NetStream's DoorLinX: assign an MP3 to your doorbell

by Thomas Ricker, posted Nov 29th 2006 at 9:38AM

You can fall asleep and wake up to them, use 'em for ringtones, voice encoding, or to enlarge your breasts. And you'll entice the RIAA into suing your little girl if you abuse them. We're talking of course, about MP3s. Only thing they can't do is replace the ding-dong of the ol' doorbell. Oh wait... Tejas-based NetStreams is due to launch DoorLinX any day making it the world's first IP-based doorbell / intercom system. It features an amplified 4-W speaker and embedded microphone integrated into the wall unit (pictured above) and a door latch activation relay to automatically open the door or gate from any NetStream TouchLinX interface. The magic though, comes when deployed along side NetStream's DigiLinX audio-distribution system so that you (the dealer anyway) can map any MP3 audio file (up to 500KB) to the door chime. When someone hits the button, the MP3 plays in any assigned speaker, anywhere in the house. Great start, now if NetStream would just open up the MP3 assignments to the homeowner, then we'll all know just how bad your taste in music really is.

[Via HiddenWires]

Filed under: Household

Tags: audio distribution, AudioDistribution, digilinx, door chime, doorbell, DoorChime, doorlinx, home automation, HomeAutomation, netstream, touchlinx

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Matt B @ Nov 29th 2006 10:29AM

I'd put up some nice Slayer to scare the salesmen and Jehova's Witness away.

Neutral

christopher @ Nov 29th 2006 11:27AM

becomes "God hates us all!" at 120db. Nice.

Wait for a hack-a-day article in a week or two where someone does this with a $25 generic MP3 player.

-C

Neutral

Jeff @ Nov 29th 2006 11:39AM

Awesome! I want one. And I want my doorbell to be the first few (4) notes of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". Need. Now.

Neutral

MaDMaNiaC @ Nov 29th 2006 1:51PM

This is nothing new. In 2002, a german discounter sold an MP3 door bell that we used to own. Unfortunately, it had some errors in the firmware and did just ring one time. Then you had to turn the power off and on again :/
Still, it was a cool gadget and everyone admired us for it.
It played the beginning of "Self Esteem" by The Offspring when someone rang the bell. :)

Neutral

josh @ Nov 29th 2006 1:57PM

I did this with an iPod Nano, iPort, AMX controller, and a Panasonic DoorPhone. Granted it cost about 3k on top of the whole house a/v system, it was pretty cool.

Good to see netstreams doing it now.

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