Frequently Asked Questions

The two products solve the same problem—controlled, logged access—for two different kinds of entrances:

• Gate Sentry (Manned): For staffed entrances. A security guard or front-desk team uses a tablet to verify guests and vendors, log vehicles, and contact residents in real time.
• Sentry Solo (Unmanned): A 100% hardware-free system for unstaffed gates, back gates, and amenities. Residents open entry points from their phone (VirtualKey); visitors scan a QR code that opens a secure keypad in their browser (VirtualKeypad)—no app or gate hardware required.

Many communities run both together—Gate Sentry at the main guardhouse and Sentry Solo at secondary gates and amenities—managed from one dashboard.

Yes. VirtualKey allows users to open gates and entrances directly from their mobile device.

Yes. Guest and vendor access can be edited at any time, with changes updating instantly in real time.

Yes—and it's optional. Both Gate Sentry and Sentry Solo can track visitor check-in and check-out. Check-out tracking can be enabled or disabled to match how your property wants to operate, giving you a complete record of who entered and when they left when you need it.

Single Log-In for Multi-Property Owners — Available on Gate Sentry + Sentry Solo.
No. Residents who own multiple homes can manage everything from a single account, even across different communities. By linking their accounts, they can switch between properties instantly and view access details for each home in one place.

Gate Sentry is a visitor management system designed for staffed entrances. It equips security guards, front desk staff, or any team running visitor check-in with an intuitive tablet to digitally verify guests and vendors, log vehicles, and notify users in real time.

Yes. Gate Sentry is built with an intuitive, user-friendly interface that requires minimal training. Guards can look up users, verify guests, and log entries in just a few taps. We also provide comprehensive onboarding and training courses to ensure staff feel confident from day one.

If an unlisted visitor arrives, security can use the Gate Sentry tablet to securely contact the resident or user through the system without revealing personal phone numbers. The resident can instantly approve or deny entry via a push notification.

Security Tablet Calling Feature — Available on Gate Sentry.
If you choose, your security team can contact residents directly from the Gate Sentry tablet—no desk phone or landline needed. If a visitor arrives and isn't on the guest list, guards tap one button to call the home in real time. You just add a cellular-based tablet for the gate staff.

Security can log details such as the visitor's name, license plate number, and ID—based on your property's requirements.

No problem. Gate Sentry is flexible and fully customizable. ID and license plate collection are optional and can be enabled or disabled to match your policies.

Yes. Whether residents or users can call security depends entirely on your community's setup and access rules.

If a guest is not pre-registered, security can contact the resident directly through the Gate Sentry tablet to request approval.

Residents can add recurring delivery drivers to their visitor list, or administrators can add them as property vendors. All delivery drivers are still checked in by security at the entrance.

Yes. Gate Sentry supports both visitor check-in and check-out tracking, and check-out tracking is optional—it can be enabled or disabled to match your property's needs.

Sentry Solo is a 100% hardware-free access control system designed for unmanned gates and entrances. Users open gates using a mobile app, while visitors scan a QR code on the SentrySign. This launches a secure VirtualKeypad in the visitor's mobile browser for access code entry.

VirtualKey & VirtualKeypad — Available on Sentry Solo.
VirtualKey lets residents open select entry points instantly from their mobile device—no more managing fobs or cards.

VirtualKeypad gives visitors simple, self-service access to select unmanned entry points such as amenities or back gates. The biggest benefit: you don't need to install any gate access hardware like keypads or callboxes. The VirtualKeypad even has a built-in intercom for easy visitor-to-resident communication.

Yes. When residents or users send a visitor invitation, they can set specific start and end times. The access code only works during that window and automatically expires afterward.

No. Visitors do not need to download an app. They simply scan the QR code with their phone's camera, which opens the VirtualKeypad in their mobile browser for fast, frictionless entry.

Visitors can use the Intercom feature built directly into the VirtualKeypad. A blank search field appears, allowing them to search by address and place a secure call to the account holder. No personal phone numbers or account details are ever shared.

Access Point Scheduler — Available on Sentry Solo.
Yes. Fully automate amenity doors and unmanned gates with flexible scheduling. Set exact open and close times, control who gets access, and create separate schedules for residents, guests, or vendors—whether it's for pool cleanings, holidays, maintenance, or special events.

