Tag: intercom systems

Your intercom is the first thing a visitor touches at your gate. A good one lets you see or speak to whoever is outside before you open up. A faulty one leaves people hooting in the street, or worse, lets the wrong person in.

There are three main types of intercom systems in South Africa: audio, video and GSM. Each suits a different kind of property. This guide explains how they work and which one makes sense for your home, complex or business.

1. Audio intercoms

An audio intercom is the classic setup: a speaker unit at the gate, wired to a handset inside the house. A visitor presses the button, you answer on the handset and press a button to open the gate.

• Best for: homes where someone is usually indoors.
• Pros: affordable, simple and reliable.
• Cons: you can’t see who is at the gate, and you can only answer from inside the house.

2. Video intercoms

A video intercom adds a camera at the gate and a screen indoors, so you can see the visitor before you speak to them or let them in. Many newer models also connect to Wi-Fi, so you can answer and open the gate from an app on your phone.

• Best for: family homes, complexes and offices where you want to see who’s there.
• Pros: you can identify visitors, many models record snapshots or video, and app models work away from home.
• Cons: costs more and needs cabling (and Wi-Fi for app control).

3. GSM intercoms

A GSM intercom works like a cellphone at your gate. It takes a SIM card, and when a visitor presses the button it calls your phone. You speak to them and open the gate from wherever you are, at work, on holiday or in the back garden.

• Best for: properties with a long driveway, homes where nobody is in during the day, small businesses and farms.
• Pros: no cable to the house, answer from anywhere, and authorised numbers can often open the gate with a call.
• Cons: needs good cellphone signal at the gate and a SIM with airtime or a contract.

Intercom comparison at a glance

Which intercom is right for you?

Freestanding home

If someone is home most of the day, a video intercom gives you the most peace of mind. If the house is often empty, or the gate is far from the front door, a GSM intercom means you never miss a delivery or a visitor.

Townhouse complex or estate

Complexes need a multi-unit system where each unit has its own button and indoor station or phone number. Video intercoms linked to access control (tags, keypads or remotes) give the best control over who comes in.

Office, warehouse or farm

GSM intercoms are popular here because there is no long cable run to install. Calls can go to reception, a manager or a rotating list of numbers.

What to check before you buy (South African tips)

• Loadshedding: make sure the intercom and gate motor have a battery backup, so you can still answer and open the gate when the power goes off.
• 2G and 3G switch-off: networks are phasing out 2G and 3G. If you’re choosing a GSM intercom, go for a 4G/LTE model so it keeps working.
• Signal at the gate: test cellphone signal at the exact spot the GSM unit will go. A weak signal means dropped calls.
• Lightning and surges: cables between the gate and the house can carry surges into your intercom and gate motor. Surge protection and proper earthing help prevent damage during summer storms.
• Works with your gate motor: your intercom should trigger your existing gate motor cleanly. Our technicians check this as part of every installation.

Signs your intercom needs a repair or upgrade

• Crackling, faint or one-way audio
• The gate doesn’t open when you press the release button
• A blurry or blank video screen
• Your GSM intercom has stopped calling, or calls drop
• Faded or broken buttons, or water damage to the gate unit

Many faults are quick fixes, such as a battery, a connection or a weather-damaged button. If your unit is old or 2G/3G-only, an upgrade is often better value than repeated repairs.

Intercom installation and repairs by Nivia Automation

Nivia Automation has installed and maintained intercom systems since 2004. We supply, install and repair audio, video and GSM intercoms for homes, complexes and businesses, using our own trained technicians in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, not subcontractors.

Frequently asked questions

What is a GSM intercom?

A GSM intercom uses a SIM card instead of cables to the house. When a visitor presses the button at the gate, it calls your cellphone (or a list of numbers), so you can talk to them and open the gate from anywhere you have signal.

Do GSM intercoms work during loadshedding?

The intercom keeps working if it has a battery backup, which we fit as standard. During long outages some cellphone towers can lose power, so calls may drop in certain areas. A gate motor and intercom on good batteries give you the best chance of staying connected.

Can I open my gate from my phone?

Yes. GSM intercoms let you open the gate during a call or, on most models, by calling the unit from an authorised number. App-based video intercoms let you see the visitor and open the gate from the app.

Will my old GSM intercom stop working when 2G and 3G are switched off?

It might. South African networks are phasing out 2G and 3G, so older units that only support those networks can lose service. We can check your unit and upgrade it to a 4G/LTE model if needed.

Do you install intercoms for complexes, estates and offices?

Yes. We install multi-unit intercom systems for townhouse complexes, estates and commercial buildings, including video intercoms linked to access control.

Do you repair intercoms you did not install?

Yes. Our own technicians repair and service most common intercom brands in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.