What is a Home Intercom?

A home intercom is an excellent security device that allows you to see or hear what is going on in other areas of your home. It is also a great communication tool, especially if you have a large home and you wish to speak to someone in another room or on another floor. There are many different types of home intercom systems, from simple to quite sophisticated. Systems range from "voice only" to video intercoms, and they are valuable tools for keeping your home and your family safe.

A voice only home intercom may have many units in different rooms which are all connected to the main unit. It is common for the main unit to be installed in one of the central living areas of a home, such as the kitchen or living room. The voice only home intercom allows you to speak to someone, and hear his or her reply, from any unit. Other more elaborate designs allow you to play music over the system as well.

A home intercom system can also be used as a baby monitor. Simply turn on the unit in the baby's room then turn on the unit in the room you are in so you can listen in on baby. Since a home intercom also lets you speak, you can comfort baby from another room until you can reach the nursery, or avoid entering the nursery if you fear doing so will keep baby from going back to sleep.

You can also purchase a video home intercom system that will allow you to see what is going on in another room, in the garage, or outside via a small video screen. This is a great way check on the kids when they are playing in the backyard. It is also a safe way to find out who is at the door before you open it. Some systems are wired to allow you to unlock the door from another location in the home after you see who is there.

Speaking of wiring, there are three main wiring configurations for home intercom systems, the first being the hard-wired design, which is installed during construction or renovation. If you decide to install a home intercom later, you can use add-on wiring and connect to existing AC wiring or to existing phone lines. The last and most popular option is wireless. A wireless home intercom is obviously the most convenient to install, but this option as well as the add-on options are more susceptible to interference and surveillance. If you choose either of these options, inquire about security encoding features to protect your privacy.