More Intercom Information

Wireless Intercoms That Really Work

Wireless Intercoms will never have the reliability or options of a wired intercom. If it is at all possible, we recommend a wired intercom system. There are a variety of choices available and the price range is wide. Our company has been installing intercoms for over 26 years. We have considerable expertise in installing these products in existing homes and our trained experts are available to offer you assistance in your installation. We don’t charge you to design a system, we offer that service free of charge. Just call us at 1-800-221-8227 and we can help you decide if a wired intercom is right for your application, and then we can help you choose and design the right system for you.

That being said, there are situations where a wireless intercom is appropriate or even necessary as in the following applications:
• Wiring is impossible – Wireless intercoms have the unique advantage of taking them out of the box and using them, no installation required
• Budget is limited
• Portability is desired
• Need an intercom in only one or two rooms

For a while we discontinued the sales of wireless intercoms because our customers were so disappointed with the quality and reliability of the wireless systems. We discovered this was primarily because of the frequency they used to communicate. If you are interested in a wireless intercom that works better than an inexpensive baby monitor, we recommend you stay away from the following:
• 49 MHz - Used by baby monitors, short range, not secure, interference from other devices
• FM or Power Line Carriers – Electrical interference, buzzing or humming, incommunicable because of audio quality or inability to send signal across home’s wiring

Any wireless intercom system has potential for reception issues. Our company offers a 30 day money back guarantee so you can try the system and feel free to return it if it doesn’t work in your application.

The products we do sell use the following frequencies:
• MURS (150 MHz Citizens Band ) – long range, portable, ability to talk between buildings or locations, antenna can be place on home to increase range of reception. Using the Dakota Alert wireless intercom (MURS) we were able to communicate clearly from the upstairs offices in the back or our building to our front showroom, We then took the hand held portable intercom device and walked to the end of our street, all the while maintaining a clear connection.
• 2.4 GHz - The 2.4 GHz systems are reliable, but there seems to be some concern about interference if you have a wireless computer network in your home or office. We tested the Amesbury/Locca system in our home, where we have a wireless network. We did not experience any difficulties. Most people do not report any problems with this frequency. Nonetheless, we offer a 30 day money back guarantee, so if you do have a problem you can return the product for a full refund.

Another Wireless Intercom You Can Trust

In my previous posts, I have mentioned the inadequacies of most wireless intercoms.  The one thing you can count on is that you can't count on the majority of wireless intercoms on the market.  We offer a 30 day money back guarantee, and believe you me, we've had our share of customers return their wireless intercoms before that 30 days was up!  That's why we carry only three brands of wireless intercoms.  These are systems which experience has told us we can trust.  I've mentioned the LotShine wireless video intercom system, and the Dakota Alert heavy duty wireless intercom.  Last, but not least, is the Amesbury/Locca wireless entry intercom system.  

This system offers the convenience of an entry door intercom, while giving you the ability to open the door remotely.  These systems offer a variety of options and are a perfect match for single and multiple family homes, as well as apartmens, assisted living or retirement communities.  Check out theses features

• Speak to visitors through intercom and unlock the door with one remote device Use intercom from anywhere in the home, or yard
• Range 200 yards for intercom and remote unlocking of door
• Stylish remote for intercom/unlocking
• No internal wiring - easy installation
• Convenient and perfect for busy lifestyle
• Obvious benefit for persons with limited mobility and for the aging

Note: Plug-in power for the door stations is 25ft long

Access Kit $319.00 Add To Cart

Multi Kit $275.00 Add To Cart

Connecta Kit $269.00 Add To C

Wireless Video Door Answering Intercom

Wireless intercoms are a much sought after item...The problem is, most of them, and I mean almost all of them, are nothing more than glorified baby monitors.  Customers are usually unhappy and return these products, so we only carry products that we know our customers will love.  That's why we are crazy about the Lotshine Tech Wireless Video Door Intercom.  This is an easy-to-install, convenient, affordable and modern solution to most residential door answering needs. It consists of a door camera and a handheld video monitor you can carry with you anywhere in the house.  Never answer your door again without knowing who's there, or don't answer your door if you aren't comfortable with the person you see on the handheld monitor.  To install the Lotshine wireless system, just  mount the surface mount door station to the desired entrance and plug into a 110 electrical outlet (run is 5-1/2' long). Once the handset has been initially charged (7 hours for the initial charge) you will be ready to go. Each system can take up to 2 door cameras, and 2 handheld wireless monitors. 

