Unit ****
****** ****** ******** ******* with **** ***** *** a ****** ****** ******* typically **** *** *** price *********, **** **** single ******** ******* per *******.
** **********, ** ********* are ********* ** ** 4x **** *********, **** low **** ** ***** in *** ~$*** ***** and ******* **** **** $*,***+.
Hub *** *****
****** ******** ******* ******* the ******** ***** **** intercoms **** **** ** 'speak' / *********** **** a ****** *****. *** example, ** *** **** intercoms ** ***** ***** (the ******) *** **** want ***** ***** ** speak ** *** ************ desk (*** ***), * low **** ****** ******** can **** ****.
*******, ** *** ****** intercoms **** ** '*****' with **** ***** ** integrate **** ***** *******, a ******* ******** ***** to ** ***** ** facilitate ************* ******* *** analog ***** ** *** have **** ************.
****
** *****, ** *** other ****, **** *** capability ***** ** ** speak **** *** ***** 'unit', ** * '****'.
******, *** ***** ******* with **** ** **** boxes, ***** ********* *********** calling, ** ********* *********** systems, *** **** ** an ****** ****** *** surpass ** ** ****** once ********* ******* ******** servers, ********* *******, ********* master ******* ********, ***********, and ***** ************ ** security ** **** ************ systems *** *****.
Fundamental **********: ** ******* *********
****** ******** ******* ********* require * ******* ******** routing ****** (***) *** complex *************. ******* **** central ******, ****** ****** architecture **** ** ******* simplified, ********** **** ******* to ****** ******* *************, rather **** ****** ******* to ******* ** ********** calling ****** ** ****** systems.
** **** ****, *** central ******** ****** ** the ***** ** ** analog ******, *** ******* 'smarter' ** ***** *** designed ** ** **** based *** *************, **** of *** *********** ******* equipment ** ********. *** central ******** ********* ** sized *** * *** number ** **** ********, and **** ** ****** DVR, ********* ****** **** fixed ***** ******** * bigger **** ** ********* modules ** ** *********.
*** ***** ***** ***** a ******* ****** ******, and ***** *** *** large **** ******* ****** omitted ** ** *******:

** ***** ** ****, the ******* ******** ****** for ****** ********* ****** can **** $*,*** - $3,000 *** * **** supporting * - ** doors. *** ************ ** central ********* ********* *********** a ****** ** ********* units **** ***** * core ****** ** **** into ***** ******* **** 100+ **** ********. ** many *****, **** ********* unit **** ******** *** 30+ **** ******** ** a **** ** ~$*,***.
System ***********
*** ******* ********* ** intercoms **** **** ****** units ** *** ********** adoption ** *** ******* of ********* *********** ******* exchanges *** ********* ********* stations. *******, *** ****** intercoms ** ** ********* with ****, ******** ****, smartphones, *** **** ***** intercom **** ********.
** ******** ** ********** intercom ***********, ******* ***** integration ** ********* ********** by ***** ************ **** *.***** ******** *********** ********* like ***** *, ******** for ******** ****** ***** to ** **** *** managed **** ******* ************ cameras, ******** *** ********* straightforward **** ****** ***** intercom *****.
What ** ***?
*** ****** ********** ********** *********** ** **** ** telephony *** ***** *** video ***** **** **. Unlike **** ***** ********* like **** **** *********** support ************** ********* ** audio *** *****, *** allows ************* ************* ** take *****. ** * result, *** ** **** by ******** ***** ******* for **** *****, *** also ** **** ******* messaging ******** *** ***** calls. *** **** ***** uses *** (**** **** Protocol) *** ***** *** video, *** *** *** encryption.
System ***** ********
*** ******* ***** ** IP ********* ******* **** to ** **** ** terminals *** * ******* of ***** *******-***** *******, often **** ****** *******, mass ************, ** **** digital ******* *********.
*** *** *** ************ architecture ****** ***** ******* to ****** ** ** intercom's *************, ************ '****** address' **** ******** ** selected ***** ************ ** within * ****. **** integrated **** ****** *******, the ******** ******* ****** often ***** * ****** or **** ****** *** may ** **** ** control **** ***** ** strikes.
*** **** ***** ** integrated ******** ******** **** analog ***** ****, ********* taking ***** ** *** central ******** ******. **** IP *******, *********** ********** call ******** ** *** typical ********, **** ** the ***** **** **** VMSes (*** *******:*******) **** ***** *********** management ** ***-***** ******** units, ******* ** ******* or ****** **** ***********.
