Video Intercom Retrofit for a Chicago Condo Building

Project Overview

A 60-unit condo building in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood needed to replace a failing analog telephone entry system that had been in service since the building was constructed in the early 2000s. Residents had been dealing with poor audio quality, missed calls, and an inability to see who was at the door before buzzing them in. Vidimost LLC designed and installed a 2N IP Verso video intercom system that gives every resident HD video and two-way audio from their smartphone, along with a modern touchscreen panel at the main entrance.

The Challenge

The existing intercom was a traditional telephone entry panel mounted at the building’s front vestibule. Visitors would scroll through a directory, select a resident’s name, and the system would dial the resident’s phone number. The system had several critical shortcomings that had worsened over the years.

Audio quality had degraded to the point where conversations through the panel were frequently unintelligible, especially during windy conditions or heavy street traffic. The system provided no video capability, so residents had to buzz in visitors blindly based on voice alone. The telephone directory required manual reprogramming by a technician whenever a resident moved in or out, and the turnaround time for updates was often a week or more.

Several residents had switched to cell phones as their primary numbers, and the intercom system’s DTMF door release function was unreliable over cellular connections. This meant residents had to physically go downstairs to let guests in, defeating the purpose of the intercom entirely.

The Solution

We installed a 2N IP Verso video intercom unit at the main entrance, equipped with an HD camera, wide-angle lens, and a capacitive touchscreen directory. The unit connects to the building’s existing network infrastructure and communicates with residents through the 2N Mobile Video app on their smartphones.

When a visitor arrives, they select a resident from the touchscreen directory or dial a unit number. The resident receives a push notification on their phone with a live HD video feed of the visitor. They can speak with the visitor through two-way audio and unlock the door with a single tap, regardless of whether they are at home, at work, or anywhere else with an internet connection.

The 2N system also supports QR code access, allowing residents to generate temporary access codes for expected guests, delivery drivers, or dog walkers. These codes can be set to expire after a single use or after a defined time window.

Installation Details

The installation was completed in a single day with minimal disruption to building access. We removed the old analog panel and mounted the 2N IP Verso unit in the same location, using the existing electrical rough-in. A single Cat6 cable was run from the intercom to the building’s network switch in the basement, providing both data connectivity and PoE power to the unit.

We pre-configured the resident directory and tested the system with several residents before going live. Each resident received an email with instructions for downloading the 2N Mobile Video app and linking it to their unit. Our team was on-site for the first two days after activation to assist residents with setup and answer questions.

For buildings considering a similar upgrade, our intercom replacement and upgrade page describes the process and options in detail.

Outcome

The building now has a fully functional video intercom system that residents can operate from anywhere using their smartphones. The management company can update the directory instantly through the 2N web interface without scheduling a technician visit. Residents have reported a significant improvement in package and food delivery handling, since they can now verify and admit delivery personnel remotely even when they are not home.

The board has received positive feedback from residents and noted that the new system has reduced the number of complaints related to building entry by a wide margin compared to the previous year.

Contact Vidimost LLC at (872) 254-5015 or [email protected] to discuss an intercom upgrade for your building.