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