Got locked out the other day. Extra key was in the garage but door was closed and cars were locked as well.
See that my Genie door opener has a wireless keypad available.

Any downside to those outside openers?

Had one on every house since I was a kid.
Only downside is it is another battery to remember to swap yearly.
That or do one of the keypad dead bolts. Not a bad idea to have both incase the power goes out or the battery dies.

Nope. You set a 4 or 6 digit code. It is as secure as the handheld opener in your car, meaning it is theoretically hackable but not a likely thing for normal people.

Replace the battery every 6 months along with smoke detectors, so it isn't dead when you need it.

We get a couple of years out of a 9v, fwiw, but we also have several other access options so I don't worry about it.

I've been considering this as I read the thread about secure keypad deadbolts.

Which would be generally more secure for a garage - keypad deadbolt (like those mentioned in the other thread) or wireless garage door opening keypad?

I may supplement by putting a 'person detection' camera in the garage as well since I don't have security in the garage (like I do indoors).

Battery replacement is the only downside. The one I have currently has a dead battery, but it rarely gets used. I have a front door key hidden, so I rarely use the keypad if I find myself locked out....It's been years since I've locked myself out.

Mine seems to collect earwigs and spiders, other than that, no downside.

I have a MyQ on each of my garage doors. I can control from anywhere with my iPhone.

It has saved me a few times.

quote:

Originally posted by Black92LX:
Had one on every house since I was a kid.

Same here.

quote:

Only downside is it is another battery to remember to swap yearly.

Or there are some that you can hard wire in.

Even if you go wireless, in my experience, a single 9V battery in a keypad easily lasts a decade or more. So no need to swap yearly.

quote:

Originally posted by mcrimm:
I have a MyQ on each of my garage doors. I can control from anywhere with my iPhone.

I have that in my latest house as well. It's good to have options. Normal opener remote as primary. Cell phone as a backup. Keypad as a backup to the backup. Front door key as a backup to the backup backup.

The MyQ system also lets you monitor the open/closed status of the garage door at any time. So you don't have to wonder: "Did I put the door down?" And you can also use it to remotely open/shut the garage door if you need to let someone in your house while you're not there, without having to give out your garage door code. Plus it keeps a log of all openings and closings, so you can see stuff like "What time did my teenager actually get home last night" or similar.

You can go even further, and do stuff like provide Amazon/Walmart/etc. access to your MyQ opener so they can leave deliveries inside the garage. (I don't choose to do that, for obvious reasons.)

I have smart garage door opener, smart front and back door locks. Kids and fiance have access via apps on their phones. Very low chance of getting locked out, which did happen to us years ago before all the smart IOT devices.

To me, it's much harder to hack these devices than picking deadbolts, which took literally a few seconds by the teenager who worked for a local locksmith that we called. Unbelievably easy for him.

Garage doors are notoriously unsecured… The biggest element being the disconnect pull under opener. Super easy to grab that thing with a wire/code hanger and unlock your garage. (Gaining access to your house through the interior door.)

quote:

Originally posted by saigonsmuggler:
To me, it's much harder to hack these devices than picking deadbolts, which took literally a few seconds by the teenager who worked for a local locksmith that we called. Unbelievably easy for him.

Yeah, the average residential door locks are shockingly easy to pick/bump open with just some simple tools.

Literally anyone with access to a basic lockpick kit (or a spare key and a metal file), Youtube, and a little free time to practice can learn how to easily break into most houses by defeating the locks.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
Garage doors are notoriously unsecured… The biggest element being the disconnect pull under opener. Super easy to grab that thing with a wire/code hanger and unlock your garage. (Gaining access to your house through the interior door.)

I have the MyQ same as those mentioned above, the unit I have came with a bolt lock on the track, actually supports the use of 2, one on each side. Also, I have the direct drive wall mount version, ya ain't tuggin on that rope and getting anywhere...

MyQ here too
We also have deadbolt on 3 doors connected to the alarm panel. Keypad unlock or can lock/unlock from the panel or my phone.

I have the keypad, which works well. I've also been considering getting the WiFi module so I can use a phone app, too.

Don’t make the keypad code the same as your alarm code and/or gate code.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

Don’t make the keypad code the same as your alarm code and/or gate code.

Use "1234" -- it's easy to remember.

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
Garage doors are notoriously unsecured… The biggest element being the disconnect pull under opener. Super easy to grab that thing with a wire/code hanger and unlock your garage. (Gaining access to your house through the interior door.)

Yup, easy way in for a burglar. I zip tied my garage pull to the hardware. If I need to disconnect the door from the track, I can get a set of dykes and clip the zip tie.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MikeinNC,

We have had one for 13 years with no issues. I think I replaced the battery once but can't remember when. Checked it recently and it's still good.

Like others I had one at my house and it was extremely convenient to have. A garage offers a wide variety of places to conceal a house key where it would be virtually impossible for a thief to find too in case you need it, or if you need a friend or neighbor to get in.