Generally intercoms aren't cheap and for $200 this is a pretty good value. It is easy to install, but there are some things I don't like:* Although the picture is in color, it is a little washed out.
* You can't have two video intercoms monitor the same camera (I have a 3 story house and would like to put video on the second and third floor).
* It isn't real obvious that the button on the front is the doorbell. They give you a lot of doorbell sounds (Christmas, etc) but really you only need one sound.
* The field of view is rather narrow and the mounting brackets don't really help when mounting since they are fixed. I mounted it with a piece of wood as an offset and then put caulking around it.
I guess this is a "get what you pay for" situation, since a lot of the other video intercom systems on the market are so much more expensive; presumably, if you really want a video intercom system yourself and don't want to spend an arm and a leg, this will meet your needs.
However, this system feels cheaply made and I'm not terribly impressed with it. The video is nowhere near as clear and crisp as the advertising photos the colors are washed out and sepia-toned, and everyone's eyes look strangely dark and creepy, like Hollywood vampire versions of themselves. The picture is good enough to tell if you recognize the person at the door, but not good enough to describe a stranger to the police.
The video duration is extremely short about 40 seconds after which, you have to press the button again; if you're watching to see what the stranger at the door does (and whether they leave when you won't answer the door), then you'll have to keep jabbing the video button over and over. This is problematic, as the buttons are big and cheap they sort of "pop" up and down when you press them, so if the person at the door is listening for movement, they may hear you pushing the video button over and over. And since you only have about 50 feet of cord to work with, you'll probably end up mounting the intercom close enough to the door to be heard.
The "talk" button, too, demonstrates a lack of craftsmanship; the button is 'sticky' and if you press the button at the bottom, then you can speak over the intercom, but if you press down on the top half of the button, the video immediately cuts out I can only assume that the talk button is shorting the feed in some way.
We were pretty disappointed, overall, with this video intercom. It's better than nothing, of course, but the advertising photos were much prettier and seemed to indicate a more sophisticated, better made system than what we received.
~ Ana Mardoll
Buy Defender GK300-7M2 Hands Free 2-Wire Color Video Intercom System Now
I like the look of the unit and the "color" monitor. The price is reasonable too. I do wish it came in other colors rather than just black. But I can paint it so that's not a huge deal. There is one thing that is very buggy to me and that's why I only rated it with three stars. When the chime is activated and I touch talk, I like the fact that I can talk freely without touching the button again, however I don't like the fact that when I touch "unlock" so the buzzer can unlock the door, that the camera turns off immediately. The camera should stay on for at least 20 seconds so I can see my visitor is able to open the door okay. The way it is wired now cuts off my communication with the visitor. I guess I can ways upgrade sometime in the future.Read Best Reviews of Defender GK300-7M2 Hands Free 2-Wire Color Video Intercom System Here
I got my Defender in the mail today. Already tested it out, it's really really cool.I have no real comparisons to make with other video doorbell surveillance systems, but what I can say about this is that it definitely works for what it was intended. Out of the box, it is incredibly easy to use and as quoted in the item description, will replace your old doorbell. (It will require some handywork to mount it and draw the cords between the walls if you want it looking super nice)
The video image is good... don't expect HD quality or anything, but it produces a very clear image where people can easily be distinguished. The low light function works extremely well, and its automatic so you dont even have to adjust anything from the main controls. The controls are relatively basic. Three buttons to view, talk, and open the door. There are chroma and brightness dials that you can adjust to your desired level, and a volume dial. You can also pick from half a dozen tones that will ring when the outer button is pressed. The only real qualms I have are the poor audio quality. The rings are pretty atrocious and worse than ringtones on a cell phone. The "doorbell" selection even sounds artificial and produced, but the quality of the actual speaking isn't too bad. Expect the quality to be that of the quality of intercoms that have existed for the past 30 years. No THX quality here.
I'm a Film/Video/New Media artist so what I really like about this is that it looks like I'll be able to do some circuit bending and rewiring/soldering so I can use this in conjunction with some video art projects. The parts are all there. With the right tools, I can carry this along with me places while recording and displaying an image at the same time... but that's all self indulgent mumbo-jumbo.
If you want a reliable, safe, and reasonably good quality item than this would be a good purchase for you. I have no idea about the longevity of the device, but it seems pretty well made and sturdy. For infrequent use, I imagine it would last a very long time.
Want Defender GK300-7M2 Hands Free 2-Wire Color Video Intercom System Discount?
Given the concerns of crime, I wanted an economical alternative for a video surveillance system. This unit is a good option.WHAT COMES IN THE BOX
Video Camera
Monitor
Wall Mounts and Hardware
Connecting Wires
CONSTRUCTION
Constructed of light plastic, I am not sure of its durability in the wet and humid months of Florida weather. The buttons on the video monitor are well marked and large for any user. On the side of the monitor, the user can set the doorbell to various sounds. Doorbell sounds are annoying, at best, and the sound is reminiscent of the old Commodore 64 MIDI songs. Sound quality is good but slightly hollow for conversation. Contrast and brightness can be adjusted.
INSTALLATION
Once you decide where to position the system. Drilling in the holes and attaching the unit takes less than 25 minutes. One of the negatives is trying to make the cable inconspicuous. Affixing the cable along the contour of the door and the floorboard took another 30 to 45 minutes.
QUALITY
For the price, the quality is good but not great. I would have expected more rubberized components to keep the elements from damaging this over time. However, for functionality, this system is very good and more than accomplishes the task.
USE
Replacing the doorbell button with the video monitor was easy after mounting the camera on the wall. However, it is not going to be clear to visitors that the button should be pushed. The "Defender" label is distracting and not aesthetically pleasing. Picture quality is functional and decent for the purposes of identifying the visitors on the monitor. However, there is a noticeable latency for the camera to adjust lighting conditions. The night vision function is decent but the field of view is limited.
One of the most useful functions is the ability to use the View button on the monitor. This allows a quick scan of the entryway by the user inside, to "Check things out".
OVERALL
Overall, this is good system, especially for the price point. It functions to the specifications but there are two things that I did not like: The sound quality for the replacement doorbell and the lightweight construction.
This system is worthy of consideration and you will have to decide upon the Pros and Cons for yourself, if you want to get this for your home.
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