Cisco SCH-VDS-I User manual

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Cisco Smart+Connected Video Door Station
Reference Guide
This document provides information and installation instructions for the Cisco Smart+Connected Video
Door Station, which includes the following options:
• Cisco Smart+Connected Video Door Station Internal (SCH-VDS-I)
• Cisco Smart+Connected Video Door Station External (SCH-VDS-E)
• Cisco Smart+Connected Video Door Station Back Box (SCH-VDS-BB)
Contents
Refer to the following topics for more information:
• Introduction, page 3
• Box Contents, page 4
• Accessories, page 4
• Front Panel Description, page 5
• Prerequisites and Requirements, page 6
– Prerequisites, page 6
– Understanding the Power and Network Connection Options, page 7
– Grounding Requirements, page 9
– Mounting Tips, page 9
– Backlit Button Indicator, page 9
• Installing the Back Box, page 11
– Back Box Requirements, page 12
– Back Box Network and Power Considerations, page 12
– Back Box Mechanical Drawing, page 13
– Installing the Back Box, page 14

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Contents
• Installing the Cisco Video Door Station, page 18
– Inside Panel Description, page 18
– Connecting the Power and Network Cables, page 19
– Attach the Cisco Video Door Station, page 26
– Configure the Cisco Video Door Station, page 27
– Reset/Factory Restore the Cisco Video Door Station, page 27
– Installing the Wi-Fi Antennas, page 27
– Contact and Relay Connections, page 32
• Troubleshooting, page 34
– Boot Up, page 34
– Factory Restore, page 34
• Security Best Practices, page 34
• Specifications, page 36
• Regulatory/Safety Information, page 37
• Related Documentation, page 38
• Warranty, page 39
• Service and Support, page 39

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Introduction
Introduction
The Cisco Smart+Connected Video Door Station provides easy-to-use, secure communications between
a visitor at the door and the resident inside a dwelling. When a guest pushes the built-in doorbell, the
resident hears an alert and is shown video of the guest on a Cisco In-wall Display or Cisco Portable
Tablet. The resident can talk to the guest over the intercom and open the door with the press of a button.
The Cisco Video Door Station is available in two options designed for either internal or external use.
There are also optional Wi-Fi antennas available in two lengths.
• The Internal Video Door Station is ideal for mounting within a protected building to view visitors
before allowing them into the residence.
• The External Video Door Station is perfect for use outside a building or at a gated entrance where
weather conditions vary.
Both Cisco Video Door Stations deliver full-motion video and the fidelity of wideband audio intercom
for secure, crystal-clear communications throughout the residence.
Figure 1 Cisco Video Door Station: Internal (SCH-VDS-I) and External (SCH-VDS-E)

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Box Contents
Box Contents
Carefully unpack the Video Door Station from the box and ensure that the following items are included
in the box. Contact your Cisco representative immediately if any parts are missing or if any component
is damaged.
Accessories
The following accessories are sold separately. The Back Box is used to mount the unit in the wall. The
antennas provide Wi-Fi communication if a wired Ethernet connection is not available.
Table 1 Box Contents
Cisco External Video Door Station
(model SCH-VDS-E)
Cisco Internal Video Door Station
(model SCH-VDS-I)
• Two (2) mounting screws
• Security screw tool
• Mounting screws, security head (5)
• Security screw tool
• Plate attachment screw (1)
• Plastic faceplate (1)
Table 2 Accessories
Accessory Part Number More Information
Back Box SCH-VDS-BB Installing the Back Box, page 11
26-cm External Wi-Fi Antenna SCH-VDS-WIFI-26CM Installing the Wi-Fi Antennas, page 27
3m External Wi-Fi Antenna SCH-VDS-WIFI-3M Installing the Wi-Fi Antennas, page 27

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Front Panel Description
Front Panel Description
Figure 2 Front Faceplate: External Video Door Station (Left) and Internal Video Door Station (Right)
1Microphones (2)—Used for audio and video intercom.
2Screw holes (2)—(External Video Door Station Only) Used to screw the faceplate into the exterior wall.
3Camera—640 x 480 wide angle. Used for video intercom.
4Call button—Used to call the person inside the unit or in another room.
5Speaker—Used for audio and video intercom.

