Key takeaways:
- A gate intercom system has three primary parts: a base station, substations, and a gate motor.
- Gate intercom systems improve security throughout your property, ensure delivery people can access it, and reduce the time staff spends managing guest access.
- When looking for a gate intercom system, you should consider your gate’s location, cloud-based administration, and the manufacturer’s reputation.
From gated communities to parking garages, any property entrance with a gate requires a system to manage access. We’re here to help you find the best gate intercom system for your gated property.
Offering security and convenience, gate intercom systems are a necessary investment. But with so many options, how do you choose the right one? The right choice depends on your unique property and your priorities. Perhaps wireless installation is important, you’d like to manage the system remotely, or maybe having a camera is necessary. This guide outlines what to consider when choosing a gate intercom system.
This guide includes:
- What is a gate intercom system?
- How does a gate intercom work?
- Why you need a gate intercom system
- 9 things to consider when choosing a gate intercom system
What is a gate intercom system?
A gate intercom system is a property access solution that enables tenants to speak with visitors and open the security gate for them remotely.
Whether you own or operate an apartment building, a commercial property, or a gated community, your gated entrance requires an entry system with features that increase convenience while maintaining high levels of security.
A gate intercom has these parts:
- Base stations. Base stations are the central hub of the gate intercom system, which is installed at the entrance. Guests use the base station to call tenants and request property access.
- Substations. Tenants use these devices to answer calls and open the gate remotely. Substations can be hardware installed throughout the property or tenants’ own smartphones.
- Gate motors. Depending on the type of gate at your property, you might install either a sliding or a swinging gate motor. When a resident directs the gate to open, the base station sends an electrical signal to the gate motor to open and close it again.
In addition to the base station and substations, gate entry systems require a gate unlocking mechanism that can open the gate when a tenant presses a button.
Gate intercoms are great for:
- Gated communities
- Commercial properties
- Mixed-use buildings
- Industrial properties
- Parking lots and parking structures
How much does a gate intercom system cost?
Most gate intercom systems cost between $1,000 and $7,000 for the hardware plus the cost of installation. For some intercom systems, there may be ongoing service fees as well.
How does a gate intercom work?
A gate intercom works by transmitting audio between the base station outdoors and a substation within the property. This is how a visitor at the gate talks to a specific tenant within the property.
If the gate entry system has a camera, it will also transmit video so that tenants and visitors can see each other.
When a tenant wants to open the gate for a visitor, they press a button on their substation. Pressing that button sends a signal to the gate intercom base station, which instructs the gate release mechanism to unlock.
Watch how the ButterflyMX video door entry system works for gated communities:
How do you program an intercom system for gates?
Every intercom system is different, but here are the steps to program most gate intercoms:
- Once the intercom has been installed, ask your provider to activate it.
- From your online dashboard, upload all of your tenants’ information. Check to see if your gate intercom integrates with your property management system (PMS). If so, connect your PMS to the intercom to quickly upload all your tenants.
- If your gate intercom has a mobile app, send your tenants instructions on how to register their smartphones with the intercom system.
Why you need a gate intercom system
You need a gate entry system to keep your property secure while ensuring seamless access for tenants, employees, and authorized visitors. A front gate intercom is the best way to achieve both goals.
Other gate entry solutions fail to do it all. The traditional gate access control system with fobs or keycards gets tenants through the gate but can’t facilitate access for visitors or delivery people.
You should invest in an entry gate system to:
- Empower tenants to remotely grant property access to guests
- Improve security throughout your property
- Prevent car stacking and help you avoid penalties for cars backed up on the street
- Reduce the time your property staff spends on managing visitor access
- Ensure that delivery people can access your property
In short, an intercom is a must-have amenity for gated communities and other gated properties.
9 things to consider when choosing a gate intercom system:
- The gate’s location on the property
- Wired vs. wireless
- Can you use it with a cellphone
- Does it have a camera
- Is it cloud-based
- How many residents/tenants live or work at the property
- Your property’s traffic needs
- Your budget for hardware and installation
- Whether the brand is trustworthy and reliable
1. Gate location
If you’re planning to install a gate intercom system, first you need to consider the gate’s location on your property. Is the gate located at the end of a long driveway, a mile away from the other side of the community? Or is the gate at the entrance of a parking lot, separate from the main building?
Location matters when installing an intercom because it affects wiring and installation costs. The more wiring you have to lay and the further those wires have to extend, the more your system will cost to install.
2. Wired vs. wireless
Like other forms of technology — from telephones and printers to speakers and headphones — intercoms can be wired or wireless. The best gate intercom system is wired for some functions, but wireless for others.
When to go wireless
Like other forms of technology — from telephones and printers to speakers and headphones — intercoms can be wired or wireless. The best gate intercom system is wired for some functions but wireless for others.
While you’ll save money by choosing a wireless gate intercom system that doesn’t require wiring to in-unit hardware, you’ll avoid frustration by investing in a wired gate intercom system powered by the internet.
Gate intercoms with a direct internet connection perform better and are more reliable. By wiring directly to the internet, you’ll prevent cellular or WiFi connectivity issues. The last thing you’d want is a line of cars stuck waiting to enter your property because your WiFi gate opener can’t connect to the internet.
