IP Vs Analog Intercoms

Author: Brian Rhodes, Published on Jun 20, 2016

Intercoms, even within physical security, are a niche.

But Axis' acquisition of intercom manufacturer 2N represents a significant investment into this market segment.

Indeed, Axis is emphasizing the value of IP intercoms both for doing the deal and in focusing future efforts.

But what really is the difference between IP and analog intercoms? Is there something like a 'MP' intercom? Where is each type better or worse?

In this guide, we answer these questions.

Key Comparisons

While performance of intercoms and intercom systems may be basic, there are some some big gaps between the two major intercom technology types. The notable differences: 

  • Pricing for Intercoms
  • Hub and Spoke vs Mesh
  • No Central Exchanges Needed With IP
  • System Integrations Easier with IP
  • IP Based Video Quality Better

 

We examine these points in detail below.

*********, **** ****** ******** ********, *** * *****.

*** ****' *********** ** ******** ************ ************ * *********** ********** **** **** ****** *******.

******, **** ** *********** *** ***** ** ** ********* **** for ***** *** **** *** ** ******** ****** *******.

*** **** ****** ** *** ********** ******* ** *** ****** intercoms? ** ***** ********* **** * '**' ********? ***** ** **** **** better ** *****?

** **** *****, ** ****** ***** *********.

Key ***********

***** *********** ** ********* *** ******** ******* *** ** *****, there *** **** **** *** **** ******* *** *** ***** intercom ********** *****. *** ******* ***********: 

  • ******* *** *********
  • *** *** ***** ** ****
  • ** ******* ********* ****** **** **
  • ****** ************ ****** **** **
  • ** ***** ***** ******* ******

 

** ******* ***** ****** ** ****** *****.

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

Unit ****

****** ****** ******** ******* **** **** ***** *** * ****** master ******* ********* **** *** *** ***** *********, **** **** single ******** *******

** **********, ** ********* *** ********* ** ** ** **** expensive, **** *** **** ** ***** ** *** ~$*** ***** and ******* **** **** $*,***+.

Hub *** *****

****** ******** ******* ******* *** ******** ***** **** ********* **** need ** '*****' / *********** **** * ****** *****. *** example, ** *** **** ********* ** ***** ***** (*** ******) and **** **** ***** ***** ** ***** ** *** ************ desk (*** ***), * *** **** ****** ******** *** **** well.

*******, ** *** ****** ********* **** ** '*****' **** **** other ** ********* **** ***** *******, * ******* ******** ***** to ** ***** ** ********** ************* ******* *** ****** ***** do *** **** **** ************.

****

** *****, ** *** ***** ****, **** *** ********** ***** in ** ***** **** *** ***** '****', ** * '****'.

******, *** ***** ******* **** **** ** **** *****, ***** requiring *********** *******, ** ********* *********** *******, *** **** ** an ****** ****** *** ******* ** ** ****** **** ********* central ******** *******, ********* *******, ********* ****** ******* ********, ***********, and ***** ************ ** ******** ** **** ************ ******* *** added. 

Fundamental **********: ** ******* *********

****** ******** ******* ********* ******* * ******* ******** ******* ****** (PBX) *** ******* *************. ******* **** ******* ******, ****** ****** architecture **** ** ******* **********, ********** **** ******* ** ****** station *************, ****** **** ****** ******* ** ******* ** ********** calling ****** ** ****** *******.

** **** ****, *** ******* ******** ****** ** *** ***** of ** ****** ******, *** ******* '*******' ** ***** *** designed ** ** **** ***** *** *************, **** ** *** traditional ******* ********* ** ********.  *** ******* ******** ********* ** sized *** * *** ****** ** **** ********, *** **** an ****** ***, ********* ****** **** ***** ***** ******** * bigger **** ** ********* ******* ** ** *********. 

