Any cool options for outside keypads?

[bmwpower]

I think we've all seen those beige keypads for door openers. I'd like to get something a little different, or at the very minimum a different color.

Does anyone know of a place that sells different style keypads?

If it matters, I've got Craftsman openers ready to install.

 

[Junkman]

That is why they make spray paint in cans....

 

[volvo]

Not to be captain negative, but I thought I heard that those less expensive Sears type opener key pads were easy to bypass or get around ???(could just be older hear say??) What to use, I don't know, I have no experience, but a neighbor did....H

 

[bmwpower]

Not to be captain negative, but I thought I heard that those less expensive Sears type opener key pads were easy to bypass or get around ???(could just be older hear say??) What to use, I don't know, I have no experience, but a neighbor did....H

Please don't tell me that. In that case add SECURITY to the list of wants for a new keypad. I wonder if the code jumping doesn't occur on the keypads??

Anyone else?

 

[nova65ss]

The only was someone can get the code is if you give it out, Never heard of anyone hacking the code on the newer openers or older fo that matter. Never ran across any other keypads either Liftmaster/ Cman only makes one style that is tan.

 

[volvo]

I think the real older pads had problems with easy bypass because of the non round keys and before rolling codes plus I think one could just pull the thing off the wall and connect the wires to operate. Surely we have come a long way since then, with good anti-theft roaming codes, round coke machine style keys and some kind of a relay type wiring system. All good points to question though...H

A quick search turned up these 19 dif choices, wireless keypads.

http://www.aaaremotes.com/keypads.html

 

[D-Cal]

My Liftmaster is screwed to the wall, takes a battery - no wiring to bypass. Four digit code, and I doubt anyone near where I live has a code grabber. Just keep the keys clean, if you punch the same four keys with dirty fingers it will be pretty easy to figure out what your code is.

What about buying a regular remote, take the case off and remake it in metal? Either polished stainless, or aluminum anodized? Or maybe a nice hardwood veneer...

 

[PAToyota]

My thought would be to concentrate on finding the best keypad first and then pull out the can of spraypaint to make it the color that you wanted and not decide on a pad based on color first...

 

[bmwpower]

My thought would be to concentrate on finding the best keypad first and then pull out the can of spraypaint to make it the color that you wanted and not decide on a pad based on color first...

Of course. If I can get a better/more secure keypad, why not. The reason I wanted to go with something a different color was I wanted it to blend into the look of the door. If you can't see the keypad, you're less likely to break in...you know what I mean.

Something stealth would definitely be cool.

 

[Junkman]

Of course. If I can get a better/more secure keypad, why not. The reason I wanted to go with something a different color was I wanted it to blend into the look of the door. If you can't see the keypad, you're less likely to break in...you know what I mean.

Something stealth would definitely be cool.

Buy a half dozen keypads and only program one, but mount them all. That way, they will not know which one is the working one if they decide to try to figure out the code.

 

[bmwpower]

Buy a half dozen keypads and only program one, but mount them all. That way, they will not know which one is the working one if they decide to try to figure out the code.

Ummm... I'm thinking 6 keypads mounted to my jamb is gonna not only look silly, but attract more attention than one of them.

Leave it to you to make a suggestion like that...

 

[Stuart in MN]

My question is do you need an outside keypad at all? IMHO, if there's a side door in your garage, it's just as easy to walk inside through that door and hit the button on the wall to open the garage door. Plus, it's one less thing on the outside of the building for undesirable people to mess with.

 

[bmwpower]

My question is do you need an outside keypad at all? IMHO, if there's a side door in your garage, it's just as easy to walk inside through that door and hit the button on the wall to open the garage door. Plus, it's one less thing on the outside of the building for undesirable people to mess with.

Good point. I didn't think of that. I guess if I ever need to get in and the door is closed I can merely, jump in my car and hit the button.

On a different note... do they make the transmitters in a keyfob?

 

[BoCRon]

I have a battery powered keypad on my doorjamb. When I repainted the doors recently, I just painted the keypad cover. Took 2 seconds and completely blends in. I use it all the time, I'm more likely to keep the doors closed now that I have a way in without having to run around to the front of the house to get in the door and open it up.
To get mine, I called the manufacturer and gave them my model number for my opener and they sent me one for about $40.00.

Annette

 

[russlaferrera]

Good point. I didn't think of that. I guess if I ever need to get in and the door is closed I can merely, jump in my car and hit the button.

On a different note... do they make the transmitters in a keyfob?

Sears does, others?

Is there any glass on your man door ? As a suggestion I would screw a piece of lexan on the inside to keep from someone breaking in, plus I installed a 1/16 X 3" piece of metal about 3 ft long on the inside of the door frame under the wood where the deadbolt goes thru. Sometimes they try a body block to force the door open. It's not going to happen! If I am wrong, I am NOT interfering with his plans. I"ll call 911 and tell them there is a naked girl in my backyard....russ

 

[boiler7904]

On a different note... do they make the transmitters in a keyfob?

