Aiphone IX-EA IP Video Door Station
The Aiphone IX-EA is a surface-mount IP video door station designed for outdoor visitor verification and access control integration. The unit pairs a ⅓-inch CMOS 1.23-megapixel camera with two-way audio, delivering color video identification in daylight and low-light conditions down to 5 lux minimum illumination. The IX-EA streams via H.264 and MJPEG compression and supports ONVIF Profile S and RTSP, making it compatible with third-party VMS platforms without requiring proprietary control hardware. Programmable call routing to up to 20 stations with three selectable priority levels provides flexible multi-tenant, multi-zone, or campus deployments. Powered entirely by PoE (802.3af) at 5.18W maximum draw—no separate power supply or line-voltage conduit required, reducing installation cost and site complexity.
Key Features
- 1.23MP CMOS Sensor: ⅓-inch fixed-lens camera with 5 lux minimum illumination. Produces color video suitable for daytime visitor identification and evening entry verification without supplementary flood lighting.
- Dual Video Codec: H.264 and MJPEG compression. H.264 reduces bitrate and NVR storage footprint on 24/7 recording; MJPEG fallback ensures compatibility with older or low-resource VMS systems.
- Two-Way Audio: Built-in microphone and speaker for live intercom conversation. Full duplex audio allows visitor communication before door release or call transfer to interior stations.
- ONVIF Profile S + RTSP: Standards-based video streaming enables integration with Genetec, Milestone, Avigilon, ExacqVision, and other ONVIF-compliant VMS platforms. Video stream only; full intercom control requires Aiphone IX Series master station.
- PoE 802.3af Power: 5.18W maximum draw. Works with any 802.3af-capable switch or midspan injector—no dedicated power supply, conduit, or electrician site visit needed.
- Call Routing to 20 Stations: Programmable destination list with three priority levels. Simplifies multi-tenant, multi-building, or multi-department call handling without central PBX integration.
- Surface-Mount Form Factor: 6-5⁄16″ H × 3-15⁄16″ W × 1-3⁄4″ D. Compact profile fits standard door frame trim and vestibule applications without requiring deep-set or recessed mounting.
- Outdoor Temperature Rating: 14°F to 140°F (−10°C to 60°C). Suitable for outdoor North American climates; verify seasonal extremes in your installation zone before deployment.
The IX-EA integrates directly into the Aiphone IX Series intercom ecosystem for full two-way audio, door release, and call management when paired with an IX Series master station on the same network. For standalone or third-party VMS scenarios, ONVIF Profile S and RTSP streaming enable video pull into ONVIF-compliant systems without proprietary dependencies. Audio and intercom control (door buzzer, call routing) require native Aiphone IX hardware; VMS systems receive video stream and event metadata only. Network requirement: 802.3af PoE switch or midspan injector capable of IEEE 802.3af Class 0 power delivery. Verify your switch or injector datasheet supports 5W+ draw before installation.
Deployment flexibility comes from call-routing intelligence built into the unit. Up to 20 programmable destination addresses with three priority levels eliminate the need for external PBX integration on smaller campuses, apartment buildings, or office parks. Route day calls to a front desk, evening calls to a security office, and escalation calls to a manager's mobile gateway—all configured via the master station or web interface without separate provisioning hardware. The unit supports IEEE 802.1X port security; enable it if your network policy requires port-level authentication. Color video down to 5 lux minimum reduces the capex and maintenance burden of exterior flood lighting, though sunrise/sunset transition periods may require supplementary illumination for forensic-quality identification in extreme backlighting.
The IX-EA carries a 2-Year Manufacturer Warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. Surface-mount installation is straightforward: mount to wall or door frame, route network cable to PoE switch or injector, and configure call destinations and video streaming via Aiphone management tools or direct ONVIF/RTSP clients. Plan cable entry and conduit carefully to avoid exposing connectors to rain pooling; sealed wire glands are recommended for outdoor installations in high-moisture zones. Operating temperature range accommodates most North American climates, but confirm your specific latitude and seasonal swing against the 14°F–140°F limit before final site selection.
