** *********, *** ***** *** inventory/ship ****** *** **** ***'* **** a ****** ******* ******. ** ** on ***** ****"
- "** ******* ** *** ********** ** it."
- "** ******* **** **** **** ********* by **** ************** *** **** ******** performance ***."
- "* ****** *** ****** ********** ********* on **."
- "** - ** ** * *** of ** ******** **** ****** **** release."
- "** ** **** ** *** ************* are **** ******** *** ****** ************. Also **** ** *** ************ ********* spec **."
- "**. **** ******* ******** **** ***** brands. ***-*********** *******. ***** *********** **** phone *** ******. **** *******."
** ****,**** ******** **, *** ** * *********** ******, the ********** ***** ****** ******* ****** reflecting **. ** ********* ** ***** its *** ********, ***** ** **** cases *** ********* ** ****' *** door ******* *** ****** ******* ********. However, *** ***** **** ** ****** helping ** ** **** **** ***** sales **** ** *** ******* ****.
*******
******* ***** * '******-****' ********** ******** vendor, ******* ********** * ****** ** favorite *****:
- "******* *** *** ***** ********* **** Aiphone *** **** *** **** ******* they *** *** ****** *********. ******* is ** ******** ********. (********** ** are * ******* ***)"
- "*******. **'* *** *** ******* ** license, *** *** ***** ******* ** far ******** ** *** ***** ******** out *****. **** **** ***** * variety ** ** ********* *** ********** enclosures."
- "******* ** ** **** * **** good ******* *** ****."
- "*******, *** ******* ***** ***** **** is ****, *** ******* **** **** great *********** ******* *** *** ******* proves ********."
- "*******. ******* *** ***********. ** ****** if *** ******* *** ******** ************** or ******** ********* ***, ** *** with ******* ** ********* * ******* and ******** ** ******** ********."
- "**** ******* - ******* - **** in ***** *******, ****** ***** ** solution (**** ******** ** ******* *******)."
******* **** ********** ******* ********** *** difficult ***** *******, ******* ******* *** reliable ********* **** ******** ***** ** strengths.
Stentofon / *******
******* '******-****' ********* *****, *******'* ********* also ****** ** * ****** ********:
- "******* *********. **** *** ******** *** built ** ********* ********."
- "******* ******* ** **** ***** *******."
- "** ** ************ ** *** ********* very *** ********* **** *******, *** users ********** ******* *** ***** ******** were *** ** ***** ** *** old *********'*."
- "********* *******. *****, ******** *** ********* performance."
- "******* ********* *** *** ********** (**** Symmetry) *******."
- "*********-***** **** ******** *** ***** *******."
- "******* (****** ** *** **** ******* when ** ***** ** *** ***** integration) *** **** **** **** ******** for ***** ** *********."
*******, *** *** ******** **** ********. Negative ******** ******** **** *****, ******* complexity, *** *** *****, ************ *********:
- "*'* **** ** **** **** *********** to **** ******* - ***** ******* is ******** ** ****, ***** ******* is ********. ******* ********* ***'* ******* them ** * **** *********** *******, they ***'* ** ***. ************, *** always **** ***** **** ******* ****** to ********** *** *******."
** *************/ ********* ******* ** ********.
****
* ******** ******** ** *********, **** released *** *** **** ** ******** door ******** ****** ******** ******** ********** **. ******* *** ****** ***, ******* mentioned ****' ****** **** ******** ******* well ****** ** ** '*********' ** their ***:
- "****. **** *** *** ******* ** setup *** **** ********* ** ***."
- "** ****** **** *** **** ********* - ****** ******* **** **** ****, sound ****, *** **** ** ********* camera ** ****. ** ******* **** them ** **** *********** ***** ****** and * *********** ***."
- "**** - ******, **** ** *******."
- "**** *** ***** ******** **** ****** functions, ** *** **** ******* ************."
- "**** ** ** ***** ** ** gets *** **. ******* *** ******."
*** *** **** **** ******* ******** were *******, ********* *** **** ********** the ******* *** *** ********* * hardware ***** **** ******* ***** *** relying ** * ******** *** ********* alone:
- "**** *** * ***** **** ******* with *** *****, *** ********** ****** the **** ** ** ****** **** station ** *** ******** ***. ** you *** **** ** **** **** own ********* ******."
** ****** *** *****-* ****** **** ******* *********** ********* **** *******, *** ****** advanced **** ******* *** ***** ************* features ********* **** ******* ********* *********.
Honorable ******* - *****
** *** ******* ***** ******, ***** registered * ***** *** ****** ******* or ******** *********. ******* ******** ***** only **** ************ **** *** *****, but **** ****** ** ***** ******* it *****:
- "***** **** *********"
- "***’* **** * ********. ********* ***** with *** ***** ****** *** ** ease ** *** *** ***********."
