Ubiquiti UniFi Access Intercom Tested
Ubiquiti is significantly expanding its video surveillance and access control offerings, now adding an intercom, but how well does it work?
IPVM has already tested numerous intercoms; see Intercom Rankings - Aiphone, Akuvox, Alocity, Avigilon Alta, Axis, Axis 2N, DoorBird, Hanwha, Hikvision, Verkada
We bought and tested the Ubiquiti Intercom against the Axis A8207-VE MK II and the Hikvision DS-KV9503-WBE1 IP Villa Door Station. In this report, we examine:
- What were the tested key positives and negatives?
- How does the Ubiquiti Intercom compare to the Axis A8207-VE MK II?
- How does the Ubiquiti Intercom compare to the Hikvision IP Villa Door Station?
- What additional hardware is required?
- What are Ubiquiti's Intercom's different operation / viewing methods?
- What methods of entry are available for the Ubiquiti Intercom?
- How well do those methods of entry work?
- How is the sound quality, with or without added background noise?
- How does the Ubiquiti Intercom perform in Full Light (~300 Lux), Low Light (~5 Lux), Dark (<0.1 Lux), and WDR environments?
- How does pricing compare to Axis or Hikvision?
- What is the bandwidth consumption in day and night lighting?
- What is the country of origin of the Ubiquiti Intercom?
This is the eleventh test in a series of intercom tests, with the previous tests: Aiphone IX-DVM, Akuvox E12W, Alocity F3D100, Avigilon Alta Video Intercom Reader Pro, Axis A8207-VE MK II, Axis 2N IP Style, DoorBird D1101V, Hanwha TID-600R, Hikvision DS-KV9503-WBE1, and Verkada Intercom TD52.
Pricing **********
*** ******** ******** *** ** ****** price ** ~$*** ***, ***** ** the ****** **** ** *** ****** intercoms, ********* *** ********* **-******-**** ** Villa **** *******, ***** ***** ~$*** and *** **** ********* **** *** Axis *****-** ** **, ***** ***** ~$1,600:
*******, *** ******** ******** ******** ********** Ubiquiti ******** ** *** *** ******** that ** ********* ******.
Physical ********
*** ******** ******** *** ** * MP ****** **** ** ~**° ****, an ********** *** **********, * ******* and ********** *** ***-*** *****, * 7" ***** ****** *******, ** ********** NFC **.** *** **** ******, * physical ****** *** *** **** *****, a ****** **** ****** ** ***** up *** ********'* ********* ** ******** a *-*** ****, *** * ****** connection ** *** **** *** *** to ******* **** * ******** ****** Hub.
** *** ***** *****, ** **** the ******** ******** ****-**-**** **** ******* *****-** ** ************** **-******-****:
Executive *******
***** ** **** *******, ********'* ********'* basic *********** **** ******* *********** ***** it * **** *** *** ********** users ** ***** ******* *** ****-**-***** performance. *******, *** ******** ******** ***** with ******* ************, *** *** **** and ***** *********** **** ** **** enough *** ****.
*** ******* ***** **** ***** ********'* Intercom ****** ***** ***** *** ********** with ******** ******* ** ***** ******* to ***** ****** *********, **** ** the**** *****-** ** ************** ** ***** **** ********* * ***** ****, *** ****** suffers **** ******** *********** *********** **** make ** *****-******* ******** ** *********** (*** *** ********).
******** ******* ** * ** ********* *** ****** *** ********* ** IPVM **** *** ******** **** ******* and ******* ** * ******* **********, providing **** ***** ******* ** *** scenes ******. ************, ********'* ******** *** limited *****-***** *******, ********* **** * Ubiquiti***** ************ ******* *** ******** ****** **** ************* ** * ****** system. ** ** *** ***** **********, has ** *** *******, *** ****** limited **** ********** ******* ******* ******* for *** ****.
Tested *** *********
*** ****** *** ********* ***** ****** testing ****:
- ***** ***** *** ******* ** ******* through ***** ******
- ******* ***** ******* **** ******* **********
- ******** ******* ** *****
- ****** ********** ** *********** (****, ***, QR ****)
Tested *** *********
*** ****** *** ********* ***** ****** testing ****:
- ******* ********** **** ******** (******** * MP, ******* *** ******* *******)
- ** *** ** ****** ********
- *** ***** **********
- ******** ***** ******** / **** ********** with ******** ******** *** **** *************
- ******* ********* *** *****-********* ************
Compared ** **** *****-** ** **
*** ******** ******** *********** *** **** A8207-VE ** ** ** **** *****, including:
- ******** *** * ***** **** **** (~$400 **. ~$*,***).
