Why video entry systems are not all the same
A video entry system looks simple enough: a panel in the street, a monitor indoors and a button to open the door. But between a basic model and a well-chosen one there are differences you notice every single day: whether you can see a caller’s face at night, whether the audio is intelligible over traffic, whether you can open the door from your phone when you are out, and whether the panel survives years of sun and damp.
This guide runs through the features that genuinely make a difference, for a house and for an apartment block alike. If you have already decided to replace yours, you can see how we work under door entry systems.
1. The wiring system: two-wire, IP or analogue
This is the most important technical decision and it shapes the whole installation.
- Two-wire: video, audio, power and door release all travel down a single pair. It is the usual choice for renewing the system in an older block, because the existing cabling can often be reused without chasing out walls.
- IP: uses network cable, often with power over Ethernet. It lets the video entry system integrate with the building’s network, with apps and with concierge desks. It makes sense in new build, full refurbishments or buildings with structured cabling.
- Analogue multi-wire: older systems with many conductors. Today it is almost never worth fitting a new one; it is kept where the job is simply a repair.
Before picking a model it is worth checking which cables actually reach each flat. That check saves surprises in the quote.
2. Camera quality
Resolution matters, but it is not the whole story. Look at:
- Field of view: a wide angle lets you see several people, or someone standing off to one side of the panel.
- WDR (wide dynamic range): stops a caller’s face going black when the sun is behind them, which happens constantly on street-facing entrances.
- Night vision: infrared LEDs or a soft white light let you recognise a visitor with no ambient light.
A camera with high resolution but no WDR and no night lighting performs worse in practice than a more modest one that gets those right.
3. Clear audio with no feedback
Audio is the commonest complaint on older systems. Look for models with echo cancellation and independent volume control at the panel and the monitor. On busy streets or in nightlife areas, like some of the avenues in Salou, a decent loudspeaker and a well-protected microphone make all the difference.
4. The monitor: size, hands-free and memory
Indoor monitors run from about 4.3 to 10 inches. For most homes a 7-inch screen strikes a good balance. Other useful functions:
- Hands-free, so there is no handset to lift.
- Image memory, storing a photo of every missed call.
- Intercom between monitors in the same flat, or with a concierge.
- A button to release a second door or the garage.
5. Calls forwarded to your mobile
In 2026 this is close to a requirement. Video entry systems with wifi or an IP connection forward the call to an app: you see who is at the door and open it from anywhere. It is genuinely useful for second homes, holiday lets, or if you take a lot of deliveries.
Two caveats: you need decent wifi where the monitor is, and it is worth taking the account security seriously, with a strong password and the manufacturer’s updates applied. If the signal does not reach the hallway, sort the network first; our wifi solutions page explains how.
6. How tough the street panel is
The outdoor panel takes sun, rain, dust and, on the coast, salt air. Two ratings help you compare:
| Rating | What it measures | Aim for |
|---|---|---|
| IP rating | Protection against dust and water | IP54 or better; IP65 where it is exposed |
| IK rating | Impact resistance | IK07 or better on a publicly accessible entrance |
Near the sea, anodised aluminium or stainless steel finishes and vandal-resistant fixings add years to the life of the equipment.
7. Built-in access control
Many panels take a proximity module for key fobs or access cards, a code keypad, or opening from a phone. For a block, it is a way to stop handing out physical keys and to cancel a lost credential on the spot. If that interests you, we go further in alarms and access control.
8. Expandability and spare parts
Buildings change and equipment fails. Before deciding, ask:
- Can monitors or panels be added without replacing the whole system?
- Will the same manufacturer still have spares in a few years?
- Can basic and advanced monitors sit on the same installation?
A closed, cheap system can turn out expensive if in five years there is no compatible monitor for a resident who has just moved in.
House or apartment block: different priorities
In a house, what people value most is usually the call to a mobile, night vision, and opening the gate or the garage. Often it is a single-call panel with one or two monitors.
In a block, what counts more is reusing the existing cabling, a robust panel, how easily monitors can be added or swapped, and integration with access control. The residents’ meeting also needs to decide whether everyone changes their monitor at once, or whether only the communal part is renewed.
The installation counts too
Good equipment badly installed causes problems: hum from poorly made joints, panels set at a height where the camera misses people’s faces, power supplies with no ventilation. A professional installation means checking the cabling, sizing the power supply, mounting the panel at the right height and testing every flat before leaving.
The short version
- Choose the system, two-wire or IP, based on the cabling you already have.
- Put WDR and night vision ahead of raw resolution.
- Insist on audio with echo cancellation.
- Weigh up calls to your mobile and integration with access control.
- On the coast, a panel with good IP and IK ratings and salt-resistant finishes.
If you are thinking about fitting or replacing a video entry system at home or in your block in Tarragona or nearby, ask us for a quote with no obligation. We check the cabling and propose the option that suits your building.