My locks are Internet-connected and hold about 20 different combinations at a time. They are programmed from my office computer (or any Internet-connected computer or smartphone).
A week before the guests arrive, I enter their unique code for their door in the computer, set the date/time it is to become activated (check-in time), and the date/time it is to be deactivated (check-out time...I tell them 11:00 but set their code to work until 11:30 to give a safety margin for them). Then I just forget about it. It's all automatic from there. So far it has worked flawlessly..
Arkansawyer said:
My locks are Internet-connected and hold about 20 different combinations at a time. They are programmed from my office computer (or any Internet-connected computer or smartphone).
A week before the guests arrive, I enter their unique code for their door in the computer, set the date/time it is to become activated (check-in time), and the date/time it is to be deactivated (check-out time...I tell them 11:00 but set their code to work until 11:30 to give a safety margin for them). Then I just forget about it. It's all automatic from there. So far it has worked flawlessly.
Arky, what system do you have? This sounds wonderful!! Do you do this for the front door too???
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Sunshine said:
Arky, what system do you have? This sounds wonderful!! Do you do this for the front door too???
It's the
Schlage LiNK system (they still call it that on Amazon but it's actually called
Nexia Home Intelligence now). Anyway, you only need one "starter set" that includes:
- the "black box" wireless transmitter called the "link bridge"
- one lock set (door knob)
- a lamp controller
Then you buy additional lock sets (door knobs) individually, so they're cheaper than the starter set. The wireless transmits through my double-thick brick walls really well, so 1 link bridge in the center of the building reaches every lock in my building.
Also, the lamp controllers double as a "repeater" so they pick up the wireless signal and rebroadcast it full strength to give extended range. The link bridge plugs into your Wi-Fi router to connect the locks to the Internet for remote programming.
Yes, you'd set each guest's personal code to work with the front door, and also with their own room door, and any other doors on the property you want to give them access to. The locks will hold 19 different codes at a time, so all your guests' private room codes can also work on the front door.
I mentioned the lamp controller that comes with the starter set (they're also available separately). With those, I have my rooms set up to turn on accent lighting in the room each time the guest enters their code to enter the room. I have mine set to turn on the accent lighting at 60% brightness, then go off automatically 5 minutes later. You have total control over the dim/brightness level and how long they stay on.
Another bonus of the system is that, optionally, you can have it send you an e-mail and/or text message each time the guest enters their code on a particular lock set. You don't have to use this, but it's very handy for me, since I don't live on site at the guest house. For example, if the Smith's are due to arrive today for their stay, it will send me an e-mail when the Smith's enter their code the first time and enter their room, so I know they've arrived and I go ahead and charge their balance due at that time. (Yes, this system lets me have self-check-in for all guests. I don't have to care what time they arrive. They let themselves in, always.)
I love this system! It really works perfectly...so far at least. The lock sets run on batteries that it says will last 2 years, but I change the batteries yearly just to be sure they are going to always work.
If the power is off or the Internet is down, people's codes still work just fine. You just can't add/delete new codes until the wireless is working again.
When guests make their online reservations I have ResKey give them the option to enter their preferred 4-digit entry code. Some give one and I program that into their lock. Others leave it blank and I assign them something random.
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