Intercoms

Gene Davis (Ga.) · Nov 15, 2008

This is somewhat off the tractor beat, but is necessary. If your shop area is not exactly right in the little woman's line of sight and voice reach, you waste a lot of time going to see what she wants when she hollers, not to mention getting wet or cold having to go to the house to see what she wants! The problem; I had a nice setup of Radio Shack intercoms using the phone line as the signal carrier between the house and my metal shop building which is about 1,000 feet away. A change from satellite internet to DSL phone wire supplied internet service terminated the intercom service. Now I need to replace the intercom system with something that will work and don't really want to use a hard wired system because of the fact that requires burying wire or putting up with an overhead wire. The question I have now is this, since the house and shop building are on the same transformer, but have different meters can I use an intercom that transmits over the house a.c. wiring? Any information?

Roy in georgia · Nov 15, 2008

easiest thing is the 2way radios then you can be anywhere in the yard but that could be a hassle more that a help lol. We have cell phones and I can be out in the yard 100 ft. from the house and my wife will call me for some reason or another.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 15, 2008

How about using the second pair for your intercom? I would estimate that 99% of wiring for telephone service has at least 2 pair with some 3 and 4 pair wiring out there. I would almost bet that there is a second pair that could be used for the intercom.

IH2444 · Nov 15, 2008

Yep as long as they are on the same transformer and not too far away the ones that work over the AC line work nicely.
I have those, however women being women the wife always yells at me at the most opportune times.

A tranny halfway down or at least under a vehicle.
In the midst of spray painting, etc.

RichZ · Nov 15, 2008

I have a set of the Radio Shack intercoms using the house's wiring. I have it in my barns and milkhouse, as well as a few in my house. They work great, and they're cheap.

onefarmer · Nov 15, 2008

I suggest ditching the intercom turn up some noise (radio, air compressor...) and say sorry I didn't hear you with all the noise, when she comes out to get you with the rolling pin

Gene Davis (Ga.) · Nov 15, 2008

Looked at that option, and the connections on the intercoms won't work that way.

Walt Davies · Nov 15, 2008

Get a cell phone she can call you anytime anywhere.
Walt

Jim H SW-PA · Nov 15, 2008

I got mine at Lowe's and they work off the house wiring, If your shop has separate meter such as a business building they wouldn't work. They do fine in my shop it is 200 ft from the house and the electric comes from the house This is a possible 4 unit system I have three different bases working cost about $70.00

I am thinking about those 2 way radios that are rechargeable to carry on person, with a 2 mile range. for reasons that Roy mentioned. { The kitchen skip always comes at the wrong times.} LOL

Mathias NY · Nov 15, 2008

Definately agree with the cell phones. Doesn't matter where I am she can still get in touch with me. It works well the other way too.

Mr. Ed · Nov 15, 2008

It appears you don't trust your woman in question and she doesn't trust you. I suggest you both split and quit wasting your money with the electronics industry. Nothing is on your side. You must be one of those liberals that voted for the muzzy.

RobMD · Nov 15, 2008

Cell phone? Call house? That's what I do.

Jim H SW-PA · Nov 15, 2008

Well the reason we have ours is that we have a daughter that takes seizures, and is only used for emergency or if I have a phone call or time to eat. so I think some use it for convience rather than mistrust.

farmer boy · Nov 15, 2008

What? I hope you're not serious.

Dozer Guy · Nov 15, 2008

Hi Gene, this is what I did with 1/4 mile between the house and shop... I had a phone line that was put in by the phone company that rings both at my home and the shop at the same time... I got the code from a guy (line man) who showed me how to do a phone check on my line and it would ring at my house and shop at the same time.... When my wife needed me she would dial the magic numbers and do the magic rutien and it would ring on the other end (my end) and I picked up and we could talk , (bring home milk, eggs, ect ect.) and it worked vise-versa as well... Need more info., e-mail me.. Work for me for years, till we got cell-phones... Hope it helps.... Larry

Anonymous-0 · Nov 16, 2008

(quoted from post at 20:14:24 11/15/08) I have a set of the Radio Shack intercoms using the house's wiring. I have it in my barns and milkhouse, as well as a few in my house. They work great, and they're cheap.

Sorry to jump in someone else's post, but do the house wire ones work on a frequency or just like a phone? Reason I'm asking is, emergency services (police, ambulance, fire, etc) operate on the frequency that Stateside electronics like walkie talkies and baby monitors use. An American baby monitor will block emergency commo if the stars are aligned just right and depending on circumstances/damage caused could be expensive or lead to some time in the Hilton.

Dave

thurlow · Nov 16, 2008

Way back when.....when my parents were alive and I worked for my Dad, they had something like the Dozer Guy's. Also had a (LOUD) buzzer and a flashing light wired through the same wires. There was always an engine running or someone beating on something with a hammer, so the light was needed, in addition to the buzzer. Not sure how it all worked, but it did. I do remember a transformer which powered the buzzer and light.

MarkB_MI · Nov 16, 2008

I use a set of the "house wiring" intercoms between my house and shop and it works great. It's the Westinghouse brand sold by Lowe's. The distance between my house and shop is 125 feet, and my shop service is tied into the house meter. (You might have a little different results if you have separate service to the two buildings.)

buickanddeere · Nov 16, 2008

Emergency services have long ago updated their radio communication equipment. From the 30-50Mhz band where children's walki-talkies, ancient cordless phones and baby monitors operate.

john in la · Nov 16, 2008

When I was a kid (yes I can remember back that far) we had a phone in our shop area that was on the same line as the house phone. The guy with the phone company gave us a special prefix to dial on the phone that would make the other phone ring.

I wonder if this is still possible????????

Paul from MI · Nov 16, 2008

After my wife had surgery we got a couple of two-way radios. They worked fine. My shop is in a pole barn 300' from the house. Cell service here is kind of weak so it wouldn't ring inside the barn, but radios worked fine. Hardest thing was to get her to quit using them after she recovered.
Paul

tlak · Nov 16, 2008

They have wireless door bells. When it rings just pick up the phone. If you're both on the same line.

Gene Davis (Ga.) · Nov 16, 2008

Not possible to dial your own phone number anymore, phone tech says digital technology did away with this sort of thing.

Gene Davis (Ga.) · Nov 16, 2008

I am going to pretend I didn't see this moron's post. We have been married for 42 years and trust has never been an issue!! I rest my case and don't even see this post!!!

Intercoms

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Similar threads