How to: Put an iPad to work, in the car

Go Home and Open The Garage

Well, I’m back and after too many miles, neither me nor my iPad are any worse for wear. It’s time to put the car away and I’m the kind of guy who can never find the garage door opener, but the iPad can help here as well.

My iPad can now open a garage door by tapping on its screen, thanks to the Sears Craftsman AssureLink system. The key is that in addition to getting a pair of remote controls, which I’ll immediately put some place and forget it, I’ve linked the device to an iPad, iPhone or Android device

It costs $250 with the opener mechanism, but its installation is a little trickier than the typical door opener. After physically mounting the drive on the ceiling of the garage, connecting it to the door and wiring it up, you’ll need to plug the included gateway device into your home data router. The gateway connects wirelessly with the door opener over a 900MHz link that should have enough range for all but the largest mansions.

You’ll also need to download and install the app on your iPad, but that’s a freebee. After registering the door opener, it’s a matter of logging in and trying it out.

 

Brian Nadel

Brian Nadel is a freelance writer and editor who specializes in technology reporting and reviewing. He works out of the suburban New York City area and has covered topics from nuclear power plants and Wi-Fi routers to cars and tablets. The former editor-in-chief of Mobile Computing and Communications, Nadel is the recipient of the TransPacific Writing Award.

  • xxplosiv88
    Goodbye wholesome family roadtrips. BUT, also goodbye to "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?". Something I'm sure I'll appreciate when I have kids
    Reply
  • ...or you can leave the damn thing in the trunk, until you have arrived at your destination.
    Reply
  • Hey its really fantastic idea to carry ipad in cars.
    Reply