*** ***** ***** ***** * ******* ****** ******, *** ***** out *** ***** **** ******* ****** ******* ** ** *******:

** ***** ** ****, *** ******* ******** ****** *** ****** intercoms ****** *** **** $*,*** - $*,*** *** * **** supporting * - ** *****. *** ************ ** ******* ********* typically *********** * ****** ** ********* ***** **** ***** * core ****** ** **** **** ***** ******* **** ***+ **** stations. ** **** *****, **** ********* **** **** ******** *** 30+ **** ******** ** * **** ** ~$*,***.

 

System ***********

*** ******* ********* ** ********* **** **** ****** ***** ** the ********** ******** ** *** ******* ** ********* *********** ******* exchanges *** ********* ********* ********. *******, *** ****** ********* ** be ********* **** ****, ******** ****, ***********, *** **** ***** intercom **** ********.

** ******** ** ********** ******** ***********, ******* ***** *********** ** typically ********** ** ***** ************ **** *.***** ******** *********** ********* **** ***** *, ******** *** ******** camera ***** ** ** **** *** ******* **** ******* ************ cameras, ******** *** ********* *************** **** ****** ***** ******** *****.

What ** ***?

*** ****** ********** ********** *********** ** **** ** ********* *** ***** *** ***** ***** over **. ****** **** ***** ********* **** **** **** *********** support ************** ********* ** ***** *** *****, *** ****** ************* communication ** **** *****. ** * ******, *** ** **** by ******** ***** ******* *** **** *****, *** **** ** some ******* ********* ******** *** ***** *****. *** **** ***** uses *** (**** **** ********) *** ***** *** *****, *** TLS *** **********.

System ***** ********

*** ******* ***** ** ** ********* ******* **** ** ** used ** ********* *** * ******* ** ***** *******-***** *******, often **** ****** *******, **** ************, ** **** ******* ******* terminals. 

*** *** *** ************ ************ ****** ***** ******* ** ****** an ** ********'* *************, ************ '****** *******' **** ******** ** selected ***** ************ ** ****** * ****.  **** ********** **** access *******, *** ******** ******* ****** ***** ***** * ****** or **** ****** *** *** ** **** ** ******* **** locks ** *******.

*** **** ***** ** ********** ******** ******** **** ****** ***** vary, ********* ****** ***** ** *** ******* ******** ******.  **** IP *******, *********** ********** **** ******** ** *** ******* ********, even ** *** ***** **** **** ***** (*** *******:*******) **** ***** *********** ********** ** ***-***** ******** *****, ******* to ******* ** ****** **** ***********. 

******* ****** ********* *** ** ***** ********* *** *** *********** of ********-***** ****** ******** *** ****** ****** ****** ************ ******* apps *** ****** ********.  ***** ****** ******* ********* ******* ********* and *********** ****** **** ********, ** ******* *** ** **** on ******* ** ************ ** **** ** ***** **** **** their ***** **** ********* ** ****** ******.

Video *******

** *******, ** ***** ********* **** * *** **** ** terms ** ********** *** ****** ******** *******. **** ********** ** units ******* *********** ** **** ** *******, ******** **, *** even ***, ***** ****** ***** ********* ******* ****** ***** ****** components ****** *** ** ** ***********.  

** ****, ** ****** ***** ** *** ********* ** ******** vendors *** ** ********** ******** ** * ***** ****** **** CVI, ***, ** *** ** *********.

*** *******, *** ** ***** ******* ***** ******** **** * * ** (***) ******, ***** *** analog******* **-** ****** **** *** ***** **** * ******* ** (***) ******.

****, ***** ********* ***** ****** **** ** ***** ** ******* straightforward, ****** ** *********** ******** ******** ******** ** ********** ** mainstream ***, ***** ********* ****** ***** ****** ********* ******* ** additional ****, ********, *** ******* **** ***** ********** *** ******** to ****** ****** ****.

*******, ***** ******** ******* ******* ** *** ******* ********* ************ cameras ***** **** *** *******, ********* *** ** *** **** angle/fisheye ******* ****. ***** ********* ** *** *********** ***** ** a **** *******, *** ******* **** ** ********* *** ****** for ******* **** ************.

