automated garage door opening

Ive got a basic M1gold that i need to start improving. Is it possible to program it to open a garage door as I enter the driveway without having to push any buttons? Ideally, id like to have it open the correct door depending on which car enters. I dont even know if this is possible.
Also, Id like to be able to open the garage door remotely. What would be needed for that (M1XEP?)?
 
Also, Id like to be able to open the garage door remotely.

The problem with that is unless you add some logic (ie open command> if door is closed> execute>else do nothing) then you can close the door remotely and that is not a good idea. I know some people here have done it, but I won't automate anything I cant see other than lights, shades and sprinklers.
 
Ive got a basic M1gold that i need to start improving. Is it possible to program it to open a garage door as I enter the driveway without having to push any buttons? Ideally, id like to have it open the correct door depending on which car enters. I dont even know if this is possible.
Also, Id like to be able to open the garage door remotely. What would be needed for that (M1XEP?)?

The tricky part of course is triggering the M1 when you drive up. Any ideas? There are driveway sensors that detect when a car is in the driveway, but how do you know its YOUR car. There are also RFID solutions, but overall it may cause more problems then it solves.
 
but how do you know its YOUR car. There are also RFID solutions, but overall it may cause more problems then it solves.
yeah figured that would be difficult. Sure would be cool though. Im wicked lazy and would love to just drive up and have the door open.

Another question. At some point, when my kids get older and come home from school alone, would the M1XEP be all that I would need to have it trigger an email when they opened the door?
 
Ive got a basic M1gold that i need to start improving. Is it possible to program it to open a garage door as I enter the driveway without having to push any buttons? Ideally, id like to have it open the correct door depending on which car enters. I dont even know if this is possible.
Also, Id like to be able to open the garage door remotely. What would be needed for that (M1XEP?)?
I've thought about this quite a bit because it's something I want to do myself. I'm currently working on an Android application to control the Elk M1 (which requires the M1XEP). On the todo list is to allow the phone to trigger events based on location. Using the phones GPS, the app would detect the "Driving down my street towards my house" scenerio. It would then be able to trigger the garage door opening. Further fine tuning and you could make it ignore slow movment (i.e. walking around the block wouldn't cause the garage door to open).

As far as opening the correct door, you could have your phone programmed to open one door and your wife's phone programmed to open another door. When you're both in the same car.... well, that would be interesting. Not ideal both doors open, but I guess two is better than none?

This would have the issue of when you are riding in a friends car, however I'm used to entering my house via the garage (I assume most people are too).

It's just on the plan right now but I don't see any obvious problems with this solution.
 
The one problem with that solution, and any of these scenarios is just one thing, albeit a probably rare to never happen occurrence. That is the scenario where your car (with built in GPS) or phone is stolen or otherwise in the hands of someone unauthorized and they have your address. In this case if someone has your phone and they approach your house, you just let them in the garage. That's maybe not quite as bad as actually disarming the system at the same time but it at least gives them access to the stuff in the garage.

IMHO, security is more important than coolness and while all these ideas are cool they are simply not secure. I think one of the safest methods of coming home to enter your garage is as bsr mentioned - the Flash2Pass. The reason for that is security by obscurity. Even if someone has your car they will likely have no clue how to open the garage. the other method may be a wireless keyfob where you have to press a few buttons in a certain order or something.

Believe me, I am not trying to take anything away from these innovative and cool ideas and thought processes, just that I think they are not secure enough. Of course the chances of theft may be very small and worth the risk to you so by all means these are all good and viable options as long as you understand the risks.
 
As for the email when the kids come home, well thats easy. i use this feature for my babysitter/dog walker. Whenever she enters the house and enters her code, it sends me a text message to my phone and my wifes phone. When she arms the system it again sends me a text saying thats its armed.
 
Back
Top