Wireless keypads are a great convenience. The keypad is mounted near the garage door. Once programmed, it allows anyone with the code to get into the garage and house without a key. This is great for kids, trusted friends and relatives, and for those of us with a propensity to lock ourselves out of the house.

Genie garage door opener keypads come in two basic formats. Intellicode keypads (see below) are the top of the line (and highly recommended), while keypads without Intellicode are available at lower cost.

Retailers often carry identical Genie garage door openers, with one product including a wireless keypad and one without. The cost difference usually runs about $20-$30. You can also buy a wireless keypad by itself. I think the convenience of a wireless keypad is worth far more than the cost.

The Genie Intellicode System

Genie’s rolling code technology is called Intellicode. The remote controls on older garage door openers worked on a single code, which made it relatively easy for a knowledgeable stranger to capture the code and open the door. Intellicode changes the access code every time the remote control button is pressed (choosing from a whopping 4.3 billion possible codes). If you have an old garage door opener that opens with a single code, you should think seriously about replacing it with a Genie or other product offering rolling codes.