Damnit... my head hurts (intercom/doorbell)

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somedeafdudefromPNW

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Okay... I have a problem here.

I live in apartment, with an old intercom. The intercom uses a telephone landline and require a telephone to operate. I don't need to use the intercom, but also acts as a doorbell as well. It's the doorbell thing that bugs me. Now in the past, I just ask people to text me-- however I will have a hearing room-mate soon. Also I am starting to run into more people that don't have cellphones, and they get mad at me if I don't answer the door because I am unaware that the doorbell went off via the intercom.

So, now I got to figure out how to get around the intercom to know if someone is at the door. I have been told by deaf centres to go to the Source (Radioshak) and other tech stores to look for bluetooth devices now that their deaf clients use software and such to notify them of doorbells, fire ararms and such on the television and computers.

I have an old AlertMaster 6000 with all the accessories, but it doesn't fix my problem.

Only thing... where the hell do I start? :confused:
 
I'm not gonna be much help....but I have a dog that alerts me to someone at the door....lightning struck my old set up, and I'm not gonna replace all that wiring....

When I lived at the beach, on the top floor of a 2 story house, I didn't have a dog then. And the door going to my apt. was downstairs, had no way of knowing if someone was knocking or not.....My friends remedied the problem themselves!....They cut on the water hose, and sprayed water on my windows.....that's how I knew they were trying to get in....worked for me!....Before that, some even climbed on top of the oil drum around back to the 2nd floor, and waved and waved to catch my attention at the window...some really funny times.
 
AH, can you do any electrical work, or can your super? Easy fix is to wire a small bulb into the intercom so that it comes on when the buzzer/intercom is tweaked. Chevy57 is good at such stuff too.
Hope your head is better.
 
Here's the headache part...

There is two SEPARATE phonelines... one for the intercom, one for the landline.

11840_1143326115392_1594656448_30355119_1991347_n.jpg


If I plug into the (white) outlet in the wall, then all it does is connect me to the landline to talk to other people, and the intercom doesn't work.

11840_1143326475401_1594656448_30355121_7638089_n.jpg


However if I plug in the (grey) line that is coming out of the wall underneath the plate... into the phone, then the intercom work. Only thing is that this is the ONLY line in the entire suite, which happens to be in the living room, ... so if I am in my bedroom, I wouldn't know if there someone is trying to ring me.

*smacks head into desk*
 
phone system just a low voltage system. its a DC system unless it rings, then it becomes a AC 70-90 voltage. A household is 120V. As for the buzzing or whatever to calling into the apt, it may be simalar. Have you asked the super about it? How are you using it now for alerting you in living room ?
 
LDNanna said:
AH, can you do any electrical work, or can your super? Easy fix is to wire a small bulb into the intercom so that it comes on when the buzzer/intercom is tweaked. Chevy57 is good at such stuff too.
Hope your head is better.
Click to expand...

yes, my friend electrician and done this for me. easy I think if you know what you doing
 
Make your friends get cellphones and text you.

I pretty much believe that in this day and time, if someone is not using a cell phone, or their cell doesn't have txt, they are just being a rebellious twit.

A few of my friends don't have txt and when they get annoyed that they can't contact me, I tell them tough luck and to get with the program.

I'm not going to waste my time to make myself more available to people when there is already a perfectly good way to get in touch with me.
 
souggy said:
Had those before.

People steal them. Thanks though. :)
Click to expand...

Since most parts are inside, and the outside is screwed in, it won't do any good, and it would be difficult.

Maybe if you are in a new town it would be different. I would think it has to be an enemy who wants to inconvenience you since the outside ringer is useless without the parts in the house.

And although I have flashers, I agree with WriteAlex, and I expect to be texted before anyone visits me.
 
TheWriteAlex said:
Make your friends get cellphones and text you.

I pretty much believe that in this day and time, if someone is not using a cell phone, or their cell doesn't have txt, they are just being a rebellious twit.

A few of my friends don't have txt and when they get annoyed that they can't contact me, I tell them tough luck and to get with the program.

I'm not going to waste my time to make myself more available to people when there is already a perfectly good way to get in touch with me.
Click to expand...

Er... it's because they ARE rebellious twits. If it was in Edmonton, then I would had stuck with the text messaging thing, however here... it just... weird. Very hippie-like. Not every businesses let their clients carry cellphones either.

Bottesini said:
Since most parts are inside, and the outside is screwed in, it won't do any good, and it would be difficult.

