Viking E-70-SS Stainless Entry Phone 125kHz Proximity Reader IP67

Viking Electronics E-70-SS Stainless Steel Entry Phone with Proximity Card Reader

The Viking Electronics E-70-SS is a telephone-line-powered, flush-mount entry phone built for controlled-access vestibules, exterior doors, and harsh-environment entry points where you need two-way audio and credential-based access in a single, vandal-resistant package. The E-70-SS (often searched as E 70 SS) combines a 304 stainless steel faceplate, a 316 stainless steel push button, a built-in 125kHz proximity card reader, and a weatherproof IP67-rated button switch — all drawing power directly from the telephone line, with no separate power supply required. It is part of the broader Viking Electronics intercom and entry phone line, which is widely deployed in commercial and multi-tenant access control installations.

Overview

Entry phones at unmonitored doors carry a straightforward job: let visitors call in, verify identity, and grant or deny access without creating an infrastructure burden. The E-70-SS handles all three vectors — voice, proximity card, and auto-disconnect — in a form factor that fits a standard double-gang electrical box. The faceplate measures 4.875" x 4.938" x 0.17" and the phone unit itself is 2.84" x 1.8" x 1.65", so it integrates cleanly into new construction or retrofit double-gang cutouts without exposed conduit boxes. For surface-mount applications, it pairs with the optional VE-5x5 enclosure. Explore the full range of intercom and entry phone systems to compare form factors and feature sets for your deployment.

Key Features

• Telephone Line Powered (18V DC min, 20mA loop current): The E-70-SS draws everything it needs from the telephone line — no 24VAC transformer, no PoE run, no separate conduit for power. If you already have a POTS pair or a telephone-line-equivalent run from your access control panel to the door, the infrastructure cost is essentially zero. Minimum 18V DC and 20mA loop current are the only thresholds to verify against your panel's line card.
• Built-in 125kHz Proximity Card Reader, 26-bit Wiegand output: The integrated reader supports standard HID-compatible 125kHz credentials at a read range of 1.25" to 2.0". The 26-bit Wiegand output connects directly to virtually any access control panel with a Wiegand input — no proprietary reader interface, no driver required. This keeps the door hardware count low and eliminates a separate reader, backbox, and wiring run.
• 304 Stainless Steel Faceplate / 316 Stainless Steel Push Button: The faceplate is 304 grade — appropriate for most interior and covered-exterior environments. The push button steps up to 316 grade, which is notably more resistant to chloride-induced pitting. If this unit is going near a coastal facility, pool entrance, or any environment with chemical exposure, the 316 button is the right call. The faceplate's 0.17" thickness is substantial enough to resist casual prying without the bulk of a full armored housing.
• IP67 Push Button Switch: IP67 means the push button can survive temporary submersion — rain, hose-down cleaning, and pressure washing won't compromise it. Paired with the stainless construction, this is a genuinely outdoor-capable device, not just "weather-resistant" in the marketing sense.
• Blue LED Auto Disconnect with CPC: The unit provides automatic call disconnect via CPC (Calling Party Control) with a minimum 300ms signal duration. This is the mechanism your phone system uses to hang up the call when access is granted — critical for installations where the door strike is wired through the telephone system rather than a dedicated access panel relay. The blue LED provides clear visual feedback at the door.
• Operating Temperature -30°F to 150°F: This range covers unheated vestibules in northern climates down to approximately -34°C, and direct-sun metal enclosures in desert environments up to 65°C. Most competitor entry phones rate to 14°F (-10°C) minimum — the E-70-SS's -30°F floor is a meaningful differentiator for outdoor northern installations.
• Speaker Volume 62dB max @ 1m with adjustable mic/speaker controls: 62dB at one meter is audible in a moderate-noise lobby or covered entry, though it will struggle against heavy HVAC or high-traffic exterior locations. The manual volume controls for both microphone and speaker let you tune the unit after installation without accessing the phone system programming.
• Selectable Auto Answer for Monitoring: The auto-answer feature enables the connected phone to pick up and listen to the door environment without a call being initiated at the door — useful for security monitoring scenarios where a supervisor needs ambient audio from an entry point.
• REN 0.8A, Ring Voltage 25V AC RMS minimum: The 0.8 REN load is well within the 5.0 REN typical limit of most telephone line cards, so adding an E-70-SS to an existing telephone circuit won't cause ring detection failures. Confirm your panel or KSU line card supplies at least 25V AC RMS for reliable ringing at the unit.