Yep. Looks like a remote entry for a car but with one big button and a couple of smaller programmable buttons. I had a Sears remote when I still lived with my parents for their garage. Cost about $40 and only took a minute to program. Instead of keeping it on my keychain, I velcroed it in an out of the way place on the underside of the dash of my truck. Thieves won't steal a door remote they don't know exists.

I think this is the one I had. If I remember right, the smaller buttons can be programmed for a second door or another function.

Sears Door Opener Remote

 

[volvo]

Before you go too expensive with fobs and remotes, you could get a finger print reader button activator reasonably also. No key, no fob, no code to remember, just walk up and finger the pad. One to hundred programmable. Just like a newer hand gun safe..H

 

[snorvet]

On mine, I can put the door in the lock mode via the inside opener. The garage door opener in the car cant open it, but the keypad does.

 

[wilbilt]

Biometrics? i.e., a fingerprint scanner...?

Would be cool...but probably not available in a keyfob.

 

[bmwpower]

Before you go too expensive with fobs and remotes, you could get a finger print reader button activator reasonably also. No key, no fob, no code to remember, just walk up and finger the pad. One to hundred programmable. Just like a newer hand gun safe..H

I like that idea, but what happens if my wife wants to get in? And I thought those readers would be pricey, no? If there is enough logic built in or if I can hook it up to a computer, I should be able to do it. That last one I saw you could program with a computer.

 

[volvo]

I like that idea, but what happens if my wife wants to get in? And I thought those readers would be pricey, no? If there is enough logic built in or if I can hook it up to a computer, I should be able to do it. That last one I saw you could program with a computer.

I played with a hand gun safe at a sportsman show two years ago. It was as easy as putting your finger on the little window plate and punching a button to program this set up. When asked abut how accurate it was the only comment was as a fail safe he recommended to program either more that one finger and do it more than once. I could program five fingers many times in less than 20 seconds. It seemed really cool and was priced around 350-400 complete. They also have the same tech for a front door lock model at home centers, battery powered with a 1-9 buttons for other codes ( like for workman) and back up, that was about 250?? and was no larger than 1x2x3 box....H

Few samples
http://www.nokey.com/biomaccon.html

or staring at 175
http://www.adelfingerprintlocks.com/

 

[volvo]

Biometrics? i.e., a fingerprint scanner...?

Would be cool...but probably not available in a keyfob.

Funny you should ask, they do have such a thing out since 2004. It has to be ungodly expensive and might not be available in the states??? Biometric key fob remote.

http://perso.orange.fr/fingerchip/biometrics/types/fingerprint_products_doors.htm

Simons Voss
(2004 Mar) The first prototype of the Transponder Q3007 with the Infineon sensor.

(2004) The Transponder Q3007 contains an Ikendi module and the FingerChip fingerprint sensor.

 

[PAToyota]

Before you go too expensive with fobs and remotes, you could get a finger print reader button activator reasonably also.

Any sources? That does sound like the way to go - especially if you could program more than one fingerprint.

 

[bmwpower]

MAybe I'm missing something, but once you get the reader to recognize your fingerprint, how do you pass the yes/no info to the opener. Somehow you'd have to combine the reader and keypad internals, right?

 

[PAToyota]

I'm thinking it would just be like a pushbutton - but it would only recognize your fingerprint. So if you push it the door opens - or closes. Anyone else pushes it and it just sits there...

 

[Junkman]

Is this a garage or a multi million dollar bank vault ??????? I haven't seen the garage door that couldn't be compromised by a thief that was determined. I would be inclined to invest more heavily in a security system and just use a normal keypad type opener. There are ways to wire a door opener into the alarm system so only when the door is opened with the opener, is the alarm system bypassed. I would venture to say that if someone were to place a large pry bar under the door and use a piece of 6 X 6, that they could develop enough force to break the opener and the door would then be compromised. Heck, they could just cut a hole in the door with a saws all and get in. If you have a entry door, if it opens to the outside, it is much more difficult to bust into than one that opens to the inside. Watch some of the Cops programs where they try to bust down the door to a crack house. Drug dealers learned that early in there careers...

 

[ovilla]

A friend of mine has an apartment complex and the thieve broke into his unit (thinking that there was money there) by cutting a hole in the wall. Yes, a big hole! He said it looked like someone had used a sawzall to cut a big opening for a window. The wall was on the side of his unit kind of close to a fence. The real kicker is that this happened in the middle of the day. People told the police that they thought it was a contractor putting in a window. Oh, the thieve didn't get much and also exited through the hole he had made, never even touching the front door (which had a deadbolt). Don't freak out guys/gals, this happened in a rough section of Southside Chicago.

 

[PAToyota]

If you have a entry door, if it opens to the outside, it is much more difficult to bust into than one that opens to the inside.

Except that if it opens out that means the hinges are on the outside and you just pull the pins...

