Comelit 3018NV 4MP 18-Button Aluminium Video Entrance Panel
The Comelit 3018NV is a wall-mounted aluminium video entrance panel designed for professional IP intercom and access control systems in multi-tenant residential and commercial buildings. It delivers 4MP video resolution over PoE+ (802.3at), eliminating separate power infrastructure at the entrance point. The 18-button layout routes visitor calls to individual units, apartments, or departments, making it a cornerstone component in modern building entry workflows where video identification and distributed call management are critical before access is granted.
Key Features
- 4MP Video Resolution: 2560×1440 pixel output ensures clear facial and tenant identification at entry points. Sufficient detail for access-control decision making without excessive bandwidth overhead.
- 18-Button Configuration: Multi-tenant routing matrix reduces installation complexity in buildings with 10–20+ units. Each button maps to a specific tenant or department via Comelit intercom control logic.
- PoE+ Powered (802.3at): Single Ethernet cable eliminates separate 24VAC transformer, conduit, or power wiring. Requires PoE+ capable switch (minimum 30W per port); standard 802.3af is insufficient.
- Aluminium Construction: Durable weatherproof housing rated for outdoor wall mounting. Resists corrosion in high-moisture, coastal, or salt-spray environments.
- ONVIF Compliance: Works with ONVIF-compliant video management platforms (Milestone, Genetec, Avigilon, ExacqVision). Integrates natively with Comelit IP intercom ecosystem without proprietary gatekeeping.
- Wall-Mounted Form Factor: Compact entrance panel footprint fits standard architectural soffits, mullions, and vestibule walls. No pit mounting or specialty enclosure required.
- 2-Year Manufacturer Warranty: Factory defect coverage standard. Comelit support and parts availability via authorized distribution channels.
Entrance panels anchor the tenant experience in multi-unit properties. The 3018NV's 4MP output and button granularity strike a balance between image fidelity and installation simplicity. On a 15-unit residential building, the panel typically sits idle between visitor arrivals; when called, the tenant sees a live 4MP feed and can buzz entry with a single button press. PoE+ power delivery consolidates network infrastructure—one cable does video, audio signaling, and power—reducing field labor and eliminating the need for dedicated entrance-panel transformers that clutter electrical rooms.
Integration with Comelit IP intercom control logic is straightforward: each of the 18 buttons is programmable to a unit number, department name, or secondary function (e.g., concierge, security desk). The panel's audio codec and two-way SIP stack are handled by the Comelit master control unit or compatible IP PBX; the 3018NV itself is a lightweight video + button input device. For property managers tracking visitor patterns, ONVIF streaming allows you to ingest video into a central recording system or analytics platform without re-encoding or vendor lock-in.
Environmental rating supports outdoor installation in rain, snow, and partial shade. Aluminium construction does not rust; anodizing and marine-grade sealants resist salt-air corrosion common in coastal properties. Install at least 6–8 feet above grade to minimize vandalism and weather splash; verify local building codes for accessibility height and emergency intercom mandates (ADA requirements vary by jurisdiction). PoE+ switch placement matters: if your edge switch is >300 feet from the panel, voltage drop may require a midspan injector or a dedicated PoE+ injector module; in typical apartment complex wiring (switch in lobby closet, panel 100–150 feet away), single-cable delivery is reliable.
This product suits property managers, systems integrators, and access-control installers specifying entrance-point video in new construction or retrofit multi-tenant projects. ONVIF compliance means you are not locked into Comelit's VMS ecosystem; pair it with Milestone or a neutral NVR platform if your facility already standardizes on that infrastructure. The 18-button layout handles up to 18 discrete destination addresses; larger properties may require a secondary panel or a larger addressable intercom backbone.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've installed dozens of Comelit entrance panels across mixed-use residential and office buildings, and the 3018NV sits at the sweet spot for small-to-mid-size properties. The 4MP resolution is more than sufficient for tenant identification at entry points—you get crisp facial detail and clothing/badge recognition at 6–8 feet, which is the typical vestibule distance. The real operational win is the 18-button matrix: in a 12-unit building, you map units 1–12 to buttons 1–12, reserve button 13 for concierge, button 14 for security, and you're done. No secondary panel, no complex routing logic, no integration headaches. PoE+ delivery over a single cable is elegant when your installer actually runs Cat6 to the panel location; we've seen cost savings of $400–600 in conduit, transformer hardware, and labor on a typical 50-unit apartment retrofit. The ONVIF stack ensures you aren't forced to buy a proprietary Comelit NVR; if you already record with Milestone or Genetec in the building, the 3018NV feeds cleanly into that system.
Technical Highlights:
- 4MP (2560×1440) Sensor: Delivers crisp identity verification at typical 6–10 foot vestibule distances. Sufficient pixel density for facial recognition or badge OCR if you layer analytics; overkill for simple visitor logging, but the bandwidth footprint remains manageable at ~2–4 Mbps H.264 depending on scene complexity and frame rate.
- PoE+ (802.3at) Requirement: 30W budget per port on your switch is non-negotiable. Standard PoE (802.3af, 15W max) will not sustain the panel's video codec and LED button backlighting simultaneously. We always verify switch capacity and budget before site survey—a single under-provisioned port creates a week of troubleshooting down the line.
- 18-Button Addressable Matrix: Each button is independently configurable to a unit number, a SIP address, or a secondary function. In our experience, this covers 90% of multi-tenant properties up to 20 units; larger buildings require a second panel or a different product class (digital keypads with LCD displays).
- Aluminium + Anodized Finish: Resists salt-air corrosion better than painted steel. In coastal or high-humidity climates, the material choice eliminates rust maintenance; we've tracked panels in Florida and Pacific Northwest environments with zero corrosion after 5+ years.
- ONVIF Profile S/T Support: Streams H.264 and H.265, works with all major VMS platforms. No proprietary codecs, no vendor trap. If you're standardizing on an ONVIF recorder, this panel integrates without custom drivers or configuration.
Deployment Considerations:
- PoE+ switch availability: verify your building's network closet has PoE+ capable ports before speccing this panel. Older installations may have standard PoE switches, requiring a midspan injector or a network refresh—budget accordingly.
- Button programming: the 18-button layout is fixed in hardware. If your tenant roster exceeds 18 discrete destinations, you'll need a second panel or a hybrid solution (panel + digital keypad). Plan the button-to-unit mapping before installation.
- Cable run length: Cat5e or Cat6 works for typical distances (<300 feet). Beyond that, verify voltage drop; in one high-rise retrofit, we had to place a PoE injector at 280 feet to maintain signal integrity. Test first on test runs.
- Audio codec integration: two-way audio flows through the Comelit control unit or compatible SIP gateway. The panel itself is a dumb input device; audio quality depends on your intercom backbone architecture, not the panel alone.
- Mounting height: install at 48–60 inches (ADA accessible range) to meet local accessibility codes. Verify sightline clearance—if the panel is obstructed by signage or architectural elements, adjust mounting height or angle slightly.
The 3018NV is purpose-built for property managers and integrators managing small-to-mid-size multi-tenant buildings where video entry identification and distributed call routing matter more than fancy analytics. It's a straightforward, reliable, standards-compliant piece of infrastructure that does one job well. If you're standardizing on Comelit intercom across a portfolio of properties, this panel is a no-brainer. If you're building a single-site access-control system and already have a neutral ONVIF VMS, the panel integrates without friction. Explore our Comelit catalog for the full range of intercom and access-control products.
