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P**O
Installer's Nightmare
I've installed many apartment intercom systems. When a budget-sensitive client wanted a to have a video intercom system installed in a 7 unit apartment building, I thought to give this a try. My initial concern was access to repair parts if ever needed - assured to some extent that the company is located in Canada. I'd waitedThe installation manual could be written more clearly (note to manufacturer: hire a native speaker of whatever language to help write these documents). My initial horror was the inclusion of plug-in power "dongles" for each indoor intercom unit. Instead of a neat, clean look, using one of these would entail an ugly wire trailing down the wall from the screen to a (hopefully) nearby outlet. It was unclear from the documentation if these were actually needed - they are.Luckily, I had installed both a CAT5 and spare 18/3 cable to each indoor location. I used the 18/3 for power, soldering the tiny connector I'd cut from the end of a power dongle; then soldered the dongle to the other cable end - in a utility area where exposed cables are acceptable. I needed to purchase a $34 power strip to plug them all in.The kit comes with a set of signal wiring harnesses attached to a small plug sockets that will need to be attached to the in-wall wiring. Usually, designers of such equipment provide screw terminals on their units for wire attachment - it would seem an obvious choice since in-wall cables are involved. To make these connections, I resorted to soldering wires from my cables to the included harnesses, and used heat-shrink tubing to insulate them. The labor involved was unimaginable - for the 7-unit installation, almost 100 of these were needed. The kit also included a cable with two plug connectors meant to attach an optional remote inside monitor. It's about 2 feet long... seriously, just in case a user can't reach the first one two feet away? I didn't need to use them.The outdoor camera/call button unit was troubling. While the inside end of each apartment cable needed a 5 wire plug, attachment at the other end to the outdoor unit is by only a 4 wire plug. I wondered what to do with the other wire... apparently it isn't needed? I taped them. The outdoor box is designed so that only the back panel removes. This means that all of those tiny plugs need to be installed through a back plate hole; plugged into the unit; backplate reinstalled; and outdoor unit attached to the wall through two screw holes. Good luck using the included mounting brackets that attach through side holes. There's no way to access them because if you disassemble the box to use them, you won't be able to reassemble it later. Another issue is that - in the 8 unit model - there is only a single "name" field that is shared for two adjacent buttons. Tenants will need to write very small for two names to fit.My thought is that the people who designed this started with a good idea, but had little practical insight into how intercoms are installed. They could have peeked at a another manufacturer's product for some hints, spoken to a field tech. Substituting screw terminals for wire attachments would be a good start; redesigning the outdoor unit with a backer-box and hinged front panel would be useful in both installation and future maintenance.Since I bought the 8-unit kit, I have one spare monitor for potential repair/replacement. But this equipment does work, which is a real plus. Video is clear, though audio is a bit choppy at the start of a call. As the system has just been placed in service, I can't report how well it might hold up over time and with use. Given the labor involved in installation, I wouldn't buy this again
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