If the biometrics were a comparable price or a slight premium, I'd consider it over a touchpad for the ease of use and not have to remember one more code in my life!

 

[malibu101]

D-Cal said this above-- "Just keep the keys clean, if you punch the same four keys with dirty fingers it will be pretty easy to figure out what your code is."

I was going to mention it also. A while ago I was waiting at my buddies garage for him to come home. Bored, nothing to do, wandering around aimlessly, waiting, opened the keypad and saw 4 dirty buttons, a few tries later and I'm sitting in his garage enjoying his beverages when he gets in

 

[Sticky]

Ok, dug this up searching for something else, but if you want stealth, why not hollow out part of a rock next to the garage, mount it on the underside. No one will know since they won't see the keypad.

 

[Will67]

FYI

Mythbusters beat "unbreakable" fingerprint door lock

My good friend Jamie Sharp sent me this link today. It's amazing: watch how Adam and Jamie easily defeat a fingerprint lock the manufacturer claims has never been broken. As if to snub the claims, they break it three times! Supposedly it monitors pulse, sweat, temperature, and other attributes. First, Adam obtains an impression of a fingerprint already present on the reader and creates a latex copy that he adheres to his own thumb. Initial attempts fail, but when Adam licks the latex, the door opens. Next, Jamie tries a ballistics gel copy of the fingerprint. Sure enough, the door opens right away. Adam remarks that some cheap computer fingerprint reader was actually more difficult to hack than the "unbreakable" door lock! Finally, Adam tries the simplest of all attacks: a photocopy of the authorized fingerprint. No warmth, no pulse, only a lick -- and again, the door opens.

 

[SUPERFORD]

FWIW, some Liftmaster garage door openers come with a "biometric" fingerprint scanner included at no additional charge.

here's the link to their site:

http://www.liftmaster.com/consumerweb/pages/accessoriesmodeldetail.aspx?modelId=854

if it's not included with your new liftmaster, it's shown as a $119 (list price) option.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Except that if it opens out that means the hinges are on the outside and you just pull the pins...

The mandoors on my metal building are hinged to open in, but could have been installed either way. The hinges have a set screw in them that prevents the hinge pins from being driven out. The set screw is positioned so that is is only accessible when the door is open.

I've been considering a biometric door lock. As it is, I keep a key hid, last thing I need is another key on the key chain, but I would like to make entry a snap, not a hassle, so the biometric looks good. Saw them on ebay priced reasonably.

Charles

 

[logical]

My Overhead-Door (Genie) DC worm drives came with wireless keypads that you can order different color covers for....not that I would.

 

[kbs2244]

BTW
There is no rule that says you have to put them on the door jamb of the garage door.
I was just at a house where they gave me a "temp code" and the keypad was on the back side of a porch post. About 10 feet from the garage door.

 

[dcjredline]

Well any of the "hidden" locations are not a very safe thing. All a thief has to do is see you open your door 1 time. Then the "dirty button" trick is all they need from there.

I do like the idea of PAINTING it though! I really cant believe I never thought of that. Thanks for the little project for this weekend!!!

 

[phy6]

Lockey locks?
http://stores.ebay.com/AAA-Industri...W0QQcolZ4QQdirZ1QQfsubZ10086224QQftidZ2QQtZkm

(Not affiliated in any way)

Oh wait, it looks like they don't have one that triggers an electrical circuit. Although with a little ingenuity, I'm sure a present/non present deadbolt could be used to trigger your door.

 

[nissan_crawler]

I rubbed the numbers off the wrong keys on my opener. They can be there all day.

 

[PeteW]

What about using an RFID setup instead of a keypad or fingerprint?

The RFID stuff is extremely more accurate and secure than cheap biometrics and you don't have to touch anything if your hands are dirty (except the keychain). At my buddies garage I just mounted the key reader at his his pocket height on the door jamb so he doesn't even take the keys out, he just needs to lean towards the jamb and the door opens.
The only thing to watch out for is that you make sure to get a reader with a short reception range (5" or less) so you don't accidentally trigger the garage door every time you walk close to the reader.

The other thing you could look at is doing a small security system and triggering the garage door opener through the security panel (and secure outdoor accessory keypads) or through the security system keyfob.

 

[bmwpower]

What about using an RFID setup instead of a keypad or fingerprint?

The RFID stuff is extremely more accurate and secure than cheap biometrics and you don't have to touch anything if your hands are dirty (except the keychain). At my buddies garage I just mounted the key reader at his his pocket height on the door jamb so he doesn't even take the keys out, he just needs to lean towards the jamb and the door opens.
The only thing to watch out for is that you make sure to get a reader with a short reception range (5" or less) so you don't accidentally trigger the garage door every time you walk close to the reader.

The other thing you could look at is doing a small security system and triggering the garage door opener through the security panel (and secure outdoor accessory keypads) or through the security system keyfob.

I could definitely go for RFID. Any links or more info?