This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. For an explanation of our Advertising Disclosure, visit this page.
Have you ever needed to open your garage door while you’re away from home? Maybe you need to let a neighbor into the house to check on something or maybe you forgot to put the garbage out and a neighbor can do it for you. This handy device will solve a lot of problems for you. RELATED: 10 Items I Have in Case of an Emergency
The 828LM LiftMaster Internet Gateway which you can buy here (normally, $120 but on sale for $65 at the time of this publication), if you ask me, is a game-changer. There are five main reasons I love this thing.
1. Open and close while away
When my family travels, we often leave before the garbage pick-up has come. I don’t like leaving garbage for a week (or six!) in the garage because it will end up smelling up the whole house. Using a MyQ-enabled garage door opener, I can leave the garbage out and ask one of my neighbors to text me when they’re available to put the bins back in the garage. With a few taps, I can open and close the garage door in just seconds once the neighbor is finished. I also use it to have neighbors or a delivery person place newly arrived packages in the garage (I can see immediately using our Ring Doorbell).
2. Alerts you when garage is left open
The other reason why I love it is because if you’re home and you forget to close your garage door, you can program the device up to send you alerts via text and email after a designated amount of time. It’s really handy and a great safeguard especially with all the flagrant thefts these days.
3. You don’t have to walk to the garage to open or close
When I leave the garage door open, I don’t have to go all the way downstairs to close it. As long as I have my phone, I can close it from the couch or my bed. NOTE: I also have security cameras pointed at the garage to confirm that the garage is either open or closed (even though the app tells me, it’s just an extra bit of peace of mind to see it.)
4. It gives a warning beep
On the safety side of things, the LiftMaster beeps like a truck backing up for several seconds before it closes, just in case someone is in the garage and needs to get out of the way.
5. It’s quick and easy to setup
The gateway easily connects to your home router and takes about four minutes to set up. It’s super easy. But note it doesn’t work with every garage door. It only works with LiftMaster MyQ-enabled garage door openers (with MyQ logo and yellow learn button) and gate operators and MyQ accessories. I imagine that competing garage door openers have similar systems, so double-check before buying. Buy here.
6. You can temporarily add users
Thanks to reader, Marlene, for leaving this comment below: “We have had this setup for several years and definitely appreciate its usefulness in those ways described. Another perk is the ability to add guest users for varying periods of time.” I didn’t even know you could do that and I’m adding our babysitter right now.
KEEP READING
- How to Save Money With a Secret Third Carry-On
- How to Use Your Wireless Headphones to Watch In-Flight Movies
- 10 Airport Security Hacks Every Traveler Should Know
- How to Get the Best Coach Seat on the Plane
- The Sleep Hack Every Traveler Needs to Know
- Never Get Your Valuables Stolen on the Beach
Want more travel news, tips and deals? Sign up to Johnny Jet’s free newsletter and check out these popular posts: The Travel Gadget Flight Attendants Never Leave Home Without and 12 Ways to Save Money on Baggage Fees. Follow Johnny Jet on MSN, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube for all of my travel posts.
There have been recent auto break ins and all they take is remote to garage opener. Return when you are away, and rip you off. I purchased a device similar to the one mentioned. Great piece of mind.
We have had this setup for several years and definitely appreciate its usefulness in those ways described. Another perk is the ability to add guest users for varying periods of time.
Wow! I didn’t even know I could do that. I’m going to have to add it to the story and add the babysitter to our users. Thanks
Hi, Where can you get this item?
Hi, There’s a couple links on the post. But here’s the direct affiliate link https://amzn.to/3Epey6G
The MyQ app is well designed. I have two locations with garage doors and it adds a useful security feature along with being able to have neighbors have packages taken inside.