Comparisons — Houston

CellGate or DoorKing?
We install both. Here is how we pick.

The two access platforms we recommend most, and the properties each one is built for.

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CellGate and DoorKing solve the same problem, deciding who gets through the gate, from different directions. CellGate was built around cellular and cloud from the start. DoorKing built the telephone entry standard that most Houston communities still run and has added cloud management on top.

We are certified CellGate installers and we install and service the full DoorKing line, so this is a recommendation, not a sales pitch.

Where CellGate wins

✓No internet or phone line at the gate: power only. This is most Houston driveways more than a hundred feet from the house.
✓Video is the priority: Watchman units stream live video to the app on every call.
✓Single-family and estate properties that want app control, visitor passes, and photo logs without a directory.
✓Multiple properties managed from one login through TrueCloud Connect.
✓Fast install on an existing pedestal with existing gate wiring.

Where DoorKing wins

✓Large apartment communities and HOAs that need a big resident directory and a mature management workflow.
✓Properties with existing DoorKing pedestals, readers, and wiring where a head-unit upgrade preserves the investment.
✓Card and fob access at scale, with DoorKing's readers and controllers integrated with the entry unit.
✓Sites with reliable wired internet where a cellular plan is not needed.
✓Property managers who already know the DoorKing software.

Ongoing costs

CellGate carries a monthly service plan for cellular and cloud. DoorKing's cellular models also carry a plan; wired DoorKing systems on your internet do not. For a single-family home, the CellGate plan is a modest line item for video and app control. For a 300-unit community, plan costs matter and we model them in the proposal.

Our usual recommendation

Single-family, estate, ranch, and small commercial: CellGate. Large multifamily and HOA entries, especially ones already on DoorKing hardware: DoorKing, sometimes with CellGate cameras added. Mid-size properties can go either way and we quote both.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can CellGate replace an old DoorKing telephone entry?

Yes. A CellGate Watchman often drops onto the existing DoorKing pedestal and reuses the gate wiring. We migrate the directory.

Does DoorKing have video?

Newer DoorKing models offer video entry. CellGate's video is more central to the product and works over cellular by default.

Which is more reliable in Houston storms?

Both are solid hardware. Cellular systems keep working when the landline or internet goes down, which is a real advantage here.

Can I use fobs and cards with CellGate?

Yes. CG Readers support cards, fobs, PIN, QR, and Bluetooth.

Do you service both?

Yes. We install, program, and repair CellGate and DoorKing systems across greater Houston.

CellGate Installer Telephone Entry Apartment & HOA Gates Cellular vs Wi-Fi intercom Video Intercom

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