A. DIALERS
Telephone entry autodialers are essentially specialized telephones with autodial functions. To use one you dial a code, which is translated into the 7 or 10 digit telephone number of the person you are trying to contact. The resident receives a regular telephone call. The visitor can then be admitted by pressing a number on the telephone keypad which sends an electronic signal to release the door strike, magnetic lock, or gate at the entrance. Installing a dialer requires the building owners to install a business line to the unit and incurs a monthly phone bill.

DRAWBACKS:

1. Telephone charges.
Dialers require a dedicated business line to make calls. This involves an additional monthly phone charge for the building owners to use the intercom. In areas with measured service these charges can be quite large and vary with the size of the building and the frequency with which tenants receive visitors.

2. Resident limitations.
Because a dialer works as a regular phone call, every resident must have phone service to use the intercom. While this may not often be a problem, serious issues have arisen in public housing and subsidized housing where equal access to services is an issue.

3. Management.
Since a dialer requires each resident to have telephone service each telephone number must be programmed into the unit. At the start of each month the resident manager must then access the program and add the numbers of all new tenants while deleting the numbers of previous tenants. The additional involvement with the system electronics by the manager can sometimes cause service problems.

4. Telephone conflicts.
Since dialers act as regular telephones, if a tenant is on the phone, on the Internet or if the phone is offhook a visitor will not be able to contact the tenant. There are ways to solve some of these problems such as subscribing to phone company call waiting but they generally involve a cost to the resident.

B. NO PHONE LINE SYSTEMS
Viscount patented the first "no phone line" intercom system in 1965. "No phone line" systems such as our current Enterphone 2000 are essentially specialized telephone switches used to provide intercom functions. Rather than dialers, which connect through regular telephone calls, the Enterphone 2000 panels connect to a switching box in the basement. Every Viscount dialer can be connected as the front end of an Enterphone 2000. However, instead of being connected to a telephone jack they are instead connected to the 2000 controller.

ADVANTAGES:

Some of the issues relating to an Enterphone 2000 system versus a dialer are:

1. Cost
While the initial cost of an Enterphone 2000 may be higher, the switching equipment is designed to bypass the need for the dedicated business line used in dialers. With the advent of measured service in many jurisdictions the payback can be very brief.

Example :

Dialer (24 suites) Enterphone 2000 Typical Installed price: $2000 $4000 Ongoing Phone charges: $50/month $0 Total Outlay:               1 year $2600 $4000           3 years $3800 $4000           10 years $8000 $4000

2. Access
While dialers require every resident to have individual phone service, the Enterphone 2000 bypasses this need. This is most important for low income and government housing where fairness and access to service issues are important and not all residents can afford or prefer not to subscribe to telephone service. This helps also where phone service has been disconnected or interrupted or even for the period where a resident is moving in and has not yet been connected to regular phone service.

3. Distinctive Ring
The Enterphone 2000 sends a distinctive ring to allow residents the privacy of answering door calls if they do not feel like answering regular phone calls.

4. Call waiting
Unlike dialers, Enterphone 2000 systems have this feature built in. If you are on a phone call a tone waiting beep alerts you to a visitor. If you are talking to a visitor, the beep alerts you to a normal call.

5. No Reprogramming
B ecause the Enterphone 2000 bypasses the phone company, when residents move there is no need to reprogram a new phone number. Û

Telephone entry options: Û

1. DIRECTORIES
Because dialers use a translated code for privacy and security reasons, visitors normally require a directory to find the code associated with each resident. The list below is ranked by cost and complexity.

a. No Directory
Systems of this type are generally used in commercial applications with few extensions, where most users and employees already know the codes, or applications where the residents decide visitors need to know the code before arriving. While the latter is considered good for building security it can present problems, for example pizza or courier delivery personnel who were not properly notified of the right code. (See Crusader N, EmerPhone)

b. Paper directory
Paper directories are very common and have become very convenient with the use of PC's. A typical directory is 8 1/2 x 11 to match a normal typed sheet of paper. The building manager simply enters the names and codes in a database and makes changes when residents move. He then prints the new list and changes the directory sheet. (See Crusader D, Enterphone Axess, Marquis)

c. Small LCD
A small LCD directory has an electronic list, which shows 1, 2 or 4 names at a time. The benefits are the ability to manage the list remotely via modem and a small space requirement. Names are added by the unit keypad or by modem

d. Large LCD
Large LCD units have the ability to show 8, 24 or 48 names at a time. They serve the same function and convenience as small LCD units but are used in applications where large numbers of residents are involved and looking through names 2 or 4 at a time is tedious. They also look more architecturally pleasing. (See Marquis EDU, Elektra 8, Elektra 48) Û

2. TIMERS, RELAYS AND ACCESS CONTROL

a. Timers and relays
The more advanced panels include timers and relays to provide special functions. This includes the hours during which the door can be opened remotely or exit buttons for the disabled. It also allows security personnel to return calls from the unit to open the door.

b. Card readers
Due to practical considerations it is often not feasible to install a complete access control system. Therefore, several Viscount panels (Elektra series, Marquis EDU) have the ability to connect card readers directly to the panel. The advantage is that no space needs to be found to mount a separate controller (i.e. in and out readers at a gate) and that the programming database is all in one unit.