We have new Panasonic door intercoms that transmit both audio AND video, on a single pair of ordinary phone wires!
►You
can talk to visitors from an intercom monitor, or at a phone.
►You can unlock a door or open
a gate from an intercom monitor, or at a phone.
►You can see visitors at an
intercom monitor, or on a TV or PC screen or security system monitor.
►The
video intercoms can be used with Panasonic phone systems, or by themselves (no
phone system).
►They
can also be used if you have a non-Panasonic phone system, but will not connect
to the phone system.
►People
outside can't see people inside.
These systems are distributed by the KX-T folks in the USA, but are not made by Panasonic's KX-T division. They have “VL-G” model designations, not previously seen in the USA.
We have a variety of doorphone/cameras and video monitors and accessories, so you can select exactly what you need. They can be used with or without a phone system.
When visitors press the doorbell button, you can see and speak with them -- without opening the door -- providing convenience and increasing safety for your family or employees.
Visitors can be seen on proprietary monitors, or on ordinary televisions, or security video monitors, or PC screens. You can record visitors on a VCR, DVR or PC.
Voice response: Just talk, no need to press a button. Great in a busy kitchen, nursery or crafts room.
Touch and talk: Just touch a button once and begin talking. Useful when it's noisy inside.
Press and talk: Hold the button down and talk. Useful when it's noisy outside.
The BIG decision: You can get the VL-GM301A monitor, and build a system with as many as two cameras and three monitors (plus additional viewing options); or get the VL-GM201A, which is limited to one camera and one monitor. Even if your phone system can handle three, four or more door intercom speakers, you can only have one or two door cameras.
Stupid decisions that may affect your decision: Panasonic makes a desk/table mount for the 201, but not for the 301; and a flush mount for the 301, but not for the 201
Esthetic Note #1: The metal VL-GC001A camera style can be described as "traditional," (or less kindly described as "Addams Family") and might be out of place on a contemporary home.
Esthetic Note #2: The VL-GC001A-N door speaker is officially described as having "brass" color. It's more like a bronze.
Esthetic Note #3: Don't expect the video image to be as good as a $5K Panasonic Hi-Def plasma screen; but it is certainly good enough to enable you to recognize Aunt Edna's smiling face at the door. Panasonic lets you use just one pair of ordinary phone wires -- like what is probably already inside your walls -- to carry two-way audio, color video, power and data, and that's amazing enough, so don't get too picky.