Video GSM Intercoms

What is a video GSM intercom?

A GSM intercom is a gate or door entry panel with a SIM card inside. When a visitor presses the call button, it calls the mobile numbers or app you have set up over the mobile phone network, the same way a phone would. A video GSM intercom adds a camera, so you see the visitor on your smartphone before you decide whether to open the gate.

The panel opens the gate through a relay wired to the gate control board or an electric lock. Because the call travels over the mobile network rather than a cable, the only things the panel needs at the gate are power and a reliable mobile signal.

Why choose a GSM intercom system?

• No cable to the property. Ideal where trenching a cable from gate to house is impractical or expensive, such as long driveways, farms, paddocks and commercial yards.
• Answer from anywhere. Calls reach you at home, at work or on holiday, so deliveries and visitors are never left waiting at an unmanned gate.
• Multiple users and dwellings. Multi-button panels and multi-user systems let several households or businesses share one entrance.
• Simple to retrofit. A GSM intercom can be added to most existing electric gates without disturbing the drive.

Our video GSM intercom range

• AES Opyn 4G video GSM intercoms come in Imperial and Architectural finishes, with or without a keypad for code entry, and there is an optional AES Opyn 7 inch touchscreen monitor for answering indoors. For larger sites, the AES Multi Opyn 4G covers versions for up to 10,000 users.
• Akuvox 4G GSM video intercoms include the E18C 4G, a door station with a camera that calls over the mobile network. Read more in our post on the new Akuvox range.
• Intratone video GSM intercoms run from the 1-way SC-01, in flush and surface versions, to SC-02 flush panels for 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 dwellings. These models are listed with a 15-year unlimited SIM. Our post on the Intratone Only One explains how Intratone manages access for up to 10 dwellings.

For audio-only panels, see audio GSM intercoms. To improve signal or extend a system, see GSM antennas and GSM speaker modules, or browse all GSM intercoms.

Video GSM intercoms compared with IP and wired systems

GSM is the right choice when there is no practical cable route and you want to answer on your phone. Where you can run a network cable to the gate, a video IP intercom gives the most flexibility for large or growing sites. For a single house with a cable route and someone usually at home, wired video intercoms with indoor monitors are simple and dependable. If you only need to open the gate for known callers, without speaking to them, a GSM access device is a lower-cost alternative.

How to choose a GSM intercom

• Mobile signal at the gate. Check signal strength at the exact panel position on the network you plan to use. Where signal is weak, an external GSM antenna can help.
• SIM and call costs. Check whether the panel needs its own SIM contract or comes with a SIM included, as the Intratone models listed here do.
• Number of users. Choose a 1-way panel for a single property, or a multi-way or multi-user system for shared entrances.
• Keypad entry. A built-in keypad lets regular users enter a code instead of calling. You can also add a standalone keypad or proximity reader.
• Mounting height. For drivers, mount the panel on an intercom post at car window height.

Installing a video GSM intercom on an electric gate

Most GSM intercoms connect to the gate through a relay output wired into the control board’s open input, or by switching an electric lock. Plan the power supply at the gate, check the relay suits your gate automation, and test the mobile signal before you fix the panel in place.

When the intercom is part of a powered gate, the whole installation needs to be safe, including the gate’s safety devices. Our guide on how to make your electric gate safe explains what to consider. For other ways to control entry, see our full intercoms and access control range.

Frequently asked questions

How does a video GSM intercom work?

A video GSM intercom contains a SIM card and calls your phone over the mobile network when a visitor presses the button. You see and speak to the visitor on your phone, then open the gate from the call or app. The panel triggers the gate through a relay wired to the gate control board or an electric lock.

Do GSM intercoms need a SIM card?

Yes, every GSM intercom needs a SIM to connect to the mobile network. Some panels need you to supply your own SIM and plan, while others come with one included. The Intratone video GSM intercoms in this range are listed with a 15-year unlimited SIM.

What is the difference between a GSM and a 4G intercom?

GSM is the general name for intercoms that use the mobile phone network, and 4G is the network generation a panel connects to. Newer panels such as the AES Opyn 4G and Akuvox E18C 4G use 4G, which carries video more smoothly than older networks. The UK has already switched off 3G and 2G is due to follow, so a 4G panel is the safer choice for a new installation.

Will a GSM intercom work if the mobile signal is weak?

Signal at the panel is what matters, so test it at the exact mounting position before you buy. Where signal is marginal, an external GSM antenna mounted higher up or nearer the road often makes the difference. In areas with no usable signal on any network, a wired or IP system is a better fit.

Can more than one person answer a GSM intercom?

Most GSM intercoms can call more than one number, either in turn or through an app on several phones, so another member of the household can answer if you miss the call. Multi-way panels give each dwelling or business its own button.