Callbox Options *******

** *******, **** ******* ******* *** ******* ****** ** *** company ****** **** *** ******* ** ***** ** ** ******. In **** *****, ****** ** ** ****** **** ******** *** available **** ****** ******* ******* **** * ****** '****' ****** to ** ************ ****** **** ** ** **** ********* **** destinations.  ***** ******* **** ****** **** *******, ***** *******, ******/************ housings, ** **** ********* *** ***** ***** *** ******** *********.

Market ************

******* *** ******** ******** ** ** ***** *****, *** *** cost *** *************** *********** ** ****** ******** ******* ****** * strong *** *** *****/****** ********. ********** ************ **** ***** ** less **** ******** ***** * ****** ********** ** * ****** ******, the ********** ** ***** ****** ******* *** *** ********** ** more ****** ** ***** *********. 

** ************ ********* * ***** ****** ** **** ******** *********** across ***** ***** *** ******** *****, ** ********* ***** ******* in ************** ******** ******* **** ******* **** ******* ******** ********** for ***.

Comments (19)

Thumbnail fullsizerender

Ari Erenthal

Chesapeake & Midlantic | 06/20/16 05:18pm

*** ********** ****** ****** ************ *** ******* ***** ********* ** ****** ********* **** ** all ****, ** * **** ********** *****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Ari Erenthal | 06/20/16 08:33pm

** ********* **** ** *** **** *** ****** *** ****** the ***, ** * *** *** ****** * ***?

** **'* *** ****** **** ** *****'* **** *** ***** hardware ******* ***** ** ** *******, **?

Thumbnail fullsizerender

Ari Erenthal

Chesapeake & Midlantic | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 06/21/16 03:05pm

* ****** *** **** *** *** ** *** ******. * sub *** **** **** (******** * **** ** *** *******). A ****** **** **** ******** * ****, ***** ****** *****-**** conversation ******* ****** *** ***. ******* *** **** ******* ****. They **** **** **** *** ******* * ******* ******.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Ari Erenthal | 06/21/16 11:27pm

**, ******, **** *****.

******** * *** ******* ***-****** ******, *** ***** ** * seperate ************* ***** ** ************?

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Ari Erenthal | 06/21/16 01:43pm

"*** *** ****** ** * ********* ******* **** *****, ***** only ****** **** *** ******** ** ** ** ** ***** stations."

** ** **** ** ** ** * *******, *****-****, *** integrated ****** **** ***** ** * **** ******. ***** **** pricing ** ~$*** *** **** ******* *****.

***** *** ******** ** **!

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 06/21/16 02:24pm

** ********* **** *****?

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #1 | 06/21/16 02:35pm

***** **** ******, ********* **** ***** '****' ** *******-**-******* ******* is *********. *** *** ** *** ******* ** * ***** analog ****** **** ******** ****, ******** ***** *** ******. '*****' systems ********* **** **** **** ** - ** ***** *** typically *** ***** ****.

*'** *** * ***** ******* ***** ** ******* ****.

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 06/21/16 03:02pm

******* ** *******, ******* ****** ******* ** ****** *******, *'* assuming. ** *** **** *** *** **** ********, **** **** go ** *** ******, * *******.

*** *** *** **** ******, ** ****** **** ** ***** box ** ********.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Brian Rhodes | 06/21/16 02:38pm

******* ** ** *'* ***** ****** - *** *** **** not ******* ********** *********, *** *** ****** *** * *********/******* configuration, ** * ** **** (*** *******) $@# ****...
** *** *** **** ** *** ****** ********, ***-*********** *** non-expansion *********** - ** ** ******* **** **** ******* ** introduce *

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Undisclosed #2 | 06/21/16 11:15pm

**** ** * **** *****, *** ***** *** ****** ** not * ** **** ****** ** *** **************, *** ****** line ** *** **** ** **** *** ******* **** *****, to * ****** **** * ****** ****** ** *** *** 5/5e/6/6a ** ****** ** ********.

