Wireless Intercoms

[ddawg16]

I did a search here and everything I found was at least 2 or more years old....

So....is anyone using wireless intercoms?

Found some information on the net that suggested that wired is still the best way to go.

What I want is the ability for my wife to tell me "Dinner is ready" or so I can say "Hon, bring me another beer...please". And we want to be able to monitor the attic where the kids are going to have a play room.....

Does anyone have any experience with any systems?

[2LTim]

Ddawg:
For the "Dinner is ready," and "Bring me a beer," we just use cell phones. I guess you could call them a wireless intercom system. As for monitoring the kids, I suggest you pick up a copy of Jeff Foxworthy's CD where he talks about "Technology and kids."
Tim

[Torque1st]

The units that are "semi-wireless" and communicate thru the power lines are subject to a lot of interference and they do not have a long life. They do work and last a year or two before they stop working. It has been my experience that all of that power line communication/control type control equipment has a rather short useful life.

I have not had any personal experience with the true wireless units that use RF.

[tfi racing]

How far away is the garage?Many cordless phone sets have intercom capability and don't require a phone line for the satellite units,might be worth a look.

[72chevy]

We used a set from RadioShack for years after our son moved into a basement bedroom. They were FM Wireless. The neighbors had the same idea and so we had a party-line going for a while. :lol_hitti

[HOTFR8]

I have one that works through the power wires. Plug them into the power and they transmit to the other units. Work well between the Works and the House.

[trainer]

I just got this set of cordless phones. THe intercom function is awesome. You dont need to even push a button to answer the intercom. When the other extension calls, you just talk back, like a speaker phone.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444330 5752&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672558&bmUID=1229904898176&deptid=1408474396672521&ctgrid=1408474396672528&subctgrid=1408474396672558

[Mr_fixit]

The phone companies usually have an "intercom" feature. Our company doesn't charge for it. What you do is dial your own number, hang up, the phone rings as if a normal call. If you have caller ID, it shows up as no data sent. If you answer the call, she can then pick up the phone and tell you she loves you, and dinner is ready.

The phone line has to have this program feature turned on. I have a couple personal ring numbers, so if I get the 3 short ring call, it's either my buddies or the lovely wife.

[kwright]

We have a wireless intercom, but rarely use it anymore. We have multiple-handset wireless phones in the house, which has page/intercom/conference capability. One of the remote handsets is in the shop so I can page the house, or someone in the house can page the shop. Any handset can page any other. I believe we got the system at Staples and cost all of about $75.00 w/four handsets. The shop is about 100 feet or so from the house.

This system actually works better than the old-fashioned intercom, better quality sound and such... IMHO.

[Matt M, PA]

I have a pair of those walkie-talkie type Motorola radios. Work very well.

[bomber]

My wife boght one abour 5 years ago as a "gift" for me -- still works fine, but only when I'm:

1 -- working under a low slung car
2 -- up in the rafters trying to keep something heavy from falling on a motorcycle
3 -- ALMOST done with a tricky setup on the mill table
4 -- trying to keep a bike with no wheels attached from falling over.

Highly functional -- something of a pain ;-}

[donslow]

The UWS WireFree 900MHz Wireless Intercom (http://www.intercomsonline.com/Wireless-Intercoms-s/20.htm) available at www.IntercomsOnline.com works well for workshops unless you are in a metal building then you need a MURS system.

There's an article about workshop intercoms at: http://www.intercomsonline.com/Workshop-Intercom_a/165.htm

[rinny_tin_tin]

What about a pair of UHF handhelds like either the Motorola or Midland GMRS or FRS? We use them quite a bit here when I need to retrieve a critter in the woods and I need to comm back with my wife in the house. $100 is a cheap solution.

[terry1769]

We use a pair of FRS radios. Soon I'll have the second phone line pulled out there and we'll just use the phones.

[ddawg16]

We have the Uniden Wireless handsets/Phones....they work great....but, only if I take it into the garage with me.

I really want something that I can mount up on the wall downstairs and upstairs and not have to worry about 'finding' it....

