ᐅ Video doorbell system with two-wire setup, new construction

Hello everyone,

Our single-family house is almost finished.

Now we need to decide which doorbell system to install.

We were a bit naive/out of touch during the planning and just thought of a basic intercom system, maybe with a camera.

After I started learning what is possible nowadays (for example, I like the option to get notified on your smartphone when someone rings and to talk to them remotely), I brought it up with our electrician shortly before and during the installation work. Unfortunately, he had no knowledge of modern doorbell technology and was unable/unwilling to advise us. I had read something about Wi-Fi-enabled systems back then and thought, okay, maybe we’ll go that route. I didn’t really have the time to dive deeper into it.

Now the topic has come up again because it is urgent. I’ve read that for a new build you should have LAN (wired network) installed, and Wi-Fi solutions are usually for retrofitting. We only have two-wire wiring. I am very frustrated that the electrician made no effort to research or advise us (surely we aren’t his first customers interested in this?).

And when I read posts like this one from 2021, my frustration with the electrician grows even more:

untergasse43 schrieb:

It’s just very old technology and no longer up to date. Two-wire is generally only used for retrofits when there is only a classic doorbell wire available. It’s always a compromise compared to “proper” LAN. Conclusion: people simply don’t use it anymore today and it’s definitely not recommended if you are going to install wiring anyway.

There is also a huge difference between “transmitting video” and “transmitting video.” I assume you want to see “who” is at the door, not just “whether” someone is there.

So my questions—please excuse me if they sound silly; I’m overwhelmed by the amount of information and options available:
Is it possible to have a solution like the one I described above even with two-wire wiring?
If yes, in what ways would it be worse than LAN (e.g., image quality)?
Or is there still something useful we can do or retrofit regarding the home technology now?
For LAN, walls would have to be opened up again, as the house is already quite far along.
What disadvantages do I have now from not having LAN installed?
We have two levels (entrance and living area upstairs, bedrooms downstairs); the lower level currently has a standard intercom planned. Is there anything we need to consider for that?

I’m really lost with all the information and don’t know what to prioritize or disregard.
Thanks so much in advance for your help!

JayneCobb schrieb:

Is there a way to offer a solution like the one I described above using two-wire systems?

Yes, there is. You can do PoE (Power over Ethernet) over two-wire as well. Some providers offer this, and I have had multiple good experiences with 2N (Verso IP or more recently the Verso 2.0 with improved camera). They definitely have adapters that convert LAN to two-wire and back to LAN again, which 2N simply calls "2Wire." Essentially, it’s just like powerline networking (e.g., from Devolo) but with somewhat fewer disadvantages. It does work.

JayneCobb schrieb:

If yes, in what ways would it be worse compared to LAN (image quality)?

Not at all. We are not transmitting 4K here, and for HD well under 100 Mbit is sufficient. There are just more devices in between (converters from LAN to two-wire and back), so you have a media conversion. Otherwise, it’s definitely doable and better than Wi-Fi as well. Just make sure you get a system that truly uses LAN over two-wire, not a “real” two-wire intercom system. Those have poor quality.

Think carefully about what you want beforehand.
Ring the gatebell with video, speak and listen, open the gate with an electric strike,
Ring the doorbell with video,
Have all of this both downstairs and upstairs inside the house,
And maybe have all of it accessible from your mobile phone as well.

JayneCobb schrieb:

We only have two-wire here.

Is it actually embedded firmly in the plaster, or properly installed inside conduits as it should be?

hanse987 schrieb:

Really embedded in plaster or, as it should be, laid inside a conduit?

I believe it is inside a conduit.
I already asked if it would be possible to pull a LAN cable through the conduit (if that’s what your question was about), but the response was hesitant and reluctant, saying that something would have to be chiseled open.‍
If you have any comments or advice on this, I could ask more specific questions (then I would know exactly what to ask about).

Nida35a schrieb:

Think about what you want beforehand.
Ring the gatebell with video, talk, listen, and open with an electric strike,
Ring the front doorbell with video,
Have all that downstairs and upstairs inside the house as well,
And maybe control it all from your smartphone.

All of these options seem interesting to me.
For example, being able to check who is ringing the bell from the garden using a smartphone (and possibly even open the door remotely).