A video entry phone, intercom or video door phone is a controlled access system for your home. This intercom features a camera outside your home and a screen indoors allowing you to see who is ringing the doorbell and to communicate with them remotely.
There are several good reasons for installing a video intercom system. Firstly, for security reasons. Thanks to your video door phone, you won't need to open the door to know who it is. When visitors arrive at your door, entryway or gate and ring the bell, the video door phone's touch screen will display the image directly. You will be shown high-resolution video footage of the person at the door, to ensure optimal identification.
Another good reason to install a home intercom system is its practicality. With a video intercom system screen in the house interior, you will be able to converse with visitors without having to open the door. In addition to the camera, it has a microphone built-in for easy communication.
What's more, the video entry phone allows you to manage one or more home devices, straight from the indoor monitor's screen. You can manage the opening of your front door or gate, the closing of the blinds or turn off the lights when you leave. Greater comfort and convenience for your home, and with a touch of extra connectivity, you enhance secure access to your home.
A video intercom system consists of two parts: an outdoor unit (call station) and an indoor monitor. This device lets you be inside and outside simultaneously, allowing you to remain in the security of your home instead of stepping outside to let visitors in.
Mounted outside, usually on a pillar, to make it accessible to visitors. The call station is equipped with a video camera connected to the indoor monitor, that relays the image, and features one or more call buttons. With this external unit, be it day or night, you can identify individuals requesting access to your home on the indoor monitor.
Installed inside your home, it allows you to see and talk with visitors. In addition to a camera, both the call station and the indoor monitor are equipped with a microphone. It lets you open your front door or gate remotely. With this interface unit, you can welcome your visitors from inside your home.
The distance between the indoor monitor and the external call station must be taken into account when selecting your video entry phone. The distance can range between 100 and 150 metres, depending on the model.
Please note: radio distance is measured in "free field", that is, in the absence of obstacles (eg. thick walls). It can cover a distance of up to 250 metres.
To choose the best model size for you, you'll have to measure the available space on the walls where the indoor monitor and cal station will go.
To ensure you have a clear view of visitors, be certain to install the external unit (call station) at the right height. The ideal height is generally between 1.2 and 1.6 metres from the ground. The indoor monitor is to be installed at a similar height. It's generally positioned on a wall near the door.
The external unit can be installed in two ways: attached to the wall, or flush-mounted to it. As for the indoor monitor, the placement is fixed and routinely surface-mounted. Please note that the indoor monitor and the outdoor unit are connected by two cables whose length will depend on the chosen model.
To proceed with the installation of your video entry phone, you'll need a 230 V electrical power supply in proximity to the indoor monitor. If electrical wiring is already in place, installing the video door phone will be fast and easy. Make sure the cable connection extends from the monitor to the location of the external unit. If not, you must install this connection, which requires knowledge of electric circuits and masonry.
It may be advisable to connect the video door phone to your gate. Check for a cable connecting the external unit to the gate's motor, allowing it to open and close.
Audio and video quality
Audio and video quality vary between devices and will depend on the model you choose. Image quality is determined by camera and screen quality: a high-resolution image is necessary to accurately identify visitors. The higher the number of pixels, the better the resolution. The indoor monitor interface can be more or less intuitive, and may or may not feature a touch sensitive display screen.
The camera connector is equally important. Opt for a wide angle camera (at least 120°) to get a good view of visitors and the surrounding environment, and for a good-sized screen for easy use. Last, but not least, keep in mind that certain video entry phones are equipped with infrared LED lights for "night vision" mode, useful after nightfall.
As for audio, make sure the call station and indoor monitor both have a microphone installed, and that communication is clear from both ends. Somfy video door phones have all these functionalities.
Certain external unit models feature a Digicode keypad, a badge reader, and one or several more buttons. For better protection, street panels exposed to the elements are equipped with a rain shield. This also helps protect the camera, guaranteeing good image quality.
Photo storage
Nowadays, several video door phones offer photo storage. Photo sequences are saved on a micro SD card (internal memory). This provides you with a record of all visits received and allows you to view who rang the doorbell in your absence.
Video entry phones for connected homes
Depending on the model, a video door phone allows you to manage other devices wirelessly, using integrated radio technology. This gives you control of your whole house: you can open and shut the front door, the blinds, the garage door, even turn the lights on and off. Our V®100+, V®350, V®500 RTS and V®500 Pro io models have this feature.
And, if you connect the indoor monitor to our TaHoma Switch centralised smart control device, you can access even more advanced functionalities! Thanks to the dedicated mobile application, you can control all connected appliances from your smartphone. You'll be able to automatically manage the opening and closing of your devices through the creation of scenarios in the TaHoma app. The model V®500 Pro io is compatible with this solution.
You can also build your own secure, connected environment, linked to a video surveillance alarm system, to minimise the risk of intrusions by day and by night!
Every video intercom has its own features, but all of them meet the technological parameters of Somfy-io homecontrol or RTS. Thanks to an integrated radio control system, you can manage up to five other devices equipped with the same technology.
Corded video door phones require the indoor monitor to be connected to the outdoor unit. They are connected to a wireline cable and installed on a wall inside your home. With their modern, discreet design, this range of video door phones will fit seamlessly into your home. All our models are made of aluminum and plastic, making them sturdy but lightweight.
Our Plug&Play range is especially easy to install. Please note that the distance between the indoor monitor and the outdoor unit should not exceed 100 metres for our V300 model and 150 metres for V®350, V®500 and V®500 Pro io.
V®100+ is sleek and compact: the monitor was designed for small spaces (4.3" screen) and the external unit for narrow pillars. It's ultra-resistant, equipped with night vision and back-lit keys.
The V®350 video entry phone provides a clear image of visitors thanks to its wide-angle camera and blends seamlessly into your home (7" screen). The call station can be mounted even on narrow pillars. V®350 keeps a record of missed visitors (internal memory) and is able to control up to 5 wireless products or groups of equipment directly from your indoor monitor thanks to the RTS radio transmitter.
The installation is performed by a Somfy technician. This model features a 7" touch screen and a customizeable interface (with customizeable ringtone, welcome screen and lock activation time, up to 10 seconds). With night vision and a 102° wide angle camera, you'll have a clear view of any visitors. It also provides a log of visitors who came in your absence. Lastly, thanks to the built-in io-homecontrol radio control, you can manage up to five devices or groups of devices from your indoor monitor. Once everything is centralised, managing your gate, garage door, rolling shutters and other devices is easy.
DIY enthusiasts will find video door phones easy to install. If you're uncertain, don't hesitate to ask for professional help. Make sure the electrical power reaches the spot where you intend to install the indoor monitor. To aid you in your work, every model sold in-store or online comes with a full installation instruction manual detailing the intercom's functionalities.
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