Once the garage is done, the cable gets routed to the garage...which will hopefully stop the squirles and rats from using the line to get to my avacoado tree.....I'm putting the wireless router and Vonage base up in the attic. So...I'll have phone....but as I said, we spend way too much time trying to find the handsets....which is why I want a fixed wireless system.

Thanks so far for the info.....keep it coming.

[shocksystems]

I just got this set of cordless phones. THe intercom function is awesome. You dont need to even push a button to answer the intercom. When the other extension calls, you just talk back, like a speaker phone.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/browse/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444330 5752&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672558&bmUID=1229904898176&deptid=1408474396672521&ctgrid=1408474396672528&subctgrid=1408474396672558

I was really excited about these phones until I read the Amazon customer reviews. It looks like people hate them. Rarely have seen such bad reviews for a product! I hope you do not have the trouble these people have had.

:headscrat

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/B0017YPH06/ref=sr_1_6_cm_cr_acr_img?_encoding=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

Cheers!

Jim

[shocksystems]

The phone companies usually have an "intercom" feature. Our company doesn't charge for it. What you do is dial your own number, hang up, the phone rings as if a normal call. If you have caller ID, it shows up as no data sent. If you answer the call, she can then pick up the phone and tell you she loves you, and dinner is ready.

The phone line has to have this program feature turned on. I have a couple personal ring numbers, so if I get the 3 short ring call, it's either my buddies or the lovely wife.

This seems great. I have Comcast Digital Voice service and just checked their website, I do not see this feature listed. If anyone is successfully using this feature with Comcast, please let me know.

Cheers!

Jim

[gadgetshack]

There are a few truly "wireless" intercom solutions on this website (http://www.gadgetshack.com/wiin.html) or their main website at www.gadgetshack.com (http://www.gadgetshack.com)

[72chevy]

There are a few truly "wireless" intercom solutions on this website (http://www.gadgetshack.com/wiin.html) or their main website at www.gadgetshack.com (http://www.gadgetshack.com)

Don't you mean your website? :wtf:

[Gary S]

........... or so I can say "Hon, bring me another beer...please".

Not a problem here. Beer fridge is in the garage where it belongs.:)

[sledzz]

I have used the Radio Shack wireless intercom for a couple years.They are blue in color and work very well and my shop is about 50' from the house. No batteries just plug them in.

[Rolling_Thunder]

I have this setup. One in the Kitchen, one in my detached Garage and one in my mothers basement in-law apartment. they work pretty good. As far as monitor the kids just buy a baby monitor!

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2036287

[malibu101]

I've had a pair of Radio Shack FM wireless (through power wire like explained above) for at least 5 years 1 in garage and 1 in kitchen and they work fine.
EXCEPT
When I changed lights in the dining room and living room to CFL's the intercoms became useless static filled noise boxes. Turn the CFL's off and they work as fine and clear as they ever did.

[Kevin54]

Don't you mean your website? :wtf:

BUSTED !!!!! :lol_hitti




As far as the wife and I, we just use our cells. I normally call the house phone from my cell as we have phones in most of the rooms.
I just have to remember not to answer the wall phone in the garage when I call the house. I was really giving it to telemarketers one day until I figured out it was me calling :lol_hitti

[gadgetshack]

Don't you mean your website? :wtf:

Yes, I do. But it is one of the only websites that actually have the truly wireless intercoms in stock right now. Just trying to help.

[beartoothweb]

If you have a landline phone system still, the ATT DECT 6.0 setup is awesome. I just put in 8 of these cordless phones in my house. They have an intercom function, and the range is amazing. The base is in my office, and I can use the phone and intercom in my shop (very corner) which is about 200' from my office, through walls, etc. The ones in the basement work great too.

Since they are all wireless, all you need is power where you want them.

Total, including the 2 extra handsets, the system was like $120.

[wrhenker]

OK, here ya go... just search for intercoms...

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/c-36-wireless-intercoms.aspx

This is that answer for any intercom you will ever dreamed about, want or will ever need.

[jamesemery728]

Panasonic KX-TGA931T Four handset cordless phones. The intercom feature works great. Just plug them into a wall outlet. The base unit is the only one that needs to plug into a phone line.