Jerry TildsenPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've installed the Aiphone IX-EA on dozens of apartment complexes, office parks, and smaller healthcare facilities where a combination of intercom redundancy and third-party VMS visibility was required. The real value proposition is elegance in simplicity: a single surface-mount unit that works natively in an Aiphone IX ecosystem *and* streams ONVIF video to a separate VMS platform without requiring intermediary gateways or custom integration code. That dual-path architecture lets you keep your existing Aiphone infrastructure while gaining modern video analytics and audit trails in Milestone, Genetec, or Avigilon. The low power footprint (5.18W) is a genuine operational win on sites where PoE budget is tight or where running new power conduit would trigger electrician and code review delays. In our experience, the 1.23MP resolution is adequate for visitor identification at entry doors and vestibules during daylight hours; low-light color video down to 5 lux works well in covered porches or hallways, but true dusk/dawn performance depends on ambient spillover lighting. The three-priority call-routing feature eliminates a surprising amount of PBX complexity on multi-tenant sites—we've seen integrators save 40+ hours on programming and commissioning by using the IX-EA's native routing instead of mapping calls through a separate telephony controller.
Technical Highlights:
- H.264 + MJPEG Dual Codec: H.264 streams reduce storage footprint by 40–50% on 24/7 recording versus MJPEG; MJPEG fallback ensures backward compatibility with legacy NVRs or low-bandwidth field deployments. The unit automatically negotiates codec during ONVIF negotiation, so you don't need to manually select compression per client.
- PoE 802.3af (5.18W): Standard PoE Class 0 power draw—works seamlessly on shared PoE switches without requiring dedicated PoE+ taps or power budgeting headaches. This is a real logistics win on retrofit projects where conduit is already congested.
- ONVIF Profile S Streaming: Video-only stream (no intercom control signaling) to any ONVIF Profile S–compliant VMS. Full intercom functionality (door buzzer, priority calls, internal routing) remains confined to the Aiphone IX network. This architecture keeps your VMS dependency minimal and preserves voice intercom as a separate, fault-tolerant system.
- Two-Way Audio with Built-in Mic/Speaker: No external audio interfacing required. Full-duplex conversation quality is adequate for visitor identification and brief caller communication; longer conversations often benefit from routing to an interior handset or phone gateway for extended dialogue.
- Compact 6.3″ H × 3.9″ W Profile: Fits standard door frame trim and vestibule surrounds without requiring architectural modifications or deep-set gang boxes. Reduces site survey complexity and accelerates installation scheduling.
Deployment Considerations:
- ONVIF streaming provides video only; door release, call routing, and intercom handoff require a native Aiphone IX master station. If you need standalone VMS-only operation (no intercom), you need a separate IP intercom product or a third-party door station with built-in relay control.
- 5 lux minimum illumination is adequate for daytime visitor identification but will struggle at dawn, dusk, or in heavily shaded porches. Plan supplementary exterior lighting or confirm site has sufficient ambient spillover before final mounting height selection.
- Surface-mount only; no flush-mount or recessed option available. Verify door frame trim and surrounding finish will accommodate a 1.75″ deep box without crowding or creating a snag hazard on the caller side.
- PoE 802.3af power delivery: confirm your switch or midspan injector supports IEEE 802.3af Class 0 before deployment. Some older PoE switches or power-injectors may not reliably deliver 5W to a Class 0 endpoint; budget test and verification time on first deployment.
- Call routing is programmed via the paired Aiphone IX master station or web interface; if you lose master-station connectivity, the IX-EA defaults to a pre-programmed fallback destination. Confirm your fallback address and priority routing match your operational expectations before going live.
- Network security: enable IEEE 802.1X port authentication if your site requires it. The IX-EA supports 802.1X; coordinate with your network team to provision credentials and test before production deployment.
The IX-EA is the right choice for organizations that already run Aiphone IX Series intercom infrastructure and want to add modern video capability and third-party VMS visibility without ripping out existing systems. It's equally valuable for new campuses or facilities where you want intercom redundancy *and* centralized video analytics—the dual-path architecture gives you the best of both worlds. For single-tenant applications or where VMS-only operation is required, consider a standalone IP door station with integrated door-release relay. For more information on Aiphone's full IX Series portfolio, visit the Aiphone catalog.
