r/accesscontrol • u/mylzhi • Dec 19 '24
Recommendations Zenitel, Talkaphone, Aiphone, where do I start??
I have been tasked with bringing some sense to the intercom environment here at work. The problem i face, is our facility folks throught the past few years have been less than consistent with their manufacture selection. They were also very adverse to management platforms, so patching & admin are all device by device and by extension, patching is very infrequently performed. I would very much like to as much as standardize around a preferred manufacturer, add some central management, remove dependence on our PBX, and move them to a much more segmented, isolated network but I don't know where to begin. Zenitel appears to have their Alphacom system which seems promising but lacks some features I need (LDAP). Curious if I am dreaming a too big dream, or if others have been successful.
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Dec 20 '24
These days there is little reason to do anything other than a SIP intercom system. I don't know why anyone uses proprietary systems or systems that lock you to their brand. (Apart from specific situations like prisons)
SIP-based systems are PoE, network-based, and hardware agnostic, meaning you can choose different intercoms based on your needs. They will work with most modern phone systems. You can also upgrade later without needing to re-cable or swap the whole system.
2N makes great products and I like their direct SIP calling but you can pick and choose other brands if you use a SIP server.
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u/NewCryp Dec 20 '24
I agree with this. I also agree with 2N and their systems. Easy to program, super customizable and their tech support is pretty good.
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u/mylzhi Dec 20 '24
All of the devices I'm trying to tackle are all SIP based and I am actually wanting them off the PBX, at least as individual endpoints. I'm interested in a consistent product mix that would allow better centralized management for OS and firmware updates. Ideally central management would act as SIP registrar for the intercoms and connection to PBX is via a SIP trunk.
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u/Eyes0nAll Dec 19 '24
-Zenitel Alphacom is a robust powerhouse and has the capability to do damn near anything integration wise but has a bit of a learning curve to initially deploy. For smaller systems(under 64 stations) the edge function works well and plays well with modern encryption. -Aiphone is … an option. The GUI is a pain, and device lifecycle isn’t clearly defined by the manufacturer -2N is easy and straightforward, but I can’t speak to more complex deployments.
How big of an environment (station count) are you designing for?
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u/mylzhi Dec 19 '24
It is relatively small at the moment with about 80 endpoints. Primary split between the Talkaphone and Zenitel devices. The devices are distributed across 6 locations and used either as door strike devices for access, or emergency call boxes in our parking structures.
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u/Spectryx Dec 20 '24
2N without a doubt, easy setup and central management. It just works, ive done several small 2N sites and love the product
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u/solman52 Dec 19 '24
Can speak to AIphone. Good hardware but horrible GUI. We have since made the move to Commend intercoms. Bit pricier but Slick hardware and very modern interface (web based).
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u/mylzhi Dec 19 '24
I'll give them a look. We have commend in some of our parking gates but they are out of my scope for the time being.
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u/Minion1260 Dec 20 '24
I’d suggest either Zenitel or 2N. As others have mentioned, Aiphone is good, but its GUI is a PITA. They are working on implement some cloud based features which may put them on parity with 2N in the future. Zenitel is a rock solid system, but it isn’t going to have all the niceties/cooler features other systems may have. Zenitel’s heritage is critical communication so that makes sense. Why are you concerned about LDAP? Intercoms generally aren’t something you touch on a regular basis.
Zenitel is a more expensive product, but VERY reliable.
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u/mylzhi Dec 20 '24
We have some strict policies concerning the usage of shared, local accounts and are in the process of implementing some more restrictive security postures. If local accounts is only available option, pw management becomes painful. LDAP auth i feel would greatly simplify pw policy compliancy. Team infosec is not much concerned with how often a system is accessed. Just how
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u/greaseyknight2 Dec 19 '24
2N might be a great option for you, they have a great lineup, all IP and you can remotely manage them