- ******** *** ******** ***** *******.
- ******** ******** ** ***** ** * method ** *****.
- ******** *** * **** ***** ***** and ********** ** ***********.
*******, *** **** *****-** ** ** outperforms *** ******** ******** ** ******** areas, *********:
- **** ******** ************ ****** *** *** settings.
- **** ******** *** **** *** ****** DESFire ***********.
- ****'* ****** *** **** ******* ** not ******* ***** ********.
- **** ******** ******** ***** *******.
- **** ** ***** ********* / ***** 3rd-party *******.
Compared ** ********* **-****** ** ***** **** *******
*** ******** ******** *********** *** ********* DS-KV9503-WBE1 ** **** *****, *********:
- ******** *** * ***** **** **** (~$400 **. ~***).
- ******** **** *** ******* ********** *********.
- ******** *** ******** ***** *******.
*******, *** ********* **-****** *********** *** Ubiquiti ******** ** ******** *****, *********:
- ********* ******** ****** *********** ** * method ** *****.
- *********'* ****** *** **** ******* ** not ******* ***** ********.
- ********* ****** ************ ****** *** *** settings.
- ********* ******** ******** ******* ***** *******.
Reduced ********** ******** **** ***** *******
******* ******** **** ***** ******** ******* 8 ** **********, ******** **** ******** streaming *** ********** ** * ******* 800x600 **********. ******** ********* ** **** that **** ******* ********** ** ********, with ** ********* ****** ******** ** stream ** ****** ** * ****** resolution:
*********, ***** ** ** *** ** change ****** ******** *** **-********...***** *** it’s ********* *** ********* ** *******. In ***** *******, ** **** **** it ** ****** *** **** *** Protect ****. **** **:
- ***** **** ** **** ** view ****** ****** ** **** ***** Access *** ***** *******
- ***** **** ** **** ** select *** ******* ***********
**** ******* ********** **** ** ******* to ******** ** ** ****** ******** and ******** *************. ******** **** **** that ***** ******** ********* ** * higher ********** ** ** ***** *******, they ****** ***** ** *** ******** for **** **** ****** **** ** available.
*** ****** ********* ***** ****** ** their ******* **********, **** ******* ** adjust / ****** *** ********** ** needed. ******* *** ******** * ** camera ** *** ********, **** ******* resolution ******** ****** ***** ******* **** competitors **** **** *** *********, ****** the ******** ******** *** ******-********** ******** tested.
**** ******** ******* *** ******** ** support ********* ** *** ******* **********, IPVM **** **-**** *** ********'* ***** quality *** ****** **** ******.
Additional ******** ******** ********
********** ******** ********, ********* ********'******* *********** ************ *******, *** ******** *** **** functionality. *** ****** *** ** ******** to ******* *** ******** **** **** relays *** ******** ***++, ***** ** atypical ****** ***** ****** ********* **** only ******* ***. ************, *** ****** Hub **** ** ********* ** ********'* Dream ******* ***** ******* ** *** the ****** ** ***** ******. *** our *********** **** *********** ** ******** ****** Control *** ***** **********.
*** ***** *** ***** ***** ******** devices *** *********** **** ********, ****** these ******* *** ******** *** ***** system **** *** ************ ********** ******** to *********** *** ** *** **** additional ********. ********'* ****** *** *** increase *** **** ** ** ********** ~$200, *** * ***** ******* ***** ~$380.
Fluid ***** ******* ***** ******
******* ****** * ***** ***** *** configuration ** *** ******* ******* ***** Access. **** *** ******* **** *******, UniFi ****** ************* ********* *** ***** the ******** *** *** ****** ***, providing * ****** ***** ******* ** configure *** ********, *** ** ****** credentials ** *****.
Limited *** ***** *******
*** ******** ******** *** ******* ***-***** support *** ** **** ********** **** Ubiquiti ****** ******* *******. ** ** not ***** ** *** ********* *** can **** ** ********** *** ********* through ***** ******. ************, ****** *** Axis *****, ******** **** *** ******* HID **** *********** *** ** **** compatible ************ ****** ******* *****-***** ****** ******* **.** *** credentials.
