| Central intercom systems have grown and | | | | There are also individual remote room units |
| evolved over the years and now are capable of | | | | located inside the house, and two or more |
| doing so much more than just being able to | | | | door units located outside. |
| call someone in the next room. You can | | | | |
| monitor the sounds from your baby’s | | | | With most systems, you can answer the door |
| room while you’re in the kitchen, you | | | | from any of the remote units - you don't need |
| can see who is at the door while you are | | | | to go back to the master unit - and the |
| upstairs, you can even scan your security | | | | person at the door can speak to you |
| cameras without leaving your living room. | | | | hands-free. Most systems also include a |
| | | | "listen-in" feature, which lets you monitor |
| New technology has led to improved | | | | the sounds in a baby's room or keep an ear on |
| performance and often to lower prices, and | | | | someone who is confined to bed. For privacy, |
| many systems are very simple for the | | | | the listen-in feature can be shut off by |
| do-it-yourselfer to install, even in an | | | | someone in the room if desired. |
| existing home. | | | | |
| | | | Another feature common to most types of |
| As is typically the case with a home | | | | central intercom systems is music. The most |
| improvement project, your first step is to | | | | common variation contains an AM/FM radio, but |
| decide what type of system you wish to | | | | units are also available for use with |
| install. An intercom system is simply a | | | | cassette tapes or even CDs. With the music |
| two-way transmit/receive unit that allows one | | | | system, you typically get a number of presets |
| person to talk in one location and another to | | | | for radio stations, a "wake-to-music" feature |
| listen at a different location. From there, | | | | that lets the intercom function as an alarm |
| you can increase to multi-room capabilities; | | | | system in as many rooms as desired, and a |
| radio, cassette, or CD music systems; speaker | | | | timer system that shuts the music off after a |
| upgrades; and the addition of fixed or | | | | preset amount of time. Most systems also |
| movable video cameras with one or more black | | | | allow the volume of the music to be |
| and white or color monitors. | | | | controlled from each individual room, again |
| | | | eliminating the need to go back to the master |
| Perhaps the simplest intercom system is one | | | | control station. |
| that utilizes your existing doorbell wiring, | | | | |
| and replaces the doorbell button andchime | | | | For added convenience and security, some |
| units. With this type of system - priced at | | | | systems offer the capability of remote door |
| around $100 - the door unit acts as both a | | | | unlock. Similar to the systems found in some |
| doorbell button and a talk /listen station, | | | | apartments and commercial businesses, the |
| and the indoor unit will chime when the | | | | system alerts you via a tone when someone |
| doorbell button is pressed, and then allow | | | | rings the doorbell, allows you to speak to |
| you to talk to the person at the door. This | | | | the person from anywhere inside the house, |
| is a great do-it-yourself project, and also | | | | and then to release the door lock from any of |
| typically affords you the ability to add at | | | | the remote interior station locations. |
| least one additional inside station in | | | | |
| another room. | | | | For the ultimate system, you can install an |
| | | | exterior camera mounted above the door. |
| Next comes the central intercom system, which | | | | Depending on the system, the camera may be |
| is the most common type and the area where | | | | fixed in one location with a wide-angle lens, |
| you will find the greatest number of system | | | | or it may have the ability to scan up and |
| types and options - what you choose is | | | | down, pan from side to side, or even zoom in |
| primarily a matter of your needs, the size of | | | | and out. |
| your home and your budget. Central intercom | | | | |
| systems range in price from around $400 to | | | | The picture is received on one or more |
| well over $1,000, depending on its features | | | | interior stations, in either color or black |
| and the number of remote room units involved. | | | | and white. Video monitor systems also feature |
| | | | all of the standard intercom features, |
| Every central intercom system starts with | | | | including a remote door unlock. These systems |
| basics - a multi-room intercom. With this | | | | are typically in the range of $1,500 and up. |
| type of system, there is a master unit that | | | | |
| is located in one convenient spot - typically | | | | Intercom systems can be found at some larger |
| the kitchen or living room - and that acts as | | | | home centers, as well as electronic stores |
| the central control for the entire system. | | | | and through specialty contractors. |