An old door entry system is not always for the skip
In plenty of blocks the door entry system has been running for twenty or thirty years. The sound is poor, one neighbour never hears the bell, the panel has faded and the button for the third floor has to be pressed twice. The temptation is to assume the only way out is ripping everything out and chasing new cables up the stairwell.
It is not always so. Some upgrades can be done in stages, and others reuse the cabling that is already there. This article sets out the options, the order they are best tackled in and what the residents’ meeting needs to decide. If you are after a full replacement, see our door entry systems service.
Before anything else: survey what is there
Before talking about upgrades, it helps to know what is installed:
- Type of system: analogue multi-wire, digital, two-wire.
- The state of the cabling in the riser and in each flat.
- The power supply unit: whether it is the original, whether it runs hot, whether it sits in a damp cupboard.
- The door release or electric lock: whether it opens cleanly or gives up halfway.
- The street panel: how well it is sealed, the buttons, and the state of the speaker and microphone.
That survey shows what is worth repairing and what is worth replacing.
Upgrades that do not mean a new system
Getting the audio back
A lot of “we cannot hear anything” problems are solved by changing the speech module in the panel, adjusting the volumes or replacing a tired power supply. It is quick work with a big effect on daily life.
New buttons and name labels
Buttons that stick, unreadable labels or a broken name plate make an entrance look neglected. Replacing them, or fitting a digital directory, smartens up the hall and cuts down on wrong calls.
A new door release
If the door does not open first time, the culprit is usually the release, its adjustment, or a dropped door that catches. A new release, properly aligned and correctly powered, removes one of the most frequent complaints.
Lighting on the panel and in the entrance
A panel with no light is hard to use at night. Backlit buttons and an outside light with a sensor make it easier and safer, and they are essential if a camera is going in later.
A steady power supply
A new power supply unit, correctly sized and sited somewhere ventilated, cures humming, weak calls and random resets.
Upgrades that change the experience
From audio to video with two wires
This is the headline upgrade. Two-wire systems let you fit a panel with a camera and video monitors using, in many cases, the same pair of wires that already reaches each flat. That means far less mess, dust and disruption for residents.
Not every old cable run will take it, so it has to be tested first. But where it works, the upgrade becomes much easier to swallow.
Calls forwarded to your mobile
With monitors connected to the flat’s wifi, each resident can take the door call on their phone and open the door from anywhere. It is very handy in buildings with a lot of second homes, which is the norm in Salou and Cambrils. One nice advantage: it can be optional flat by flat, so nobody is forced into it.
Access control on the panel
Adding a proximity reader or a keypad to the panel lets people open the door with a key fob, an access card or a code, and lets you cancel a lost credential without changing any locks. We cover it under alarms and access control.
A vandal-resistant panel
In a busy entrance, or one exposed to the weather, a metal panel with a decent rating against impact and water lasts far longer.
Which upgrade for which problem
| Current problem | Recommended upgrade | Disruption |
|---|---|---|
| Poor sound | Speech module and power supply | Minimal |
| Door does not open first time | Door release and door adjustment | Minimal |
| Panel unreadable or broken | Buttons, name plate or a new panel | Low |
| Residents want to see who is calling | Two-wire video entry | Low to medium, depending on cabling |
| Too many keys in circulation | Proximity reader | Low |
| Lots of second homes | Monitors with calls to mobile | Only in the flats that ask for it |
Deciding it at the meeting
- Ask for a survey and a proposal split into phases.
- Separate communal from private: the panel, the power supply and the main cabling are communal; each flat’s monitor may be handled differently, depending on what the association agrees.
- Weigh up doing it all at once against doing it in stages: phasing spreads the cost, but each visit has its own call-out and set-up.
- Ask your property manager what kind of decision is needed and how the cost should be shared.
Maintenance: the cheapest upgrade of all
A regular check, cleaning the panel, tightening terminals, testing the power supply and the door release, stops small faults piling up. In buildings near the sea, where salt air attacks contacts and screws, it matters even more.
Common mistakes
- Buying a domestic kit for a block of flats: they are not built for many homes or heavy use.
- Changing the panel without checking the power supply and the cabling.
- Fitting a camera with no lighting: at night you see nothing.
- Failing to keep a spare monitor or two for future faults.
If your block in Tarragona or nearby wants a better door entry system without needless building work, ask us for a quote with no obligation. We survey what you have and propose the upgrades in order of priority.