There are electric gates on the left and right hand side of the building. Each unit should have (at least) one remote control to open these gates. They close automatically.

Installation, repairs, and remote programming are currently done by Johan the electrician (+27 (73) 477-5393) but in theory many people will be able to assist with this (Werner knows how to do it, mostly).

Confirm the lock box codes, as these also contain keys to the motor housing

Unlocking the motor housing

To program or repair the motors, they will need to be opened up. Werner and Balti have done this in the past.

The keys are kept in the lock-boxes on the street and a second set can be found in the electricity room. The theft covers and locks have labels (1, 2, A, B) and these correspond to the keys found in the electricity room.

Be careful when you take off and put on the plastic cover, after removing the metal anti-theft covers, as there are lots of sensitive items and wires (some acting as antennas) that can be damaged. Make sure nothing is put on the rails or can be hit by the gate opening and closing.

Once the housing is off, you will be able to put the gate into manual mode, program remotes, or troubleshoot it.

Putting the main gate in manual mode

Sometimes (more often than you think) the gate closes on a vehicle and goes into standby/error mode. This is to prevent the motor from burning out, and it won’t open or close with the remotes. You will need to put the gate in manual mode, roll it open all the way, closed all the way, and put it back into normal mode. If it still doesn’t work, you will need to put it in manual mode, notify the tenants, and reach out to electrician Johan for assistance (if you’re not successful with Googling or asking ChatGPT).

Use the right key to unlock the black plastic clip at the front of the motor. Pull the latch, and the motor display will show that it is in manual override mode.

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Programming remotes

Note that we have different types of motors. The main entrance has a ET Drive 500 motor and the side entrance a Centurion D5 Evo motor. Since you need an ET/Nice remote for an ET motor and a Centurion remote for a Centurion motor (and most people have ET/Nice remotes already) the Centurion motor has been fitted with a separate ET/Nice receiver. This means that people with ET/Nice remotes can now open both types of remotes

Programming ET/Nice remotes to the main gate

Hold the 𝗫 X button to access receiver menu

Press the ⬛️ square to enter quick learn menu

First Function to select BT (this is normal full open, PED is for pedestrian where it opens only a little bit)

Press and hold the button on the remote you want to program

While holding this button, press and release the square button

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Or see this video⁠

Programming ET/Nice remotes to the side gate

Confirm with Johan how to do this.

Programming Centurion remotes to the side gate

Press rectangular button

(Hold for two seconds to get settings)

Scroll to remote controls (enter)

Add remote (enter)

Do not interfere with trigger settings or time bar

Go to “Press remote button” screen

Press button on remote

It will register and show TX ID number

Once done, press the circle button to exit

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Or see this video.⁠

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Call-to-open GSM module

Werner installed a GSM module to the main gate in Aug 2024. This is a small device with a SIM card (and its own number, the “gate’s number”, if you will, that is programmed to recognise certain approved numbers. When these saved numbers call the gate, it opens.

Gate number: 0829575165

Werner added all trustees and a few tenants to test it out (especially since some have faulty / half-working remotes).

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Access is logged in this spreadsheet.⁠

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It is fairly simple to add more people (such as domestic workers; partners who don’t live at Bagamoya) to the list. This helps reduce the cost and risk of handing out lots of blue remotes. There is also a function to time or day restrict some numbers (e.g. only allowing domestic staff numbers to work between 7am and 7pm).

We are still testing the unit to confirm how it operates “in the wild”, for instance we don’t know what happens during load shedding, or when it runs out of airtime, etc.

Remove the SIM card, put it in a cell phone, register on Vodacom with a password and disable the SMS OTP functionality. This will allow the trustees to log in to the gate’s Vodacom account to see how much airtime is left. It technically only needs airtime to send messages (when you program a remote or run a report).

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