I know this has been asked here before (because Ive asked it) but with all the new gear out there thought I would ask again.

Client really wants to retain intercoming functionality from his existing system. Its not nutone but the other one.

House is about 10,000 sq ft with intercoms in 6 rooms. They want to be able to basically tell the kids to go back to bed rather than walking across the house. Phone system is off the table. House wide wifi is good if that helps.

I will be onsite tomorrow if I need to check for what wiring was used originally.

When that other guy wakes up and sees the only info provided is "the other one" he will probably spit coffee through his nose. I will ask first, what is the other one? Green bean cans and string? M&S?

Russound?

[Link: russound.com]

Main thing would be to see what wiring was used for the old intercom and/or can you retro cat 5 in if they didn't use cat 5.
I've done the m&s retro system and it's ok.
Id look at Russound if the house has cat 5 or if you can add it.

Since I started drinking the blue kool aid -- how about Control4 touchscreens with video intercom feature built in?

The need lessens as you guys don't realize I've trained you to ask, you just go ahead and save me the trouble. The point has always been to try to make the communication smoother. Good job!

Probably a four wire M&S.

Probably.....

Tell the client to text his kids and F the intercom.

It was late. Yes, m&s. Though to my credit, I'm not looking to retain or upgrade this exact style so manufacture was of little importance. Wiring type more so.

It's either a flat four wire ribbon, or a two twisted pair shielded cable, or possibly a 6 or 7 wire twisted pairs shielded cable. All were 22 gauge, except when some dummy installed a system using some junk wire they figured would work (it usually didn't).

The old 440 & 880 systems used the 6 or 7 wire, and the low end units used the four wire stuff.



I've seen the old wiring punched down on a cat5 keystone and used for a Russound distributed audio system before. Didn't have full control of course, but it was working.

This isn't really a replacement for a full intercom system, but it is an alternative way to get you kids to respond.

If all he wants to do is get the kids attention, Lutron Caseta.
From his phone he can just flash the lights on and off in the kids bedrooms.
If it is late it means time for bed (and he can see if they turn the lights back on later)
Any other time of day, if the lights flash the kids know someone wants them front and center.
I hate yelling to get my son's attention, he often is playing some on line game with headphones on, so a quick flash on and off of the lights in his room means I or his mom want to talk to him. Works well. (of course his friends think it's funny)