Wireless Intercom
Wireless Intercom Review
Hosmart Full-Duplex Wireless Intercom System Model - HY616
Our favorite digital wireless intercom is the Hosmart Full-Duplex Wireless Intercom System Model - HY616. The nicest feature of this intercom is that it is full-duplex, which means that once you answer a call, both parties can speak without having to press a button. They work more like a cordless telephone and, in fact, they use the same DECT 6.0 technology, which is encrypted so your neighbors will not be able to listen in. In the past, wireless intercoms worked more like walkie-talkie radios where one radio could talk at a time with push-to-talk and release-to-listen functionality.
To call an individual room you first press the Call button, then the number of the unit you want to call. When they answer you have a private conversation with only that station.
These intercoms are very flexible on power. They come with an AC adapter, you can use a standard USB battery pack, you can plug it into a computer, or you can use OPTIONAL, removable 18650 rechargeable batteries. These are the kind used in flashlights, and some Tesla electric cars still use these as their cells in their battery pack. The batteries will last approximately a week of normal operation before needing recharging or swapping with a charged battery.
The range of these intercoms is up to 1000 feet, however that is in an open environment with no walls in between. Range will be lower with obstructions.
The best feature besides the full duplex capability on this intercom is the channel feature. There are 6 channels and you can set the default channel on each intercom so that if a user leaves their channel to talk to someone else, it will default back to its preprogrammed channel. The maximum number of intercoms you can have in your system is six (1 master and 5 substations) so you cannot add more rooms beyond this limit.
The Group button enables you to call all stations no matter what channel they are on, but it is limited to 4 stations in the group.
To put a unit into monitor mode, press the Monitor button. The channel LED indicator will flash to show available channels on the master unit. Press the channel button that you want to monitor. The unit will be continuously monitored by other units. Press the Monitor button again to exit monitor mode.
For the Hosmart HY616 click this link: Hosmart HY616
Wuloo Intercoms Wireless – WL888
If you need a slightly lower cost intercom that gives you more channels for more rooms, then this Wuloo WL888 may work for you. This intercom can handle up to ten rooms.
This intercom system claims it can reach distances of a mile with crisp sound quality. You should definitely be skeptical of those kind of range claims, especially on a unit that uses FM frequencies. However, most users don't need anywhere near that range. And the range you get will be dependent on what sort of interference you have in your area. Some users complain that it wouldn't even cover a 1500 square foot house, or that they were awakened in the middle of the night with interference on their intercoms. If you live in a highly congested area, you will likely have problems with these. There is a channel switch you can use in case your neighbors have the same unit. There are three channels available, but this still may not solve problems in highly congested areas. The biggest downside of this unit is that if you are on the same channel as a neighbor, they will hear you.
That said this intercom has some nice features. First it has voice activation (VOX)mode for handsfree transmitting, but like VOX on all intercoms, you must be sitting right in front of it. The voice quality is not as good on this unit as some of the other options.
It does have monitor mode that lets you listen in to a single room (turns off after 10 hours)
Unlike the Hosmart full duplex intercom, this one is push-to-talk.
To get more info on the Wuloo intercom feature just click the link here: Wuloo WL888
MURS Wireless Intercom
MURS stands for Multi-Use Radio System and is a group of frequencies assigned by the Federal Communications Commission for license-free 2-way radio communications. Since MURS essentially uses business-band 2-way radio frequencies, you can get the longest range of all wireless intercoms using these.
There are multiple types of MURS devices for indoor and outdoor use. You can get handheld radios so you can be mobile and still communicate. There are also base station wireless intercoms for stationary use. The two types can be used together. In addition, there are motion detectors, wireless PA units, customer service callboxes, and outdoor-rated wireless callboxes as described below.
The most cost-effective MURS base station intercom is the MURS Multi-Mile – DA1006. This base station has a range of up to four miles. See the product here: MURS Multi-Mile – DA1006
You can get more info about MURS radios here: MURS Radio Guide
Wireless Callbox Outdoor Intercoms
If you need a durable outdoor intercom that can withstand harsh environments, then a wireless callbox intercom is what you need. These devices use two-way radio technology so they can reach long distances. They will have the longest range of all devices. These are available in license-free MURS frequencies as well as licensed UHF frequencies that can be used with your existing 2-way radios.
We have callboxes with two different physical forms. The lowest cost callbox is in a gasket sealed, high-impact polycarbonate housing. This one is compact and is quite easy to place. The other is a larger vandal-proof stainless steel front with a fiberglass back. Both types can be battery powered or powered by 12 volts DC.
These callboxes work well at security doors or gates and even can activate a door or gate opener.
To communicate with these callboxes you can use either a handheld radio or desktop base station intercom. Or you can use both. There is no limit to the number of devices that can talk to the callboxes. Check out our callboxes here: Wireless Callbox
Amazon Echo Devices
If you already have an Amazon account, you have an option of a wireless intercom that most people are not aware of. Amazon’s Echo devices can play music, give you weather reports, place an order for recurring products, turn on lights, and answer all your questions about most things through their Alexa service. What many people don’t know is that you can also use the Echo devices for handsfree calling between them.
The Echo devices have what is called the “Drop In” feature. This feature lets you simply talk to Alexa and call most anyone you want, whether they are in the house or not. You can link Alex with your contacts list so you could simply say something like “Alexa, call Mom” and it will automatically call your mom and then you can then speak to her hands free. You can even use it to order food by asking Alexa to call your favorite restaurant. If Alexa can find it on the Internet, it should be able to call it.
