Video Doorbell & Intercom Installation Geelong
Video doorbells and intercoms wired, mounted and set up for homes across Geelong, by CabledIN
Video doorbell & intercom installation in Geelong covers fitting the unit at your door or gate, giving it power, connecting it to the chime or indoor screen, and setting it up on your phone. CabledIN's licensed electricians (REC 30925) install customer-supplied and recommended systems.
Replacing an existing wired doorbell is usually a short visit. A new intercom with a gate station takes longer, so we quote after seeing the property.
- What we install
- Video doorbells, audio and video intercoms
- Power
- Hard-wired from a doorbell transformer, or wire-free units
- Set-up
- Chime, indoor screen and phone app working before we leave
- Who does it
- Licensed electricians, REC 30925
What a video doorbell does
A video doorbell, also called a doorbell camera or smart doorbell, replaces the button at your front door with a small camera, microphone and speaker. When someone presses it, or walks up to the door, your phone alerts you and shows live video. You can talk to the visitor from the couch, from work or from the other side of the country.
- See who is there before you open the door.
- Speak to couriers and tell them where to leave a parcel.
- Get an alert when someone approaches, even if they never press the button.
- Keep a recording of who came and when.
- Still hear a chime inside the house, through your existing doorbell chime or a plug-in one.
Hard-wired or wire-free: which doorbell suits your home
| Feature | Hard-wired video doorbell | Wire-free video doorbell |
|---|---|---|
| Power | Constant extra-low voltage power from a doorbell transformer | A rechargeable power pack you take down and charge |
| Upkeep | None. It is always on | Recharging every so often, more in busy doorways |
| Recording | Can record continuously or before the button is pressed, depending on the model | Wakes on movement, so the first second or two can be missed |
| Installation | Needs wiring and a suitable transformer | Mounting and Wi-Fi set-up only |
If your home already has a wired doorbell, hard-wiring the new one is nearly always the better choice. The doorbell itself runs on extra-low voltage, but its transformer connects to the 240 volt supply, and that connection must be made by a licensed electrician. DIY electrical work is illegal in Victoria.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
Do video doorbells need Wi-Fi?
Yes, nearly all of them. The doorbell sends its video to your phone through your home Wi-Fi, so the signal at the front door matters as much as the doorbell you choose. Front doors are often a long way from the modem, behind a brick wall or a solid door, and a weak signal shows up as slow alerts and frozen video.
We check the signal at the door before fitting the unit. If it is poor, the lasting fix is a Wi-Fi access point closer to the entry, fed by a data cable from the modem. Some intercoms and doorbells can also be cabled directly, which takes Wi-Fi out of the picture altogether.
Intercom installation for homes and units
Intercoms are covered here too. An intercom does the same job as a video doorbell, but it is a fixed, cabled system: a station at the door or gate and one or more handsets or screens inside. It does not depend on a phone, which suits older family members and shared households.
- Audio intercoms. A door station and an indoor handset. Simple and reliable.
- Video intercoms. A door station with a camera and one or more indoor screens. Many current models also ring your phone.
- Gate stations. A station at the front gate or the end of a long driveway, cabled back to the house.
- Several indoor screens, so you can answer from the kitchen, the study or upstairs.
- Replacing an old intercom. We can often reuse the existing cable, which keeps the job small.
The same system suits the door of a small shop or clinic.
How video doorbell & intercom installation works on the day
- Check. We test the existing doorbell wiring and transformer, and the Wi-Fi signal at the door.
- Position. We agree the height and angle with you. The unit is set so it sees faces and the approach to the door, and is aimed at your own entry.
- Power. The transformer is replaced or installed if needed, and new cable is run where there is none. This is electrical installation work, so it is tested and you receive a Certificate of Electrical Safety for it.
- Mount and seal. The unit is fixed to the wall and the cable entry is sealed against the weather.
- Connect. The chime or indoor screen is connected and the app is set up on your phone.
- Test and hand over. We press the button, check the video, the audio and the alerts with you, and clean up.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
Recording and storage
Where the video is kept depends on the product. Some doorbells store clips on a memory card or a small base unit inside the house, with nothing more to pay. Others store clips in the maker's cloud service, usually for a monthly fee, and without the plan you get live video and alerts but no recordings. Check this before you buy, or ask us.
How long clips are kept ranges from a few days to a couple of months, depending on the product and the plan. If you want continuous recording of the front of the house, not just clips, a doorbell works best alongside a security camera system with its own recorder.
Doorbell not working? Repairs and replacements
We also repair ordinary wired doorbells and intercoms. The usual causes are a failed transformer, a worn button, corroded connections at the door, or a broken cable in the wall. We test each part, replace what has failed and leave the old system working, or replace it with a video unit if you would rather upgrade.
A porch that is dark at night makes any doorbell camera less useful. A sensor light over the entry gives a clearer picture and a safer step, and we can fit outdoor lighting on the same visit.
Why use CabledIN
- Licensed Victorian Registered Electrical Contractor, REC 30925, based in North Geelong
- More than 20 years' experience
- One visit for the wiring, the power and the set-up
- Lifetime workmanship warranty
- 2,000+ five-star Google reviews
Call 1300 025 555, or see our smart home page if the doorbell is part of a bigger plan.
Recent doorbell and intercom jobs around Geelong
Frequently asked questions
What is a doorbell camera?
It is a doorbell with a built-in camera, microphone and speaker. When someone presses the button or approaches the door, it alerts your phone and lets you see and speak to them.
Do doorbell cameras need Wi-Fi?
Nearly all do. The video reaches your phone through your home Wi-Fi, so a strong signal at the front door is essential. Some cabled intercoms work without it.
Do I need an electrician for video doorbell and intercom installation in Geelong?
A wire-free doorbell only needs mounting. A hard-wired doorbell needs a transformer connected to the 240 volt supply, and that connection must be done by a licensed electrician.
Can a video doorbell use my existing doorbell wiring?
Often, yes. We test the wiring and the transformer first. Many older transformers need replacing because they cannot supply enough power for a video unit.
Will my existing chime still ring?
Many video doorbells work with a wired chime, but not every chime is compatible. We check yours, and if it will not work we can fit a compatible chime.
Can I install a video doorbell on a brick or rendered wall?
Yes. We drill and fix into brick, render and stone, and seal the cable entry. An angled mount can be used where the wall or frame points the camera the wrong way.
What is the difference between a video doorbell and an intercom?
A video doorbell is a single Wi-Fi unit that rings your phone. An intercom is a cabled system with a station at the door or gate and fixed handsets or screens inside the home.
Can you replace an old intercom?
Yes. We can often reuse the existing cabling for a new audio or video intercom, which keeps the work and the cost down.
How long does a video doorbell keep recordings?
It depends on the product and whether it stores clips on a card, a base unit or a paid cloud plan. Storage ranges from a few days to a couple of months.
Do you install doorbells and intercoms outside central Geelong?
Yes. We work across Geelong's suburbs, from Highton to Lara, and on the Bellarine Peninsula, the Surf Coast and Golden Plains. Longer gate runs on bigger blocks are quoted after we see the property.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.