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Monday December 24, 2007
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 When my boyfriend and I moved into our new condo this past summer, I was so excited to learn that we would have a garage. The previous owners had an electric garage door opener, and thankfully they left the passcode with us so that we could change it. The only problem is remembering that passcode--and all the other passcodes and passwords I have for everything else!
For the garage door, at least, there's the new Master Lock smartTOUCH GDO (garage door opener). Completely fingerprint-enabled, it eliminates the need to remember passcodes and the use for keys to open the door.
The smartTOUCH garage door opener works with any manufacturers' garage door opener, and is capable of storing up to 20 individual users' fingerprints. You can even use it to provide temporary access for maids, contractors, or visitors by adding, deleting, and changing user profiles. To operate it, you slide the cover open and swipe your finger. It doesn't actually store an image of a fingerprint; instead, when you enroll your finger, the smartTOUCH's algorithm reads the "unique swirls on your finger to create a unique code, that only comes back to you." This code is then encrypted and cannot be used to recreate your fingerprint. It's said to work out of the box and is easy to install and operate.
The device is weatherproof and will operate at temperatures ranging from -30 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. Those who live in extremely cold areas, though, may want to use Lithium batteries for better performance.
The Master Lock smartTOUCH GDO can be purchased at www.smartTOUCHstore.com or at The Home Depot stores nationwide for an MSRP of $129.95.
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January 10, 2008 10:43 AM
we have contacted this company many times about this new product but no one has ever called us back. I will wait for another company to offer a similar item which I'm sure will be soon.
February 9, 2008 10:36 PM
I just installed this today. I'd been looking for an external keypad and found this for $97 @ Home Depot. It was more than I wanted to spend, I expected to spend $30-40 for the keypad, $60 would have been a price point I'd have been happy with for a biometric opener. It works as advertised and was easy to install. The external reader is plastic like all similar keypad devices and mounts with two screws, I'd prefer a Metal housing. Seems a little flimsy for a security device. Otherwise, quite happy to be able to ride up and scan my finger then ride into the garage without having to dig around for my garage opener. Note that you need to scan your finger both to open and close the door. I scanned a finger off of each hand so I don't have to reach across the bike. An auto close feature would be kind of cool.
July 13, 2008 10:57 AM
I've been using the MasterLock smartTOUCH garage door product for over a month. I have to tell you that this is a terrible design:
1. The external fingerprint scanner/transmitter is a battery hog. It burned through 4 Duracell Ultra Digital AAA batteries in the first 30 days of infrequent use. My other garage transmitters last for years on a single set of batteries.
2. The internal relay switch (with the "open" button) with the open button requires AC power. That means that a customer can't use this device if they don't have an AC wall outlet that they can tie up permanently to operate this system. This component of the system should be operable with batteries.
3. The activator/relay switch (with the "open" button) has to be hard wired to the garage door opener. This means that the customer has to string wires and power cords across the garage from an AC outlet to the activator/relay switch to the opener motor. The relay switch should use universal wireless garage door opening technology like HomeLink.
Whoever designed this system clearly never has had to use their own product. I don't doubt that you outsourced design and engineering to China and it probably was built by someone in China who has never even seen a garage.
November 21, 2008 4:37 AM
I also own a smart touch garage door opener and I love it. I haven't looked back ever since I bought it.