Maybe if you are in a new town it would be different. I would think it has to be an enemy who wants to inconvenience you since the outside ringer is useless without the parts in the house.

And although I have flashers, I agree with WriteAlex, and I expect to be texted before anyone visits me.
Click to expand...

Thing is-- people see a fancy gadget, they think they can make money. They don't know what it is, just that they can make money off of any electronics they can get their hands on. They don't care what it is... they just see that no one is watching. If they can't pawn it, then oh well-- too bad. They don't really care.

Anyway, someone got me in connection to see how this can be resolved next week. :)
 
souggy said:
Er... it's because they ARE rebellious twits. If it was in Edmonton, then I would had stuck with the text messaging thing, however here... it just... weird. Very hippie-like. Not every businesses let their clients carry cellphones either.



Thing is-- people see a fancy gadget, they think they can make money. They don't know what it is, just that they can make money off of any electronics they can get their hands on. They don't care what it is... they just see that no one is watching. If they can't pawn it, then oh well-- too bad. They don't really care.

Anyway, someone got me in connection to see how this can be resolved next week. :)
Click to expand...

Good point. I live in a residential neighborhood where neighbors will watch out.

Glad you will be able to fix it next week.
 
I am not 100% sure how your intercom works. But if people push the button and it provides 18v (like a doorbell) or 70-80v like a ringing phone, you can get the Elk Doorbell and Phone Ring detector (has both, so you can determine which you need to use) and the Insteon I/O Low Voltage closure interface...
I/O Linc - INSTEON Doorbell and Telephone Ring Alert Kit - Smarthome

And then get as many Insteon receivers you want and pair them up with the I/O - so whenever the doorbell/intercom passes voltage, the I/O will recognize it and send signal to the receivers...
LampLinc - INSTEON Plug-In Lamp Dimmer Module, 3-Pin - Smarthome

I am using those for my home doorbell and phone (VP) signals.

This quick-start guide will help you get started...
http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/24950a6-qsg.pdf
 
souggy said:
Had those before.

People steal them. Thanks though. :)
Click to expand...

I have worked to be dealer of Harris Comm. I almost installed Sonic Alert doorbell signalers for customers who lives apt and house. what s about stealing them?
 
RickL66 said:
I am not 100% sure how your intercom works. But if people push the button and it provides 18v (like a doorbell) or 70-80v like a ringing phone, you can get the Elk Doorbell and Phone Ring detector (has both, so you can determine which you need to use) and the Insteon I/O Low Voltage closure interface...
I/O Linc - INSTEON Doorbell and Telephone Ring Alert Kit - Smarthome

And then get as many Insteon receivers you want and pair them up with the I/O - so whenever the doorbell/intercom passes voltage, the I/O will recognize it and send signal to the receivers...
LampLinc - INSTEON Plug-In Lamp Dimmer Module, 3-Pin - Smarthome

I am using those for my home doorbell and phone (VP) signals.

This quick-start guide will help you get started...
http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/24950a6-qsg.pdf
Click to expand...

I never seen them before. I m interesting about it.
 
Chevy57 said:
I never seen them before. I m interesting about it.
Click to expand...

Its fairly new and much more reliable than X10. Mine works 100% of the time, whereas when I had Sonic Alert or X10, they worked about 60% of the time.
 
My apt bldg have Tele-Com box (intercom panels with LCD screen for resident code listings), that goes directly phone or TTY. Also my bldg have a security channel on my digital cable channel 906 to see who's there at the tele-com. Caller ID would show an apartment bldg name as "Seward Square Apts" no phone nbr on it. I saw old fashioned intercom inside of my apt, there is no longer to use (dead intercom). Instead they use Tele-com system, when the visitor dailed the code to call in, the tele-com dailing out to resident's phone or tty (Bldg contracted with private phone company). I remmy in 2001 after I moved in the old tele-com not have a LCD display, so then 3 years later they upgraded new tele-com with LCD display much easier for deaf visitor see the LCD if the resident checked on security channel to see who's there, if resident accepted and use the phone to press 6 to let visitor in and the visitor see "OPEN" on the tele-com display.

6 = accepted and let visitor in
9 = access denied, no entry would show "Entry Denied" on the tele-com and would alerting the security guard company or police to check who attempting to enter the apt bldg.

I saw tele-com techie upgraded system there is a few wires, phone module and computer terminal cabling to the server in somewhere private in my bldg. The server saved the resident codes and access card system.

Some older apts doesn't have a tele-com box, press a button would buzzer or ringing, resident have to go to the lobby to see who's there.
 
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