Access Restrictions per Household — Available on Sentry Solo.
Yes. Set schedules for restricted access and assign households to them. Define the restriction first—such as limiting access to certain gates, entrances, or amenities—then choose which households it applies to. For example, you can restrict access for users with unpaid HOA fees or during specific time periods. You control when restrictions apply and who is affected.

Yes. Sentry Solo can log both visitor check-in and check-out activity, and check-out is optional—enable or disable it to match how your property operates.

Yes. Detailed visitor logs are maintained, including visitor name, date, and time of entry.

Property-Wide Ban — Available on Gate Sentry.
Yes. Administrators can restrict a guest, vendor, or an entire company from the whole property using a centralized ban list that includes documented incident details. During gate check-in, the system automatically cross-references this list in real time. If a match is found, an alert appears for the security team. Administrators can view the full record in the Admin Portal, and every interaction is logged for a complete audit trail.

SentryPass — Available on Gate Sentry.
Yes. SentryPass is a mobile access pass that makes entry fast for both guards and visitors—a visitor can be logged in about 3 seconds. Residents can send friends a VIP pass, and the full security features of Gate Sentry are still supported. SentryPass can be stored in the visitor's mobile wallet and automatically pops up on their phone screen when they arrive at the gate, for faster entry and a more polished community impression.

Parking Pass — Available on Gate Sentry.
Yes. Issue digital parking passes for street-parked vehicles. Authorized households display the pass on their dashboard, giving enforcement teams clear visibility. This feature is optional and only enabled for properties that need it, keeping things simple for communities that don't.

Pre-Register Event Guest List — Available on Gate Sentry.
The Events feature streamlines guest access for large parties. Residents can create their event and upload guest lists without calling or driving the list to the gate. Guards can log in every guest quickly from their tablets and keep a clear record of who attended. As an administrator, you'll have a complete record of all past events and the guests who entered the community.

Sentry Solo + VirtualKey + VirtualKeypad + Visitor Intercom
Multifamily properties benefit from fast, self-service access without on-site staff.

• Residents use VirtualKey to open gates and entrances directly from their mobile device.
• Visitors scan the SentrySign QR code and enter a secure access code using the VirtualKeypad—no app required.
• If a visitor arrives without a code, they can use the Intercom within the VirtualKeypad to securely contact the correct unit by address.
• Visitor access is time-based and automatically expires.

Gate Sentry + VirtualKeypad
For communities staffed only during certain hours, this hybrid setup ensures consistent access control.

• During staffed hours, security uses Gate Sentry to verify guests, log vehicles, and contact residents.
• During off-hours, visitors enter using secure, time-based codes via the VirtualKeypad.
• All activity is logged in one system, regardless of time of day.

Gate Sentry + Sentry Solo
Many gated communities operate a main guardhouse along with unmanned access points.

• Gate Sentry manages visitor and vendor check-in at the main entrance.
• Sentry Solo controls access at back gates, resident-only entrances, and amenities such as pools or gyms.
• Administrators manage schedules, permissions, and logs from a centralized dashboard.

Gate Sentry Software for Vendor Check-In
Commercial, manufacturing, warehouse, and industrial sites all share the same need: knowing exactly who is coming on-site and keeping a clear record of it.

• Gate Sentry handles vendor and visitor check-in at staffed entrances, so guards can verify who's arriving and log vehicles in just a few taps.
• ID and license plate collection can be turned on or off to match your site's security requirements.
• Administrators get a complete, digital audit trail of everyone who entered and when.

Security Training — Available on Gate Sentry.
Yes. The Gate Sentry certification course is a series of 10 videos covering every aspect of the software and takes about one hour to complete. Many guards know how to check in visitors but may not know every function—this course closes that gap. Each module includes a quiz, and officers receive a certificate upon completion. Your site supervisor can enroll guards, track progress in real time, and maintain digital training records.

Resident Welcome & Training — Available on Gate Sentry + Sentry Solo.
New residents get access to welcome information, training materials, and step-by-step videos that walk them through exactly how to use Gate Sentry or Sentry Solo. From setting up their account to managing access, everything is designed to make onboarding simple, clear, and stress-free. Explore it at welcome.gatesentry.com.

We handle the setup for you. You simply provide the data you have available, and we take care of the transfer and configuration.

Traditional callboxes rely on expensive hardware and maintenance. Our software-based solution provides real-time updates, digital audit trails, scheduling controls, and remote management.

The Gate Sentry tablet includes an offline mode for guards. For Sentry Solo, gate controllers can be equipped with battery backups and cellular connectivity.