*** ***** **** ****** ****** ********* ** *** ** ******* types, *** ******** **** ******* ***** **** ******** ** ***** connecting ******** ********:

**** **** ***** ***** ******** ****'* **** (***** *** ****** stations ***** **), *** ****** ************ *** *****:

*** ** ** ******* ******, ** ***** ** ***** *** needed, **** **** ** ******** ****** **** ****** ******** *** installed.

*** ****** ****: ***** ******* ************ ****** ******* *** *********, the **** ** ********** **** **** *** *********** *** ** substantial.

Thumbnail usa shield

Luis Carmona

IPVMU Certified | 06/20/16 11:44pm

***** *******, *****. * ******* **** ****** ******** ** *** awhile. ********* ** ***** ** ***** ** **** ****** *********** with *** *** *** (* **** *****'* ****, *'* ****** more). *** ** ***** **** *** ** ***** ****** **** should **** ** * ******* *********. **** *** ****** ** SIP, ***** ** ****** ** ****** *** **** *** *** VMS ******* ****** *** ** **** ** ********* **** ******** devices.

Alon Brown

06/21/16 12:15pm

* ****** **** **** *** ********* ***********, ** ********* *******/*************, shown ** *** *******, ** **** ** "********" ***** ********** across *** *******, ***** ** ** ****/******** *********** ********...

Michael Miller

06/22/16 01:50am

**** ******** ****** ******** *******.

**** *****-* ******* ***** **** *******

Thumbnail pp 5

Brian Rhodes

IPVMU Certified | In reply to Michael Miller | 06/22/16 03:43pm

***********, **'* *********** * ******* *****-***** ******** **

Rui Silva

IPVMU Certified | 06/22/16 12:32pm

**** ********* *** **** ** ********* ** ****** *******. ****** systems *** ****** ********* ****** **** **** ******, ***** ** systems *** ******* ** **** (******* ***** ** ********). ********* on *** **** ** ************, **** *** **** * *** difference ** ******* ***** *** *************** ******.

Undisclosed #2

In reply to Rui Silva | 06/22/16 01:58pm

***, *** *** **** ********* ******* ******* ** ******* (****) cabling, *** *** **** ******** **** * ******** ***** ****** for ***** *** * ****. * ******* **** ** ** prefer *** ****** ** "*********** **************", ***** *** ** ********, expanded *** ********* ******, ***** ********* **** *********** *** *********** capabilities.

Thumbnail vabeach13.1 2014

Brad Anderson

In reply to Rui Silva | 06/28/16 04:50pm

******* ******* ******** (* ****) *** ** *****. ** **** needs ** ** ******** * **** ** *** **** ** needed ******* ********** ** ***** *******, *****, **** ***** **** open ******, **** ***********, ****** ***** ********** **** ***** *** modules *** ***** ***********.

Undisclosed End User #3

06/23/16 02:05am

**** ** * ********* ***** ******** ******* *** ****** ** IPVM *** ****** ** **** *********.

**** ***** ** ******* ****** *** *****, **** ** ******* for ********* **** ******** (** ****** ***** ******* **** ** the **** *** **** ******* *******) ** ****** ********* ********* (the ***** ***** ** ********** ** ******** ** *** ******* 2500 ***** ****).

******* ********* *** ** ******* * ****** ** **** ****** as *** ******** *******, ********* ***** ****** **** ***** ***** can ** ********* ** * ******* ******* ***** *****. ***** AI ****** ** ******* ***** *** *** ******* *** ******** and *'* ********* ********* ** ****** ** ********* ********* *** to ********** *** ***** ********, ********* ** ** **** *** the ********** ** ****** **** ***************. **** *****'* *** ***** of ***** ******* **** **, *** *** **** ********** ** the ****** ********* ****.

******* *********'* ****** ** ********* ** *** **** *** *** a ******* ******* ******** ** *******, *** ** ***** ******* the ********* ** * *** ** * **** ******* *** requires *** ******** ** ******. ***** **** ****** ***** ******** Centre, ****** **** ********** ***** ***-** **** *******?

Undisclosed #1

In reply to Undisclosed End User #3 | 06/23/16 04:14am

*********** * ***** ************* ***-** **** ******** ******.

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