Methods ** ***** ******
********'* ******** ****** **** ********* ******* of ***** ******* *** ********. ******** Card ***********, *** *****, *** ****** entry *** ********* *** **** ***-***** and ********, ***** ** ***** *** only ********* *** ********.
**** ****** *** ******** ********'* ******* of *****, *** ******** *****, **** videos ************* **** ******.
******** **** **********
********* *** ******* ***** ***** ********'* Access ***** *** *****-***** ****** ******* cards *** ********** ** ~** ****** trials. ***** ******** **** *** ******* HID **** ***********, ********'* ****** ***** and ****** ******* ***** *** ** assigned ** ***** *** ******** ******* UniFi ******. *** ***** ***** ************ a ********** **** **** *** ****** from *** ******** ***** * ** Access **** *** * *****-***** ****** DESFire *** ****:
*** ****
** *******, ******** * *** **** the ******** ******** ************ ******** *** door ***** ** **** **** *** second ** ~** ******. **** *** assigned ******* ***** ****** *** *** be ******** ** ******* ***** *** visitors. ******** ****** *** ******* ** randomize *** ********'* ******* ******, *********** allowing *** ***** ******** ** ***** those *** ******* ** ***** * user's *** *** ******. *** ***** below ************ * ********** *** ***** using **** *** ******** *** ******* randomized ******:
** ****
** ***** *** **** ** ******** to ******** ******* ***** ******. ******* QR ***** ************ ******* ****** ******* the ******** ** ~** ****** ******. An *** **** *** *** *** duration *** ***** *** ** **** is ******, ********* **** ******* *** days ** *** ****. **** ** codes ******* *** ********, *** ***** did *** ***** ******. *** ***** below ************ * ********** ** **** access:
****** / ****** ******
*** ******** ******** *** ** ******** unlocked *** *** ***** ****** *** UI ** *** ****** ****** ***. In *******, ****** / ****** ******** the **** ************ ** ~** ****** trials, ** ***** ** *** ***** below:
Call ***** ******* ********
*** ******** ******** *** ************ ***** with ** ******* ********* ** ****** with ******* ********** ***** *** ***** background ******* ***** ** ********* ****-******* use *****.
****** *******, *** ***** ******** ****** a **** ******* ********'* ******** ****** was ************, **** ** ******* ********* (with ** ***** ********** *****, ~** dB ******* *****):
**** ***** ********** ***** ** * busy ****** ******** ******* * ******* behind *** ******* ** ~** **, the *******'* ***** *** ************ **** no ******* ********* **** *** ***** background *****:
Speaker ******* ********
*** ***** ******* **** *** ******** Intercom's ******* *** *******, **** ** intelligible ***** ****** ** ~ ** dB ***** ********* ******* ********* **** than ~*' **** *** ******:
Limited ********* *** ***** ********* ************
****** *********** **** **** ** *********, Ubiquiti ****** **** ****** ********** ** capture ****** **** *** ********'* **** view. *** ******** ******** **** ***** recordings ****** * **** ****** ***** or **** * **** ** ********* from *** ********, ***** *** ** viewed ******* ***** ******.
Image ******* ********
*** ******* ********* *** ********* ********** provided **** ***** ******* *** *** details ** * ******* ** *** scenes ****** ******** ** ***********, ******* Ubiquiti ********* ** * ** ****** in *** ******.
** ****** *** ***** ******* ** the ******** ******** ******* *** **** A8207-VE ** ** *** ********* **-******-**** intercoms ** ~*.*' *** ~**' ** full ***** (~*** ***), *** ***** (~5 ***), *** **** (< *.* Lux) ** *** *** *** ***** quality ********.
Full ***** (~*** ***) ***********
***** *** ******** ******** ******** ****** image ******* ** ***** ********* ** a **** ***** (~*** ***) *****, Ubiquiti ******** ****** ***** ** * subject ** ******* ********* **** *********** such ** **** *** *********.
