door intercoms: video & voice

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.

• The VL-GC001A door stations are extremely rugged. They have metal bodies with tamper-resistant screws and weather-resistant construction; and buttons are illuminated so they are easy to locate at night. When a visitor presses the button, a chime will sound at the indoor monitor stations, and connected phones will ring (if you have a Panasonic phone system).
• The color cameras have a vertical capture angle of 51 degrees, covering a vertical field of about 18 inches at a distance of about 20 inches.
• The horizontal capture angle is adjustable, with a maximum of 78 degrees and a field of about 30 inches at a distance of about 20 inches. The camera lens can be centered, or tilted left or right to give you the best possible coverage.
• At night, an infrared LED in the door station will illuminate a visitor's face at a distance of about 20 inches. (Night images are black and white, not color).
• It's easy to see who's at the door, thanks to a color LCD in the monitor station, with automatic brightness compensation and adjustable contrast. In dim evening light, the image displayed is brighter than the actual light level.
• If something outside seems strange or suspicious, just press the Monitor button to see and hear what's going on. People outside won't hear indoor sounds, or know that you are monitoring them.
• You can also see visitors on an ordinary television, in a window on your PC screen (with an appropriate video board), and can record visitors on a VCR, Digital Video Recorder, or computer.
• When used with a Panasonic KX-T phone system, the new video intercom systems will ring the phones in your home or business, when the door bell button is pressed.
• You can remotely unlock a door equipped with an electric door strike (especially convenient when you're hosting a party), or open an electrically controlled gate, by pressing a button on the monitor station or on a connected phone.
• The monitor station has three voice communication modes to match your preference and environment:

  • 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.