Home Show: Keeping out strangers

WITH the rapid increase in home invasion crime, it has become imperative to know who is at the front door or gate before it is opened to a stranger, says James Kinnear, of Premier Electronics Ltd. The Maraetai firm imports Kanrich Video Intercom systems which enable people to see and hear who is at their door or gate.

The Japanese-designed products are assembled in Taiwan and sold in more than 50 countries.

"The video monitors have excellent picture quality and are supplied by Sony," Mr Kinnear says.

"The camera uses infra-red technology to give you good night vision, and a view angle of over 90 degrees."

Premier specialises in the installation of video intercom systems and automated gates.

The video intercom costs $560 for the four-wire model (monitor, power supply and camera), while the two-wire system starts at $620 (monitor, power supply and camera). Additional monitors can be added with intercom facilities between the monitors as well. These intercom systems, Mr Kinnear says, can be integrated into automatic gates, front-door locks and keypads.

Installation costs vary. A new house will cost about $100 and an existing one up to $200, depending on the accessibility and difficulty of running cables behind walls and in the roof.

The market for these "front-line" security systems has grown in the last 12 months mainly due to the increase in home invasion crime, Mr Kinnear says.

Premier Electronics also repairs and services video intercom systems.