But you can also call other devices inside the house. If you have an Echo in the bedroom and the kitchen, you can simply say “Alexa, drop in kitchen” and it will connect the bedroom to the kitchen unit for hands free communication on both sides. If you have devices throughout the house, you can make a broadcast announcement to all units by saying something like “Alexa, announce time to go”.
The sound quality on all Echo devices is better than most intercom equipment available. Each device is loaded with microphones and a quality speaker.
The most economical device is the Echo DOT smart speaker with Alexa. It is a compact hockey puck sized device that has a quality sound. And the good news is that it is about the same cost as any basic wireless intercom. This is an audio-only device.
Amazon also has the Echo SHOW, which has video capability as well. Not only can you talk to other rooms, but you can see the person if they have a SHOW in their room as well.
One last nice feature is that you can even use an app on your smartphone to drop in on a room even when you are not at home. So you can be at work and still “drop in” your kid’s room to make sure they are doing their homework.
Click these links to see the products:
2-Way Radios
An intercom system doesn’t necessarily need to look like one. You could just use handheld walkie talkies for communication. This works especially well if you need to move around a property. We recommend using radios in the MURS frequencies for longer range. Also, MURS frequencies are much less used than the most commonly used FRS and GRMS radios you find in Wal-Mart and on other store shelves.
The Dual Talk Buttons MURS Two-Way Radio we have is a nice option since it is small, has a drop-in charger, comes with a headset, and is very durable. As a bonus, it works with all the other MURS devices we have on our website. There is no limit to the number of these radios that can work together. See the product here: Dual Talk Buttons MURS Two-Way Radio
Caregiver Intercom
Sometimes the purpose of a wireless intercom is to be used for caregiving of an elderly or disabled person. There are multiple ways to do this. One way we discussed above is to use the Amazon Echo devices. The downside of this is needing Amazon accounts and Wi-Fi access, which may not be available.
If you only need an intercom that only works inside a house, then the Hosmart Caregiver Pager is a good choice. It includes an easy-to-carry pendant that can be put in a pocket or hang on the neck. It provides two-way hands-free communication between the pendant and a base station that can be moved around. It has a range of up to 1000 feet. See the product here: Hosmart Caregiver Pager
If you need to product that can call you when you are not home, then the Elderly/Disabled Emergency Alert device will work if there is a landline telephone in the residence. The landline could be an Internet based line if there is an analog adapter that allows analog phones to be used. The Emergency Alert allows you instant 2-way speaker phone communication through a mini wearable pendant to family, friends, or neighbors, at anytime from anywhere in or around the home. You program up to four contact phone numbers until someone answers, or it can then call 911. There is no monthly fee to use this product. See the product here: Elderly/Disabled Emergency Alert
If you as a caregiver lives in a nearby house, then the MURS wireless intercoms discussed above could be used for communication. The MURS Multi-Mile Base Wireless Intercom can be used for communication both inside a house and between houses. MURS Base Intercom
Ring Video Doorbell
Some searches for wireless intercoms are really for a wireless doorbell intercom. These days this type of intercom is Wi-Fi based and has video that connects to an App on your smartphone. The Ring Video Doorbell is the most well-known of these devices.
The Ring connects to a Wi-Fi network and sends real-time notifications to a smart phone or tablet when someone is at the door. It uses a free app which is available for Apple, Android, and Windows 10 devices.
With the app you can see an hi-definition 1080P video stream of the person at the door and speak to them using two-way audio communication. The doorbell can alert you when someone presses the button on the doorbell or when motion is detected.
After setting up the doorbell, you can share access to additional users simply by entering their email address. When multiple users are connected, all users will be notified of any activity via push notifications.
This version is not battery powered and will require connecting to an existing or newly wired doorbell power supply.
iVision Battery-Powered Wireless Video Intercom
If you want video door intercom like the Ring Pro, but you want monitors mounted inside rather than using your phone, then the IVision is what you need. It can still use an app on your smartphone or tablet PC, but it also comes with an internal monitor. You can also add more monitors and more door stations so this one is a good solution for businesses who have multiple doors. This system uses your building WiFi network so no Internet connection is needed for the iVision system. The iVision video intercom can be seen here: iVision
Wi-Fi-Based Intercoms
If you are looking for a door or gate intercom but want something more durable and reliable than a Ring Wi-Fi intercom, then there are better options. These intercoms are in a durable, water resistant housing and include a keypad so visitors can use a code to gain entry. They include the ability to active an electric door strike or gate controller.GSM Cellphone-Based Intercoms
If the wireless intercom you need is at a door or gate, then this option uses cellphone service from AT&T or T Mobile to call you on your cell phone or landline phone. With this option, you can be anywhere and still talk to people at the door or gate, and you can let them in remotely. All you need is good cell phone service at the door or gate, plus AC power, and the intercom will call you or other phone numbers you have programmed in the system. Summary
So as you can see, the phrase “wireless intercom” has a wide meaning. We think we have covered the types that fit in to most applications we see. If you have an application not covered here, or you have additional questions, just give us a call at 888-298-9489.If you want to discover the true distance wireless intercom devices can communicate, see this article: 2-Way Radio Range: How Far Can Two-Way Radios Communicate?
