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Intercoms
The best way to communicate from upstairs
to downstairs in a large house or from the
house to the workshop out back is with a
home intercom.
Types of Intercoms
There are three basic types:
- Hardwired: Uses separate wiring system, best
installed when the house or addition is still
under construction. A hardwired intercom
is the most secure system. It offers the
clearest connection and won't suffer from
interference. The simplest hardwired intercoms
might use battery power, or have a wall adaptor.
A good choice if you are building new and
wires can be easily run.
- Wired add-on: Piggybacks on existing phone
or AC power wiring, easily
installed anytime.
Wired add-on intercoms are
easily added after
your home is built, but since
they use common
AC wires or your phone wires,
there is a
chance for interference and
possibly snooping
by your neighbors. Look for
a system that
has security encoding features
to prevent
this.
- Wireless: Uses low power radio transmissions
to work through walls without wiring. Has
a working range of several hundred feet.
Wireless is the latest and most popular type.
You can put the intercom stations anywhere
in the house, garage or shop. Here again,
watch for features that ensure your privacy.
Also remember that wireless intercoms operate
in similar radio bands to cordless phones
and may be susceptible to interference.
Extra Features
When shopping for a home intercom,
you may
want to also consider some of
the features
found on the newer and more expensive
intercom
systems:
- video -- especially handy if you use the
intercom to check who is at the front door.
- channel FM music throughout the house --
a great way to bring the music with you as
you move about your home.
- act as a baby monitor or a security check
-- a great way to monitor for a baby's cry
or a child's call when you're in a different
part of the house.
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