New Building Doorbell System - Experiences

Hello everyone,

slowly but surely the exterior plaster is being done, which means we urgently need to decide on an intercom system.

The general contractor is installing some kind of "standard thing" (unfortunately I don't remember the manufacturer - but he said it's something very cheap for 200€) which we actually don't really want.

However, we also don't want to spend a fortune and have set a budget of 700€.

We have:

- Front door with fingerprint and motor lock (completely electrically wired)
- all connections in the entrance area provided for this (2-wire system and LAN)
- our technology in the basement with PoE switch, Speedport for fiber optic, 2 access points (one each on the ground floor + top floor) for sufficient Wi-Fi (if this is even important for the decision regarding the intercom system)

We want:

- no intercom on the top floor (we consider this "unnecessary" nowadays - however, it would be important that the doorbell can be "controlled" via app or via an external device so that we can also open the door and talk from the top floor on the go)

- intercom on the ground floor (preferably as a "tablet" with video - but this is not a must! Audio would also suffice, but it should look nice and not be a handset with cable or similar)

- is a "gong" necessary in the house? Is it somehow possible to install this for the top floor area so that I can hear the doorbell on the top floor and maybe also in the hallway? Otherwise, I only hear the gong on the tablet and possibly on the devices, correct? What would be the best way to proceed here?

- appearance is very important here... nice simple doorbell (if possible with name engraving) and nice indoor device (if possible in tablet form)


--> I read a lot about the company Metzler here - this could also fit into the 700€ budget in my opinion (model VDM10). After some research, you probably can't go wrong with this. The question I ask myself is: Can't I get it somewhere cheaper?

I look forward to hearing about your experiences in your "intercom system search" and also how satisfied you are with your current system.

I also look forward to tips/tricks, installation advice in the home network (with Wi-Fi via app etc.) and how all this is best controllable.


Thanks in advance!

--> I read a lot here about the Metzler company - this could also fit within the €700 budget in my opinion (model VDM10). After some research, you certainly can't go wrong with this. The question I ask myself, however, is: can't I get it somewhere cheaper?

When I read the title and the first sentences of your "requirements," I immediately thought of the VDM10. You already mentioned it, and in my eyes, it meets almost all of your desired criteria. Also regarding the set budget. If you want it cheaper, then check the marketplaces to see if something is being offered by chance... By the way, I did that too, found and bought a brand new system virtually at half price :) Admittedly, I haven't installed it yet, so my recommendation so far isn't based on practical experience :(

I always wonder about the background with these doorbell requirements. I really don’t know much about it, we have one that goes “Ding Dong,” and then someone goes to the door.

But just out of interest:
- If you have an indoor unit in tablet form – do you take it everywhere with you, like a phone?
- Why do you need an intercom system upstairs? Don’t you have to go to the door anyway when someone rings? Even if I could open the door from upstairs, how many scenarios are there where I would just want to open the door for someone without going there?

We will soon be facing this issue again as well, maybe there are use cases that I’m not currently aware of but actually do need. :)

Why do you need an intercom system on the upper floor?

You don’t have to go downstairs to ask who is there. Maybe you just don’t feel like talking about God with the Jehovah’s Witnesses or with the pushy salespeople from some so-called aid organization. Then the door simply stays closed.
Even if someone comes whom you want to let in, I would find it practical not to have to walk from the upper floor to the door first. I also planned my study room on the upper floor and then have a suitable way to open up when the delivery service comes.

So even if I could open the door from the upper floor, how many scenarios are there where I just want to open the door for someone without going there?

Or the child comes home from school and has forgotten the key. Then you can open it directly from upstairs.

I always wonder about the background of such doorbell requirements. I really don't know much about it, we have one that goes "Ding Dong," and then someone goes to the door.

But just out of interest:
- If you have an indoor unit in tablet form – do you take it everywhere with you, like a phone?
- Why do you need an intercom on the upper floor? Don't you have to go to the door anyway when someone rings? So even if I could open the door from the upper floor, how many scenarios are there where I just want to open the door for someone without going there?

We will soon face this topic again as well; maybe there are use cases that I am not aware of yet but actually do need. :)

Yes, theoretically, we don't need many functions either.

It should ring, and specifically in the living area on the ground floor (indoor unit in the form of a nice tablet mounted on the wall). We don't want an "ugly" thing with a coiled cord.
On the upper floor, I also don't need an intercom, but at least a chime or some information about what option I have to open the door via an end device or similar, or to notify the "visitor" from above via an end device (audio).

That's basically it :D

I have not seen anyone so far who was really satisfied with these fingerprints in the door, it's sold as great, but in my opinion it's garbage. Usually it works after the 3rd or rather 5th time.

That's why we decided on an NFC reader, because it always works, and I have the key with me anyway.

Gira has nice outdoor stations, and the indoor intercom station is simple as well.

Siedle offers various intercom stations, for example they also work with Jung, so it fits nicely into the switch program.

However, with video you start at around 1000 euros there.