To check out the features and see the door camera look here  and the for the handheld monitor look here

New Wireless Video Door Intercom

I have a door answering video system at my front door, and I love it.  Roger retrofitted it in the house, and running the wiring was tricky.  Now, we have a product that solves the problem of retrofitting a video door answering system in a house.  This wireless system actually has handheld wireless monitors that you can carry with you from room to room.  How many times have you been in the bathtub or shower and had the doorbell ring?  Well, now you can take your monitor with you into the bathroom and just step out of the shower to speak to whoever is at your front door (Don't worry the video is one way....they can't see you!)

The Lotshine Tech Wireless Video Door Intercom Kit offers an easy-to-install, convenient, affordable and modern solution to most residential door answering needs. Simply mount the surface mount door station to the desired entrance and plug into a 110 electrical outlet (run is 5-1/2' long). Once the handset has been initially charged (7 hours for the initial charge) you will be ready to go. Each system can take up to 2 door cameras, and 2 handheld wireless monitors.

Take a look at the complete system here

System Features:

• DIY Easy to Install
• Able to view, talk and unlock the main entrance from any room in your home
• Portable size to carry
• 2.4GHZ wireless video intercom and surveillance
• Portable handfree video color monitor
• Infra red camera on outside call station - see callers at night
• Intelligent remote unlock for visitors/guest
• Rechargeable battery via mini-USB interface, standby status for 72 hours.
• Able to intercom between each portable monitor
• 984ft (300 meters) transmission distance (without interferences*)
• Full duplex audio mode
• 2.4” TFT-LCD portable indoor monitor
• IR camera
• Expand to a 2-way system by adding door call station and a portable handset
• 12 selectable ring tones

Dakota Alert Wireless Intercom Products Really Work

After years of wireless intercom trouble...we'd sell them...customers would be disappointed and return them....we'd sell them....they'd stop working....we finally quit selling wireless intercoms because we just couldn't find one to recommend.  We got gun shy. Not anymore!  I am happy to report that we have found a couple of wireless intercoms we love, and our customers are really satisfied with.  The Dakota Alert is one of those products.  The MURS technology behind this system is rock solid and the system really works, has a great range,  and doesn't break!  Here is an email from a recent Dakota Alert customer:

The Dakota Alert is excellent. I've used it to provide quick communication between my elderly mother and my brother, who lives nearby.  Other wireless intercoms didn't provide the range we needed.  The signal on the Dakota Alert is clear and provides a great deal of comfort to my mother and my family.  I was also impressed with Central Vacuum's email communications, prompt shipment and quality products.

Thanks,

Rick P

Houston, TX

Amesbury Locca Wireless Intercom Featured on ABC Extreme Makeover

Amesbury Locca manufactures a wireless intercom that we really love.  Everyone seems to really like this product and the customers are giving it a thumbs up.  Recently, Amesbury Locca participated in an ABC Extreme Makeover...You can download this pdf to read more about it.
Download locca_abc_extreme_makeover_home_edition_in_mo_0908_abc_approved.pdf .

Wireless Intercoms: Research Before You Buy

I hate to sound like a broken record...but today I got one of those high end catalogs in the mail.  You know the ones..."the best this"  and "the best that". Well, today they had the best wireless intercom featured and it was one of the intercoms we had to discontinue selling because of all the returns.  You don't need to be a "reporter" to figure out what I am talking about.