Integration and Compatibility

The E-70-SS is designed to integrate with standard POTS-based telephone systems, PBX line cards, and telephone-interface access control panels. The 26-bit Wiegand output from the proximity reader is compatible with the majority of commercial access control panels on the market. No special programming adapter or converter is required for the reader interface. The unit supports selectable auto answer, which allows integration with intercom or monitoring stations that need to open a listen channel to the door without a visitor-initiated call. For installations requiring a surface-mount enclosure, the optional VE-5x5 box is the documented solution — the double-gang flush option requires a box with minimum inside dimensions of 2.25" deep x 3.65" wide x 2.84" tall (Carlon BH234R or equivalent). Review proximity card readers and access hardware for compatible credentials and panel options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What type of proximity cards does the E-70-SS reader support?

A: The built-in reader operates at 125kHz and outputs 26-bit Wiegand data, which is compatible with standard HID-format proximity cards and fobs. The read range is 1.25" to 2.0".

Q: Does the E-70-SS require a separate power supply?

A: No. The E-70-SS is telephone line powered. It requires a minimum of 18V DC and 20mA loop current from the connected telephone line or panel line card — no external transformer or PoE is needed.

Q: Can the E-70-SS be installed outdoors?

A: Yes. The push button switch is rated IP67 (temporary submersion), the faceplate is 304 stainless steel, and the push button is 316 stainless steel. The operating temperature range is -30°F to 150°F, making it suitable for exposed outdoor entry points in most climates.

Q: What is CPC disconnect and why does it matter?

A: CPC (Calling Party Control) is a 300ms minimum voltage interruption on the telephone line that signals the entry phone to disconnect the call — typically triggered when the access control panel grants entry. This allows the phone system to hang up automatically when a door is unlocked, which is essential for unattended installations where no one manually ends the call.

Q: What enclosure is required for flush mounting the E-70-SS?

A: Flush mounting requires a double-gang electrical box with minimum inside dimensions of 2.25" deep x 3.65" wide x 2.84" tall. The Carlon BH234R is a documented equivalent. For surface mount, the optional VE-5x5 enclosure is recommended.

Q: What is the Wiegand output format of the proximity reader?

A: The reader outputs 26-bit Wiegand, which is the industry-standard format supported by virtually all commercial access control panels with a Wiegand input — no converter or proprietary interface required.

Ted Perry

The E-70-SS stands out to me primarily because of its -30°F to 150°F operating range — that's a spec that matters in real deployments where entry phones at northern exterior doors routinely fail at 14°F. I've seen installations where a cheaper unit was replaced mid-winter because the manufacturer's low-temperature floor wasn't honest about actual performance; Viking's range here is conservative and field-tested.

Technical Highlights:

• 316 stainless push button: The step up from 304 to 316 on the button itself is deliberate — the button takes the most direct environmental punishment (rain, salt air, fingers with chemicals), and 316 resists chloride pitting significantly better. Most units spec 304 throughout; this detail matters at coastal or industrial sites.
• 26-bit Wiegand at 1.25"–2.0" read range: That's a short read distance by design — it prevents inadvertent card reads from passers-by in tight corridors while still being practical for deliberate badge-tap access. The 26-bit format means zero panel compatibility issues with Lenel, Software House, HID, Honeywell, or virtually any commercial panel you're likely to encounter.
• CPC auto-disconnect at 300ms minimum: If your telephone-system-based access control relies on CPC to drop the line after granting access, this spec is load-bearing. A unit that misses or ignores a 300ms CPC pulse will leave the line open and the door logically accessible — the E-70-SS's documented 300ms minimum threshold is the right engineering choice for reliable auto-hangup.

Deployment Considerations:

• The telephone-line-powered design means zero additional conduit for power, but you must verify your panel's line card delivers at least 18V DC at 20mA under load — some older KSU cards running long cable runs drop below spec, which causes erratic behavior or failure to ring at 25V AC RMS minimum.
• The 62dB speaker at 1m is adequate for quiet lobbies and covered vestibules but will be marginal in noisy exterior environments with HVAC discharge or street traffic — plan for call-in volume complaints at high-ambient-noise sites and consider whether a higher-output horn speaker supplementing the entry phone is warranted.

This unit is the right call for multi-tenant commercial buildings, secure facility exterior entry points, and any application where you need telephone-system access control integration, a proximity reader, and genuine outdoor survivability in a single flush-mount device — particularly where temperature extremes or corrosive environments rule out lesser-rated alternatives.