Four Gate Control Methods for Your Neighborhood
Once you've established the correct type of security gate, it's time to assess how to regulate gate access for your gated community so that it's both easy and secure. Below we examine some of the most familiar gate control systems for gated communities.
Keypads
A keypad access system allows easy gate entry for residents without using bulky fobs or remotes. With a keypad design, each resident has a special PIN code they enter on the keypad to acquire access. However, your delivery carriers and visitors won't have a PIN code, and keypads don't present a way for guests to request entry from residents. So, a keypad isn't the most promising way to control entry gate access by itself. Instead, for HOA property governance purposes, like garbage collection or maintenance demands, gate keypads are best operated with a video intercom approach. This way, third-party providers can request one-time entry to the property without requiring a PIN code.
License plate readers
If your neighborhood demands vehicle access, you might want to consider a license plate reader for your gate control system. License plate readers allow residents on the property by scanning their license plates. The system unlocks the entrance if the plate number corresponds to a plate in the database. However, remember that license plate readers only regulate and allow access for registered occupants, not guests or delivery couriers. So, you'll still require an entry system for guest access. On top of that, license plate readers exclusively control entry at the front gate, not at any other entrances. So if you must control entry to amenity spaces or other locations within the community, you'll require another property entry solution, like keypads.
Key fob system
Key fob and key card approaches are other alternatives for managing access to a gated community. Each citizen gets a fob or card to scan at the front entrance to enter. This is convenient for locals but not for guests. Fob and key card approaches only manage admission for residents — they don't provide access to delivery couriers or guests. Residents can also forget or misplace their fobs, which can be time-consuming and costly to replace. If you utilize a key fob system for your community, you'll want to pair it with a visitor control system for guest entry.
Gate intercom
A gate intercom is one popular way to manage access to a gated community. Intercom approaches are cost-effective and low-maintenance, allowing locals, visitors, and delivery couriers through your gate. Plus, you can combine security systems, like video surveillance, with most modern intercoms, so all your safety data is in one location. When buying a gate intercom, find one with a built-in camera. A gate intercom with a camera lets residents see who's at the entrance before allowing them in.
Additionally, you can see a log of all gate openings, complete with time- and date-stamped pictures. Finally, you may want to pursue a cloud-based gate intercom. Controlling your intercom through the cloud means you can modify access permissions and check entry logs from anywhere. And these kinds of intercoms generally come paired with a mobile app so staff and inhabitants can enter the community without fobs or remotes. In addition, residents can also give access to guests and delivery drivers from their phones.