Wireless vs Wired Home Intercom System

Wireless and Wired Home Intercom systems are both communication devices designed for convenience; they are useful for limited dialogue and are good home security devices. Intercom devices installed at gates let you know who is outside; ensuring that only authorized persons can enter your home. There are even modern models today that come with a built-in video camera, which would allow you to see the person outside.

Some intercoms today can be modified to incorporate gate entry functions and can work with different types of gates such as sliding, single or double or swing. They are also good for listening in to what is happening around your house. You can have stations mounted in areas where children or babies stay so that you can monitor their activities even from a distance. When you need to call someone from inside the house, intercoms eliminate the need to shout people’s names or to ask their whereabouts.

Mentioned earlier are the two types of intercoms available in the market today: wired and wireless. These two have their own merits although the latter is more popular among homeowners.

Installation Cost

Wireless intercoms are cheaper to install since they don’t require cables or wires to interconnect one device to another. Wired intercoms on the other hand are a bit trickier to install and may require the services of a professional. A path would need to be traced for wires to run and may require walls to be punctured. In addition, if the cables are not installed inconspicuously they could be an eyesore and reduce the aesthetic quality of a home. All in all, wired intercoms are more expensive to install and require more time to set-up.

Reception and Interference

In this area, wired intercoms fare better than wireless. Reception quality is better with the former as signals move across dedicated lines. Reception in wireless intercoms can be inconsistent because of black spots, or areas around a house or structure where signals get transmitted poorly. You can also experience interference problems especially if you have neighbors that use a similar intercom system.

Privacy

Conversations in wired intercoms are more secure, since signals move across cables within a facility or structure. This however is not the case with wireless intercoms since they use publicly accessible wireless frequencies and anyone who uses a communication device that utilize the same frequency range can listen in to conversations if they are within range. Examples of common devices that can tap into wireless intercom conversations are cordless telephones, scanners, and baby monitors.

Convenience

Some wireless models are portable and can be used by people even if they’re mobile or moving around an area. This feature is appealing to many individuals especially to people who multi-task.

On the other hand, wired intercoms are fixed in places where they are mounted and users need to assume a certain position or possess a certain height to use them. Most of the time, users need to disengage themselves from activities if they are to use a wired intercom.