Who’s that knocking on my front door?

Style to the fore
Urmet Domus has aimed for aesthetic appeal with its latest video entry product, Utopia.

“Architects, builders and property developers go to great lengths to make the internal as well as the external features of buildings looks as attractive as possible to potential buyers, and yet most door entry systems appear as though they were designed in the 1960s,” the company’s UK sales director Mark Hagger says.

To remedy this situation, Urmet Domus teamed up with De Lucchi, one of Europe’s leading design architects, to create the Utopia – which it claims is the most attractive video monitor on the market, without compromising on functionality.

The company says the new video monitor is the first to have a 4-inch TFT colour display, offering high quality images from any angle.

“With looks that will complement the décor of any new or refurbished apartment block, house or office building, Utopia boasts a range of functions to ensure users can effortlessly identify and control entry of visitors, including clear duplex speech,” Hagger says.

The Utopia is surface-mounted and comes with three supplementary service buttons for opening a secondary door or switching on stairway lights. A green LED lights up on the monitor if the user operates the mute function, while a red LED provides a warning if the door is left open.

Up to four units can be connected in parallel to create an intercom system.

“De Lucchi’s design and our technical expertise have come together to produce Utopia, which sets a new standard for door entry systems,” Hagger says.
Reader Service No 102

Cost effective handset
BPT Security Systems says its Lynea monitor handset features superior audio quality and high definition images at a low price.

The Lynea YV flat video monitor is available with colour or monochrome displays, with a 4.5-inch screen on the latter and a 3.5-inch screen for the former.

It features a large, easily identifiable button for solenoid door lock release, stair light and all the standard controls on a BPT door entry monitor.

A further loudspeaker can be added, turning the monitor into an intercom systems or adding extra volume in noisy environments, to ensure the call is heard.

The monitor is supplied with the wall mounting support, which includes the audio handset for fitting alongside the monitor.

There is also a Lynea recessed 5-inch audio and video handset, with a traditional direct view 5-inch monochrome picture tube, and featuring the same functionality as the YV monitor.

Users can choose from four Lynea audio handsets, which can be used stand-alone or combined with the monitor.

The handsets start from a low cost entry model that comes with door lock release and the option of adding an auxiliary button and additional loudspeaker, through to the top of the range multifunctional model with up to six buttons for intercom use, indicator LEDs, call note level regulation and a choice of door bell melodies.

The Lynea handsets can be used with any of BPT’s door entry systems, including the System 200, System 300 and the recently launched X2.
Reader Service No 103

Attractive entry
Comelit has released its Diva colour video door entry system.

The attractively presented unit has been designed to stand out from traditional systems. It includes a 3.5-inch, high resolution LCD monitor, and is able to be operated hands-free by the user if desired.

The monitor is mounted in housing just 3cm in depth, and a desk conversion kit is available.

The call tone can be muted, and brightness and call volume can be adjusted by the user. Brackets are available for traditional, simplified and digital Comelbus systems.

The Diva monitor comes combined with Comelit’s Powercom entrance panel as a ‘Family Kit’.
Reader Service No 104

System 300 launched
BPT Security Systems claims its new System 300 is the most advanced door entry system ever launched in the UK.

The company says it uses ‘true’ two wire upline signal transmission for maximum installation and cost efficiency.

“Unlike most entry systems that rely on three pairs of twisted Cat 5 cable as the upline carrier to video receivers, the system 300 is able to use just two for all video, audio and data signals,” BPT says.

“This is achieved through the use of Echelon Lonworks and BPT proprietary bus technology.”

It claims this provides installers with cost savings in both cable and installation time. The system is also designed to be attractive to developers, as they are able be flexible with the equipment, including on-screen messaging and alarm signal reporting to a concierge.

The System 300 is suitable for a wide range of residential and commercial applications, from large multi-block sites where equipment and cable cost savings are welcomed, to smaller sites using only audio that can benefit from using just the one twisted pair throughout the system.

“With large sites, the System 300 really comes into its own, as it can be used across 256 blocks of apartments, each with up to 32 entrances,” BPT says.

