Being able to open your gate from your phone is one of those things that quickly becomes indispensable. Let the delivery driver in while you're at work, check you closed the gate after the school run, or open up for a visitor without leaving the sofa.
What smart control can do
- Open and close the gate from your phone, from anywhere with a signal
- See whether the gate is open or closed
- Get a notification when the gate opens
- Give temporary access to visitors, trades or carers
- Voice control through Alexa or Google Home
- Schedules – for example, open for set hours on a business
How it works
A small module – Wi-Fi or GSM – is wired into your gate's control board. It talks to an app on your phone. With Wi-Fi, your gate needs a good signal at the control box; with GSM, it uses a mobile SIM, so it works even with no Wi-Fi nearby.
Video intercoms with apps are another way to do it – you see who's there and open the gate from the same app. See intercoms for electric gates.
Adding it to existing gates
Most gate systems can take a smart module, as long as the control board is in decent working order. Very old boards may need upgrading first. See upgrading an old gate system.
Doing it safely
Opening a gate when you can't see it raises a safety question – what if someone's standing in the way? That's why the gate's photocells and safety edges must be working properly, and why I set smart control up with the gate's safety devices in mind. Some systems can be set so the gate can only be closed remotely with extra checks in place.
Keeping it secure
- use a strong, unique password for the app
- keep the app and module updated
- remove access for people who no longer need it
Read more
Call, text or WhatsApp Adrian on 07855 781433 to add smart control to your gate.
Questions people ask me
Can I open my electric gate with my phone?
Yes – with a Wi-Fi or GSM module added to the control board.
Do I need Wi-Fi at the gate?
For a Wi-Fi module, yes. A GSM module uses a SIM card instead.
Is app control safe?
It is when the gate's safety devices are working properly and the system is set up with that in mind.