DoorKing Intercom Repair

DoorKing telephone entry repair and cellular conversion. 1802, 1812, 1834, 1835 serviced daily.

★★★★★

AJ was right on time, easily diagnosed the problem, and fixed everything. Super knowledgeable and professional.

P

Patrick Cannon

Google Review · Keypad + camera

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DoorKing Intercom Repair & Installation Los Angeles

DoorKing builds their telephone entry systems and intercoms in Inglewood, California. That’s less than 3 miles from LAX and about 20 minutes from most of LA. When we need tech support or a replacement board, we’re calling the same area code. It doesn’t get more local than that.

The Tech Guys Doors and Gates services every DoorKing intercom and telephone entry system across Los Angeles County. The 1802 in your 6-unit building. The 1812 at your apartment complex. The 1835 running access control for a 200-unit high-rise. We troubleshoot programming issues, replace boards, convert landlines to cellular, and program tenant directories. If it says DKS on the faceplate and it’s not working right, that’s our job.

This page covers DoorKing’s intercom and telephone entry products specifically. If you need help with a DoorKing gate operator (the motor that moves the gate), visit our DoorKing Gate Repair page.

DoorKing Models We Service

DoorKing makes two main lines of telephone entry systems. The 1800 series handles small and mid-size properties. The 1830 series is built for large apartment buildings, commercial complexes, and anywhere you need PC programming and advanced access control.

1800 Series (Small & Medium Properties)

These are the workhorses for residential communities, small apartment buildings, and gated neighborhoods. They’re programmed from the front keypad and don’t require a computer.

The 1812 is the most popular telephone entry system in the country. We service more 1812 units than every other DoorKing model combined. If your building has a callbox at the gate, there’s a strong chance it’s a 1812.

1830 Series (Large Properties & Commercial)

The 1830 series is designed for properties where keypad programming isn’t practical. Think 100+ unit apartment complexes, corporate campuses, and parking garages. These systems connect to a PC for directory management and support proxy card readers, VoIP, and cellular connections.

All 1830 series models support DoorKing’s 90-series proximity card readers. That gives property managers two layers of access control: a card for residents and a callbox for visitors. We install, program, and repair both sides of that system.

Common DoorKing Intercom Problems We Fix

Here’s what we see most often on DoorKing intercom service calls. Nine times out of ten, the problem is programming or wiring. The hardware itself is built to last.

Programming Lost After Power Outage

This is the single most common call we get on DoorKing systems. The power goes out, comes back on, and suddenly no one can dial in or the gate won’t respond to entry codes. Most people assume the board is fried. It usually isn’t.

DoorKing systems need to be reactivated after a power loss. On most models, you enter master code #1303 to wake the system back up. If that doesn’t work, try a full power cycle: turn the breaker off, wait two full minutes, then turn it back on. The two-minute wait matters because the capacitors on the board need time to discharge completely.

If neither of those fixes it, the programming EEPROM may need to be re-flashed or the board needs attention. That’s where we come in.

Phone Line Noise and Buzz

When tenants hear static, humming, or can’t make out what the visitor is saying, the phone line is usually the problem. Not the intercom itself.

We start by isolating the phone line from the DKS system. If the noise is still there with the intercom disconnected, it’s a telco issue. If the noise goes away, we check for pinched wires at the gate hinges (very common on swing gates), corroded terminal connections, and damaged cable runs. Water getting into the junction box is another frequent culprit in LA, especially during the rainy season.

System Won’t Enter Programming Mode

DoorKing keypads are picky about timing. If you’re entering the master code and the system won’t respond, you’re probably typing too slowly. Each digit needs to be pressed within a few seconds of the last one, or the system resets and you have to start over.

If timing isn’t the issue, the master code may have been changed by a previous technician or property manager. We can reset the system and re-establish programming access.

Speaker Howling and Feedback

That high-pitched screech when someone tries to talk through the intercom? It’s audio feedback, and it’s usually a volume issue. DoorKing systems have a volume potentiometer on the board. Turning it down a couple of notches typically kills the howling. If the potentiometer is maxed out and still squealing, the speaker itself may be blown or the feedback resistor on the board needs adjusting.

