Access Control

Intercom systems

Intercoms are the most popular form of access control for residential automated gate systems. Having an intercom at the boundary to your property means visitors can make themselves known to you, without intrusive face to face contact at the front door, and without them having access to your property.

Intercoms come in an almost endless array of shapes and sizes and with a huge range of different functions, including audio only systems and also video entry systems which allow you to see the person calling before you decide whether or not to allow them access.

At Frontline Automation, we are happy to offer a free site survey to discuss your particular property and requirements with you. The huge variety of intercoms on the market make it impossible for us to list them all here, but you will find detailed below a basic overview of some of the options available to you.

Wired Intercom System

Wired intercoms use communication cables installed from the intercom front panel all the way to the handset located within the property. This can be to a stand-alone handset, or to multiple handsets located in different rooms for ease of use.

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Depending on the distance between your automated gate and your property, wired intercom systems can prove to be costly due to the cables being installed - There are also limits on how far cables can be run for them to operate properly. Each handset will need to be wired which will require cabling inside the property.

The benefit of wired intercoms however is the reliability - Because they are hard-wired, you are not reliant on a GSM signal or a clear line of sight requirement as you may be with some of the others.

Wireless Intercom System

Wireless intercoms do not require any communication cable to be laid between the intercom front panel and handset location. The intercom works on a wireless receiver, and the handset itself can also be wireless, enabling you to carry it around with you, wherever you are. Only the rechargable docking station for the handset would require power within the property.

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Because of the lack of cabling required, wireless intercom systems can often be an easy and cost-effective solution. There are range implications with these, such as the distance and some needing a clear line of sight, and a sight survey must be completed before assessing whether or not one of these intercoms would be appropriate.

GSM Intercom System

GSM Intercoms are also wireless, but these work on a sim card within the intercom front-panel which can be set to directly call mobile or landline phones. A huge benefit of these intercoms is the fact that you don't need to be at the property to answer people at the gate, and to allow them access to your property - Particuarly useful for deliveries or workman that you may not wish to allow constant access to. The system can be set up to call different numbers in order, so it could call your landline, then your mobile phone, and then someone else, either landline or mobile.

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With GSM intercoms, a good signal strength will be required for the sim card within the unit, and it is recommended to carry out a signal strength test before deciding on the mobile network to be used. The sim card will also need credit on it if PAYG, or be on a sim only contract to ensure it can make the required phone calls when the unit is activated.

Keypads

Digital keypads can be installed to allow access to the property using coded entry, meaning only those that know the code can gain entry. As with the intercoms, these can be wired or wireless, and the majority of intercoms can have keypads built in for a streamlined look.

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Keypads can be installed in conjunction with time clocks which enable you to decide when certain codes will work - For example, your family members may have a code which works 24/7, whereas any housekeeping staff may have a code which only works 9-5.

Radio Receiver/Transmitters:

Commonly refferred to as 'remotes' or 'zappers', transmitters are the mosy common and prefferred form of access control within the residential market. A radio receiver will be installed within the controls of the gate (most automated gate kits will have a radio receiver built in, negating the need for extra equipment), which then provides the signal/access point for your electric gate. When approaching the property, you would simply 'aim' the transmitter at the controls and press the desitgnated button. If you were inside a car, you would not to leave which is particularly important late at night or in adverse weather conditions. The gates can be set to automatically close behind you once all safety devices have been cleared.

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There are many ways of controlling access into your property, and these are just the most popular examples. There are also various options allowing different means of exiting your property, all designed to work alongside the chosen entry systems.

Push Buttons

Push buttons can be installed for either entry or exit, although more common as a pedestrian exit system. Usually installed on a post just before the gate, pedestrians or vehicles can press the push button to open the gates, which will then close automatically once all safety devices have been cleared. As with keypads, entry and exit buttons can be installed alongside a time clock so that you can decide when they will be operational.

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Roadway Vehicle Detection Loops

As with push buttons, these can be installed for entry or exit (or safety only) but generally these are the most popular choice for controlling the exit from a property. As a vehicle drives over the roadway loop, the automated gates will open automatically, with no need for additional push buttons or keypads for vehicular access/exit. Once the loops and other safety devices have been cleared, the electric gates will automatically close.

Vehicle loops are in essence a metal detector, allowing the gates to understand a vehicle is approaching, but not operating for pedestrians. Senstivity of roadway loops can be adjusted to make sure they detect motorcycles if required.

Contact us for a no-obligation site survey.