What our experts say …
Style is an ethereal concept, often beyond conventional definition. However some nations seem to possess more than others, and their products tend to follow the national characteristics. For example Japanese products are usually technologically advanced, durable and functional, but often lacking in that almost indefinable charisma or sense of aesthetic style.
On the other hand the origins of Italian products are often immediately recognisable without recourse to the manufacturer’s identification. Many people can recognise a Ferrari without looking at the badge, and also in the automotive world the designs of Gugiaro and Ghia are legendary. The Italians can even inure the humble bicycle with a breathtaking sense of style.
Therefore it should come as no surprise that the latest offerings from BPT do not break the mould. Slotting neatly in to the existing family of modular audio and video door entry systems from the company, the Bench Test team has been taking a look at two monitors, the Nova (no it’s not a Vauxhall), and the Exedra (which sounds as if it should be a two-seater sports car). Their modular concept and clever housing design ooze Italian design house style, and could not have been manufactured anywhere else.
Nova monitor
The Nova is a colour monitor using an LCD TFT two-inch flat screen of 521 by 218 pixels, running on the PAL system, powered from a 14 to 17.5v DC source, video input being the standard 1v peak to peak.
The product is part of a modular range, using a standard module size of 65mm wide by 50 high and 38 deep, in both surface mount and recessed versions. The unit we tested was mounted alongside BPT’s NC/221 hands free audio receiver module, in a very handsome twin module housing, producing a striking looking unit.
Single module housings are also available, allowing the receiver and monitor to be mounted separately, should the system design or space requirements dictate.
Installation and performance
We found the Nova easy to install, BPT providing a single instruction sheet, which seems to dwell too much on the straightforward task of mounting the embedding box, and buries the terminal connection information among the text.
We would have preferred to see the connection diagram and termination information in a clearly separate panel in the leaflet, although we realise that this could be difficult in a multi-language instruction sheet such as this.
The Nova was tested in a simulated situation, connected to a BPT VA/200 power supply unit, GVV200 main control unit, HPV/2 video entry system panel, and NC/221 hands free audio unit, which produces a neat installation without the need for a telephone handset. As might be expected from a screen this small, the resolution of just 521 x 218 pixels is a little grainy, but perfectly adequate to identify the caller at the door. Colour and brightness controls produce a relatively sharp and clear picture, plus there is a camera scroll control to adjust the picture in the horizontal plane.
Exedra monitor
The Exedra, by comparison, is a more conventional telephone handset and monochrome monitor system, but again with that certain Italian style, and combining a clever modular concept. Again the monitor runs on the PAL system, video input is 1v peak to peak, and it is powered from a 14 to 17.5v DC source. We tested the combined wall surface mounted unit, which measures 240mm wide by 220 high and 60 deep.The handset and monitor are available with a number of housing options, allowing a combination unit in both desktop and wall mounted, plus individual housing for both handset and monitor, in both surface mounted and semi-recessed. Also available is a service module which can replace the monitor in the combined housing, and which can be used for auxiliary services, such as audio and video answering machines.
Connection was easy
Again we found we had to hunt through the single instruction sheet to find the terminations and cabling instructions, although this time the actual connection was easy, using BPT’s colour coded terminations and cable scheme. The Exedra was run from the same entry panel and power supply unit as the Nova.
The monitor produces a crisp monochrome picture using a vertical projector reflecting from a recessed screen, giving a viewable area of approximately 80 by 60mm. Brightness and contrast controls are recessed thumbwheels at the bottom of the unit, and give an excellent result. The monitor also features the same vertical camera scroll function as the Nova, as well as an auxiliary function button for a variety of uses, for example switching stairwell lighting during entry.
Who are our experts?
Security Installer’s testers are not full-time members of staff. They are independent working installation engineers with many years of practical experience on the tools. Their identities are unknown to the manufacturers of the equipment they test, and the manufacturers are not allowed to see the report before publication.
Our experts write for the installer, not the manufacturer. However manufacturers have, over the years, changed the design of a product to take account of our criticisms, which are made constructively and impartially.
What the manufacturer says …
Well known for its attractive and innovative video and audio door entry systems, BPT Security Systems supplies two futuristic models – the Nova and Exedra monitors. Part of the highly successful System 200 range of video and audio door entry systems, the Nova and Exedra combine the ultimate in modern design with functionality.
The smallest colour door entry system monitor available in the industry, the Nova has proved popular in both modern and more traditional homes due to its small size and choice of surrounds, which enable it to blend into most environments. Nova caused something of a stir among housing developers – 200 had been ordered for one prestigious development before the monitor was even in production! The success of the Nova is based on providing clear colour images yet it has a sleek, minimalist design, is compact in size and can be flush-mounted into a wall, making it unobtrusive and therefore suitable for a very wide range of homes and offices. Its hands-free operation for communication, and pushbuttons with symbols indicating usage, make the Nova monitor very easy to use.
The Exedra monitor was created by top Italian designers in a ‘competition workshop’ in which technical skills, design, ergonomics and sociological and market surveys all played a part. Exedra 200 has emerged as a highly attractive communication and security tool that will look good in any home environment. It is available in white or anthracite grey with blue finishing touches and can be surface-mounted or recessed.
The Exedra unit can be combined with a telephone handset together with video/audio door entry monitoring plus a host of special features, including the ability to use the handset as you would a telephone, activate and monitor cameras at any time to see what is happening outside, switch on external lights, store phone numbers and abbreviated call functions, as well as performing all the functions of a door entry system handset.
Exedra can be wall-mounted or used as a compact table-top unit.
