A video intercom lets you see and talk to whoever rings the bell before you open the door. Access control goes a step further: it decides who may open each door and records every passage. The two can work together at the same entrance.
How an IP video intercom works
An outdoor station at the door, with a camera, a call button and a microphone, connects by network cable to an indoor monitor. You hear and see who rings, open the door and can also answer on your phone, through the manufacturer's app (for example Hik-Connect).
The ways to open the door
- Card or tag: held up to the reader.
- PIN code: typed on the terminal keypad.
- Fingerprint, on terminals with a biometric reader.
- Phone, through the app.
- Exit button and, where needed, an emergency release button.
The terminal or the video intercom controls an electric lock or an electric strike on the door: that is the part that releases the latch when opening is authorised.
Terminal and controller
The terminal is the reader beside the door. The controller is the box that decides who may open each door and records the passages; there are controllers for several doors. In a house, one terminal with the lock is usually enough; in buildings with several doors, the controller manages the permissions in one place.
House or building?
| House | Block of flats or business | |
|---|---|---|
| Video intercom | Outdoor station and one indoor monitor (or the phone) | Outdoor station that calls several monitors |
| Access | Terminal with card, code or fingerprint | Controller with several doors and permissions per person |
| Passage log | Optional | Useful to know who came in and when |
Do I need the internet to answer on my phone?
To answer away from home, yes: the video intercom needs an internet connection. Inside the house it works over the local network.
Can I give someone access for a limited period?
On access control systems, permissions are created and withdrawn per person, and passages are logged.
Do I need to change the door?
Usually not: an electric lock or an electric strike is fitted to the existing door, if it is compatible. We will check on site.