Access Control Options: Keypads, Intercoms, and Smartphone Entry

Automating a gate is only half the story — the other half is deciding who gets in, and how. Access control ranges from a $300 keypad to full multi-tenant telephone entry systems, and picking right the first time saves rewiring later.

Keypads

The workhorse. A weatherproof keypad at the driveway entrance with one or more PIN codes. Modern units support temporary codes for deliveries or contractors, and log entries. Pair with a wireless receiver and there's minimal trenching.

Best for: single-family homes, small shops, budget-conscious installs.

Telephone entry and video intercoms

An intercom lets you screen visitors before the gate opens. Older telephone-entry units dial a landline; modern systems relay video calls straight to your smartphone, so you can see and buzz in a visitor from anywhere. For multi-tenant properties, directory-style units handle dozens of units cleanly.

Best for: gated communities, estates, offices, anyone who wants to see who's asking.

Remotes and vehicle detection

Clickers still make sense for daily drivers, and in-ground exit loops or driveway probes open the gate automatically on the way out — a must so guests aren't trapped inside. Free-exit loops also protect the gate from closing on a vehicle.

Smartphone-first systems

App-controlled openers let you manage codes, view history, and open the gate remotely. Most integrate with the same operators we already install (LiftMaster, Nice, DoorKing), so this is usually an add-on module rather than a whole new system.

Mixing and matching

The best installs layer options: keypad for family, app for the owners, intercom for guests, exit loop for everyone leaving. When we quote an automation project across Pierce and King County, we spec access control alongside the operator so the wiring, power, and mounting all go in once — not twice.