A call with a video camera at the door of the apartment

Everyone is interested in ensuring the safety of their property and home. For these purposes, there are super-armored entrance doors with “tricky” locks on the market, as well as additional devices such as intercoms, videophones and doorbells with video alert function. About the last and will be discussed in our article.

For a start, let's figure out what the bell on the front door serves as. And it serves to alert the inhabitants of the apartment about the arrival of guests to them, both welcome and uninvited. Now on the market you can purchase the following types of doorbells:

• Mechanical. Outdated kind of doorbell. Now it can be found only in private country houses, made in the old style. It is a bell on a string or a massive ring, which make sounds, if set in motion by manual action;

• Electric calls. More modern devices. The principle of their action is as follows: electric pulses act on a hammer, which, resonating, produces sounds that signal the arrival of outsiders;
• Electronic calls. They are the development of the last years and every year they become more and more perfect. In such calls there are no moving mechanisms, they work on the principle of a sound frequency generator, which converts an electrical signal into mechanical vibrations and through this a certain sound combination is obtained. And, as a rule, there may be several of them and you can set the selected melody at will.

There are 2 types of such devices, they differ in the way they are powered. The wired electronic bell connects directly to the wiring of the apartment, and the wireless one runs on batteries or on a small battery.

Video calls stand out as they have significant differences from simple sound warning systems. But they are also divided into subspecies:

• Wireless video call. Transmits information by connecting to a Wi-Fi connection or to a mobile network or radio channel of a certain frequency.Such a device is easy to install and comfortable to use;
• Call with video peephole. Its essence lies in the installation of equipment instead of a door peephole. It has the same parameters as an ordinary peephole, so it will not require an extension of the standard opening on the front door;

• Models with videophone function: have infrared illumination for observation in the dark, sensors that are sensitive to movement; There is also a function to auto-record photos and videos and save them on a flash card. Such models can communicate with the host using Bluetooth technology or send him MMS-messages. Uninvited guests will be greeted by an answering machine;
• With the ability to connect additional devicesFor example, an additional camera for tracking or remote opening the entrance door. You can pick up a video call with the function of viewing video on a laptop monitor or on a TV screen. In addition to residential premises, such models are successfully used in offices, warehouses, in organizations with an established pass regime and in business centers.

If you try to briefly describe the principle of the video call, it will sound like this: the built-in camera sends the video signal to the monitor.When a guest presses the call button, he can be seen on this monitor. Additionally, a photographing of the visitor is carried out and video is recorded. Information is stored on a flash card or in the device’s memory.

The device of video calls is not too tricky.

As a rule, they consist of:

• The external call panel protected from malefactors by the strong case. On it are located the button for giving of a signal and a video camera. Installation of this part of the video call is made near the entrance door. Some more advanced models also have motion sensors, IR illuminators for night surveillance, and also an intercom system to determine the purpose of the visit;
• The monitor, which is located directly inside the apartment, sometimes near the front door. On the monitor panel there are camera control buttons and a screen on which the image is broadcast. In today's market there are devices with an answering machine function, with the ability to broadcast video to a TV or computer screen;

• The power supply unit which is necessary for work of the equipment from the power supply network. Its purpose is to provide electricity to the call panel and monitor in the case when there is no independent power source. As a rule, it is located near these devices. The source of energy is the home electrical grid;
• A channel for a connected cable (available only on devices with a wired data transfer function) or a module for wireless communication, which can be done by connecting a video call to a Wi-Fi or mobile network.

Any video call has a set of the following basic functions:

• With it, you can see exactly who paid you a visit and is outside waiting for an answer;
• The device beeps to alert owners about the arrival of the guest;
• An automatic photo and video shooting, as well as saving the recorded information on the media;
• Video surveillance is carried out outside the apartment space;
• In the presence of an intercom there is a possibility of preliminary clarifying the purpose of the visit

Also, modern video calls have a number of features, improvements that provide additional protection and security in the apartment. These include, for example, the ability to remotely monitor and communicate with the device using mobile networks, SMS and MMS alerts; installation of additional surveillance cameras, which will especially please the owners of country cottages with an adjacent plot, as it will allow to control the entire required area by increasing the viewing angle.

