Browse Hive posts
Filter the regular Protobuzz blog to show only Project Hive posts.
Project Hive
An open-source smart intercom platform for modernizing legacy apartment intercom systems with ESP32 hardware, firmware, wiring guides, and community-built documentation.
Before you start
Hive is being built as a documentation-first hardware program. That means each supported device needs a real compatibility page, wiring notes, firmware goals, and test evidence instead of a vague support claim.
If you want to follow the project today, start with the first supported target, the main blog, and the launch article. If you want to contribute, bring captures, panel photos, wiring notes, or reproducible issues.
Mission
Project Hive is focused on bringing legacy apartment intercom systems online using affordable, community-built hardware. The work spans ESP32-based boards, custom PCBs, firmware, wiring guides, reverse engineering, and an open contribution model that makes smart apartment access more accessible.
Users should be able to build the hardware themselves, buy compatible hardware later if they prefer, and connect it with the Protobuzz platform for hosted app access and cloud services.
- - ESP32-based hardware for legacy apartment intercom integrations.
- - Custom PCBs, firmware, and wiring guides that people can build and verify themselves.
- - Reverse engineering notes for apartment and condo intercom systems that were never designed for modern APIs.
- - Community contributions spanning schematics, test captures, compatibility findings, and installation docs.
- - A path for builders to self-assemble hardware today and buy compatible hardware later as the platform matures.
- - Tight integration with Protobuzz for hosted mobile access, cloud services, account management, and future commercial support.
Current status
In Progress
IS-489 support
Capture line behavior, validate call audio, and stabilize unlock control for the first supported Mircom target.
In Progress
Prototype hardware
Bench-ready ESP32 dev builds proving relay control, audio capture paths, and safer wiring assumptions.
In Progress
Firmware
Device firmware for call detection, audio handling, unlock actions, and provisioning flows.
Planned
PCB
A first custom board revision focused on repeatable wiring, cleaner power, and easier enclosure work.
Planned
OTA updates
Reliable remote firmware delivery so deployed devices can evolve without bench access.
Planned
Additional intercom models
Expand beyond the first Mircom target into broader legacy apartment intercom families.
Planned
Community documentation
Versioned wiring notes, troubleshooting, and contributed teardown findings from the field.
Supported devices
The compatibility table is designed to grow as more apartment intercom families are validated and documented.
| Vendor | Model | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mircom | IS-489 | In Progress | Primary reverse-engineering target and first compatibility milestone. |
| Mircom | IS-90 | Planned | Placeholder for the next Mircom family entry once IS-489 is stable. |
| Mircom | TX3 | Planned | Directory and building-level system support is on the long-range roadmap. |
| Aiphone | Community Target | Research Queue | Awaiting hardware captures, panel photos, and wiring reports from contributors. |
| Comelit | Community Target | Research Queue | Planned as field data and install samples become available. |
| Urmet | Community Target | Research Queue | Open for contributed signal traces, teardown notes, and schematics. |
| Siedle | Community Target | Research Queue | Candidate for future compatibility work after the first PCB revision lands. |
GitHub and contributions
Hive is intended to be built in public across firmware, hardware, schematics, documentation, and field validation.
Step 1
Source code
Firmware, utilities, and integration code live in the open so hardware behavior stays inspectable.
Step 2
PCB designs
Schematics, board revisions, and manufacturing files should be reviewable and forkable.
Step 3
Issues and requests
Compatibility problems, feature requests, and field notes belong in a public issue trail.
Step 4
Bench evidence
Photos, captures, wiring notes, and teardown findings are first-class contributions for Hive.
Relationship to Protobuzz
Project Hive is the open-source hardware platform. Protobuzz provides the hosted mobile application, cloud platform, account management, and additional services built on top of Hive.
That split keeps the hardware and integration layer open to builders while still leaving room for a managed service path for people who want hosted automation and app-based access.
Project Hive blog posts
Published Hive posts live in the regular Protobuzz blog.
Project Hive FAQs
Protobuzz answers the most common questions about smart buzzer access, subscriptions, and getting started below.
Build the hardware. Use the platform.