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Prerequisites and Requirements
Prerequisites and Requirements
Before you begin, review the following topics to ensure the unit will be properly installed, powered and
available on the network.
• Prerequisites, page 6
• Understanding the Power and Network Connection Options, page 7
• Grounding Requirements, page 9
• Backlit Button Indicator, page 9
• Mounting Tips, page 9
Prerequisites
Table 1-3 Pre-Installation Requirements and Best Practices
Prerequisite
Prerequisite
Complete?
(9)
Install the Internal Video Door Station in an interior building location only. 
Install the External Video Door Station where it will have minimum exposure to the outside elements. 
To determine the best location for the Cisco Video Door Station, see the “Mounting Tips” section on page 9 
Install the Back Box before you install the Cisco Video Door Station.
See the “Installing the Back Box” section on page 11 for details.
Note (External Video Door Station) When attaching the Cisco Video Door Station’s faceplate to the Back
Box, ensure that the rubber gasket on the inside panel completely covers and seals the Cisco Video
Door Station’s faceplate to the Back Box; otherwise, water could leak through.

Determine which network and power options to use.
The Cisco Video Door Stations can use Ethernet or Wi-Fi network connection and can be powered using
Power over Ethernet (PoE), AC, or DC. We recommend using a wired network connection for the best video
intercom experience.
See the “Understanding the Power and Network Connection Options” section on page 7 for more
information.

Review the additional requirements and limitations for Wi-Fi networks.
• Before the Cisco Video Door Station is fully installed, we recommend to test the Wi-Fi signal strength
in Composer Pro’s System Manager; a strong, robust signal is required. See the Composer Pro User
Guide for details.
• Review the “Wireless Network Limitations” section on page 8
• Review the “Wi-Fi Considerations” section on page 8


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Prerequisites and Requirements
Understanding the Power and Network Connection Options
The Cisco Video Door Stations can use Ethernet or Wi-Fi network connection and can be powered using
Power over Ethernet (PoE), AC, or DC. We recommend using a wired network connection for the best
video intercom experience.
Refer to the following topics for more information:
• Network Options, page 7
• Power Options, page 8
• Connecting the Power and Network Cables, page 19
Network Options
The Cisco Video Door Station can be connected using one of these network types:
• Standard Ethernet—(Recommended) Connect the Cisco Video Door Station to the RJ-45 LAN port
using the RJ-45 Ethernet cable.
• Wi-Fi—The Wi-Fi antenna will communicate with the LAN’s WAP. If the LAN has a WAP set up,
no additional wiring is needed except for power. See the “Installing the Wi-Fi Antennas” section on
page 27 for details.
Note We recommend using an Ethernet connection rather than Wi-Fi for the best communication with the
Cisco Smart+Connected Residential system.
Determine the grounding requirements for the Cisco Video Door Station.
See the “Grounding Requirements” section on page 9.
Note The grounding requirements are different for the internal and external units.

Use the contacts and relays for non-secure devices only. For example, don’t use it for a secured electronic
gate. See the “Security Best Practices” section on page 34.
Determine whether you want a backlit button for the Cisco Video Door Station. The button’s backlight can
be enabled or disabled in Composer Pro. You can also program the On/Off backlit button.
See the Composer Pro User Guide for details.

Before adding this device to a Composer Project
• Make sure the wireless access point (WAP) is on the same network as your Controller and that the signal
is strong.
• Determine the other Cisco touchscreens that will be communicating with this Cisco Video Door Station.

