How does the Sahara Intercom System work?
Sahara’s Intercom System is located at the front gate of the building, on Stone Avenue.
When you move into Sahara Apartments we ask for your phone number. This number is then programmed into the Intercom System at the front gate. Once your name and phone number are programmed into the system, a 4 digit code is automatically generated which will appear after the listing of your name on the one line display of the Intercom System.
You should write this 4 digit code down and/or memorize it and give it to anyone who may come to visit you.
The system will then allow the following functionalities:
1- Letting your visitors in remotely:
By giving your visitors your unique 4 digit code, you will enable them to come to the gate and simply enter the 4 digit code at the keypad of the Intercom System to talk to you. The only way the gate can be opened remotely is by someone calling you from the intercom box, pictured to the right. A call to your cell phone directly from their cell phone will not work. To reinterate, your visitor has to be near the gate and using the intercome system, for the remote system to release the lock for them.
Once they call you using the intercom, your cell phone will ring and you can then open the gate for your visitors remotely, by simply entering 9 on your cell phone’s keypad. Your visitor can then hear a long continuous tone and will be able to pull the gate open.
If your visitors do not have your 4 digit code, they can first look you up on the system by first pressing either the “A” or the “Z” button. This will make the “one line display” to show the name of the Sahara resident whose name happens to be right in the middle of the list of all resident names.
Then, they can use the “A” key for going up or the “Z” key for going down, to navigate up or down the alphabetical list of residents until they see your name displayed on the one line display.
Once your name is displayed they can press the “Call” button which will then cause the system to call your cell phone so you can let them in by pressing 9 on your cell phone.
2- Letting yourself in with your phone if you lose your iButton (key):
You can also let your self in by using one of the procedures above (using the 4 digit code, or finding your name and pressing the Call button),
if you ever forget your iButton somewhere or lose your iButton. Of course, this process will let you into the building, but if your apartment door is locked, you would still have to use emergency help as described in the next paragraph.
3- Seeking Emergency Assistance:
If you are ever in need of emergency help and you need to call us while you are at the front gate of the building, you can press 1000 on the keypad of the Intercom System. This will cause the system to call the staff member that is designated to answer emergency calls.
Currently the system is programmed to call Ted Mehr’s cell phone, Ted is Sahara’s owner and Manager, . If by any chance you get no response from that number (dead battery, lost phone, or something like that) then try entering 1001, which will connect you to Ted Mehr’s home phone number.
Please also remember that we have a Internet based phone in the lobby of the office on the counter. This phone allows you to make calls to the United States and Canada for free. International calls using an calling card can also be made from this phone.
You must , however, remember that when using this phone you must always dial 1 and the area code before the phone number, even if you are making a local call to Tucson.