Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

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Beginner's guide to video entry systems

If, as a keys and bolts locksmith, you have never worked with video entry systems, here's a handy Beginner's Guide written by our friends at CDVI.

What is video entry? Video entry systems are a method of controlling communication between visitors at a building’s entrance and the people inside. They are most common on private homes or apartment blocks.

In recent years, many businesses have adopted video entry systems as well, as a means of welcoming visitors to their premises.

What are the benefits of video entry?

The most obvious benefit of video entry systems is the ability to see and speak to a visitor before granting them access. In some places, the entrance of a building is a long way from its perimeter access point. For example:

- an apartment block, where the people in the flats on the top floor can’t see who is at the main entrance on the ground floor.

- a single family home with a long driveway, where the residents cannot see visitors when they arrive.

- an office building with a perimeter fence and locked pedestrian gate next to automated carpark gates.

The people inside the premises can see who the visitor is and speak directly to them before granting them access. For residential and commercial buildings alike, this offers greater peace of mind for those inside. Nobody unauthorised can gain access unless someone on the inside manually grants them entry.

What do you need for a video entry system?

The two key components for a video entry system are:

- an external door station

- an internal monitor

External door stations

The door station is located outside the secure door or gate. For an apartment block, this would be on the outside of the building’s main entrance door. For a pedestrian gate at the end of a driveway, it would be on the public street side of that gate. The door station consists of a camera and microphone, as well as one or more call buttons. For a single residence or business, there may only be one call button required. For apartment blocks or other premises with multiple tenants, there may be one call button per internal unit.

Internal monitors

Internal monitors are installed inside the secure side of the door or gate. In an apartment block, there would be one internal monitor inside each apartment. For a single family home, there might be one monitor by the front door, and others in different rooms of the house. If all networked together, all the monitors would receive calls from the door station at the same time. That way, residents don’t need to run across the house to answer the monitor at the front door as quickly as possible.

How do video entry systems work?

When a visitor approaches the secure door or gate, they press a call button on the external door station. If there are multiple call buttons, they should be labelled to indicate which unit on the inside each is connected to.

When the call button is pressed, it sends a signal, usually by one of three ways, depending on the technical configuration of the system: IP, hard-wired, or GSM.

IP video entry systems

IP stands for Internet Protocol. These systems use an ethernet cable to facilitate communication between the door station and the internal monitor. IP systems are often preferred in larger buildings, because they are can be added to existing building networks, making them more reliable. They also don’t require as much invasive wiring as hard-wired systems.

Hard-wired video entry systems

Hard-wired systems transfer information from the door station to the monitor (and vice versa) over physical wires connecting the two components. They operate on their own network. In smaller buildings or new-build projects, a hard-wired system can be a great solution. But in some cases, another method might be more effective. For example, for a single home with a long driveway, a very long cable would have to be run from the external door station to the internal monitor, which might be inconvenient.

GSM video entry systems

GSM stands for Global System for Mobile Communications. You know this technology already – it’s what’s behind mobile data on smartphones. It’s where the ‘G’ in 3G, 4G, and 5G comes from. In these systems, the signal is sent via a SIM card in the door station to the monitor inside (or to a resident’s mobile phone) where they can pick up the call.

Controlling access with video entry systems

When a call comes into the monitor (or a connected mobile phone) from the door station, the people inside can make a decision. After seeing and speaking to the visitor, they can choose to grant or deny access. If access is denied, nothing happens and the secured door or gate remains electronically locked. If access is granted, a signal is sent from the monitor (or phone) to trigger a relay to release the electronic lock.

2EASY video entry

2EASY is a door entry solution that is quick and simple to install and offers users audio and video communication for an affordable price. With both a wired and an IP version available, 2EASY is flexible and adaptable to a wide range of projects. Additionally, the free smartphone app allows users to see and speak to visitors and control the door lock remotely*.

For university accommodation and apartment blocks, 2EASY is a simple and innovative way to control entry to flats. Students or residents can come and go as they please and feel safe in the dependable security of their building.

For commercial premises, 2EASY is a sleek solution for managing entry for visitors and employees alike. By making visitors feel welcome as soon as they arrive, while strictly ensuring that only authorised individuals can enter, businesses can get the best of both worlds.

https://www.cdvi.co.uk/learn-about-access-control/what-is-video-entry/2easy-video-entry/

*with a WiFi-enabled monitor

6th December 2023