Project Facts
A New Homeowner Wanted Modern Gate Access Control
We had previously installed the dual LiftMaster LA400 automatic gate operator for the former homeowner. Because electrical power wasn't readily available at the driveway entrance, the original gate system was configured to operate from solar power.
When the property was sold, the former homeowner passed our contact information along to the new owner for future gate maintenance and upgrades.
The new homeowner subsequently contacted North Georgia Fence Company about installing a CellGate Watchman W480 video intercom and gate access-control system.
The W480 can provide live video communication with visitors and remote gate-management capabilities through CellGate's system. CellGate also supports features such as QR or PIN visitor passes and remote gate operation through its app. CellGate
But before installing the equipment, we needed to determine whether this particular mountain property could reliably support a cellular access-control system.
Site Inspection: Would Cellular Access Work in This Blue Ridge Location?
The property's geography made cellular service a legitimate concern.
The gate is located down in a gully near a river, with mountains, hills and trees surrounding the entrance. Those conditions can make a cellular gate-access installation more challenging than one on open, level terrain.
During our on-site survey, we used a cellular-finder application on a smartphone to evaluate the available signal at the proposed W480 installation location.
Despite the challenging terrain, we found adequate cellular service.
An important geographic advantage became apparent during the survey: between the driveway entrance and the cellular tower approximately 14,000 meters away, there was a valley between two large hills that provided a favorable path toward the tower.
With acceptable cellular service confirmed, we could move forward with the CellGate installation rather than recommending equipment first and discovering a connectivity problem afterward.
CellGate specifies that the Watchman W480 can operate using Verizon or AT&T LTE cellular networks or a hardwired internet connection.
The Next Challenge: Getting Electrical Power to the Gate
Confirming cellular service solved only half of the problem.
The existing LiftMaster LA400 gate operator had originally been installed using solar power because of the considerable distance between the house and driveway entrance.
Installing the new access-control system gave us an opportunity to reconsider the power arrangement for the entire entrance.
During the property survey, we located an electrical load center on the side of the house that provided a practical starting point for a new underground electrical run.
The challenge was getting from there to the gate.
Approximately 250 feet of underground wiring in conduit would need to travel down a steep hill, negotiate a rock-covered drainage area and ultimately reach the automatic gate and new W480 installation on the opposite side of the driveway.
Fortunately, an existing culvert beneath the asphalt driveway provided a route for crossing the driveway without cutting the pavement.
Solution: One Power Run, Two Major Improvements
We developed a plan that solved both the new access-control requirement and the existing gate's power arrangement.
Electrical service would be extended from the house to the driveway entrance. Once available at the gate, that power could supply the CellGate Watchman W480 and allow the existing LiftMaster LA400 dual-gate system to be converted from solar operation to AC power.
This approach allowed the new homeowner to gain the requested video intercom while improving the infrastructure supporting the automatic gate entrance.
LiftMaster documentation identifies the LA400 as a solar-ready operator that can also use standard AC-powered control equipment, making the existing system well suited to this conversion. LiftMaster Partner
Installing Approximately 250 Feet of Underground Power
The underground electrical run was one of the most demanding portions of the installation.
Starting at the load center on the side of the house, we routed conduit approximately 250 feet down the steep property toward the driveway entrance.
The route had to work around the terrain rather than simply follow a straight, level trench.
We navigated the steep grade, worked through a rock-covered drainage area and used the existing culvert beneath the asphalt driveway to bring the electrical run to the gate side without cutting across the paved surface.
Once power reached the entrance, we could supply both the new CellGate equipment and the converted LiftMaster gate operator system.
Installing and Activating the CellGate Watchman W480
Before final installation, the new W480 was unpacked and prepared for activation. We reviewed the installation requirements and worked with CellGate to activate the unit.
The Watchman was mounted on a pedestal positioned for convenient visitor access at the driveway entrance. We then completed the necessary power and gate-control connections.
Once energized and configured, the touchscreen came to life and the system could be tested as part of the completed gate entrance.
The W480 features an 8-inch color touchscreen and live streaming video, and CellGate's platform supports remote visitor interaction and gate control through the CellGate app. CellGate
For a rural property like this one, the W480's cellular connectivity was particularly important because it allowed us to provide sophisticated video-intercom capabilities without depending upon an internet connection at the distant driveway entrance. CellGate
Converting the LiftMaster LA400 from Solar to AC Power
With AC electrical service now available at the entrance, we also upgraded the existing dual LiftMaster LA400 gate system.
The LA400 had served the property using solar power because that was the practical solution when the gate was originally installed.
Now that we had extended electrical service to support the new CellGate system, we could convert the gate operator to AC-powered operation as part of the same project.
This illustrates an important advantage of planning automatic gate and access-control systems as one integrated entrance system. A new access-control requirement can sometimes create an opportunity to improve existing gate infrastructure at the same time.
Final Result
The completed entrance now combines an existing dual LiftMaster LA400 automatic driveway gate system with a CellGate Watchman W480 cellular video intercom and access-control system.
The W480 gives the homeowner a modern way to interact with visitors and control access at a gate located a considerable distance from the residence. CellGate's platform supports live visitor video, remote gate control, access management and visitor passes through its app and TrueCloud Connect services. CellGate
Just as importantly, the approximately 250-foot underground electrical installation allowed us to convert the gate operator from its original solar configuration to AC power.
What began as a request for a new gate intercom became a broader infrastructure upgrade to the property's entire automated entrance.
Why This Project Matters
Installing sophisticated access control at a North Georgia mountain property often requires solving problems that go well beyond mounting the equipment. Cellular coverage, distance from electrical service, steep terrain, drainage, existing gate equipment and driveway crossings all need to be evaluated before the installation begins.
This Blue Ridge project demonstrates why an on-site survey and a whole-system approach can be just as important as selecting the access-control equipment itself.
Our Commitment Doesn't End at Installation
This property also demonstrates the value of maintaining a relationship with the company that originally installed the automatic gate system.
North Georgia Fence Company installed the LiftMaster LA400 system for the previous homeowner. When the property changed hands, our contact information went with it, allowing the new owner to call someone already familiar with the gate and its original solar-powered configuration.
We were able to evaluate the new owner's access-control goals, understand the existing equipment and develop an upgrade that incorporated both systems rather than treating the new intercom as an unrelated add-on.
Our goal is not simply to install equipment. It is to provide automatic gate and access-control systems that can be serviced, expanded and upgraded as a property's needs change.
Need Gate Access Control in Blue Ridge or North Georgia?
Planning an Automatic Gate for a Community or Development?
If you're considering a video intercom, cellular gate access system, keypad, vehicle sensor or smartphone-controlled driveway gate in Blue Ridge or elsewhere in the North Georgia mountains, the equipment is only part of the installation.
North Georgia Fence Company evaluates the gate operator, available power, cellular or internet connectivity, property terrain and access requirements before recommending a solution.
Contact North Georgia Fence Company to schedule an on-site evaluation for your automatic driveway gate or access-control project.
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