The smaller version of the video call, best suited for a city apartment, is a video peephole. It has a standard set of equipment and performs the same functions as a video call, but it is much cheaper, the installation is performed directly on the door, and its dimensions are very compact. Such a peephole performs video recording and captures all visitors, sending information about them to the host’s mobile phone.

The choice of the most suitable video call entirely depends on your desires and expectations. Decide what you want from this device and what degree of protection you prefer. The modern market is full of a wide variety of models, from simple to the most advanced. They can be divided into 3 subgroups:

• Devices with a basic set of functions. That is, your video call will be able to issue a sound alert about the visit, transmit the image to the monitor so that you can see the visitor; be able to take a photo and save it to a flash card;

• Devices with an extra set of features. Such video calls can, in addition to all of the above, record video and store it in memory; have infrared illumination to monitor what is happening outside at night; They have the ability to select the appropriate ring tone from the existing set of polyphonic sounds. Also, these devices can broadcast their recordings over wireless communication channels and have the ability to alert the visitor about the absence of someone in the apartment;
• Multifunctional devices. They have the most complete set of possibilities: they send out messages, the landlord even has the opportunity to communicate with the visitor via mobile communication with the device. You can install a very capacious flash card on such a video call, connect any external video broadcasting device (computer, laptop, TV) to it, you can even open the front door remotely. Also, such products have a wider integrated monitor with touch controls.

If you focus on consumer reviews, then, of course, you will hear many different recommendations, which will depend on what kind of living space “protects” the video call. The owners of city apartments will tell you that there is quite enough video-eye or basic security kit. Therefore, when making a decision on the purchase of a particular model, be guided by your own wishes and preferences, and of course, by the possibilities of your wallet.

A video call, as a rule, is always completed with a monitor for displaying the image, as well as installation and operating instructions. There is nothing difficult in the installation of the device with your own hands, but rememberthat high-quality installation will extend the life of your video call and will serve as a guarantor of its reliable operation.

In order to independently perform installation work, you must first determine the choice of installation site. As a rule, the device is located near the entrance door to the apartment. Secure the call panel and the monitor panel at selected locations.

If your video call has a wired communication system, its installation will be somewhat more complicated. This device will be powered by connecting it to a home electrical outlet. You will need to hold a special cable, which will power it, as well as facilitate the connection of internal and external elements of the call.

Even before the start of installation work, you should clearly define the number of cameras being installed and the locations of their cameras. After that, you can start laying the cable. To protect the premises from possible short circuit and fire, hide the cable in a special box or cable channel. After laying and masking the wires, fasten the inner and outer panels of your device.

Of course, if you do not want to install a video surveillance and warning system yourself, you can always contact the company that sold you this equipment. As a rule, they provide such services to their customers.

If several cameras are supposed to be installed, for example, near windows when an apartment is located on the first floor, it is necessary to provide all surveillance cameras with the best viewing angle. To do this, make sure that the area in front of it was open within 70-90 degrees on the sides and 50-70 degrees above and below. There should be no barriers to effective video surveillance. The best height for placing the device is about one and a half meters above the ground.

If your home is a system of "smart home", then the video call will fit perfectly into it. The most important feature of such a system is to imitate the presence of the owners, while the apartment is empty. It is only necessary before leaving not to forget to activate this security complex, by giving it the necessary work time.“Smart Home” imitates the owners' stay in the room by lighting and extinguishing the light in different rooms, it can turn on the stereo system and the TV, it can make the air conditioners turn on and off alternately.

In our time, video call is not a whim, but a necessary thing. By installing such a system at home, you can be sure that your property will always be protected. You can safely leave the children at home. When installing a more advanced video surveillance and warning system, you will always be aware of what is happening at your home and will be able to control the functions of this system from a distance. Think about the fact that the video call, of course, is not cheap, but in the end it will pay for all your expenses, keeping your home safe and preventing the intentions of the intruders. Even the simplest basic model will be able to scare off foes and save property. It is always better to spend a thousand than to lose a million.

ReviewSee the next video for a lot of the doorbell with a Doorcam camcorder.