Box of Secrets: Discreetly modding an apartment intercom to work with Apple Home

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

State of Consumer Intercoms

  • Commenters are struck by how poor and fragmented the intercom ecosystem is, especially for small buildings and homes.
  • Existing options tend to be either expensive SaaS systems for large complexes or cloud‑tethered devices like Ring.
  • There’s demand for “semi‑dumb” Ethernet/Wi‑Fi boxes that just do local announcements or door release without cloud dependence.

Use of Smart Speakers and Home Assistants

  • Many try to use HomePod, Google Home, or Alexa as intra‑home intercoms.
  • Reports are mixed to negative: intercom features are seen as clunky, unreliable, or poorly designed; diagnostics are weak.
  • Most people end up using these devices mainly for timers, music, and basic home control.
  • Some use stereo‑paired smart speakers as TV/audio output and are satisfied with that part.

DIY and Commercial Hacks for Intercoms

  • Several describe ESP8266/ESP32 or Raspberry Pi hacks that trigger the door release relay or auto‑answer VOIP phones.
  • Others use commercial add‑ons like Nuki Opener, Ring Intercom, Doorman (ESP32 + Home Assistant), SwitchBot “finger robots,” or Twilio/voip.ms with DTMF to open doors via codes.
  • Some prefer very simple, robust hacks (relay on unlock button, delayed open, party modes) over elaborate integrations.

Social Norms Around Automation and Intercom Use

  • One line of discussion criticizes tech‑mediated “dinner is ready” announcements as antisocial or lazy, arguing people should help cook or walk to notify others.
  • Others strongly disagree, citing multi‑story homes, people in different rooms with headphones, and the value of non‑disruptive, quick broadcast tools.

Security, Legal, and Ethical Concerns

  • Multiple comments flag serious issues with modifying shared building access systems:
    • Potential CFAA or local licensing violations.
    • Landlords or building owners objecting to unapproved changes, with anecdotes of successful lawsuits over “helpful” repairs.
    • Increased risk profile for neighbors (unlogged access, more attack surface).
  • Others downplay the risk, arguing practical impact is low and landlords often neglect maintenance.

Technical Implementation Notes and Reliability

  • Concerns raised about cheap relays failing “on” or being under‑rated for inductive loads; suggestions made for higher‑quality, code‑compliant relay modules.
  • Some think the article’s communication stack is over‑engineered and that simpler, lighter protocols are better on constrained hardware.