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!
Before plastering, select a doorbell, make an appropriate hole for the flush-mounted box in the wall, chase the wall, pull in the cable, plaster, then install the box and the doorbell.
Depending on the outdoor station, they are often connected using individual wires rather than RJ45. In that case, a patch cable is not needed.
Depending on the outdoor station, they are often connected using individual wires rather than RJ45. In that case, a patch cable is not needed.
AlexWIMV schrieb:
I’m currently in the same situation, running the necessary cables for the front door during the shell construction phase, but I’m not yet sure how to implement it.
We are getting a front door with an automatic lock and a numeric keypad, so it needs at least a 4-core bell/telephone cable to the bell transformer in the meter cabinet. [...]
Of course, everything must be airtight and secure. “Secure” particularly in terms of not giving the burglar’s laptop a programming interface to disable your alarm system.
AlexWIMV schrieb:
Additionally, I want an outdoor station with a doorbell button and camera, which I can power and communicate with via PoE.
But now I’m unsure how to best run the network connection through the 36.5cm (14.4 inches) aerated concrete wall and plaster:
1. Drill through, thread the CAT installation cable through and leave it hanging out?
2. Drill through, thread the CAT installation cable through and feed it into a flush-mounted box on the outside? (Problem: the outdoor station is usually flush-mounted, so the flush-mount box would be inconvenient)
3. Drill through, thread a conduit through, install a flush-mounted box inside, run the CAT installation cable to the flush box, then connect the outdoor station via patch cable through the conduit? I don’t see the problem: on the entry side adjacent to the flush-mounted outdoor station, you can install a flush-mounted box, right?
Even though “The Life of Brian” says “Each man only one cross!” polygamy with multiple flush-mounted boxes in one wall is allowed.
https://www.instagram.com/11antgmxde/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bauen-jetzt/
A small tip.
In addition to the Cat 8 network cable from the outdoor station to the POE switch and then to the indoor station, we also needed a cable for the door release module. We ran this cable to the fuse box and from there to the door. Although it is technically possible to split the network cable, using two separate cables was easier.
In addition to the Cat 8 network cable from the outdoor station to the POE switch and then to the indoor station, we also needed a cable for the door release module. We ran this cable to the fuse box and from there to the door. Although it is technically possible to split the network cable, using two separate cables was easier.
Similar topics