I first became aware of this category last year when reading about the Optex Ivision. A wireless doorbell video intercom. At any time you can see who's at the door by pressing button on an indoor monitoring unit. And you can talk to whoever is at the door.
The Optex unit looks nice, though the monitoring screen is small. You can take and store more than 100 pictures, and it automatically takes pictures when someone rings the doorbell. It uses 2 GHz frequencies with digital coding. It can power itself with existing doorbell wiring (I think this part is essential!).
But Optex only permits one indoor monitoring unit. Many other wireless video intercoms exist which permit up to 3 indoor monitoring units. I'd like to have at least 3, one for master bedroom, kitchen, and queen's room. A review suggested that Optex planned to introduce a 3 station version in spring of 2013.
Unfortunately, Optex has not yet introduced a 3 monitor version by mid summer. So I decided to check out other options.
I ultimately decided on the Legrand Adorne Wireless Video Doorbell Kit. One key reason is that it also can be powered with existing doorbell wiring. Most other solutions require either batteries (which would have to be recharged or replaced often enough that when you really need it, the doorbell wouldn't work) or an external AC adapter. (And how are you supposed to plug that in to power the doorbell on the outside??? You are simply expected to do something dodgy.) Legrand shows they have really thought about this. This include an extension wire with box that permits you to mount the doorbell/camera up higher than the previous doorbell, therefore getting a better view of the face of the person at the door, with the wiring going through the box which fits over the existing doorbell hole. I like it when companies show they have clearly thought about how things can work best, rather than slapping stuff together simply to meet a marketing description (which may or may not be complete). When you are judging products from online information, you know you are not going to get the whole story, but if companies have thought about the obvious problems (and others haven't) it suggests they have thought about (and fixed) other issues also.
The Legrand already has multiple monitor capability, and when you do get multiple monitors, they can also be used strictly in-house as a room-to-room intercom. The monitor has a screen which looks like it may be slightly larger than the one in the Optex too (though still not particularly large, not as large as cheaper products below). It also uses digital communications (note: this is not the same as wifi, it's gaussian switched keyed modulation most likely). All the pieces look to be very nicely made, as one would expect from a leading brand such as Legrand. I don't know if the outdoor setup is actually waterproof (but many of the others aren't either). With the high mounting position for the camera/doorbell, water resistance will be less challenging.
The downside is the price. It is slightly more expensive than the Optex (for a one monitor kit) and each additional monitor is 2/3 the price of the initial kit ($199). That means a 3 monitor system will end up costing $699.
That's about twice the price of the most expensive monitoring systems sold by Tmart, who offers more than a dozen no-brand-name choices, and they have up to 9 inch displays. None of the Tmart units permit the camera to be powered by doorbell wiring, you must either use batteries or AC adapter.
Light-in-the-Box seems to offer similar or identical units as Tmart.
The Optex unit looks nice, though the monitoring screen is small. You can take and store more than 100 pictures, and it automatically takes pictures when someone rings the doorbell. It uses 2 GHz frequencies with digital coding. It can power itself with existing doorbell wiring (I think this part is essential!).
But Optex only permits one indoor monitoring unit. Many other wireless video intercoms exist which permit up to 3 indoor monitoring units. I'd like to have at least 3, one for master bedroom, kitchen, and queen's room. A review suggested that Optex planned to introduce a 3 station version in spring of 2013.
Unfortunately, Optex has not yet introduced a 3 monitor version by mid summer. So I decided to check out other options.
I ultimately decided on the Legrand Adorne Wireless Video Doorbell Kit. One key reason is that it also can be powered with existing doorbell wiring. Most other solutions require either batteries (which would have to be recharged or replaced often enough that when you really need it, the doorbell wouldn't work) or an external AC adapter. (And how are you supposed to plug that in to power the doorbell on the outside??? You are simply expected to do something dodgy.) Legrand shows they have really thought about this. This include an extension wire with box that permits you to mount the doorbell/camera up higher than the previous doorbell, therefore getting a better view of the face of the person at the door, with the wiring going through the box which fits over the existing doorbell hole. I like it when companies show they have clearly thought about how things can work best, rather than slapping stuff together simply to meet a marketing description (which may or may not be complete). When you are judging products from online information, you know you are not going to get the whole story, but if companies have thought about the obvious problems (and others haven't) it suggests they have thought about (and fixed) other issues also.
The Legrand already has multiple monitor capability, and when you do get multiple monitors, they can also be used strictly in-house as a room-to-room intercom. The monitor has a screen which looks like it may be slightly larger than the one in the Optex too (though still not particularly large, not as large as cheaper products below). It also uses digital communications (note: this is not the same as wifi, it's gaussian switched keyed modulation most likely). All the pieces look to be very nicely made, as one would expect from a leading brand such as Legrand. I don't know if the outdoor setup is actually waterproof (but many of the others aren't either). With the high mounting position for the camera/doorbell, water resistance will be less challenging.
The downside is the price. It is slightly more expensive than the Optex (for a one monitor kit) and each additional monitor is 2/3 the price of the initial kit ($199). That means a 3 monitor system will end up costing $699.
That's about twice the price of the most expensive monitoring systems sold by Tmart, who offers more than a dozen no-brand-name choices, and they have up to 9 inch displays. None of the Tmart units permit the camera to be powered by doorbell wiring, you must either use batteries or AC adapter.
Light-in-the-Box seems to offer similar or identical units as Tmart.
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