Yelling down the stairs to attract the attention of your family or housemates is a thing of the past. Today, there are plenty of wireless intercom systems and devices that are ideal for home use.
But which products are the best? Which wireless intercom system should you buy? Here are the best home wireless intercoms for your home.
1. Amazon Echo Show
It's easy to overlook the intercom capabilities of an Amazon Echo Show. In truth, in-home wireless communication is not the device's main purpose. Instead, it is primarily designed to be a visual interface for Alexa. You can use it to see feedback from your smart home, watch videos, and even follow the news.
However, if you have more than one Echo Show in your home, you can use them to not only talk to each other but to also see a live video feed of what's going on in another room. The downside is the price. The new Echo Show 8 costs more than $100. If you plan to put a screen in all your most-used rooms, the bill could quickly spiral.
2. Hosmart Wireless Intercom System
If you'd prefer a more traditional approach to intercoms, check out the Hosmart Wireless Intercom System. You get six units in the box and can place them wherever you want in the home. Unlike the Amazon Echo Show, it does not rely on Wi-Fi to work.
Instead, it operates on its own frequency range; 462.62 to 467.61 MHz. Each unit has a range of half a mile. As such, the Hosmart product is one of the best wireless intercom systems to use if you have a large plot of land and want to create a network between lots of different points within it.
The system allows private unit-to-unit communications, or you can use a single unit to broadcast a message to all the other boxes simultaneously. The boxes can also be used as an always-on baby monitor. You don't even need to put it near a wall connection; they have built-in batteries that last for 10 hours on a single charge.
3. Qniglo Wireless Intercom System
The Qniglo Wireless Intercom System is similar to the Hosmart Wireless Intercom System. It has a half-mile range, nine channels, and a built-in microphone and speaker. The big difference is that you can buy the Qniglo product on a unit-by-unit basis. For people who just want to hook together a couple of rooms, that's preferable to shelling out on six Hosmart units, so you will be able to save some money.
Other notable features include an automatic answer mode (so a unit will accept a call instantly and without ringing) and an always-on hands-free VOX function (so you don't need to press the call button to start communicating). There's also a group calling feature. It lets you broadcast to all the units in your intercom simultaneously, even if the individual units are running on different channels. Such functionality could be vital in the case of an emergency.
4. VTech DM221 Audio Baby Monitor
Most people are familiar with the concept of a baby monitor. They let new parents keep an eye on their youngsters without needing to be in the same room as them around the clock. However, have you ever considered the benefits of using a baby monitor as a regular wireless intercom system?
Naturally, there will be a trade-off on features. You're not going to have multiple channels and half-mile ranges. On the positive side, however, an entry-level baby monitor is considerably cheaper than even the most budget wireless intercom system.
One device worth considering is the VTech DM221 Audio Baby Monitor. It has a 1,000-foot range, support for two-way talking, and DECT 6.0 to help eliminate white noise and interference. VTech also makes more expensive baby monitors, including ones with a screen, in case you'd like a bit of additional functionality.
5. SAMCOM FTAN30A Wireless Intercom System
SAMCOM is another company that makes several home wireless intercom systems. For the perfect balance between price and features, we suggest the SAMCOM FTAN30A. It has a range of 1,500 feet and works across 20 channels. And, like the Hosmart product we discussed earlier, the system has a built-in 2200mAh battery. With a run-time of 27 hours of continuous use, it's ideal for when you don't have a nearby electricity source.
The SAMCOM FTAN30A does not require Wi-Fi and is compatible with some of the company's other intercom models, including the FTAN20AA desktop system and the FPCN10A, FPCN30A, and FPEN10A two-way radios. You can buy the SAMCOM FTAN30A Wireless Intercom System in packs of two, three, six, eight, 12, or 18.
6. Arcshell Rechargeable Two-Way Radios
Like baby monitors, two-way radios provide much of the same functionality as a two-way radio at a lower cost. Of course, two-way radios are also portable---they're ideal for people who like pottering in the garden or fiddling in a garage. The Arcshell Rechargeable Two-Way Radios have 16 channels, 1,500mAh rechargeable batteries, and an eight-hour battery life during continuous usage.
Importantly for an intercom system, they also have VOX mode, meaning you can use the radios as baby monitors or always-on intercoms. The devices even come with earpieces, meaning you can easily chat in private to other people in your home without having your conversations overheard. In ideal conditions (i.e. flat with no obstacles), the radios have a mammoth five-mile range.
7. Nucleus Anywhere Intercom
The Nucleus Anywhere Intercom is the second system on our list with a screen. Each Nucleus unit includes a 120-degree HD camera that lets you see the whole room and everyone in it. Better still, Nucleus supports Amazon Alexa, which allows you to listen to music in stereo, get the news and weather, and control other smart devices.
You can connect an unlimited number of Nucleus devices to a single system. You can also use the Nucleus to communicate with others outside of your home when they use the free Nucleus mobile companion app.
The Best Wireless Intercom for Your Home
All the best wireless intercoms systems we've discussed in the article attend to different needs. Make sure you think about the number of devices you need, where you will use them, the range you need, and the features you need before you hit the buy button.
If you decide to make the best use of tech you already own, make sure you check out how to use your Amazon Echo as an intercom.