How we help
Add video calling and convenient door release to your entrance. Choose the right panel and answering options for your home or building, with clear setup for everyday use.
Who it's for
- Owners of brownstones and townhouses
- Owners of 2-6 family houses with tenants
- Households that want to buzz in deliveries or a dog walker while away
Suitable properties
- Owner-occupied brownstone
- One outdoor station controlling the under-stoop gate and parlor door, with app answering and one or two indoor monitors.
- 2-6 family house
- A button and app account per unit so each household gets only its own calls.
- Townhouse with a private gate
- An outdoor-rated gate release plus a strike on the main door, both on one station.
Main options
- Wired video kit
- Aiphone JO/JP or Comelit two-wire kits with indoor monitors, optional app answering, and relay outputs for a gate and a door.
- Cloud-first intercom
- An outdoor station with a built-in door relay that calls your phone; simplest when remote answering is the main goal.
- Video doorbell plus smart lock
- Works on a private door, but most doorbells cannot release a lock on their own and need a paired smart lock or strike.
Video intercom equipment
Survey, installation and support
- 01A site visit checks the door, gate, existing buzzer wiring and Wi-Fi signal at the entry.
- 02The design covers the system and the release method: electric strike, smart lock or gate release.
- 03You receive a written, itemized proposal with hardware, labor and any optional subscription listed separately.
- 04The outdoor station, door release and power are installed and each household's app is connected.
- 05Handover includes testing answering, remote release and night vision with you on site.
- 06Ongoing support covers app, Wi-Fi and lock adjustments.
Typical timeline: About 1 day on site for a single door; 2 days with a gate and a door
Compatibility and limits
- Thick brownstone walls often weaken Wi-Fi at the door; app answering may need a wired network cable or an access point.
- Battery-powered units drain quickly on a busy entrance; a wired power supply is more dependable.
- Exterior changes in a landmarked historic district may need Landmarks Preservation Commission approval.
What is the best video intercom for a brownstone?
Read the answer
For an owner-occupied brownstone, the deciding factor is usually what the outdoor station must control. If you want to buzz in a guest at the iron gate under the stoop and at the parlor door, you need a system with two relay outputs or two stations. Aiphone's JO and JP series and Comelit's two-wire kits are proven choices for that layout, with optional app answering.
If the main goal is to answer from your phone anywhere, a cloud-first unit with a built-in door relay is simpler. Consumer video doorbells can show you who is there, but most cannot release a lock on their own, so they need a separate smart lock or strike to work as a true intercom.
Hardware with a wired power supply is a better fit than batteries for a building entrance. A stoop door that is buzzed dozens of times a day drains batteries quickly, and a dead intercom usually fails at the worst moment.
Can I answer my building door from my phone?
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Yes. App-capable video intercoms send a call to your phone with live video, two-way audio and an unlock button. You can let in a dog walker or accept a package while you are at work, and many systems keep a log of who was let in and when.
In a 2 to 6 family house, each unit gets its own button and app account, so a tenant's guests do not ring the owner. When a tenant moves out, the owner removes their app access in a minute instead of rewiring a handset.
The app is only as reliable as the Wi-Fi at the front door. Brownstone walls are thick, so test the signal at the entry before choosing a system, and plan for a wired network cable or an access point when it is weak.
Do I need an electric strike to buzz people in?
Read the answer
To release a door remotely, something has to unlock it electrically. On most wood and steel doors that is an electric strike mortised into the frame, which lets the existing lock stay latched until the intercom releases it. Fail-secure strikes keep the door locked during a power outage, which is the right choice for a street entrance.
Wrought-iron gates under the stoop are often better served by a surface-mounted gate release or an electric lock rated for outdoor use. In a landmarked building, exterior work usually needs a Landmarks Preservation Commission permit, so check before installing.
If you would rather avoid frame work, some smart locks integrate with video intercoms. That works well on a private door, but on a busy shared entrance a strike is more durable.
Common questions
Will a video intercom work with my existing lock?
Usually yes. An electric strike works alongside most existing mortise and cylindrical locks, so you keep your keys and gain remote release.
Do I need a subscription?
Not for basic answering and door release on most wired and app-capable systems. Some brands charge for cloud video recording or extra features, so ask for any subscription to be listed separately on the proposal.
Can each apartment in a 3-family house have its own button?
Yes. Each unit gets its own call button and its own monitor or app account, so calls go only to the right household.
What happens if the power goes out?
A fail-secure strike keeps the door locked and your key still opens it. The intercom resumes when power returns, and a small backup power supply can keep it running through short outages.
Can an old buzzer system in a townhouse be replaced without new wiring?
Often yes. Two-wire systems can reuse the existing wiring from the door to each floor, which keeps walls intact and lowers cost.