Controlling your garage door
Smart garage door operator systems: The new way to control garage doors
Drive your car right up to the garage. Get out. And open the heavy garage door manually. That was the standard practice until a few decades ago. Muscle power was required, and it was not uncommon for doors to warp over time, so they would then no longer close securely. So, a new invention was needed: the electric garage door operator. In the meantime, many have upgraded their garage with it, turning a mechanical door into an electric one. Nowadays everyone’s talking ‘smart’ – the latest twist to the discussion about garage door operator systems. This means: The futuristic dream of a few decades ago is now reality: Garage doors can be integrated into an existing Smart Home, and operated conveniently from a mobile phone. Below we reveal the advantages of this technology, and show you what you need to implement it.
Electric garage door as the basis
If you’re thinking about operating your garage door from your mobile phone, you first need an electric garage door operator system as a basis. Nowadays, one can be connected to almost any garage door. The one essential requirement is that the operator is designed for use with the specific door and has the necessary pulling power. In most cases, a chain or toothed belt is used; more rarely a spindle drive. Chain drives are generally louder, but more powerful and longer-lasting than the quieter toothed belt variant. You’ll also need a wall socket for the power to run your garage door operator system. If you don't have a power supply in your garage, you can use solar or battery-powered models. The systems include hand-held transmitters with which the garage door can be conveniently opened from inside your car. You can also install a code switch if you wish.
Bluetooth or WLAN connection
To connect the garage door to your phone, you’ll either need an operator system with a built-in wireless module, or you can retrofit a radio receiver or wireless LAN gateway to an existing door. If you want to upgrade an electric garage door opener with a smart operator system, make sure that the system supports the opener. And you’ll also have to decide whether you want to use WLAN or Bluetooth.
WLAN-controlled garage door operator systems have no geographical constraints, allowing you to control the door even while away from home. It also means you can connect your garage door to a Smart Home system, opening up additional functionality. For example, you can programme certain times at which the door is to open or close automatically, or you can have sensors provide you with weather data before you leave the house.
Bluetooth-controlled garage door operator systems are more limited in terms of range. They only work when you are directly in front of the door, or if your phone can connect to the wireless module.
In both cases, you can operate the garage door using an app on your phone. If you prefer to use voice control or Google Assistant, you will need the WLAN variant. Make sure the signal can actually reach as far as the garage. Boost it with a repeater if in doubt.
Advantages of a smart garage
In addition to the advantages already mentioned, depending on the variant, a smart garage door also provides other positive benefits:
If you operate the garage door with your phone, you won't run the risk of forgetting the radio transmitter unit and being left standing in front of a locked garage. Because, like most people nowadays, you probably have your phone with you all the time.
Most smart receivers on garage door operator systems support connections from multiple phones, meaning multiple family members can control the garage door.
If the garage is attached to the house, you won’t even need a house key: You’ll be able to get in even if you’ve forgotten it.
If your smart garage is connected to a Smart Home system, you can give access for delivery services to leave parcels safely inside the garage, for example.
Smart or not smart – that’s the question
Which garage door operator system is right for you depends on many factors. First and foremost, it comes down to whether a hand-held transmitter or code switch is sufficient for you, or whether you want a smart garage that does all the tricks. For example, do you want to connect other Smart Home functions to it, or even open the garage by voice control? If so, you should definitely opt for the WLAN variant. We will be glad to help you make your decision and advise you on how to set up your state-of-the-art garage.