Phone Line to Cellular Conversion

This is a big one right now. We cover it in detail in the next section, but the short version: copper phone lines are disappearing across LA. If your DoorKing intercom still relies on a landline, converting to cellular keeps the system running without replacing the whole unit.

Board Replacement

DoorKing boards are modular and well-supported. DKS still manufactures replacement boards for most models, even older ones. The boards aren’t cheap, but they’re available. We stock the most common ones and can get specialty boards shipped from Inglewood in 1 to 2 business days.

Before we recommend a board swap, we always test to make sure the board is actually the problem. We’ve seen too many situations where another company replaced an expensive board and the real issue was a blown fuse or a bad connection.

Directory Management for Apartment Buildings

Tenants move in and out. Names need updating. Codes need adding and removing. For the 1800 series, this is done through the keypad. For the 1830 series, it’s done through PC software. Either way, if your property manager doesn’t know how to make changes, we can handle directory updates on site or train your staff to do it themselves.

DoorKing Cellular Conversion

Copper phone lines are being retired across Los Angeles. AT&T and other carriers have been sunsetting POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) lines for years, and the process is accelerating. If your DoorKing intercom runs on a landline today, it’s only a matter of time before that line goes away or the monthly cost becomes unreasonable.

DoorKing makes cellular retrofit kits specifically for this. The 1800-081 kit works with the 1800 series (1802, 1808, 1810, 1812), and the 1800-080 kit works with the 1830 series (1834, 1835, 1837). These kits replace the phone line connection with a cellular modem that uses the same DTMF tones and voltage levels the system expects.

This isn’t a simple plug-and-swap job. The tones and voltage output from the cellular adapter need to match what the DKS board is calibrated for. If they don’t match, the system will drop calls, fail to trigger the gate relay, or not dial out at all. We’ve done enough of these conversions to know where the calibration issues hide.

The benefits are straightforward: no monthly landline bill, no dependence on aging copper infrastructure, and the system works exactly the same way from the tenant’s perspective. Visitors still dial from the callbox, the tenant’s phone still rings, and pressing 9 (or whatever your building uses) still opens the gate.

Parts We Carry

We stock DoorKing intercom parts on our trucks and can source anything else from the Inglewood factory.

• Replacement control boards for 1800 and 1830 series
• Keypads and keypad overlays
• Speakers and microphones
• Cellular conversion kits (1800-080 and 1800-081)
• Proximity card readers (90 series)
• Prox cards and key fobs
• Directory strips and label holders
• Power supplies and transformers
• Wiring harnesses and terminal blocks
• Handsets and mounting hardware

DoorKing’s Inglewood warehouse ships fast to anywhere in LA County. If we don’t have a part on the truck, it’s usually here within 1 to 2 business days.

DoorKing Intercom FAQ

My DoorKing intercom lost all its programming after a power outage. Is the board dead?

Probably not. DoorKing systems need to be reactivated after power loss. Try entering your master code followed by #1303. If that doesn’t work, turn the breaker off for two full minutes, then back on. The board’s capacitors need time to fully discharge before a clean restart. If neither fix works, the EEPROM or board may need attention, and that’s when you should call us at (310) 400-0314.

Can you convert my DoorKing intercom from a phone line to cellular?

Yes. DoorKing makes retrofit cellular kits for both the 1800 and 1830 series. We handle the full conversion: install the cellular adapter, calibrate the tone and voltage settings, test every function, and verify the gate relay triggers properly. Your tenants won’t notice any difference in how the system works.

How do I add or remove tenants from my DoorKing directory?

On the 1800 series, you’ll program through the front keypad using the master code. On the 1830 series, you connect a PC and use DoorKing’s management software. If you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, we can handle directory updates on site or walk your property manager through the process.

My DoorKing callbox dials out but the gate won’t open when the tenant presses 9.

The relay that triggers the gate isn’t firing. This could be a programming issue (the relay output code may need to be reconfigured), a wiring problem between the intercom and the gate operator, or a bad relay on the board. We test all three during a service call. It’s rarely the gate operator itself.

Is it worth repairing an older DoorKing intercom or should I replace it?

DoorKing still supports most of their older models with replacement boards and parts. If the housing is in good shape and the system does what your property needs, repairing is almost always more cost-effective than replacing. We’ll give you an honest comparison of both options when we’re on site.

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