Modern gated communities usually come with a form of security at the main gate. There are different kinds, but one of the most widely used are pin entry pads. You enter the right four digit security code and they’ll swing open. In reality, this security measure is completely outdated and nowaday people prefer cellular access systems as their goto gated community security solution. With that said, a lot still use gate codes and wonder whether there are universal gate codes.
A universal gate code is essentially a code that will work on all kinds of gate made by the same brand. It’s either thought of as a code that is the default code that will open a gate before you set your own, or a specific code that will always work to give the manufacturer access should something go wrong. But do universal gate codes exist?
Do Universal Gate Codes Exist
Dig far enough into the internet and you’ll see various posts on places like Quora from delivery professionals that codes such as 1010 or 4321 work as universal codes. However, this isn’t verified.
An all encompassing code that opens every single gate is probably not real. For a start, there are different companies who provide pin access terminals. Each one wouldn’t have the same access code because they work independently of each other.
When people talk about universal gate codes, they probably mean the default code which exists on the access software once it’s been installed. Unfortunately, many residents and gate managers don’t change this code. Some manufacturers will make the base gate code something like 0000 for every terminal they sell. However, others will provide the software with a unique code. A code that still needs to be changed, but a unique one nonetheless meaning a universal code wouldn’t work anyway.
So, while there are variations…if you’re looking for that magical four digit number that opens all gates in the country…it doesn’t exist.
Emergency Service Access And Universal Access
In some areas emergency services will require the gate codes for the gated communities nearby. It gives them clear access in the face of crime, fires, and medical emergencies. This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a universal access code though. Instead, the emergency services simply know the gate codes for the residences in question.
This can easily become misrepresented as them having a universal code, but in reality, it isn’t universal it’s just specific to that locale.
The manager of the gated community access technology will likely be responsible for sharing the access code to those who need it, including emergency services.
On older gated communities you might find a keyhole, or a knox box. Knox boxes are rapid entry key boxes usable by the emergency services in…an emergency. You might have one of these on your gated community gate access points. They can quickly access the box and gain entry to the property. They’re also common on apartments and other large buildings.
So, while there may be a universal key for these knox boxes, the boxes themselves hold a unique key and not all gated communities have these boxes. You see them less and less these days anyway due to modern gated communities moving towards cellular access capabilities.
Community Pin Codes: Same For All Or Unique
The myth of the universal pin code is also perpetuated by some communities where the code is the same for everyone. This means there’s one code and everyone uses it. It’s workable for smaller communities but for the larger ones it can become a security risk.
If your gated community is only made up of four-five houses it makes sense to have one gate code…some might call it a universal code.
If the community is larger there’s more people who will share the code further. The code might be shared to friends and family who then may share it further. That’s why larger communities will actually use individual pin codes for entry.
However, when you use individual codes for a large community it can become unwieldy. There’s a lot of information for the gate manager to retain.
So community pin code universal usage depends on the community in question…it’s not a one shoe fits all situation. It’s another reason why more gated communities are switching to smart cellular entry instead of using pin codes.
The Alternate To Gate Codes
A lot of people who live in gated communities are worried about pin entry access solutions because they often worry about problems with universal entry. While their worries about universal entry might be unfounded, it’s fair to say there are many problems with pin entry codes, such as:
- Codes not being changed often enough
- Harder to let people in (tradespersons for example) without giving away a pin code
- Forgetting the code
- Having to enter the code in the rain
- Codes being shared too widely
The new norm is cellular entry technology. Imagine being able to simply open the gate with your cell phone? Also, you can grant and revoke access to others with the app. It’s easy to grant access on a short term basis and to revoke it to those who no longer live in the community.
Plus, it’s easy to see who has access at any one given time. With pin codes you’ll lose track of this quickly and won’t even know who’s passed the code on. Nimbio provides an innovative cellular access technology that can upgrade your pin code entry system to something more modern and easier to use.
You can upgrade your ease of access along with your security in one quick hit. You can also install cellular access technology like Nimbio on any existing electric gate. You can even retain old security access until people are comfortable with cellular access.
If Nimbio sounds like something you could use, check out the features page to see what it can do. You can also view the testimonials so far from people who have benefitted from the system. If you had any questions check the FAQ’s page or contact us directly.
