Lesson 1Cabling and topology choices: twisted-pair (CAT5e/6) for IP systems, 2-wire bus cable options for legacy systems, coax considerations, shielding and pair assignmentThis section examines cabling and topology options, comparing CAT5e or CAT6 for IP systems, 2-wire bus cables for digital systems, coax reuse in retrofits, shielding needs, pair assignments, grounding, and star versus bus layouts in small buildings.
CAT5e and CAT6 selection and limits2-wire bus cable types and constraintsReusing existing coax in retrofitsShielding, grounding, and noise controlStar vs bus topology in three-story sitesLesson 2Apartment monitor placement and types: flush vs. surface, colour video, audio handset vs. hands-free, distributed topology (star or bus)This section focuses on apartment monitor selection and placement, comparing flush and surface mounting, handset versus hands-free units, screen size, power and data connections, cable routing, and star or bus distribution from risers to apartments.
Flush vs surface mounting requirementsHands-free vs handset user experienceScreen size, buttons, and UI layoutCable routing from riser to monitorsStar and bus distribution in apartmentsLesson 3Entrance panel placement and selection: camera specs (resolution, WDR, IR), vandal resistance, mounting height and sightlinesThis section explains how to choose and position entrance panels, detailing camera resolution, lens angle, WDR, IR illumination, vandal resistance, mounting height, sightlines, weather protection, and accessibility requirements for a three-storey residential entrance.
Selecting suitable camera resolution and lensUsing WDR and IR for difficult lightingVandal-resistant housings and ratingsMounting height, angles, and sightlinesWeatherproofing and accessibility needsLesson 4Intercom system types: IP-based vs. 2-wire bus systems (digital), pros/cons for a small three-storey residential buildingThis section compares IP and 2-wire digital bus intercoms for a small three-storey building, focusing on wiring needs, scalability, video quality, power options, reliability, cost, and how each affects installation time and future upgrades.
IP video intercom architecture overview2-wire digital bus system architectureCost and scalability comparisonReliability and maintenance factorsRetrofit vs new-build selection criteriaLesson 5Integration notes with structured cabling: VLANs, network segmentation, bandwidth considerations, multicast/uni-cast video streams, and QoS configuration basicsThis section details integrating IP intercoms with structured cabling, including VLAN design, network segmentation for security, bandwidth and PoE planning, multicast versus unicast video, and basic QoS settings to prioritise voice and video traffic.
Assigning VLANs for voice, video, and dataSegmentation between intercom and tenant LANsBandwidth and PoE switch sizingMulticast vs unicast video configurationQoS markings and switch queue settingsLesson 6Door release integration: electric strike vs. magnetic lock wiring and power requirements, relay wiring from intercom to lock, safety considerations (egress)This section covers integrating door hardware with the intercom, comparing electric strikes and magnetic locks, wiring relays, power sizing, fail-safe versus fail-secure behaviour, egress safety, fire alarm interfaces, and code-compliant release methods.
Electric strike vs magnetic lock selectionLock voltage, current, and power sizingRelay contact types and wiring diagramsFail-safe, fail-secure, and egress safetyFire alarm and emergency release inputsLesson 7Testing video and audio: test checklist for camera image, microphone/speaker levels, intercom signalling, latency and network QoS for IP intercomsThis section presents a structured test plan for video and audio, including image framing, focus, WDR and IR checks, microphone and speaker levels, call signalling, latency, packet loss, and verifying QoS behaviour on IP-based intercom networks.
Video image quality and framing checksMicrophone gain and speaker volume testsCall signaling and door release testsNetwork latency, jitter, and packet lossDocumenting results and client handoverLesson 8Powering strategies: PoE for IP intercoms vs. centralised power supply for 2-wire systems, UPS/backup for entrance panel and door releaseThis section explains powering strategies, comparing PoE for IP intercoms with centralised power for 2-wire systems, calculating loads, selecting power supplies, placing UPS units, and ensuring backup for entrance panels, switches, and door locks.
PoE switch selection and power budgetCentralized low-voltage power suppliesLoad calculation for locks and panelsUPS sizing and runtime estimationPower distribution and overcurrent protection