Table 1-3 Pre-Installation Requirements and Best Practices (continued)
Prerequisite
Prerequisite
Complete?
(9)

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Prerequisites and Requirements
Wireless Network Limitations
Many Wi-Fi Access Points handle Multicasts (Wi-Fi simultaneously sent to multiple devices, for
example, when the Cisco Video Door Station broadcasts video to all stations) by slowing down
transmission speed to the 1 Mb basic rate. This can cause overall Wi-Fi congestion in the Wi-Fi network
during the broadcast. Video intercom response times and images may degrade at each device.
If a residence requires a large number of Wi-Fi video intercom devices, ensure that you have a robust
Wi-Fi network (possibly consisting of multiple access points).
Wi-Fi Considerations
• Wi-Fi requires an antenna (sold separately). See the “Accessories” section on page 4.
• Ensure that the antenna’s tip does not touch the Cisco Video Door Station’s Back Box metal when
threaded through the Back Box hole or any other metal surfaces. See the “Installing the Wi-Fi
Antennas” section on page 27.
• Check the signal strength after you wire the Video Door Station but before securing the device in
the wall. You can do that at the driver’s Properties page in Composer Pro. See the Composer Pro
User Guide for details.
• Wireless-N is recommended for video intercom. See the “Wireless Network Limitations” section on
page 8. Although this device supports b/g/n, 802.11 b is not recommended or supported for video
intercom.
Power Options
Caution Do not attempt to use PoE, AC, and DC power at the same time. Choose only one power option.
The Cisco Video Door Station can be powered using one of the following options:
• Power over Ethernet (PoE)—The Ethernet network connection for the Cisco Video Door Station is
provided through the PoE Injector. No additional wiring is needed.
• AC or DC—Used to power the Cisco Video Door Station when using an Ethernet (not PoE) or Wi-Fi
network connection.
Note Ethernet cable. Install the ferrite clamp on the Ethernet cable inside the Back Box.

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Prerequisites and Requirements
Grounding Requirements
The following table indicates which power options require an earth ground.
Note Cisco does not support using earth ground for contacts as this could damage the Cisco Video Door
Station. Do not use contacts that are grounded. The Cisco Video Door Station only supports
non-grounded contacts. See the “Contact and Relay Connections” section on page 32.
Backlit Button Indicator
The Cisco Video Door Station button’s light can be turned on or off depending on what is required for
the installation.
The backlit button may make it easier to see the button when it is dark outside. Normally, the light on
the button remains on or off depending on how it is configured in the system, however, it is also used to
convey device status during certain times.
When the device is first powered on, the button will blink slowly until the device is ready to be used in
the system. If the button continues to blink slowly for over 3 minutes, then the device may be
experiencing a problem and should be factory restored. During a factory restore process the button will
blink rapidly.
Mounting Tips
Follow these tips for the best results.
1. Install the Cisco Video Door Station in a place where it will be protected from water (for example,
rain or sprinklers).
Note The Internal Video Door Station is for interior use only.
2. Do not expose the Cisco Video Door Station to direct sunlight (to reduce fading and degradation of
the faceplate).
3. Mount the Cisco Video Door Station in a location where the caller can be seen and heard.
Table 4 Grounding Requirements
Power Type
Cisco External Video Door Station
Earth Ground?
Cisco Internal Video Door Station
Earth Ground?
Requirement
Complete?
(9)
AC Yes, required for safety. Yes, required for safety. 
Power over Ethernet (PoE) Optional; not required. Recommended; not required. 
DC Recommended; not required. Recommended; not required. 

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Prerequisites and Requirements
• Mount the Video Door Station where the video camera is aimed at an average person’s height
so the person inside the building gets a good view of the person calling in.
• Mount the Video Door Station so that the caller can comfortably speak into the microphone
(about two (2) feet away or 60 cm).
• See the “Installing the Back Box” section on page 11 for more information.
4. We do not recommend using wireless (Wi-Fi) networking for a Video Door Station mounted outside
your dwelling. If Wi-Fi is used, follow these guidelines:
• The wireless access protocol (WAP) broadcast to the installed location must be strong.
• Use Composer Pro’s System Manager to test the wireless signal after you’ve installed the Cisco
Video Door Station, and then verify that the signal works correctly. See the Composer Pro User
Guide for details.