- "*****, **** *** ********* ** ** the ***/*** *** *** **** ** use ** *** *******."
- "***** *** *******"
- "*****, ******* ** *** ***** ***********. its **."
Dishonoroable ******* - *********
* ******** ******** ** *** ****** Hikvision ****** ***** ******.
** ******** ** ***** *******, ************** *** ************ **** ******* ********* as * '********' *** '*****', *** ********* *** ***** ****** was ********* ** ***. ** *** 148 ********** *********, **** *** ********* Hikvision ** * ********, ***** multiple ***** ******:
- "******, ********, *** ********* *********."
** *************** **** *******, ***** *** *** ******* **** compared ** ***** ******.
Other *********
** ***, **** **** ** ********* brands **** ********* ** ***********, **** several ***** ********-******** ************* *********** ****, but *** ****, *****:
- "** *** ****** ******* ***** **** good ***********, **** ************ & ********** priced."
- "***, ******* ******* *** * **** back ***** **** ******** ** ******* like **** ******."
- "***** ** ******* ********. ****** ******* they *** **/*** *** **** ** integrate **** **** ***** *** ******. Because ** *** ** ** ********** this **** *** ******** ********** **** better/easier."
- "** ********* *** *** , **** to ***** ** *** ** **** a ******** ************ * ************ ****, but **** ** ***** ***'* *** to ***."
- "****** - **% ** *** ********* in *** ******* **** *** ****."
- "********. ******* *** ***** *********** **** free *** ******** *** ***** *** users." [**** ****: *** *********** **** ******* ****.]
**** *** ******* ********, ** ** clear **** ***** *** ****** ***** some '*** *****', *** ***** ** still ******** *** *** ******** *** win *********** ** ** *****-********* ******** market.
Several ***** ******** *********
*********** ***** ***** ******** ****** ** 'favorite', **** *** **** ******** ***** dictated ** *** ******** ** ******. Several ********, ********** **** ****** ***********, report * ******** *** '***-***' ** basic ************ *** * ********* ***** for ****** ** **** ******* ******** system ********:
- "******* *** **** *********** ************, ******** for ********** *** **** *** ******* applications"
- "* *** ** *** ******** *** with *******, *** *** *** ****** end ******* ** *** * *** of *********. ********* ********* *** * mix ** **** * *****/**** ****/***."
- "**** *** ***** ******** **** ****** functions, ** *** **** ******* ************."
- "******* *** *********** ******. ** *** IP. ******* ** ****** *** ********** for ******, *** **** **** **** support *** *** ********. * ****** the ****** ********** ********* ** **."
- "*******, ******, ********* *** *******"
Comments (62)
Undisclosed #1
Cheap and cheerful old school digital system with no integration capability vs. 4 IP-based intercoms with integration to many systems.
Are the results surprising?
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Undisclosed #2
Through 2N Axis resells the Grandstream GXV3370 and they work great as an answering station as you can add a DTMF soft button overlay on the video image to unlock the door. The Axis part # is: 01695-001.
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Undisclosed End User #5
Aiphone is great. However, the lack of UL or comparable certification requires that we pay thousands of dollars to have them field certified.
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Brian Rhodes
Of note, we are planning to test both 2N and Aiphone gear later this fall. If anyone has specific feedback or recommendations for other brands to test, please suggest.
Thanks!
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Clint Hays
I've used and sold Aiphone, 2N, and Commend. They are all for different markets IMO. Aiphone is great for SMB, 2N handles extreme conditions and scales, and Commend was awesome for noisy locations.
SIP is awesome if Aiphone includes a widely accepted sipstack to make it work on various systems.
2N will be putting in better cameras from axis soon Im assuming rather than what they have used, but I don't expect it to be a full featured device.
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Undisclosed #8
On a much more serious note for a Friday, how do you pronounce "Aiphone"? I say A Phone with a hard A, as in day. I have heard people call it "Airphone" , "A I (both hard) phone", I even heard someone call it "Earphone".
But I have also heard someone who was supposed to be knowledgeable pronounce POE as P over E.
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Michael Gonzalez
09/14/18 08:46pm
I personally really like the Stentofon turbines. We use them at electric substations for recording, PA, and gunfire detection. They're regularly pelted with rocks and all sorts of things from bored kids I suppose, but they keep going strong.
