By the SightShield team · · 3 min read
Choose how people and vehicles get in
An automatic gate is only as convenient — and as secure — as the way it is opened. Most installations combine two or three methods: remotes for the family, a video door phone for visitors, and an app or keypad as a backup.
Comparison
| Method | Best for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rolling-code remote | Family cars, two-wheelers | Codes change each press, so they cannot be easily copied; lost remotes can be deleted |
| Phone app (Wi-Fi or GSM module) | Owners, opening for visitors remotely | Needs network at the gate; keep remotes as backup |
| GSM call opener | Small apartments, villas | Authorised numbers call the gate to open it; no app needed |
| RFID tags or cards | Apartments, offices, factories | Windscreen tags or cards per vehicle; easy to cancel |
| Keypad | Domestic staff, deliveries | Change codes regularly; codes can be shared |
| Number-plate recognition (ANPR) | Large communities, offices | No tags; needs good camera placement and clear plates |
| Video door phone | Visitors | See who is at the gate, talk, and open from inside |
| Exit loop detector | Vehicle exit | Opens automatically for vehicles leaving |
| Biometric (face/fingerprint) | Pedestrian gates, staff | Personal and hard to share; logs every entry |
Security tips
- Use rolling-code remotes, not fixed-code ones that can be copied.
- Keep a list of issued remotes and tags; delete lost ones from the receiver immediately.
- Give domestic staff time-limited keypad codes or tags, not permanent remotes.
- Put the gate controller and any Wi-Fi module on a secure network with a strong password.
- Log entries where possible — RFID, app and biometric systems record who opened the gate.
How rolling-code remotes work
Older fixed-code remotes send the same code every time, so anyone with a cheap code grabber nearby can record and replay it. Rolling-code remotes change the code on every press using a shared algorithm with the receiver, so a recorded code is useless. Most current gate motors ship with rolling-code receivers; if yours still uses fixed-code remotes, upgrading the receiver and remotes is inexpensive and worthwhile.
Which combination suits you?
- Villa: remotes for the family, video door phone for visitors, app or GSM as backup.
- Apartment: RFID or ANPR for residents’ vehicles, guard or visitor app for guests, exit loop.
- Office or factory: RFID or ANPR for staff vehicles, guard-controlled visitor entry, biometric pedestrian gate.
Managing remotes and tags in an apartment
- Keep a register: flat number, vehicle, tag or remote number, date issued.
- Delete tags and remotes when residents move out or sell vehicles.
- Charge a deposit for remotes to encourage returns.
- Give tenants their own tags rather than sharing the owner’s.
- Audit the receiver’s memory annually against the register.
Always keep a manual option
Whatever the opening method, every automatic gate must have a keyed manual release, and residents should know how to use it. Battery backup keeps electronic methods working during power cuts.
Opening a gate in a power cut →Quick answers
Can I open my gate from my phone?+
Yes, with a Wi-Fi or GSM module on the gate controller, or through a video door phone app.
What happens if I lose a remote?+
The lost remote can be deleted from the gate receiver so it no longer works, and a new one paired.
Are RFID tags better than remotes for apartments?+
Usually yes. Tags are cheap, cannot be pressed by accident, and each can be cancelled individually when a resident moves out.
Can visitors be let in remotely?+
Yes, through a video door phone or app that lets you see and talk to the visitor before opening.
Can I copy my gate remote?+
Rolling-code remotes are normally paired with the receiver rather than copied. Ask your installer for additional remotes compatible with your receiver.
How far do gate remotes work?+
Typically tens of metres, depending on the remote, receiver antenna and obstacles.