ᐅ Video doorbell system with two-wire setup, new construction
Created on: 17 Dec 2023 01:52
J
JayneCobb
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:
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!
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!
X
xMisterDx17 Dec 2023 23:44However, Berlin seemed to be different even during the GDR times. I have never met anyone who spoke positively about it here.
Of course, in the end, you get fed up with it—I felt the same way. What I still don’t understand, though, is why some manufacturers get crystal-clear images over Wi-Fi while others only get static...
Of course, in the end, you get fed up with it—I felt the same way. What I still don’t understand, though, is why some manufacturers get crystal-clear images over Wi-Fi while others only get static...
J
JayneCobb18 Dec 2023 00:05xMisterDx schrieb:
What I don’t quite understand is... I can watch streaming media in HD over Wi-Fi at a hotel, so why shouldn’t a doorbell be able to send a clear HD video via Wi-Fi to the router in the utility room, which is usually less than 5 meters (16 feet) away in a straight line from the doorbell?
I mean, it might be the case, but the issue is definitely not the Wi-Fi, it’s the manufacturer. My guess: Maybe it’s not just about quality, but also that Wi-Fi might be less reliable than wired Ethernet?
In a hotel, the distance between you and the nearest access point might be just 3-4 meters (10-13 feet) with a drywall in between. In a typical average house, the router is often located somewhere in the middle of the house, inside a cabinet, or even in the basement, and access points are usually not a concern. Add to that a metal front door and a thick wall, and complaints start piling up. THAT'S when problems arise because people assume they already have Wi-Fi coverage. If you want to be sure beforehand that you will have good Wi-Fi coverage outside (!) of your house, buy Wi-Fi doorbells.
X
xMisterDx18 Dec 2023 00:30JayneCobb schrieb:
Assumption: Maybe it’s not just about quality, but also that Wi-Fi might be more likely to fail than LAN? Yes... then you can’t just tell your delivery person to leave the package in the trash bin.
What worse could happen? Wi-Fi networks can now be well protected with a strong password and MAC filtering.
A hacker would have to suspect pure gold in your house to bother cracking a 100-character password and bypassing a MAC filter. It won’t happen unless you’re a CEO or engineer at KWM or Rheinmetall.
I hope you haven’t skipped passive security measures (such as secure windows) and are now trying to “compensate” with cameras...
I’m not familiar with “Otto Normalbude.” Here, the main distribution frame (MDF) is usually located facing the street, typically right next to the hallway, and the front door is made of plastic (PVC).
But I also don’t see anyone asking about the conditions on his side. It starts with “Forget Wi-Fi, use LAN, rip everything open again, blah blah...”
And a wireless access point every 3-4 meters in a hotel? You don’t get around much, do you?
J
JayneCobb18 Dec 2023 00:5711ant schrieb:
I'm glad to read that. Thanks! It took a while, but now we’re in the final stretch. 😎
11ant schrieb:
That is really quite late, and surprises me (your architect isn’t even eighty yet). In any case, Wi-Fi was not invented to compensate for electricians’ disinterest and/or lack of skills.
Powerline is already inferior, but the rule still applies: “an empty conduit is the only good conduit.” Reopening the plaster should be an honor for the architect (and it’s also more pleasant than showing up at their professional liability insurance in sackcloth and ashes). In my opinion, doorbell wiring is definitely well beyond the threshold of retro acceptance. After all, nobody uses a mechanical typewriter to get online... I tried to outline the background.
At the time when this could have been clarified properly, we were not yet aware of all the possibilities (to be honest, I’m still not fully up to speed). The electrician, when asked about it during the house walkthrough for planning, didn’t make any effort to explain alternatives. So I thought, Wi-Fi will probably work (surely something can be found if necessary). Now, with installation coming up and having more time to research myself, I realize we should have had LAN installed back then. That frustrates me.
However, I don’t fully understand what the architect could or should do about it, or how this relates to their professional liability insurance? Would they have actually been the responsible contact person? And opening up the plaster sounds like quite a drastic step...
For now, I will try to get the details about the empty conduit from the electrician.
xMisterDx schrieb:
And in hotels, an access point every 3-4m (10-13 feet)? You must not travel that much, right? Oh dear, just visit some decent hotels and take a look at the ceiling in the corridor (if those units are even visibly installed). Given my mostly business-related travel, I don’t need to argue with you 🙂
The core point was: If there is good Wi-Fi, it can work well. But there’s a reason for the saying “those who know wireless use cables.”
JayneCobb schrieb:
I still don’t quite understand what the architect should do here or what this has to do with their professional liability insurance? Nothing at all. If architects and electricians aren’t interested and you had or have no clue, that’s just how it is. No one made a liability-worthy mistake here.
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