ᐅ Video Intercom System – GIRA / 2N / Doorbird / Goliath?

Hello everyone,

I’m still thinking a lot about the topic of door intercom systems.
Since my last post, I’ve gained some insights.

1.) There is no comprehensive test or clear recommendations for the wide range of devices.
2.) 95% of door intercom systems are made by Cheng-Beng and are not very well manufactured.
3.) Many providers use cloud-based solutions, which means you become dependent on external management again.

I have now shortlisted four devices:
- GIRA 106 (very elegant, high-quality workmanship, but I know the least about this one)
- 2N IP VERSO (elegant & high-quality, I would even consider buying the GOLD license, but there seem to be monthly fees, and the video quality is not great)
- Doorbird D2101V (good workmanship, video quality not great, AND cloud dependency?!)
- Goliath Hybrid IP (hmm, I’m not sure what to think about this one yet)

By now, price is no longer my main concern. I just want a system that...
- operates over IP (very important, since the cables are already installed)
- delivers good video quality both day and night (this is the biggest issue)
- can control 3 internal displays
- can be operated via both app and browser
- uses open standards
- does NOT rely on the cloud
- has NO ongoing or maintenance fees (no monthly charges)

So, my question to the group is: does anyone have experience with any of the above models and can recommend one or two of these devices?

Thank you very much for your help
Flo

As mentioned in the other thread, 2N is very good. I don’t find the Gira 106 to be significantly better for the price. The only advantage is that the integration in mailbox systems is more elegantly done. And if you are using the Gira X1/Home Server ecosystem, it is a clean solution.

I really like 2N, and I can’t confirm the poor image quality that some mention. Look at the image from Gira, and you might have a different opinion.

What do you mean by “controlled via browser”? Setting up through a browser? Door communication through a browser (which doesn’t really make sense)? What is possible, of course, is using a SIP softphone on a PC.

If you want to receive calls while you are away and your mobile device is not constantly connected to your LAN via VPN, you won’t get around using a cloud service with any system, because the doorbell somehow needs to reach you.

I’ve found that GIRA and Siedle are not suitable; although they have keyless systems, they don’t use RFID but proprietary standards. However, I definitely need RFID. I’ve now found a local provider that offers 2N products, so I’ll have a talk with them.

Keyless systems, such as fingerprint and/or RFID, are preferably referred to as eKey. It can be easily integrated into the 106.

With Doorbird, there is no cloud dependency. You can run it locally on your LAN, but of course, you won’t receive push notifications on your smartphone or be able to access it remotely while away from home.

What bothers me about Doorbird is that

• there is a noticeable delay both when answering a doorbell through the app and during voice transmission. There is enormous potential for improvement here. This also applies when you are connected to your local network.
• the video quality is only mediocre
• the audio quality of the outdoor speakers is poor
• the indoor station unfortunately also has no lower latency and has a poor microphone and speakers. For us, it mostly just serves as a doorbell now.

The system has not received any significant updates for a long time, and the app’s usability, especially for configuration, feels stuck in the early 2000s.

But not everything is bad. The hardware quality is very good. The integration with the door lock works very well. Doorbird can also be connected to other systems via API (which I don’t use). I really like the option of using RFID chips, especially for children or teenagers who might risk losing their keys. We don’t have a fingerprint sensor installed, but that is also an option.

Overall, two years ago I did not know many systems that offered a similarly extensive range of features. However, at the time I had expected more frequent functional updates and didn’t anticipate such high latency.

For example, I would be interested if there was a way to blur areas like the street, neighbors, etc., in the video view. Other systems from Google and others already offer this.

My conclusion: if you lack alternatives, this system is usable and offers more than a standard intercom. I find it convenient to respond to the doorbell remotely. I trust systems with mandatory cloud dependency, especially from large providers, less. If you find systems with a comparable feature set, you should look at them carefully—especially regarding latency, video, and audio quality.

I have now decided on the 2N IP Verso. There are certainly more visually appealing options on the market, but what convinced me were the inner qualities:

- Well made.
- No mandatory cloud connection.
- Operates over IP.
- Can control 3 internal displays.
- Can be managed via app AND browser.
- Uses open standards.
- NO cloud solution.
- NO maintenance or ongoing costs (monthly fees).

Additionally, I have found a local distributor who will assist me and mentioned yesterday that I should hold off on purchasing. According to Light&Building, new models with improved technology will be released soon.

Regards,
Flo