For property managers, self-storage operators, and HOA boards, managing gate access is often one of the most frustrating parts of the job. Traditional gate operators like LiftMaster and telephone entry systems like DoorKing (DKS) are built like tanks, but they often lack modern, cloud-based connectivity. If you want to change a PIN code or let a vendor in, you usually have to be physically on-site.
Fortunately, you don't need to rip and replace your entire multi-thousand-dollar gate system to get modern features. By introducing a smart, cloud-managed edge device, you can bridge the gap between legacy hardware and modern SaaS convenience.
The Challenge with Legacy Gate Systems
Most commercial gate keypads communicate using the Wiegand protocol—a wired data standard developed in the 1980s. Because these systems are hardwired locally, updating the access control list (the database of allowed PINs or fobs) traditionally requires a local computer plugged directly into the controller, or clunky legacy software running on a designated back-office PC.
This creates several massive pain points for multi-tenant and self-storage facilities:
- Wasted Time: Driving to the property simply to revoke access for a non-paying tenant or add a code for a new contractor.
- Poor User Experience: Tenants getting locked out after hours with no way for management to remotely trigger the gate.
- Security Risks: Generic, shared "vendor codes" are rarely rotated because it is too much of a hassle to update them on-site.
How to Modernize Your Gate for Remote Access
To upgrade your existing hardware, you need an internet-connected relay and a Wiegand controller that talks to the cloud. Here is how modern solutions solve the local-only problem:
1. Remote Code Management
By connecting an edge device (a small industrial controller) directly to the Wiegand inputs of your existing DoorKing or LiftMaster system, you can bypass the local database. The edge device connects to a SaaS dashboard via Wi-Fi or cellular LTE. When you add or delete a PIN code in your web browser from home, the cloud pushes that update instantly to the on-site device. When a tenant types a PIN, the smart device verifies it and triggers the gate.
2. The "Remote Open" Feature
Opening a gate from afar requires a simple dry contact relay. Your LiftMaster operator has "Open" and "Common" terminals. A modern remote access controller wires directly into these terminals. When you click "Open Gate" on your web app or smartphone, a signal is sent over the internet to the controller, which closes the relay circuit for a second, signaling the motor to open the gate—just as if you had pushed the physical exit button on the wall.
Benefits of a Cloud-First Approach
Upgrading to a system like OnThru brings your physical security into the modern era without replacing the heavy iron.
- Instant Provisioning: Integrate with your facility management software so that when a tenant pays, their code is active seconds later.
- Remote Troubleshooting: Let in the garbage truck or landscapers from your phone without leaving your desk.
- Detailed Audit Logs: See exactly whose code was used and at what time, stored safely in the cloud rather than on a fragile local hard drive.
Ready to stop driving to the gate? Modernizing your self-storage facility or gated community is easier than you think. With a simple retrofitted edge device, you can take full control of your access management from anywhere in the world.