I'm not a fan of leaving my garage door open for guests, and I don't like the dog barking when the doorbell is rung. So I made a "Guest Access" button for my garage.
I run an Insteon setup. I installed the I/O Linc garage door control kit, which provides open/close status of the garage and control of the garage door opener. I then installed a doorbell button in an inconspicuous location outside my garage. I added another I/O Linc which is hooked up to that button and acts as the trigger for my guest access routine. I initially had it programmed in Houselinc 2, but have since moved to the ISY-99i. Either way the program was the same. I have "Guest Garage Access" buttons on several keypadlincs throughout the house. When they are on they trigger a "Guest Mode" program to be true. If guest mode is true, then a press of the doorbell button outside will control my garage door. If the guest mode is off, the button outside does nothing.
Also works well with X10 wireless remotes. I can give a cheap keychain remote to family which activates the guest mode. They can then operate the garage door themselves. Significant cost savings over additional garage door remotes. I realize I can use the X10 remote to directly control the garage, but prefer to have a little added security in that a specific house/unit code be sent and then the button on the house pressed.
I run an Insteon setup. I installed the I/O Linc garage door control kit, which provides open/close status of the garage and control of the garage door opener. I then installed a doorbell button in an inconspicuous location outside my garage. I added another I/O Linc which is hooked up to that button and acts as the trigger for my guest access routine. I initially had it programmed in Houselinc 2, but have since moved to the ISY-99i. Either way the program was the same. I have "Guest Garage Access" buttons on several keypadlincs throughout the house. When they are on they trigger a "Guest Mode" program to be true. If guest mode is true, then a press of the doorbell button outside will control my garage door. If the guest mode is off, the button outside does nothing.
Also works well with X10 wireless remotes. I can give a cheap keychain remote to family which activates the guest mode. They can then operate the garage door themselves. Significant cost savings over additional garage door remotes. I realize I can use the X10 remote to directly control the garage, but prefer to have a little added security in that a specific house/unit code be sent and then the button on the house pressed.