******* ****** ********* *** IP ***** ********* *** the *********** ** ********-***** Master ******** *** ****** mobile ****** ************ ******* apps *** ****** ********. While ****** ******* ********* require ********* *** *********** master **** ********, ** systems *** ** **** on ******* ** ************ or **** ** ***** away **** ***** ***** only ********* ** ****** phones.
Video *******
** *******, ** ***** intercoms **** * *** edge ** ***** ** resolution *** ****** ******** quality. **** ********** ** units ******* *********** ** 720P ** *******, ******** IR, *** **** ***, while ****** ***** ********* feature ****** ***** ****** components ****** *** ** SD ***********.
** ****, ** ****** video ** *** ********* by ******** ******* *** no ********** ******** ** a ***** ****** **** CVI, ***, ** *** is *********.
*** *******, *** ** based ******* ***** ******** **** * 6 ** (***) ******, while *** ************* **-** ****** **** box ***** **** * ******* SD (***) ******.
****, ***** ********* ***** events **** ** ***** is ******* ***************, ****** in *********** ******** ******** software ** ********** ** mainstream ***, ***** ********* analog ***** ****** ********* require ** ********** ****, encoders, *** ******* **** media ********** *** ******** to ****** ****** ****.
*******, ***** ******** ******* usually ** *** ******* dedicated ************ ******* ***** they *** *******, ********* due ** *** **** angle/fisheye ******* ****. ***** optimized ** *** *********** close ** * **** station, *** ******* **** is ********* *** ****** for ******* **** ************.
Callbox Options *******
** *******, **** ******* designs *** ******* ****** on *** ******* ****** than *** ******* ** being ** ** ******. In **** *****, ****** IP ** ****** **** stations *** ********* **** button ******* ******* **** a ****** '****' ****** to ** ************ ****** with ** ** **** dedicated **** ************. ***** options **** ****** **** readers, ***** *******, ******/************ housings, ** **** ********* are ***** ***** *** commonly *********.

Market ************
******* *** ******** ******** of ** ***** *****, the *** **** *** straightforward *********** ** ****** intercom ******* ****** * strong *** *** *****/****** business. ********** ************ **** eight ** **** **** stations ***** * ****** connection to * ****** ******, the ********** ** ***** analog ******* *** *** threatened ** **** ****** IP ***** *********.
** ************ ********* * large ****** ** **** stations *********** ****** ***** areas *** ******** *****, IP ********* ***** ******* in ************** ******** ******* that ******* **** ******* ethernet ********** *** ***.
Comments (19)
Ari Erenthal
06/20/16 05:18pm
The Aiphone LEF series analog intercom does not require extra equipment to enable selective call or all call, at a very reasonable price.
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Luis Carmona
Great article, Brian. A subject that needed touching on for awhile. Surprises me there is still so many little integration with ACS and VMS (I know there's some, I'm saying more). But it seems like one of those things that should just be a logical extension. With the advent of SIP, there is really no excuse why more ACS and VMS systems should not be able to integrate with intercom devices.
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Alon Brown
I wonder when will the different substations, by different vendors/manufacturers, shown in the picture, be able to "converse" among themselves across the network, based on an open/standard integration platform...
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Michael Miller
Axis releases anther intercom station.
AXIS A8105-E Network Video Door Station
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Rui Silva
Long distances are also an advantage of analog systems. Analog systems can handle distances longer than 400m easily, while IP systems are limited to 100m (without fiber or switches). Depending on the type of installation, this can make a big difference in cabling costs and infrastructures needed.
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Undisclosed End User #3
This is a seriously under explored segment and thanks to IPVM for giving it some attention.
Been using an aiphone system for years, lots of options for localized mesh installs (JP series using twister pair to the door and Cat5 between masters) or remote reception functions (the later using IP converters to software at the headend 2500 miles away).
Biggest challenge now is finding a hybrid of both worlds as our business evolves, something local during core hours which can be forwarded to a central station after hours. Their AI series is getting close but has limited VMS partners and I'm generally reluctant to deploy IP intensive solutions due to management and cyber concerns, something to be said for the simplicity of analog when troubleshooting. Then there's the issue of audio quality with IP, not the best experience in the remote reception role.
Digital Accoustic's caught my attention at one time but has a limited catalog compared to AiPhone, and to fully realize the potential of a VMS as a PSIM through SIP requires the decision to commit. Heard good things about Security Centre, anyone have experience going all-in with Genetec?
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