Wireless Intercom FAQs

Q: I want a voice only wireless intercom, but I don’t know whether to choose the MURS Multi-Mile or the WireFree intercom system. Which one should I choose?

A: It first comes down to range. If you need less than 1000 feet, pick the WireFree. It is cheaper and it provides digital security whereas the MURS does not. The MURS does have privacy codes so you won't hear other people on your channel, unless they are set to the same privacy code (38 available). The Wirefree system also can be run totally battery powered and it has an outdoor intercom available for future expansions. The MURS system does have wireless outdoor intercom call boxes, but they are more industrial looking and much more expensive. If you are concerned about range, then the MURS has the longest range of any wireless intercom system on the market. It is also on a wireless frequency that doesn't have much traffic.

Q: Do walls and other obstructions limit the ranges specified for the wireless intercoms?

A: Yes. The ranges specified are for the most part clear line of site ranges. So if you are in a Kansas wheat field with no obstructions between wireless intercom units, you should easily get the range listed. However, when you have walls in the way, range will go down. Brick walls reduce range more than drywall does. Metal-framed walls reduce range more than wood-framed walls. A wall filled with electrical wires every foot or so will reduce range more than one with only one or two wires in it. There is no magic way to determine whether a wireless intercom will work in your application so you just need to try it and return it if it doesn’t.

Q. We have a workshop that is a metal building in our backyard, will the WireFree wireless intercom work in it?

A. It may, but we find that most of the time the signal of the WireFree intercom system isn't strong enough to make it though the walls of the building into the house. The better choice for this application is the high-powered MURS Multi-Mile base intercom. The MURS Multi-Mile intercoms have the power to punch through both the metal walls of the building plus brick walls of a house. The range will be significantly less than four miles, but for most applications they should still work. We do have a 40-day full-purchase price return policy if they don't.

Q: For the WireFree Intercom System or the MURS system, is there one master base station and then separate slave sub-stations?

A: No, all the stations are the same. All the units are exactly the same unit whether you buy a set of two, or you add on a single unit. You can mix these units anyway you like.

Q: I need an intercom in a commercial building. Should I go with wireless or wired?

A: A wired system would likely provide the most reliable service, but it depends on your building. In most cases a commercial wireless system will do fine. But the more concrete and electrical equipment you have, the higher the chance that the wireless system won’t work for you. If you can afford the expense of running the wiring, then you know the system will work. We do have a 40-day return policy, so if you want to try wireless, you have nothing to risk except shipping costs. If you go wireless, use the license-free MURS Wireless System or pick a UHF system that needs an FCC license to operate.

Q: Will your intercoms interfere with my wireless network for my computers?

A: Wireless home PC networks operate in the 2.4GHz range. Our voice only wireless intercoms operate in other frequencies so they won’t interfere.

Q: I've had a wireless intercom system that was noisy and didn't have clear sound. Do your wireless intercoms have clear and quiet voice communications?

A: Yes they do. We could offer the cheaper systems that you are referring to and we would get more sales. However, we have chosen to only offer the higher quality intercom systems, which not only cuts down our returns, but it makes for happier customers.

Q: Are the portable WireFree wireless intercom units wall-mountable?

A: Yes, they will wall mount using two screws. You can also purchase an outdoor intercom that wall mounts.

Q: Can the Wirefree Outdoor Intercom be used in the same way as the WireFree portable intercom?

A: Yes. You can put the Outdoor Intercom anywhere and make or receive an intercom call from it to any other unit.  This unit can act just like a WireFree portable unit, but with only one channel, or you can set it so it can only make an intercom call and then only hear someone when a button is pressed on a portable or wall-mount WireFree intercom.

Q: Can I buy the WireFree Outdoor Intercoms individually or only in sets of two?

A: They are only available in sets of two. However, if you don't need two units outdoors, you can use one of them indoors. If you want to set it on a desk or counter, just stick some rubber feet on it.

Q: Can I buy the WireFree Doorbell Intercom by itself, or is it only in the kit with WireFree Portable Intercom?

A: It is only available in the kit. If you need an additional unit for your back door, you can buy two kits and use the two intercoms in different rooms.

