Most automatic gate installations will need to have some form of intercom to let you know when guests, trades and deliveries want to get into your property. The intercom will allow you to talk to the visitor and let them in should you choose to do so. The range of intercoms available is huge and there are quite a few good quality brands. We have chosen to mainly install Videx, AES and BPT as we feel all three are great quality manufacturers and the three cover a good range of aesthetics and features.
There are six main types of intercom.
These use mobile phone technology to phone out when the call button on the intercom is pressed. They are usually called GSM intercoms although we currently usually installed ones based on 3G technology to give a better mobile reception. The intercom will call several numbers in sequence until someone answers and deals with the visitor. The intercoms also allow authorised users to open the gates by phoning the intercoms number.
The traditional intercom system with a wire running from the outside call station to one or more inside handsets. Visitors press the call button and a bleeper rings on each handset. You can then pickup the handset, talk to the visitor and open the gates for them. The equipment cost for these systems is by far the cheapest but running the cables can be expensive and can leave either visible cables in your property or require redecoration where cables have been chased into plasterwork. They work out very cost effective for new build houses
Like a hardwired audio system but with a screen allowing you to see the person visiting. Some versions of these systems can have a GSM module attached to them, diverting the call to a mobile phone if the house handsets are not answered.
These audio only systems use radio frequency to connect to the phone handsets. The latest digital Daitem intercom system is the best of its type on the market with a great range, the ability to locate the radio transmitter far for the gate and lots of other features.
These allow you to talk to and see callers using a wireless handset inside your property.
These systems call your smart phone via push notifications. You can talk to and see the visitor at your gate. Sadly, the push notifications they rely on can be slow and answering the call needs you unlock your phone first. Sadly, we have experimented with several market leading brands of this kind of intercom and we do not feel that the technology is not yet quite ready. Although we have some satisfied customers, we have had to replace most of these systems with another type of intercom. They are not recommended for people who aren’t tech savvy and we will only install them on a best effort’s basis.