When you have a garagethen you are aware of the feeling. You drive out of the garage make it halfway down the road and wonder if you remembered to shut the garage door. We have seen lots of smart cameras, doorbells and locks for front doors, however, what about the doorway many people use the many? Turns out there are far more than a couple of very good options for the garage. Let us take a look
Garage Smarts: 101
If you already have a motorized garage door opener, then you can use one of the add-on accessories beneath. If you are in the market for a completely different opener mechanism, then you can find smart options from makers such as Chamberlain, Liftmaster, and Ryobi.
Smart garage door controllers arrive in a couple of variations. In general, a controller attaches into an existing opener with a double-sided adhesive strip. In the majority of cases, you are going to want to attach two small wires into the open and shut command nodes on your existing garage door opener. Smart garage kits also usually include some kind of sensor to attach for a garage door. This sensor detects and transmits the position of your garage door, so the controller accurately knows whether the door is shut, closed or somewhere in between.
On the smart side, these add-on controllers connect to a Wi-Fi system. You are going to require a strong 2.4GHz internet connection that reaches your garage. Typically, a corresponding app will walk you through adding your own device to the system, as well as the general installation.
App features and smarts differ from brand to brand new. Some provide geofencing, scheduling, remote access, and voice control, while others simply make your phone a duplicate of your garage opener remote. Deciding which controller is right for you boils down to what features you want and what smart house platforms you use in your property. No matter your requirements, there’s likely a smart garage door opener out there to satisfy your wants.
Chamberlain MyQ Smart Garage Hub
Chamberlain’s MyQ Smart Garage Hub is a 100 method to add smarts into a wide variety of garage door openers. With MyQ installed, you can examine your garage door status and start or shut it remotely in the MyQ app on your iOS or even Android device. Installing Chamberlain’s MyQ process is easier than many, with no wires to attach with your existing door opener.
It will require bolting a bracket onto your ceiling rather than the common adhesive tape approach used by other manufacturers.
MyQ functions with a variety of smart home remedies like Nest, Wink, and Xfinity Home to control and automate multiple devices from one platform. Chamberlain isn’t compatible with SmartThings or even Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant or even IFTTT compatibility will charge you a $1 per month subscription fee, even a unique and controversial extra charge for all those features that are free on other smart house solutions. Chamberlain provides HomeKit users compatibility no other manufacturer in our testing did, even though it will require a 70 MyQ Home Bridge adapter. Chamberlain’s MyQ program comes with the quality of a reliable garage brand and ought to be on the surface of your list for well-made garage smarts.
Garadget
The $89 Garadget adds voice control and remote access for your existing garage door. The Garadget’s sensor process is made up of a reflective tag placed on the upper panel of a garage door and a laser built into the Garadget device itself. After the laser hits the reflective tag, Garadget understands that the garage door is shut. Like many garage controllers we’ve analyzed, the Garadget does require some wiring.
The Garadget has its Amazon Alexa skill, and IFTTT integration means that you can create customized commands for Google Assistant. The Garadget app for iOS and Android devices does not include scheduling, however, if you are simply looking for simple voice commands and remote access, the Garadget will get the job done for a reasonable price.
Alcidae Garager 2
By far one of the more eye-catching and interesting garage devices we’ve tested, the Garager 2 is a two-in-one camera and door controller. This $149 surveillance camera attaches to the bottom of your garage door opener via a magnet and controls your garage door from the Alcidae app for iOS and Android devices. The camera includes 1080p color and night vision video and two-way audio, though clip storage does require a $5-per-month subscription.
The controller works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice commands to open and close your garage. An upgrade over the previous model adds a magnetic base to stabilize the camera feed when the garage door is in motion. If you’d really like to be able to watch and talk to your garage space. You can also get notifications and control it remotely or via voice assistants, Garager works well.
Gogogate2
The $119 Gogogate2 is a capable garage controller that supports up to three doors with one device, a feature that sets it apart from other devices. The GogoGate2 also works with third-party cameras, including Nest and Insteon for live images in the Gogogate app for iOS and Android devices. The device wires into your existing garage door opener and uses a tilt sensor adhered to the top of your garage door to detect the door’s position.
Setting up the GogoGate2 app proved to be a bit more tedious than other controllers, but the app does include impressive customizable multiple user access. You will need IFTTT applets to use any voice assistants or to set up geofencing. Still, the reasonably priced Gogogate2 supports nearly every function you’d want for a smart garage.
Nexx Garage
The Nexx Garage is a 100 smart garage controller that adds skills for a normal garage with ease. You are going to get voice commands, remote access and auto opening via the Nexx Garage app for iOS and Android devices without involving IFTTT applets.
Although Nexx Garage isn’t as widely integratable as Chamberlain’s MyQ system, there aren’t any penalties for the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice compatibility.
The Nexx Garage’s biggest negative is the sensors you will want to discover the doorway’s status. Two sensors attach to a garage door and the wall above it and have to be placed within 1/4-inch of each other for optimal outcomes. The very best sensor in this pair is wired, and adding additional wires to any area is something I do not prefer. The Nexx Garage is great for anyone wanting simple, fuss-free smarts and compatibility with the voice-activated assistants Amazon Alexa or even Google Assistant.
Garageio
Garageio was one of the earliest garage-smartening devices we examined. It mounts into the side of the garage door opener using adhesive strips, and it wires into the opener’s spacious and shut command nodes. The machine includes a wired sensor and an activator, mounted near each other on the side of the garage door and door frame. As with the Nexx Garage, you ought to conduct the wired sensor cable back into the Garageio device to connect everything.
Garageio functions with Amazon Alexa and provides IFTTT applets for customizable smarts. The Garageio app for iOS and Android devices provides remote access, multiple users and alerts when doors are left open. Integration with Amazon Echo isn’t quite intuitive, and the $200 price feels fairly subdued. You can get more for your money with Nexx Garage or Chamberlain’s MyQ system. Garageio is sold out online and was acquired by Guardian Access. Presently the company only lists a prepaid option for Garageio two on its website, so stay tuned for updates on Garageio goods.
Tailwind iQ3
The Tailwind iQ3 is a reliable way to add Google Assistant or even Amazon Alexa smarts for your garage. It also stands out for security, since it requires more than simply your phone to enable auto opening or closing. The wired installation makes it reliable, and at $99 for a standard kit and $110 for one with a vehicle sensor, it’s a fantastic value.
You will not get HomeKit compatibility with the Tailwind iQ3, and anyone using an iPhone will have to purchase the vehicle sensor package. Still, you can control up to 3 doorways with one controller, and the Tailwind iQ3 assesses all the boxes for basic garage door smarts.