Q: I provide caregiving services for my elderly parent an I'm looking for a wireless intercom I can use to talk to them. What do you recommend?

A: That depends on the capabilities of your parent. If your parent is not capable of pressing a button, then you would need the UWS WireFree Portable intercom which can be put into Monitor mode (we recommend you use AC power in this mode.). In Monitor mode the intercom in their room will transmit audio when there is enough noise in the room to turn on its microphone.  You will need to ensure that the unit is as close to where they will be sitting/laying as possible. However, if your parent's voice is too faint to activate the microphone this may not work. In this case we really don't have a solution unless you want to go with a wired system and could install the Master to Sub Intercom System.

If your parent can press a button, then you can use the UWS WireFree Portable intercoms in normal mode. But the WireFree Portable has multiple buttons and your parent could accidentally change the channel your intercom would not communicate with theirs. If you want to ensure that this doesn't happen, either the UWS WireFree Outdoor intercom or the UWS WireFree Doorbell Intercom could be used. These intercoms only have one large button so there is no way they can change the channel. All they can do is press the button to call you. the WireFree Doorbell intercom lets them press the button once and a tone sounds on your intercom and they can speak instantly. They don't have to press a button again to talk. The downside of this intercom is you can't call them until they press their button. With the WireFree Outdoor intercom they have to press a button every time they want to talk. But you can call them anytime you like.

Q: I need a wireless intercom that can call from one main room to four different rooms individually. Do you have a wireless intercom that will do this?

A: The WireFree Intercom System has four channels and each room could be set to a different channel. The main intercom can be set to monitor all four channels so the rooms can call it. When the main intercom responds, a private conversation occurs. If the main room needs to call one of the rooms, you would press the Channel button to match the channel of that room. At the end of the call, you would put the intercom back in the "monitor all channels" mode by pressing the Channel button until all four channel lights are on.

The MURS Multi-Mile wireless intercom has 5 channels, but it does not have the ability to monitor all 5 channels at once. However the MURS Commercial Base intercom does have the scan all channel mode.

Q: Will the WireFree Intercom System interfere with my 900 MHz cordless telephone system?

A: It is remotely possible that it could produce a slight buzzing or clicking noise, but we have them installed in applications where there is no problem at all. The WireFree system uses spread spectrum technology so it should not interfere with other 900Mhz devices. If you have problems, you can return them for a refund.

Q: I need a wireless door intercom for my front door and a wireless intercom inside my house. What system do you recommend?

A: Our WireFree Wireless Outdoor Intercom will work for this. They come in sets of two so you could use the second one inside the house.  You can also pair these with the WireFree indoor portable units.

Q: I need an intercom in a room in our business that will allow me to call into that room to see if someone is there, and if someone is in that room they need to be able to respond without pressing a button. Will the WireFree intercom support that?

A: Yes, it has a VOX (voice activation) mode that lets someone respond to a page from another intercom without having to press a button. They will need to speak loudly to activate the microphone and there is an approximate one second delay before the microphone is activated so the first part of the response could be clipped. As an example, if the user says, “Yes, I am here.” The “yes” may not be heard.

Q: We want to use the WireFree Wireless Portable Intercom on the outside of bulletproof glass so we can talk to people on the other side. Will the Monitor mode of the WireFree work for this?

A: Yes it will, but the VOX mode would probably work better. In Monitor mode the microphone will be activated every time a noise occurs on the other side of the glass.  This will produce a tone on the inside intercom when ever the microphone is activated. That could get a little irritating and you probably don’t want to hear every little noise anyway. Although the sensitivity of the Monitor mode is adjustable so you could make it less sensitive so it doesn’t pick up every noise.

However, with the VOX mode, you won’t hear anything until you press the Talk button on your inside unit to call the unit on the glass outside. The person on the other side of the glass won’t have to do anything to respond. They just simply speak and you hear them (there is a two second delay before the microphone is activated). You can interrupt them at any time by pressing your Talk button so you remain in control of the conversation. They can speak for up to 15 seconds before the microphone cuts off again. You can simply press the Talk button again for another 15 seconds (both units must also be set in Conference mode as well).

The WireFree Wireless Outdoor intercoms do not have VOX mode so only the inside portable units can do this.