“Each block can have its own switchboard with the system 300, as well as a main control room switchboard. All or selected calls may be intercepted from entrances to residents and routed to the concierge switchboard if required. And for the very large apartment, up to ten intercom monitors can be installed within any dwelling.”

The System 300 is modular and can be used with the full range of BPT equipment, including the Integra combined telephone and video monitor and the vandal-resistant Targha door entry panels. It can also be interfaced with any access control system
Reader Service No 105

Audio kits launched
Videx Security has introduced a new range of audio door entry kits, including the new 3K audio kit, consisting of door panel, power supply and telephone handset.

The 3000 series telephone in the kit has an electronic call tone, three position volume adjustment, plug-in handset cord, and a built-in relay to switch the electric lock, reducing the need for large cross section cables to the handset – which can also be powered by either a 12v AC or DC supply.

Videx says this makes them ideal for installations requiring back-up facilities.

There is a choice of one to twelve button entry panels, which can be either surface or flush mounted.
Reader Service No 000

Atlantico is go
Another new product from Urmet Domus is the Atlantico 4-inch black and white video door phone.

Also designed by Michele De Lucchi, the unit is designed for simple and rapid installation, and can be installed on walls or tabletops, using an optional kit.

The door phone’s electronic call signal is sent to a supplementary speaker arranged under the handset. Call volume can be adjusted using a ‘trimmer’ – a red light indicates when the device is muted.

The Atlantico can also be used to manage a number of supplementary services, such as staircase lights or additional electrical lock.

Various brackets are available for connecting Atlantico video door phones to analogue systems, with or without coaxial cable, TO VOP Digivoice digital systems, and to two-wire video systems.

The company’s Winspot and Winflat video systems were designed and styled by Giugiaro Design.Both offer a 4" screen with the Winspot featuring colour LCD and and angle adjustment feature.

The range includes wall brackets and desk mount kits to allow a wide range of applications to be covered
Reader Service No 106

Audio door bell
Videx Security’s Audio Door Bell is a simple to install door entry system that the manufacturers claim will suit all dwellings and is easy to install.

It consists of a slimline audio wall mountable handset with a lock release button, a 12v AC transformer, and the single call button external panel.

When the caller presses the call button on the door panel it produces an electronic call tone at the handset. When answered, the caller and occupant can have a two way conversation. If required, the occupant can then release the door by pressing the release button on the white telephone handset.

The Audio Door Bell can operate with up to three handsets and additional sounders, and slimline code lock and a telephone interface unit can be added.
Reader Service No 107

BellView video entry
The video door entry system from BellView is designed for controlling access to residential homes, blocks of flats and commercial premises.

The video telephone allows the resident to view a caller at the entrance, speak with them and have control of their access.

The Bellview system is suitable for all requirements, from a single station up to complex multi-dwelling apartment blocks, the company says.The system features a 4-inch Sony flat screen monitor, high resolution CCD camera with IR lamps for night use, door status indication, call tone mute facility with timed options, outputs for fail-safe and fail-secure lock release devices, and lock release timer.
Reader Service No 0108

White Horse range
White Horse Access Control offers the simple two-wire VK2 and the five-wire VK12 or VK22 video entry kits.

Its VK2 requires the minimum of wiring and provides a simple interface between the intercom and gate/door release.The kit is composed of a wall-mounted internal unit with 4-inch flat screen and three buttons. Brightness, contrast and call volume control can be adjusted. The external unit has one call button, a speaker unit, and camera.

The 1000 series VK12 or VK22 kits allow for two-way installation, and require no coaxial cable.
Reader Service No 109

Gemini’s systems
Entry control specialist Gemini Access supplies both audio and video systems.

High performance CCD camera, with infra-red, will operate in as low as 0.1lux.

Audio systems range from its single entrance,single call audio system (the WL-06D) through to the WL-03NL, numerous entrance, digital call audio system.

There is a similar breadth of availability on the video side. The basic model CM-06D features a high performance monochrome CCD camera with IR that will operate down to 0.1 lux. Up to four handsets can be connected to the system. A hands-free model is also available.

The CM-03D digital video system can handle multiple calls. It uses a six-wire bus and video cable, and a colour camera option is available.
Reader Service No 110