We are needing to replace our current gate video intercom & unlock system (or more correctly, had an electrician attempt to do it but messed up such that we now have no intercom to the gate).  Gate is about 80 m from & not in sight of the house and is normally locked so we need the intercom to unlock the gate when unexpected visitors arrive.  Existing system was an old Kocom unit but the video was shot and the system now dissembled!  Original link to gate was a ducted 6-wire security cable but that has now been pulled and replaced by new cat6 cable (gel filled, underground variety) in the existing duct.

I have looked at Panasonic residential video intercom systems which seem to be one of the more common ones used.  But have been underwhelmed by what appears to be about 15 year old technology and the inadequate weatherproofing of the door/gate stations - all only IPx4.  Despite diagrams showing typical installations on a post some distance from a house, IPx4 is not adequate for our situation where the gate unit will be exposed to rain from the front.  Most of the units are only IP44, which is probably inadequate even dust-wise for us (gravel driveway, pine pollen).  Only one system can use mobile phones as secondary monitors and that only in-house via wifi, or by email notification.  Fixed monitor on that system has a resolution of only 480 x 272.  Also, other than their apartment series, none of the Panasonic options include keypad and video intercom on a single gate station.

One alternative that looks interesting is a Fanvil i30 SIP Video Doorphone unit (link removed to enable posting).  This is a new product released only a few months ago though there has been a similar i31 version around for several years - dearer & more robust (IK10) but not needed in our case.  The i30 has an ideal combination of keypad, RFID card reader, and video intercom on a single gate station & is IP65 - not great but passable.  Also highly configurable, with detailed instructions in generally good English.  Plus Fanvil have a local NZ presence (NZ staff) and a number of local suppliers/installers.  PB Tech also have the unit in stock but their staff appear to know little about it ("its a new product - do not really know anything about it").

Two main concerns are the SIP phone aspect and apparent lack of a matching dedicated monitor.  Fanvil are primarily a SIP phone manufacturer and their door intercom units seem designed to mainly link to SIP phones.  I understand that for offices systems, eg. at reception in a office setting, which is probably the main target market.  I gather most of the local (north Auckland) installers would likely not be interested in a one-unit, residential type install.  But a SIP phone as the primary monitor in the kitchen would likely have a low WAF.  And I really would rather avoid having to buy and configure an IP PBX just to run the gate video intercom

The website linked above does though indicate that it can be installed P2P, to link the i30 directly with a VOIP phone, PC or SIP softphone without use of a PBX.  Also shows the i30 connected to a dedicated wall monitor.  These features may be new to the i30.  I have spoken with one local supplier/installer (BANX) and their tech person who handles Fanvil was not aware of either the P2P or dedicated wall monitor options (this being a new model).  I pointed him to the website above and he offered to follow up with Fanvil but that was a week ago and I have not heard back since :(. 

Is anyone familiar with this unit or know of a reasonably priced alternative that offers the same level of functionality?  Preference is for a keypad, RFID card reader, and video intercom on a single gate station, a minimum of IP65 (67 better), decent video resolution, a main video wall monitor and ability to have a secondary monitor (PC would be adequate as the secondary - work from home situation).  Remote smartphone capability would be great, though that can come later - would need be sure of the system security first.  If at all possible, something under $1k all up.  At a pinch something like the Fanvil C600 IP phone would do for the main monitor but it seems overkill and for WAF would prefer a simple dedicated monitor as indicated in a couple of images on the Fanvil website for the i30.

There is cat6 cable from the gate to the wall monitor location, or alternatively to our router and/or main switch at the other end of the house.  Main switch is a Netgear GS724T v4.  It has both voice & video VLAN capability and is connected to a Unifi AP AC LR wireless access point that provides good wifi to the main wall monitor location (hence WiFi only connection to the main monitor would be OK).