IP Intercoms for Door Access Control

The other day I was wondering if two paper cups and string could be considered an intercom.  Even though it’s not electrical, it certainly demonstrates the concept of an intercom. 

The basic intercom consists of two sets of microphones and speakers connected by electrical wire.  It has been around for many years.  The first intercom I saw was one my father-in-law gave us many years ago.  It was sitting in my attic, and when I decided to write this article it took me a while to find it.  I dusted it off and wired it up.  It still works!   This was made by the Connecticut Telephone and Electric Company (no longer around), and it had microphones and speakers powered by 2 C-cells.  The two intercoms could be up to 2000 ft. away from each other.  Not bad for 1950’s technology.  

It’s interesting to note that many of the intercoms we use today haven’t progressed much beyond that simple model.  They use power supplies, better microphones and speakers but still rely on the same set of wires between the intercoms.  They have added some additional capabilities such as allowing a master unit to communicate with a number of slave intercoms, but other than the switching capability, it’s all the same. 

IP Intercoms

The latest IP intercoms convert the analog audio signal to a digital encoded signal and use the network to establish a communication path.  Now it is

possible for one person at a computer to talk to thousands of intercoms. The IP intercoms can be on your local network or across the Internet in a different city. 

 Network attached Intercoms use a number of different protocols and encoding to transfer the audio.  Each intercom has a unique IP address so the user can talk to any intercom or to all the intercoms at one time.  The protocol also allows various control messages to be sent back and forth.  For example a person can push the call button on the intercom and a person at a remote computer station will hear the doorbell.  They can then have a conversation.  The person at the computer station can then send another message that causes a door to unlock. 

Intercoms with IP Cameras

A special intercom attached to an IP camera provides a very effective door access control system.

This intercom camera system allows you to see and talk to the person at the door.  The IP camera must support two-way audio and have IO connections that allow the call button and the door release to be connected.  This allows you to control entry at a door. 

Video intercoms or InterCAMS are the next generation of intercoms for access control.  The

interCAM has a built in camera so you can see the person at the door while you talk to them.  The camera is placed at the right position so you can see the person’s face and surrounding area.  It’s amazing that viewing a person can help us make a better decision of who to allow into the facility.
To make this all work correctly you need software running on your computer.  The simplest software is just the web browser.  It allows you to view a person at a door, talk to them and release the electric lock.  The only problem is that you are not alerted when the person pushes the call button.  It also doesn’t work well if you have more than one door.  It is much better to use special Video Management Software (VMS). 

Using Video Management Software

We looked at a number of Video Management Software products before selecting Ocularis from OnSSi.   This VMS from OnSSi has a very nice alarm feature that makes it easy to handle all types of alarm conditions including someone pushing the door bell (call button).   The software also handles multiple doors because it pops the video into a window on your computer which shows the person at the door. The only requirement is a microphone and speaker at the computer.    

Getting the System to Actually Work

This all may sound easy, but there’s a lot more to this system than meets the eye.  We learned this the hard way when we installed our first systems.  Some cameras that claim to have two-way audio don’t actually work correctly with the VMS software.  Two way audio can be set up to work in full duplex or half duplex mode; which means that the sound can go in both directions at the same time (full), or one way at a time (half).  If this isn’t set up correctly you can get feedback (sound screeching) at one side of the connection.  It is also important to make sure the right diodes and relays are used to open the electric locks.  Now we have hundreds of installations working, but it did take some work to get it right.

Intercoms have come a long way and until recently have worked the same way as the original units.  Just like our security cameras and IP door access, the intercom has joined the technology that makes use of the network.  It is dramatically easier to install and makes our world much safer. 

If you need any help deciding on the best intercom for you, please contact us at 914-944-3425 or use our contact form.