**** * ******* ~*.*' **** *** intercoms, *** ***** ******* ******** ****** image ******* ** * ******* *** chart, *** ********* * *******'* ****** or ***** *******. ***** *** ******** Intercom *** *** ********* ***** ******** of *** ***** *******, ** ******** low ***** ** *** ******* *** chart ******** ** **** *** *********:
** ********* ** ~**' **** *** devices, **** *** ********* ******** ******** image *******, **** *** ******** ********* high ***** ** *** ******* *** chart **** ******** ************ *******:
Low ***** (~* ***) ***********
******* ******** **** *** ******** ******** produced ******** ** **** ***** ** a *** ***** (~* ***) ***** on * *******, ************* *** ******* and ********* ************ ****** ******* ** close *** *** *********.
**** * ******* ~*.*' **** *** intercoms, ******** ******** **** ***** *** underexposed *** ******* ******** ** **** or *********, ********* ************ *******. ** close *********, **** *** ********* ******** stronger ***** ******* **** ********:
** *** ********* ** ~**' **** the *******, ******** ******** **** ***** on *** ******* *** *****, ********* identifiable ******* ** *** *******. *** Ubiquiti *** **** ********* ******** *********** the *******, ********* ****** *******, ***** Hikvision **** *** *********** *** ******* but ****** ** ********** *** *****:
Dark (< *.* ***) ***********
***** *** ******** ******** *** ** integrated *** ********** *** ************ * scene ****** *-*** **************, *** ******** still ******** **** ***** ******* ** dark ****** **** ******** *** ***** and ******** ******** ************ ******* ******* at ***** *********.
** ***** ********* ** *** ******** (~1' - *.*' ****), *** ****** and *** ********** ************ *** *******, obscuring *** ****** ******* ** *** subject. ** ********* ****** ~*.*', *** LED ********** **** *** ********** *** scene ** *******, ******* * ******* completely ** ******* *********:
******* ******** ** *** ** ****** the *** ********** ****** * **** was ********* **** *** ******** ****, with ** *** ** ****** *** floodlight *** ***** ********** * **** environment. ******** ********* ** **** **** the ******* ****** ** ** **** on *** ********** **** * ******* initiates * **** **** *** ******** and **** ******** ****** * ******* for * **** ********** *** ******** to ****** *** ********** *** **** surveillance:
*** ******* ****** ***** *** ** to **** ** ***** ***** **** when **’* ** ***-*** *************. ** will ******** ****** * ******* ** let *** ********** ** ******* **** users **** ** ****** ** * dark ***********.
** *** ******** ** ** ** installed *** **** ** * **** environment, ** ***-**** ****** ******** *** floodlight's *********** *** ******* ** **** sufficient ******* ********.
Weak ****** ***********
*** ******** ******** *** **** ****** performance ** *** ****** ******, ********* high ***** ** * ******* ******* through *** *****, ********* ************ *******.
** **** ***** (~*** ***) *** low ***** (~* ***), *** ******** Intercom ******** ******** ** **** ***** on *** ******* ** ****** **** obscures ************ ******* ** *** *******. In ***** ***** (~ * ***) and **** (< *.* ***) ****** that *** *** ********'* *** ********** for ***** ************, *** ******** ***** not ******* ************ ******* ******* ******* through *** *****:
No ******* *** ***
*** *********** *** ****** ** ** exit **** *********** **** ************ ******* from ~**,*** *** ******* ** ~*** Lux ******. ******** ********* ** **** that ***** ** ********* ** ******* or ******** *** *** *********** ** the ********. *** ******** *********** *** background ***** ************* *** ******* ** both ** ****** *** ******* *********** that ******** *** *******'* ************ ****** details:
WDR ****** *********** ********
*** **** ***** ***** ***** *** performance ***** *** ****** *********** *** background ***** ************* *** *******, ********* facial ******* ** *** ******* ** they ***** *** ****** *****:
*** ******** ******** *********** *** ********** and ******** **** ***** ** *** subject ******** *** ***** **** **** the **** *** ********* *********, ********* identifiable ****** ******* ** *** *******:
Bandwidth ***********
*** ************ **** ***** **** ******** motion ** *** ****** (******* *******). The ******** ******** ******** *** ******* bandwidth **** ~*.** **/* ** ****-***** scenes ******** ** *** ***-***** (~ 5 ***) *** **** (< *.* Lux) ******:
Country ** ******
*** ******** ********'* ******* ** ****** is ******:
Firmware ******** ******
- ******** ********: *.*.**
- ******** ******** ******: *.*.*
- ***** ******: ****** *.**.*
- **** *****-** ** **: **.*.**
- ********* **-******-****: **.*.* ***** ******