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garage door open notification?

lcsterling

lcsterling

Lurker
Have been searching apps for "garage door open" warning or alert or notification.

All I keep seeing are "openers."

Don't need that - just would like a text or tone alert to let us know that the garage door is open.

Anyone?
 
You need more than just an app. The app needs a way of knowing if the door is open or closed. You need a door opener or sensor that can connect over home WiFi or other network to communicate with your phone. IOW an app + hardware solution.
 
That must be the answer - Chamberlain has a device, about $120, MyQ. That was one thing I'd found.

Other than that, there are devices that are home alarm-like (open window/door) systems that will turn on a light, etc., but not connect to an Android phone.
 
I looked into this extensively in December 2013 so that I could remotely monitor my ski cabin. I couldn't find any good solutions for simple notification of the door status. The choices were:
* Opener add-on, like the Chamberlain MyQ. (No service fee. I chose this excellent solution.)
* Webcam with motion-detector that can email you a notification. (Not a perfect solution.)
* Home-automation-gateway with door status hardware. (Most require service fee.)
* Home-security system with door status hardware. (Most require service fee.)

I use Chamberlain's MyQ WiFi universal garage door opener (~$130 at Home Depot, or $110 at Amazon) with their free MyQ app. It's very easy to install. No wiring required. For legal reasons, they want you to install it on the ceiling over the garage door (so that people can see & hear the pre-close warning light & beeper) but it will work as long as you plug it into an electrical outlet just about anywhere reasonably near the garage It works with practically any brand of garage door (wirelessly like a universal remote) and it connects by WiFi to your home's router. It lets you remotely open and close up to 2 garage doors and check on their status. (For a second door you have to buy a 2nd sensor for ~$30.) You can optionally have it send emails/texts* or push an alert to the MyQ app for different types of door activity (such as opened, closed, remained open for X-minutes). It works really well. Pricey, but I love it.

* Actually, the MyQ server won't text you but you can have it email you, and then set up your email system (like in Gmail's, or Hotmail's web settings) to automatically forward any emails from Chamberlain to your cellular provider's free email-to-text system. That's what I do because I didn't want the MyQ app's push-notification service to always run. Email-to-text works very well. (See following link.)
Use Email to Send Text Messages (SMS) to Mobile Phones for Free
 
Thanks RazzMaTazz,

That was the seemingly best solution I'd found, especially since we have a Chamberlain door opener.

Our "problem" is that we have door opener remotes on our key rings and sometimes just moving the key rings around ... etc. We have, from time to time, gone out and found the door wide open.

Another issue is that apparently thieves are going around trying random garage door opener. Since our garage is unattached, that's less a safety issue than potential theft of tools, etc.
 
lcsterling said:
Our "problem" is that we have door opener remotes on our key rings and sometimes just moving the key rings around ... etc. We have, from time to time, gone out and found the door wide open.
Click to expand...

If it's only at home where you want to be notified, there are local network options.

Or you could get a timed automatic closer so even if you do accidentally open it, it will close again in the time you specify.

Skylink GT-100A Garage Door Closer - Smarthome

Xceltronix AC100130 Garage Door Autocloser - Smarthome

Another issue is that apparently thieves are going around trying random garage door opener. Since our garage is unattached, that's less a safety issue than potential theft of tools, etc.
Click to expand...

If security is your concern, maybe a Wifi security camera with motion detection might be a good solution. You could have it snap a couple of pictures and email them to you if there is any motion. you can even look at live feeds remotely.

Amazon.com : Foscam FI8910W Pan & Tilt IP/Network Camera with Two-Way Audio and Night Vision (Black) : Surveillance Cameras : Camera & Photo
 
I bought a Twine:

https://twine.cc/

I have one attached directly to each door. When the door opens or closes the twine sends an email, triggered by the orientation change, to my pushover account, which triggers notifications on multiple devices, including my phone.

If I want to know if the doors are open or closed, I can go to my Twine account page and see the orientation of the devises and hence, the position of the doors.

I also have a couple temperature-based rules that send me an alert if it gets too cold in the garage, probably because the door has been left open in the winter.

I THINK one can also write a rule that will send an alert if a door has been left open too long.

Hope that helps...
 
I'm using a GoGoGate but am trying to resolve an intermittent sensor drop so can't fully recommend it right now. When it works, it works very well.
 
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