New gate controller coming soon!
How much will this cost? $25,000. The HOA put away money starting in 2019 to replace the gate controller in 2023 or 2024. These funds will allow us to replace this 40-year-old system without a $321 - $494 special assessment.
What is the new system? The new system is a custom design based on cellular and Chirp modulation technology (see video below). This will be coupled with TollTag RFID readers. Cellular is a reliable and a practical solution to our cabling issues. TollTag and Chirp Modulation are state-of-the-art technologies that are reliable and will provide improved owner convenience. Equally important, the new system will be easier for this board and future boards to reliably maintain. This is something that has not been possible with the current system design.
The board met with two manufacturers representativives (CellGate, and LiftMaster) and had four installers survey the site to configure systems and bids (Alpha, Lone Star, Solar, JS). The specific products to be used include a CellGate controller, two TransCore TollTag readers and SureFi receivers/senders (to connect the front and rear gates). The new control pedestal is pictured to the right.
What happened to the current system? The original plan was to replace the controller once the management company transition was complete. However, the controller "quit us" before we could "fire it."
At the beginning of February, the old system was not responsive to fobs or the keypad for about 3 hours. This same thing happened a few times last year during the rainy season/spring. At that time we insulated the controller, and the gates worked well for a year. At first, this years problems appeared to be similar to what transpired last year. Different than last year, both the the outages and recovery time slowly increased over the subsequent weeks. Several gate contractors were called out but their repairs didn't last long. The Association looked nationally for parts to keep the gate running temporarily but could not find anything. Linear, the leader in gate controllers in the 1980s, is no longer in business. Even used parts are not available anymore.
Hopefully with the new controller, the telephone list will be able to actually call my wife's and my cellphone for visitors to reach us. The current controller says that a long distance access code is required to place the call to either of our cell phones. (Yes, the both originated from out of state area codes.)
ReplyDeleteThe old system had the ability to make long distance calls - not sure why it didn't work for your Minnesota area codes. We checked with CMA the last time you mentioned it. Sorry for the inconvenience. Please let us know if you have a problem with the new system. We'll get it fixed.
DeleteTwo questions. Do we need to fill out the entire form or just the toll tag number? Is it one form per person, or per household? Thanks!
ReplyDeletePlease fill out the entire form. Consider this, if you will, as our annual security update.
DeleteSpecifically, please include the three letter prefix to your toll tag ID. It may be DNT, DFW, or four other identifiers. If there are multiple toll tags in your household, please include each of those.
This is also a great opportunity to update email, car, phone, resident and pet information.
We appreciate your time and effort to help make our community more secure.
Where is the link for the Cellgate App? In emergency can visitors use my new gate access number?
ReplyDeleteWe don't have it yet. As soon as we do, we will let everyone know. The board will be trained on the new system once it is installed. Thanks!
DeleteWill any changes be made to the back gate? Will our fobs still be good there?
ReplyDeleteFobs will not work once the new equipment is in place.
DeleteThe rear gate was initially built “on the cheap.” It operated and programmed like a garage door. It did not remotely connect (by phone or Internet) to a data management system or the front gate. Every time a Fob changed, a modem programmed the front gate, and the back gate was programmed by someone going to the rear entrance, opening the box, and keypunching numbers into a little device. If there was a mistake or a fob had to be deactivated, the memory had to be cleared, and all 130 fob numbers had to be keypunched back in by hand, by someone sitting out in the weather.
The new system will be integrated with all gate and data management system operating from a website. TollTags will replace fobs.
Since the end of May has past is there an update on when the gate will be fixed? We have experience gas siphoning from a parking space at the south end of the complex and I suspect that is due to the open gate on Westgrove. An update would be appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSorry, didn't see the drop down for entering a name - the above comment is from me, #5170.
DeleteWork is forecast to start June 13. There is a backlog for this type of work in North Texas with all contractors and the wet spring has added delays on top of that. There have been supply issues, in part because NTTA is changing their signal technology. The board has regularly communicated with the contractor on the project. The contract was signed in late April.
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