Be very careful when you buy a wireless intercom.  We have found the MURS technology works quite well.  Check out some of my other posts on this blog in the Wireless Intercom category.  We offer a 30 day money back guarantee and that's why we only sell wireless intercoms we trust.  With a guarantee like that, we can't afford to sell anything else. 

Wireless Intercoms: An Update

Back in March I mentioned two new wireless intercoms we added to our product line, the Dakota Alert and Amesbury Locca. Prior to carrying these products, we had very bad experiences selling wireless intercoms.  Even though we included all kinds of disclaimers on our website, people were still buying wireless intercoms with expectations they would work well, and the reality was that two cups and a string probably would have worked better than most of the wireless intercoms on the market.  We were so unhappy with the wireless products available, at one point we removed all wireless intercoms from our website.

Today, I have really good news to report.  Since adding the Dakota Alert and Amesbury Locca wireless intercoms, we have just a couple returned!  Our customers love these products.  We are so excited to be able to offer wireless solutions that meet the needs of our customers. If you are looking for a wireless  intercom please check out these products on our website...and as always...we have a 30 day money back guarantee on everything we sell.

Dakota Alert
Amesbury Locca

If you are looking at one of those other wireless intercoms...don't waste your money...you'll probably get better results from this product:
Click here to find an alternative to those "other" wireless intercoms

Dakota Alert Wireless Intercom Uses MURS for Better Range

We are really excited about this new product offering . Dakota Alert has been around for sometime, but we have just added it to our product offering.  We have had bad experience selling wireless intercoms, and so we were skeptical. We ordered a sample unit and tested it throughout our building.  Then we tested it in our warehouse next door, then we took it to the end of our street and tested it.  The reception was unbelievable. (Google Maps has just added the street view feature and you can see our two warehouses up close. Central Vacuum Stores is our main location and we also own the white warehouse to the left) 
View Larger Map

This system uses MURS.   MURS (Multi-Use Radio Service) was authorized by the FCC in November of 2000 as a private, two-way voice or data communications service for personal or business activities. The five MURS channels are available on a shared basis only. No channels are assigned on an exclusive basis, therefore it is up to the user to cooperate in the channel selection to help avoid interference. FCC rules do allow for the use of external antennas with MURS.

No license is needed. A person is authorized by rule to operate a MURS radio providing he or she is not a representative of a foreign government. Also, MURS can be used anywhere in the United States except onboard an aircraft in flight.You will notice that we described the range of the MURS system as several miles. While this might sound a little vague, we are not trying to deceive. The range will be dependent on your local surroundings. It has been tested in the flat lands of South Dakota to ranges of about four miles. However, if you are in an urban area with many tall buildings, your range may be significantly lessened.
   

Amesbury/Locca Wireless Intercom - More Than Just a Baby Monitor!

Over the past several years we have sold a variety of wireless intercoms...and the consumer's response to these products was less than enthusiastic, so we discontinued selling wireless intercoms...until now!  The majority of wireless intercoms sold are little more than baby monitors, but recently we found a product we are really excited about.  The Amesbury/Locca has been sold in Europe for several years and now it has come to the states.  It is ideal for single and multiple family homes, apartments, assisted living or retirement communities. Also great for disability apartments, or buildings and businesses who are required to provide wheelchair access.

• Speak to visitors through intercom and unlock the door with one remote device Use intercom from anywhere in the home, or yard
• Range 200 yards for intercom and remote unlocking of door
• Stylish remote for intercom/unlocking
• No internal wiring - easy installation
• Convenient and perfect for busy lifestyle
• Obvious benefit for persons with limited mobility and for the aging

While most intercoms can be retrofitted into existing homes...this product is ideal for those situations where it is impossible to add an intercom system. A Washington Post reporter saw this item at the International Builder's Show in Orlando, and included it in his article about the nifty gadgets at the show. 

Read About Amesbury/Locca in the Washington Post

Learn more about Amesbury/Locca Wireless Intercom