Choose a gate intercom that only requires three connections:
- Power
- Internet
- Gate opener
3. Gate intercoms that work with a cell phone
96% of Americans own a cell phone — which means it’s time to ditch gate intercoms that use in-unit hardware and replace them with a cellphone-friendly system.
What’s more, 81% of Americans own a smartphone. As smartphone ownership continues to grow, the best choice is an intercom with a smartphone gate opener. Choose an intercom that lets residents open the gate with a smartphone.
A residential gate intercom system lets tenants:
- Open the gate from anywhere with their smartphone
- Remotely grant property access for service providers, like dog walkers, cleaners, and maintenance workers
- See who’s at the gate before granting property access
- Open the gate for delivery drivers and couriers (property managers can also give couriers unique delivery PINs for easy property access)
- Ditch annoying keys, fobs, and keycards for a completely keyless entry experience.
4. Gate intercom system with camera
When choosing a gate intercom system, you have two options: a traditional telephone entry system or a modern gate intercom system with a camera. If you have a gate intercom with a camera, tenants and visitors can video chat.
Telephone-based intercoms rely on an analog signal that cannot handle the bandwidth of video transfer. In contrast, a gate intercom with a camera is an IP intercom that can accommodate the data load of video transfer.
Video gate intercom systems offer benefits including:
- Improved security. Security is a top priority for gated communities. Residents want to know that anyone entering the property has been vetted and authorized. Video gate intercoms let you see who is at the gate before granting them property access.
- A property access audit trail. Gate intercoms with cameras can take a time- and date-stamped photo every time someone uses the system. This serves as an audit trail, which property staff can review as needed.
5. Cloud-based gate intercom system
If an intercom is cloud-based, you can manage the system remotely. Instead of going onsite or downloading software, you can manage the intercom system from anywhere using a mobile device or computer.
Cloud-based gate intercom systems are ideal for busy property managers who need to manage and update the system anytime, anywhere.
A gate intercom with remote management lets property managers:
- Update the resident directory from anywhere
- Manage resident access and permissions without going onsite
- Remotely issue single-use PINs and virtual keys to maintenance professionals, couriers, and other service providers who need temporary access
- View an audit trail of all gate entries
6. Accommodating all residents or tenants
Before selecting a gate intercom system, consider how many people it needs to serve. Do you manage a large gated community with hundreds of residents? Do you own a commercial building with a gated parking structure that serves multiple businesses?
Make sure the gate intercom you buy can accommodate everyone who lives or works on the property. Some multi-tenant intercoms limit the number of end-users. Check with the intercom provider to see whether their product meets your needs.
7. Your property’s traffic needs
Perhaps the greatest benefit of a smartphone-based gate intercom system is reducing wait times to enter your gated community. Car stacking is a significant problem for gated communities, so you need a solution to get residents and visitors through the gate efficiently.
Gate intercoms with a mobile app reduce car stacking by:
- Letting residents enter the property quickly with their smartphones. Residents arriving home won’t have to fumble for a fob or keycard while driving. Instead, they can open the gate using the intercom’s mobile app.
- Speeding up the visitor entry process. When guests arrive at your front gate, they can quickly gain access either with a virtual key issued by the tenant or by calling the tenant through the video gate intercom.
- Getting couriers through the gate quickly. Smart video gate intercom systems let property admins issue unique delivery PINs to each delivery service. Couriers can enter their PIN code on the intercom for quick access.
As an added benefit, a smartphone gate intercom will also help prevent tailgating at your property. Tailgating — when an unauthorized vehicle follows a resident through the gate while it remains open — is a serious security concern, so it’s worth the effort to curtail this practice.
8. Hardware and installation budget
At the end of the day, your budget dictates which gate intercom you’ll purchase. Before buying a gate entry system, consider the cost of hardware and installation.
Gate intercom hardware pricing varies from brand to brand. On average, expect to spend between $1,000 and $7,000 on the outdoor gate intercom system’s hardware. Intercoms with touchscreen interfaces cost more than a basic gate intercom with keypads, but they also add curb appeal and provide a better user experience.
Installation costs are nearly impossible to estimate without a quote from a professional.
The cost of your gate intercom installation depends on several factors, such as:
- The size of your property
- The location of your gate
- The complexity of the installation
- The system’s wiring requirements
Pro-tip: Save money by choosing a smartphone gate intercom without in-unit hardware. Gate intercoms with in-unit hardware cost more because you have to pay not only for the hardware but also for a professional to install it.
9. Brand reputation
The last factor to consider when choosing a gate intercom is the company’s reputation and reliability. You’re investing in an important system, so don’t skimp on quality.
Make sure the company you purchase from has a strong track record of selling reliable, durable, high-quality products. Read online reviews left by other customers and ask around your network for recommendations from other real estate professionals.
You’ll also want to make sure the company provides excellent customer service. Determine whether the company provides live email or phone support. If the company is not based in the U.S., do they offer any customer support at all?
Your best bet is to purchase from a brand that offers live customer support in the same timezone as you. That way, you’ll always get your questions answered and your issues resolved in a timely manner.
