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?
untergasse4311 Mar 2021 10:01Oh, that’s what you mean. Yes, that’s true, you would get LAN with it. But it has the same disadvantages as other powerline solutions, which you need to consider.
S
SamSamSam1 Jun 2021 11:18Musketier schrieb:
I am looking...Since the post is already a few days old, what did you decide in the end?Also, does fingerprint really work that poorly for children? My biggest reason for choosing a fingerprint lock was that the kids wouldn’t lose the key...
I'll just answer this simply: Yes, it actually works quite well only from a certain age onward. This is partly due to growth and changing fingerprints, and partly because it presents a motor skills challenge. Anyone who has tried it as an adult knows what I mean. 😉
For our little one, we chose RFID as an alternative. Although the chips can still be lost, they can simply be deactivated, and the issue is resolved. There are fingerprint readers with integrated RFID nowadays, so adding this doesn’t involve much extra construction effort. When she’s old enough, we will switch to fingerprint.
For our little one, we chose RFID as an alternative. Although the chips can still be lost, they can simply be deactivated, and the issue is resolved. There are fingerprint readers with integrated RFID nowadays, so adding this doesn’t involve much extra construction effort. When she’s old enough, we will switch to fingerprint.
No, unfortunately I haven’t yet.
Supposedly, Somfy was planning to release the new Doorkeeper in May 2021, after it was already presented at the trade fair in spring 2020. I had hoped to learn more by now. But apart from some general vague statements, they seem to be taking their time or are not marketing it without an installation partner.
What I liked about Somfy was the relatively simple way to combine multiple access options with the emergency release.
I think I will get some advice soon, as I’m not really making any progress.
Supposedly, Somfy was planning to release the new Doorkeeper in May 2021, after it was already presented at the trade fair in spring 2020. I had hoped to learn more by now. But apart from some general vague statements, they seem to be taking their time or are not marketing it without an installation partner.
What I liked about Somfy was the relatively simple way to combine multiple access options with the emergency release.
I think I will get some advice soon, as I’m not really making any progress.
Last year, nothing happened with the retrofit project.
For now, I’ve started by working on opening the garage door. So far, there are only two remote controls for opening the door. This should be expanded to include fingerprint options.
For the fingerprint solution, I have ordered the ORNO OR-ZS-822. It looks well-made and is surprisingly heavy and sturdy. The device can be operated by chip, PIN, or fingerprint. In the initial setup, the fingerprint function worked smoothly with our 8-year-old child’s finger.
I also ordered the AE Sboard Wiegand Controller. The connection worked with PIN and chip, but the controller was not compatible with fingerprint recognition and will be returned. Since I am wiring inside the garage anyway, it should not be easy to short-circuit, so I will omit the additional interface. A break-in would likely be much easier through other means.
For the house, I prefer a fingerprint system integrated into the doorbell system, such as Ekey. However, I’m still undecided about the lock itself. Nuki works with Ekey but is quite noisy in my opinion. Somfy also works with Ekey, but there is hardly any information available about Doorkeeper in Germany. For other electronic locks (Danalock, Yale, Tedee), I cannot determine whether they are compatible with Ekey or other fingerprint scanners in any way.
Alternatively, an electronic locking cylinder (DOM, EVVA, Salto, Simons Voss) could be an option. Since these are mostly solutions for businesses, there is not much information available online, and one would likely need a targeted consultation.
Maybe others have new experiences to share.
For now, I’ve started by working on opening the garage door. So far, there are only two remote controls for opening the door. This should be expanded to include fingerprint options.
For the fingerprint solution, I have ordered the ORNO OR-ZS-822. It looks well-made and is surprisingly heavy and sturdy. The device can be operated by chip, PIN, or fingerprint. In the initial setup, the fingerprint function worked smoothly with our 8-year-old child’s finger.
I also ordered the AE Sboard Wiegand Controller. The connection worked with PIN and chip, but the controller was not compatible with fingerprint recognition and will be returned. Since I am wiring inside the garage anyway, it should not be easy to short-circuit, so I will omit the additional interface. A break-in would likely be much easier through other means.
For the house, I prefer a fingerprint system integrated into the doorbell system, such as Ekey. However, I’m still undecided about the lock itself. Nuki works with Ekey but is quite noisy in my opinion. Somfy also works with Ekey, but there is hardly any information available about Doorkeeper in Germany. For other electronic locks (Danalock, Yale, Tedee), I cannot determine whether they are compatible with Ekey or other fingerprint scanners in any way.
Alternatively, an electronic locking cylinder (DOM, EVVA, Salto, Simons Voss) could be an option. Since these are mostly solutions for businesses, there is not much information available online, and one would likely need a targeted consultation.
Maybe others have new experiences to share.
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