--- title: "Intercom Types: Audio, Video, 2-Wire, IP & Wireless | Qyvea" url: https://qyvea.co.ke/intercom-system-types-kenya description: "Intercom types explained: audio vs video, 2-wire, 4-wire, IP/SIP, Wi-Fi and GSM, and which suits a home, apartment block, office or gate in Kenya." updated: 2026-10-17 --- > Markdown copy of https://qyvea.co.ke/intercom-system-types-kenya for AI assistants. Prices and stock change; check the live page. 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A knock at the gate should be a question, not a decision. Read on: it takes a few minutes and could save you a lot more than that. **In this guide you will see:** - Audio: low cost, voice only. - Video: see visitors before opening. - 2-wire: reuses old intercom cable. Quick answer Intercoms differ by what they carry (audio only or video) and how they connect: 2-wire and 4-wire systems run on dedicated cable, IP intercoms run on the network and can ring phones, Wi-Fi units connect wirelessly to the router, and GSM intercoms call mobile numbers over the cellular network. [Photo: Marija Zaric / Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/8lzwzoCsxhM) Why this matters now ## Each unscreened visitor is a decision made without the facts. ### If you wait - You answer every knock without seeing the visitor - Strangers and delivery riders choose when you talk - Elderly relatives open to anyone ### What you get - See and speak to the visitor on a screen or phone - Release the lock only for people you choose - Answer from the sitting room or from across town [Fanvil i16V Video intercom](/products/fanvil-i16v-video-intercom-49009 "Fanvil i16V Video intercom")[Hikvision DS-KH9510-WTE1 10.1" Indoor](/products/hikvision-ds-kh9510-wte1-10-1-indoor-station-474 "Hikvision DS-KH9510-WTE1 10.1\" Indoor Station")[Dahua DHI-ASF601A ELECTRIC LOCK](/products/dahua-dhi-asf601a-electric-lock-52142 "Dahua DHI-ASF601A ELECTRIC LOCK") [Get my free quote on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/254113301244?text=Hi%20Qyvea%2C%20I%20read%20your%20guide%3A%20Intercom%20System%20Types%20Explained.%20I%20want%20a%20video%20intercom%20sorted.%20Can%20you%20help%3F)Reply usually within 30 minutes. Free site survey in Nairobi and nearby counties. Real products, live prices, in stock now ## Key takeaways - Audio: low cost, voice only. - Video: see visitors before opening. - 2-wire: reuses old intercom cable. - IP/SIP: scalable, phone app, apartments and offices. - GSM: gates with no cable to the house. ## The main types | Type | Connection | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | | Audio intercom | 2/4-wire | Budget homes, internal calls | | Analogue video (4-wire) | 4-wire cable | Single homes | | 2-wire video | Two wires | Replacing old systems without recabling | | IP / SIP video | Network cable (PoE) | Apartments, offices, phone answering | | Wi-Fi video | Wireless to router | Homes where cabling is hard | | GSM intercom | Mobile network | Gates far from the house | ## Choosing See [intercom system prices](https://qyvea.co.ke/intercom-system-price-in-kenya), [apartment intercoms](https://qyvea.co.ke/apartment-intercom-system-kenya) and [gate intercoms](https://qyvea.co.ke/gate-intercom-installation-kenya). ## Frequently asked questions Which intercom is best for an apartment block? IP intercom systems scale best and let residents answer on their phones. Can I reuse my old intercom cables? Often yes, with a 2-wire system designed for existing cabling. ## Why customers choose Qyvea **Genuine brands**: Manufacturer warranty on what we sell, so you are not gambling on the box. **One team, start to finish**: The people who advise you also install and support it. **Fast answers**: WhatsApp replies usually within 30 minutes, and delivery within 24 hours in Nairobi. **Easy to buy**: Pay by M-Pesa, bank transfer or card. Free delivery in Nairobi on orders over KES 5,000. **Risk taken off you**: 7-day returns and exchanges on products, and a workmanship warranty on installations. **Customers say so**: Rated 4.6/5 from 57 Google reviews. **Your next step takes one minute:** send us a photo of the place on WhatsApp and we will tell you what it needs. ## Related articles [Access Control · Guide Apartment Intercom Systems Entrance panels, indoor stations, door release and phone answering for apartment blocks. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/apartment-intercom-system-kenya)[Access Control · Technology Explained Wireless Intercom Systems: How They Work Wi-Fi, radio and GSM intercoms: how they connect, where they work well and where they don't. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/wireless-intercom-system-kenya)[Access Control · Buying Guide Choosing an Intercom for Your Home Video or audio, wired or Wi-Fi, gate or door: picking the right home intercom. 2 min read**READ FULL ARTICLE →**](https://qyvea.co.ke/intercom-for-home-kenya) ### Related services [Intercom Installation](https://qyvea.co.ke/intercom)[Intercom System Prices](https://qyvea.co.ke/intercom-system-price-in-kenya) ### Related products [Hikvision intercom kit](https://qyvea.co.ke/hikvision-intercom-kit-kenya) ### Related projects [Real Qyvea case studies](https://qyvea.co.ke/projects#case-studies) [← Previous**Intercom Not Working? Causes and Repair**](https://qyvea.co.ke/intercom-not-working-repair-kenya)[Next →**: Magnetic Lock vs Electric Strike**](https://qyvea.co.ke/magnetic-lock-vs-electric-strike-kenya) ## Need this system installed? Talk to Qyvea. We design, install and maintain it. Chat with us — 30 min response --- **Qyvea Limited** · Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya (delivery only, no walk-in pickup) · serving all 47 counties Phone/WhatsApp: [+254 113 301 244](https://wa.me/254113301244) · Email: info@qyvea.co.ke · Shop: [qyvea.co.ke/products](https://qyvea.co.ke/products) · Facts: [qyvea.co.ke/qyvea-facts](https://qyvea.co.ke/qyvea-facts)