Can You Use a Video Intercom with Wi-Fi?

By: Tim Bruxvoort

Articles

Yes. Most smart video intercom systems today are wireless enabled, designed to work over Wi-Fi to allow you to protect your home without running any additional wires. Will it work over your current Wi-Fi network? That depends on which type of system you get and how strong your Wi-Fi signal is where your door or gate is.

If you’re in the market for an outdoor rated Wi-Fi video intercom or a wired/wireless hybrid video doorbell system, read on to learn how each works with your wireless router.

How do Wi-Fi Video Intercoms Work?

Wireless Wi-Fi video intercoms are installed just about anywhere you’d normally install an intercom: at your front door, driveway gate, or at your entryway. From there, the intercom wirelessly connects to your home router, and lets you manage who enters your home right from your smartphone or tablet devices.

Get Push Notifications: When someone presses the intercom button at your door, the Wi-Fi intercom sends a push notification straight to an app on your phone or tablet.

View Video, Talk, & Open the Door from Anywhere: As long as your phone or tablet has internet access, you can view the camera feed, talk to the visitor with built-in two-way audio, and unlock the door/Gate remotely from anywhere in the world.

Save Money: And since these standalone Wi-Fi intercom systems don’t require monthly monitoring fees, it’s also a super affordable way to secure your home.

But what if your Wi-Fi Signal Outside is Weak/Unreliable?

Poor Wi-Fi Signal at The Door? Use a Wired Hybrid Intercom Instead. Let’s face it: Wi-Fi signals have a hard time penetrating brick, concrete, and stucco exterior walls. If you live in a home with weak or spotty outdoor Wi-Fi, you might consider installing a hybrid video doorbell system instead.

Hybrid systems are similar to regular Wi-Fi doorbell cameras except the outdoor camera/intercom is wire-connected back to your house with a CAT-5 or CAT-6 network cable. The cable runs indoors to an indoor monitor that connects wirelessly to your home Wi-Fi router.

The beauty of this setup is that as long as your wireless cameras and your phone connect to the same router locally, your video doorbell will still function even if your internet goes down. (You will not be able to answer calls remotely if you are away from home, however.)

How to Improve Wi-Fi Signal Strength for Outdoor Intercoms

Want a fully wireless video doorbell system but your wireless coverage just doesn’t reach to your gate or entry door? You don’t have to install mile-long cables either. There are 2 wireless solutions that can help boost your Wi-Fi network range out to your driveway gate or front door: Wi-Fi Extenders, or Point-to-Point Wireless Bridges.

Wi-Fi Extenders (Ideal for Homeowners & Small properties)

A Wi-Fi extender, also known as a wireless range extender or repeater, is a device used to expand the coverage area of your current wireless network.

Essentially, the range extender will “pick up” your existing Wi-Fi network from your wireless router, and rebroadcast the network into those dead spots or farther distances. Set up is simple: just plug in the extender halfway between your wireless router and the outdoor intercom (but still within range of your existing network! ), and position it where it can best boost coverage. For best performance, connect the range extender to your wireless router with a physical CAT-5 wire instead of using it’s built in wireless repeater functionality.

Ideal for: filling in small dead zones and getting that extra reach your home or small business network needs.

Point-to-Point Wireless Bridges (Ideal For Long Runs & Separated Gates)

Need to connect to a gate that’s too far away to use an extender? Or maybe you just can’t run any cables to the gate at all. Point-to-point wireless bridges are the ideal choice for connecting two locations without wires, over distances where traditional Wi-Fi extenders just won’t cut it.

Essentially a point-to-point bridge creates a long distance wireless line-of-sight connection between two locations. Wireless point-to-point systems are commonly used to connect home networks to detached garages, long driveway gates, or even to connect multiple buildings on a campus together.

To install a wireless point-to-point bridge, you need two bridge units total. One goes at the house connecting back to your router, and the other goes at the gate where your intercom is located. Point-to-point bridges create a dedicated wireless connection between the two of them.

Performance-wise, these wireless bridges beat traditional Wi-Fi extenders hands down. They’re just plain faster, work over longer distances, and offer better overall performance when your network quality and security can’t be compromised.

About the Author: Tim Bruxvoort, a telecommunications veteran with over three decades of experience, is the President and Founder of IntercomsOnline.com, a Nashville-based specialty provider of commercial-grade communication systems. Leveraging his 22-year background at Nortel Networks, he established the e-commerce company in 2007 to offer expert-backed, high-performance intercom solutions for demanding industrial environments. Under his leadership, the company differentiates itself from typical online retailers by providing application-driven product selection, rich technical guidance, and free specialized support.