You’re probably familiar with door entry systems if you own, manage, or develop multifamily apartment buildings. The apartment call box is one of the most common types of building entry systems. But if your property relies on a call box, you and your residents miss out on access control systems that offer greater convenience and enhanced security.
Read on to learn more about door call boxes, how they work, and why you should ditch your call box and upgrade to a better entry system.
This post covers:
- What is a door call box?
- How a door call box works
- Top five reasons why you should ditch your building’s call box
- Best alternatives to door call boxes
What is a door call box?
A door call box is a door entry system that allows visitors to call residents and request property access.
Door call boxes are usually installed at entrances to:
- Apartments
- Gated properties
- Offices
- Commercial buildings
- Industrial facilities
You can also use a call box for gate entry, in which case you would purchase a gate call box.
Sometimes called a telephone entry system or an intercom system, a front door call box consists of hardware at the entrance and hardware within each unit throughout the building. The system’s in-unit hardware could be a landline phone, a tenant’s cell phone, or a device with ‘listen’ and ‘talk’ buttons.
How does a door call box work?
Door call boxes enable visitors to contact residents within a building to alert them of their arrival and request property access.
The outdoor call box device is connected to all the indoor hardware—either wirelessly or with wiring. This connection allows visitors outside the building to talk to tenants within it. Most door call boxes operate with telephone technology—that is, telephone wiring or a cellular network.
A door call box requires hardware and a phone connection, as well as a power supply and a door release system. The door release enables tenants to unlock the door for their visitors remotely. With the push of a button, a tenant can instruct the call box to unlock the door’s electric or magnetic lock.
Watch how ButterflyMX works:
How to use a door call box
Call box entry systems are straightforward because they operate similarly to telephones.
Here’s how to use a door call box:
- First, a visitor searches for a tenant in the directory within the call box’s outdoor device. Alternatively, buttons may be assigned to each tenant’s unit, which a visitor can press to call them.
- The tenant receives and answers the call on their phone or in-unit device.
- Finally, the tenant unlocks the door for their guest by pressing ‘9’ on their phone or the ‘door open’ button on their in-unit device.
5 reasons why you should ditch your door call box
Every multi-tenant building should have a door entry system, but a call box isn’t the best solution. There are better access control systems that offer improved functionality and enhanced features.
Here are the top five reasons why you should ditch your door call box:
- No video calling. Call boxes generally don’t have cameras, so they don’t enable video calling between tenants and visitors. This can create a security risk because residents can’t see who’s requesting property access.
- Difficult to install. Most door call boxes require you to run wiring throughout the entire building. And even cellular telephone entry systems — which operate over cell networks instead of wiring — require a separate cellular control box.
- No mobile app. Door call boxes don’t come with a mobile app. As a result, residents can’t remotely control access.
- Expensive to maintain. You’ll need a costly phone plan for your door call box. Additionally, you may have to pay a technician to manage and update your system.
- Inconvenient. Door call boxes don’t provide convenient property access. Most call boxes don’t offer any features enabling residents to open the door for themselves. So, residents are stuck carrying keys, fobs, or keycards. Call boxes also don’t integrate with other proptech or access control devices.
Best alternatives to door call boxes
Many door call boxes don’t offer robust visitor management features for residential and commercial properties. So, if you’re considering a call box for your existing property or a new development, there are better entry solutions.
Look for an entry system that delivers a modern access experience designed for your residents’ lifestyles. After all, residents cite amenities that offer convenience and security as their highest priorities in an apartment, and an effective entry system can deliver both.
Here are the top three alternatives to a door call box:
- IP intercom: An IP intercom beats out the traditional door call box because it operates over the internet. As a result, it can transfer larger and more complex data, including video. Additionally, you won’t have to tear down walls or lay extensive wiring to install an IP intercom.
- Cloud-based access control system: Cloud-based access is ideal for any property because it empowers you to manage the system from anywhere. Hosting data in the cloud rather than maintaining a physical server onsite will cut costs.
- Video intercom: Most door call boxes don’t come with a camera, limiting your property’s security. Without a camera, your entry system doesn’t allow residents to visually confirm who requests access. But a video intercom lets residents see their visitors before opening the door for them.
ButterflyMX door entry system
If you want to upgrade your door call box, consider ButterflyMX.
The ButterflyMX video intercom is the ideal solution for your front door because it enables seamless property access for residents and staff and provides a simple way for visitors to enter. Residents enjoy video chatting with visitors, and property managers appreciate ButterflyMX’s cloud-based dashboard.
Here’s what you get with ButterflyMX that you won’t get with an outdated door call box:
- Integrations. You can integrate your ButterflyMX entry system with your property management software, apartment smart locks, and other proptech for a more efficient property.
- Delivery passes. The ButterflyMX Delivery Pass is a one-time access code that residents send to delivery carriers. Couriers use the code to enter the building and complete deliveries.
- Keyless access. Your tenants bring their smartphones everywhere — so let them use their phones to open doors. ButterflyMX enables completely keyless entry.
- A powerful mobile app. The ButterflyMX mobile app allows residents to open doors, update their personal access settings, create virtual keys for visitors, and more.
- Easy installation. ButterflyMX requires only three wires: internet, power, and door strike. As a result, you’ll save time and money over installing a traditional door call box.
- Audit trail of all door entries. Improve security at your property with a record of all door entries complete with time- and date-stamped photos.
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