Box of Secrets: Discreetly modding an apartment intercom to work with Apple Home
A blog post on wiring an apartment building’s intercom into Apple HomeKit via an ESP32 sparks broader criticism of how limited, fragile, and SaaS-heavy modern access and intercom systems have become. Commenters share their own DIY solutions—from relays, VoIP and Twilio setups to SwitchBot “finger robots” and commercial products like Nuki and Ring—highlighting a trade-off between convenience, reliability, openness, and privacy. Many also question the legality and ethics of modifying shared building infrastructure, contrasting clever hacks with the risks they pose to landlords, neighbors, and building security.
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.