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Undisclosed #11
I'm surprised there is no mention of Europeans like comelit or fermax, I also expected that Korean manufacturers like commax and kocom will have more responses
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Shannon Davis
I would say Aiphone ranks clearly at the top of this would be the fact that it has been around for a long time and has always been readily available through local distribution. For that mere fact alone people don’t usually tend to change much and sense the new IP versions can be picked up locally as well would explain them still being a favorite. We use lots of Aiphone but we also have started selling the Axis as well. The one beef I have with all of the new IP solutions is the door release function. The relay for the door release is at the door station typically which is an inherent security risk. Otherwise you have to buy an IP output module to put somewhere which drives cost up. I will say one item with the Aiphone IP which is frustrating is if you want to use say a PC to answer the door stations you have to buy one of their I/O modules whether you use its functionality or not. That is how they license the mobile feature. I think it’s either 4 or 8 licenses per module and you must have a master station setup as well as that is what stores the programming. This is where Axis is far superior if you want to use a mobile device and don’t have the need for a master station.
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Undisclosed Integrator #12
Do the axis ip intercoms work reliably? Ive never used it.
We did a takeover where the end user said the existing axis intercom would sometimes not ring or the door release wouldnt work or they could not hear the person at the door. We ended up putting in some Aiphone stuff (non IP)as a “fix”.
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #13
I would suggest you look at Zenitel's Stentofon Turbine product. I can be programmed in SIP mode and is a better value, in cost and quality.
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Undisclosed End User #14
Aiphone has been teasing SIP integrated units for well over a year now. I'll believe it when it's available for order in distribution. Showing off a a mock up at a trade show doesn't count.
I like Aiphone products as a whole. They are a bit expensive, but you can dig around around look at their analog systems for a 1 or 2 station setup.
My biggest gripe is their desk stations (IP-MV) are real expensive for what they are. I wish that they had a lesser expensive option for a desk station that only has 1 or 2 remote stations. A typical SMB is going to have a front door and a back door, so to have something as physically large as the desk phone IP-MV and as expensive as it is, seems silly. You can use their JR or JF series, but they are analog, meaning you have to pull a new 18-4 from site to site. So, that's silly if you already have network in place.
So, Aiphone, if you're out there, make a more simple network base station that isn't $1100!
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Troy Dickinson
I work in the corrections industry where there can be hundreds of intercom stations at doors and inside rooms or cells. These stations could call to one or many control stations. The typical "go to" in corrections intercom/paging audio is Harding Instruments or Telecor. Could any of the "favorites" talked about here be applicable for corrections?
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Undisclosed Manufacturer #13
For IP FLUSH mount stations Zenitel also offers the following communication solutions:
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Undisclosed Integrator #15
This a classic case where the poll results do not reflect the global perception. Aiphone is a non-player outside of the US. From my experience working in the US and Caribbean, Aiphone was the defacto intercom for mid-large size residential and integrators then just took that model into commercial areas - with the clunky buttons and brittle yellow tarnished housings.
For years, Italian manufacturers ruled the Euro circuit with kit that, well, can only be described at "Italian". You built your intercom up from a million different part numbers and hoped to god it all worked - invariably, you'd be missing at least one part. The kit was also pretty well less than commercial.
That left a gap for decent, cutting edge, IP & SIPP commercial solutions. Enter 2N, Zenitel Stentofon, Castel and Commend. My personal favourite is Zentil (Stentofon), initially designed for use on North Sea container ships - the kit is more rubust than a robust thing and the clarity/quality of speech is exceptional. Integrates with anything that is meaningful and just does whats its meant to do without any dramas.
Paxton in the UK is slipping in with the Net2 Entry, although this is best suited to being an extension to a Paxton Net2 access platform and really doesn't work with a great deal else.
For correctional facilities consider ISM Ultimate. Widely used in police custody suites you effectively have a cell call system with a full audit of the activations and resets - with the cell call turning into a Personal Attack system from when locally acknowldging the alarm (and going into cell) and resetting the alarm - (leaving the cell), all this with a shiny bolt on enterprise class SMS - Genesys. We did clever things like route external calls from solicitors/family directly into the system that also recorded the converstaions (both parties fully aware)
So in summary, I think if you had 3 polls; 1) US 2) EMEA 3)Asia/Oceania, you would a seismic shift in poll results.
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Undisclosed Integrator #15
We're just installing a point to point Castel IP system (no server required) and just using a PoE switch for power and have also just quoted a Stentofon solution for a similar set-up.
Agree with BPT comments. Out of the Italian stables, they have probably become the most anglicised, with fast quote turnaround (direct account), bespoke designs and tidying up the old box of parts scenario. Have just installed a rather tasty charcoal MTM-GSM that is looking and feeling more like Stentofon and works pretty well.
You probably have the same challenges as I do with the tenders in London for mixed-use Grade A office developments. Architecturally demanding ground floor lobby entrances, several clean and fully integrated commercial floors and then upwards with high-end residential.
Challenges for me are the increasing demands for AV integration (2N have this nailed), SIPP (most have this sorted), and as ever - the problem that never goes away is the inbuilt reader functionality. I've pretty well bottomed out the latter using a natty reader from Controlsoft, that's iClass compatible and fits in a typical 40mm2 cutout.
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