How to Troubleshoot and Fix Poor Video Quality on Aiphone Intercoms
While Aiphone intercoms are known for their reliability, experiencing poor video quality—such as a grainy, snowy, or discoloured picture—can be frustrating. Unlike a complete "no video" issue, poor quality is often caused by signal degradation rather than a total failure. This guide will help you identify and resolve the common causes of these video quality problems.
These troubleshooting steps are designed for a range of Aiphone systems and focus on the factors that degrade the video signal as it travels from the door station to your monitor.
Primary Causes of Aiphone Video Quality Degradation
When your video is present but not clear, the issue usually falls into one of these categories:
- Signal Interference: The video wiring is picking up electrical "noise" from other cables, which manifests as lines, snow, or static in the picture.
- Exceeded Wiring Distance: The cable run between the door and monitor station is longer than the system's specified limit, causing the video signal to weaken.
- Incorrect Wiring Type: Using a cable that doesn't meet Aiphone's specifications (e.g., wrong gauge, unshielded) can lead to poor signal integrity.
- Poor Lighting Conditions: Insufficient light at the door station forces the camera to work harder, often resulting in a grainy black and white image.
- Monitor Settings: Incorrectly adjusted brightness, contrast, or colour settings can make a good video signal appear poor.
Step-by-Step Guide to Improving Aiphone Video Clarity
Follow these steps to diagnose and enhance your system's video performance.
Step 1: Check for Electrical Interference
This is a leading cause of grainy or distorted video.
- Inspect the Cable Route: Check the path of the wire that connects your door station to the monitor. Is it running parallel to high-voltage AC power cables? Is it bundled together with electrical wiring in the same conduit?
- Maintain Separation: Video and power cables should be separated by at least 30 centimetres (1 foot) to prevent electromagnetic interference (EMI). If they must cross, they should do so at a 90-degree angle.
- Ensure Proper Shielding: Aiphone video wires are typically a shielded twisted pair. The shield (a foil or braided wire wrapping) is crucial for blocking interference. Ensure this shield is properly connected to the ground terminal (usually labelled 'S' or 'GND') at the master monitor end, and that it is not damaged along the cable's length.
Step 2: Verify Wiring Specifications and Distance
Using the wrong wire or running it too far is a recipe for poor video.
- Consult the Manual: Refer to the installation manual for your specific Aiphone model. It will state the required wire type (e.g., Aiphone 871802) and the maximum allowable distance between the door station and the furthest monitor.
- Measure the Distance: Estimate the length of your cable run. If it exceeds the specified maximum, the signal will be weak. In such cases, you may need a larger gauge wire or a dedicated video amplifier/distribution unit (like the Aiphone GT-VBC for GT series).
- Check Wire Gauge: Ensure the wire gauge used meets the requirements. Using a wire that is too thin will result in higher resistance and a degraded signal over distance.
Step 3: Optimise Lighting at the Door Station
A camera sensor needs light to produce a clean image.
- Assess Ambient Light: Look at the area around your door station. Is it very dark? A lack of ambient light is a common cause of grainy video, as the camera's sensor gain increases to compensate.
- Improve External Lighting: Adding a porch light or improving the existing lighting can make a dramatic difference in video quality, especially for colour video at dusk or dawn.
- Check Built-in LEDs: Most Aiphone door stations have built-in white or infrared LEDs that activate in low light. Ensure these are working and not obstructed by dirt or debris.
Step 4: Adjust Monitor Settings
Before assuming a major wiring issue, check the monitor's display settings.
- Locate Controls: Find the brightness, contrast, and colour adjustment controls on your indoor monitor. These can be physical dials or menu options.
- Adjust for Clarity: While viewing the live feed, carefully adjust these settings. You may find that the image quality can be significantly improved by finding the right balance. Start by setting them to their middle position and adjusting from there.
If you've worked through these steps and your video quality has not improved, there could be a more complex issue, such as a failing camera module or a damaged wire inside a wall. In these cases, contacting a professional Aiphone installer is the recommended next step.