Controlling your garage door remotely is one of the many blessings of home automation. Finally, you don’t have to look back when driving off for the long weekend. Instead you can set a time everyday for the device to make sure your garage is closed. Or create an event based on geofencing which will open the garage whenever you’re about to pull into the driveway.
Telguard teamed up with FortrezZ to create a Z-Wave solution which brings all of the above and more. Functionality obviously depends on the kind of gateway you’re using. But the greatest thing about the Telguard GDC1 is that they decided to go with the simplest command class possible, namely the binary switch you’ll find in any Z-Wave light switch. It essentially means that you’ll be able to get the simple on/off (which translates into open/close) control and monitoring under virtually any Z-Wave controller.
If you’re thinking about automating your garage door you have probably considered the DIY option, including a garage tilt sensor and a contact module, such as the Evolve LFM-20 or FortrezZ MimoLite. It can be cheaper but keep in mind that this solution is not certified by the UL for safety so potential liability is far greater than when you get the UL 325 listed GDC1.
You might have also looked at the Linear GD00Z-4 device which looks fairly similar but carries a few significant differences. First of all, Linear uses a different command class (Barrier Operator CC) which is not supported as widely as the binary switch.
In terms of installation, the Linear uses a battery-powered tilt sensor, while the GDC1 operates with a fully wired door contact sensor. I hate to worry about replacement batteries (they’re never around when you need them) so Telguard wins this round for me.
In case you need a bit more insight to make a decision, I put together a list of what’s already good about the GDC1 Z-Wave garage opener and what could be improved:
Let me know if you have anything to add to the list!
Do you have any garage solution recommendations that I missed? Use the comments section below to share.
Imagine this: it’s a stuffy summer night, and you’re already in bed when you realize the ceiling fan is off. Or maybe you’ve left the house and can’t remember if the bathroom fan is still running. What if your fan could turn on automatically when the room gets too warm—or shut off when no one’s around?
That’s the beauty of smart fan control. It’s not just about convenience (though turning your fan on with your voice or a tap on a smart remote is pretty great). It’s about making your home more energy-efficient, more responsive, and just... smarter.
Home Assistant is slowly but surely becoming the ultimate platform for comprehensive home automation. It allows users to create a truly customized and connected environment with the most integrations we've ever seen. Home Assistant has a pretty powerful automation engine too so you can program anything from simple lighting control to complex, multi-device routines. And it's open source which means we can all contribute and the basic software is free.
The secret to making your Home Assistant set-up better than ever? Add Z-Wave to it! You can instantly increase the functionality, reliability, and device compatibility of your smart home environment. Z-Wave brings a vast range of new device options that can communicate securely and consistently. They are feature rich with tons of advanced settings to choose from so you can find a good match for any use case.
In today’s highly competitive alarm business, offering security alone is no longer enough. Customers are increasingly expecting more – they want smart security solutions that work seamlessly with their modern lifestyles. The great news for your business? If you already install alarm panels, there’s a good chance they come equipped with Z-Wave technology, a straightforward entry point to home automation.
Z-Wave is a robust wireless protocol that enables a wide array of smart home services, allowing you to move beyond the traditional boundaries of alarm systems and tap into the expanding market of home automation. By leveraging the already included Z-Wave protocol, you can offer your customers centralized control over lighting, thermostats, door locks, and much more – all from the convenience of their existing alarm panel. This not only enhances the value you deliver but also sets your business apart as an innovator in the security space.
Jan (The Smartest House)
October 01, 2015
DB, I’m sorry you have experienced so much trouble trying to pair the Telguard with your panel. Sometimes, it’s a range issue and at time all it takes is to put the panel in exclusion mode first. Take a look at our blog entry on the easiest pairing fix ever:
http://www.thesmartesthouse.com/blogs/the-smartest-blog/17602860-no-1-z-wave-pairing-trick
Let us know how it went!