SIM / GSM Gate Opener Question.
Discussion
I’ve got a gizmo attached to my electric gates which allows you to phone or text it to open the gates.
After about 4 years of no money generated, the SIM provider now wants me to make a few calls or texts from the SIM or they are going to disable it.
One option is for me to take the SIM out, put it in a phone and make a few calls and then put it back in the gate. Which is a bit of a faff.
So, finally to my question;
Is there any special code or number you can sent to a SIM to get it to call you back or text you?
This would put a bit of activity through the SIM and keep my provider happy for a while.
After about 4 years of no money generated, the SIM provider now wants me to make a few calls or texts from the SIM or they are going to disable it.
One option is for me to take the SIM out, put it in a phone and make a few calls and then put it back in the gate. Which is a bit of a faff.
So, finally to my question;
Is there any special code or number you can sent to a SIM to get it to call you back or text you?
This would put a bit of activity through the SIM and keep my provider happy for a while.
I had a f
king nightmare dealing with O2 when my auto top-up stopped working for some reason.
The only way they will deal with you is by texting a code to the gates and they simply couldn't comprehend that I wasn't a fraudster trying to illegally top up someone else's phone.
In the end I went to Tesco, got a £10 PAYG phone and a £50 top up chucked the gate SIM in the phone and manually called and added the credit from the phone.
COVID has made the situation even worse because you can't easily speak to someone who understands it when you go off script.
Edit: In your scenario, doesn't the gate ring a mobile when someone presses the button? Otherwise how do you know when you have visitors?
king nightmare dealing with O2 when my auto top-up stopped working for some reason. The only way they will deal with you is by texting a code to the gates and they simply couldn't comprehend that I wasn't a fraudster trying to illegally top up someone else's phone.
In the end I went to Tesco, got a £10 PAYG phone and a £50 top up chucked the gate SIM in the phone and manually called and added the credit from the phone.
COVID has made the situation even worse because you can't easily speak to someone who understands it when you go off script.
Edit: In your scenario, doesn't the gate ring a mobile when someone presses the button? Otherwise how do you know when you have visitors?
As an alternate suggestion I’ve just fitted remootios to both driveway gates and both garage doors. Super simple. Great product support and relatively cheap (approx £100).
Very easy for diy fitting too. I’d say if WiFi reaches your gates.m the getting and fitting one of these will be better and less hassle that fighting with SIM cards!
Very easy for diy fitting too. I’d say if WiFi reaches your gates.m the getting and fitting one of these will be better and less hassle that fighting with SIM cards!
Can you get the provider to forward all calls to the SIM to your own mobile or landline number. That way when you call the SIM it will incur a call charge when forwarding to your other number .... I think 
ETA - if you put the SIM in a phone, you should be able to set that up yourself ... depending on which provider you use.
ETA - if you put the SIM in a phone, you should be able to set that up yourself ... depending on which provider you use.
Edited by sgrimshaw on Friday 4th September 09:29
I had never heard of remootios so that’s definitely something I’ll look in to for the future. I certainly didn’t see it when I was last looking for solutions.
The SIM doesn’t make any calls because it’s not connected to a visitor panel. That’s still just a buzzer.
The SIM in the opener receives calls and texts and triggers the gate. It doesn’t make any outward calls.
It’s a cheap add-on to a basic electric gate.
The SIM doesn’t make any calls because it’s not connected to a visitor panel. That’s still just a buzzer.
The SIM in the opener receives calls and texts and triggers the gate. It doesn’t make any outward calls.
It’s a cheap add-on to a basic electric gate.
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