I am looking for an affordable retrofit solution for a video intercom system. Additionally, I would like to create a way to access the house without using keys. Ideally, it would be great if both functions could work together.
Unfortunately, when the house was built, we didn’t really consider this, so we only have a 4-wire doorbell cable at the front door, and it’s positioned quite low, which is not ideal for a video intercom.
Possibly, it would be feasible to run a LAN cable with PoE from the utility room to the other side of the front door without too much effort.
I have read quite a bit on the topic, but I’m still not very clear.
Fingerprint access would be my preferred option, but from what I understand, fingerprints on children under 10 years old are often poor or unreadable.
I don’t want mobile phone control to be the only access method since my child doesn’t have a phone yet.
Active transponders sometimes cause issues when kept in pockets or handbags, which I don’t like.
Passive transponders or wristbands would be my favored option for the child.
I don’t want a PIN code to be the only access method, as neighborhood children can be quite curious, especially when they’re out with my child.
At the side door to the garage, I’ve had a simple visor tech system with PIN code and transponder for a few years.
It works 99% of the time but occasionally fails, requiring me to open the lock manually with a small Allen key and then reset it by reinserting the batteries.
For the main door to the house, I find that too unreliable.
The most flexible solution I found is the Somfy door lock with an additional RFID reader and optional PIN. Ekey support seems to be included as well.
Another advantage is that manual key operation is still possible.
There are certainly much cheaper alternatives, but those come with significantly fewer features.
Now the question is to what extent the door lock can be connected to a video intercom system.
This concerns, on the one hand, a potentially installed fingerprint scanner (whether Ekey or another brand) and, on the other hand, whether unlocking commands from the indoor station can be sent to the Somfy door lock.
I haven’t even been able to find information on whether the Somfy video door intercom v500 iO can be linked to the door lock. The Somfy forum seems to have been discontinued and replaced by an FAQ some time ago.
Does anyone have experience with these Somfy products or at least an idea of what I should be looking out for?
Unfortunately, when the house was built, we didn’t really consider this, so we only have a 4-wire doorbell cable at the front door, and it’s positioned quite low, which is not ideal for a video intercom.
Possibly, it would be feasible to run a LAN cable with PoE from the utility room to the other side of the front door without too much effort.
I have read quite a bit on the topic, but I’m still not very clear.
Fingerprint access would be my preferred option, but from what I understand, fingerprints on children under 10 years old are often poor or unreadable.
I don’t want mobile phone control to be the only access method since my child doesn’t have a phone yet.
Active transponders sometimes cause issues when kept in pockets or handbags, which I don’t like.
Passive transponders or wristbands would be my favored option for the child.
I don’t want a PIN code to be the only access method, as neighborhood children can be quite curious, especially when they’re out with my child.
At the side door to the garage, I’ve had a simple visor tech system with PIN code and transponder for a few years.
It works 99% of the time but occasionally fails, requiring me to open the lock manually with a small Allen key and then reset it by reinserting the batteries.
For the main door to the house, I find that too unreliable.
The most flexible solution I found is the Somfy door lock with an additional RFID reader and optional PIN. Ekey support seems to be included as well.
Another advantage is that manual key operation is still possible.
There are certainly much cheaper alternatives, but those come with significantly fewer features.
Now the question is to what extent the door lock can be connected to a video intercom system.
This concerns, on the one hand, a potentially installed fingerprint scanner (whether Ekey or another brand) and, on the other hand, whether unlocking commands from the indoor station can be sent to the Somfy door lock.
I haven’t even been able to find information on whether the Somfy video door intercom v500 iO can be linked to the door lock. The Somfy forum seems to have been discontinued and replaced by an FAQ some time ago.
Does anyone have experience with these Somfy products or at least an idea of what I should be looking out for?
Hello,
4-conductor bell wire would be sufficient for either video (with the 4-conductor wire you can still create a 100 Mbit connection) or an Ekey module. Doing both would be difficult. And then you still need two wires for the actual intercom system.
Another question: do you have a motorized lock or similar installed in the door at all?
We use Somfy ourselves, but only for roller shutters and venetian blinds. The problem is that everything runs through their servers. In other words, if they get hacked, your door is unlocked. For me, their locks are a no-go. In my opinion, door unlocking should absolutely never be accessible via the internet.
Best regards,
Andreas
4-conductor bell wire would be sufficient for either video (with the 4-conductor wire you can still create a 100 Mbit connection) or an Ekey module. Doing both would be difficult. And then you still need two wires for the actual intercom system.
Another question: do you have a motorized lock or similar installed in the door at all?
We use Somfy ourselves, but only for roller shutters and venetian blinds. The problem is that everything runs through their servers. In other words, if they get hacked, your door is unlocked. For me, their locks are a no-go. In my opinion, door unlocking should absolutely never be accessible via the internet.
Best regards,
Andreas
andimann schrieb:
We use Somfy ourselves, but only for roller shutters and venetian blinds. The problem is that everything runs through their servers. In other words, if their servers get hacked, your door is open. For me, their locks are a no-go. In my opinion, the front door should not be accessible via the internet in any way. I didn’t get the impression that everything has to go through their servers with these two products. However, I found overall rather little information about these two products. But you’re right, it definitely should work independently of the cloud.
Nairil schrieb:
I haven’t used it myself, but the Doorbird 2-wire Ethernet PoE converter might be interesting for the wiring. It’s said to work quite well. Thank you. An interesting product that I will keep in mind.
This might also open up solutions that I had previously ruled out.
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