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The Springs Newsletter March 14, 2019
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Front Gate Access – Security Enhancement FAQ
Q: Why are the current gate opener remotes a security concern?
A: Residents of The Springs chose to live in a gated community for numerous reasons. One of the biggest is the privacy, security, and safety it affords. As a result, we expect our well-being will be protected as much as possible within financial limitations while maintaining a reasonably convenient level of access to the community for residents and authorized visitors.
Unfortunately, the current generic gate opener remotes have many pitfalls that greatly diminish community privacy and security. For example:
- Current remotes allow access to the community 24/7 to anyone who has them. Unfortunately, there is no record of who purchased these remotes or what happened to them when the original purchasers sold their home or lot.
- Current remotes can and have been programmed into vehicles. There is no means to determine how many vehicles (authorized or unauthorized) have 24/7 access to our community and no way of limiting the programming to vehicles belonging to residents.
- Our current gate opener system uses a single, static 4-digit code selected by 4 switches inside the generic remotes. This code can be programmed into generic remotes regardless of who owns them. It’s clear that the 4-digit code has been made available to unauthorized users, giving uncontrolled 24/7 access to our community and its facilities.
- Some property owners believe the current remotes use their unique 4-digit assigned gate code. This is false – the generic code used by these remotes can’t be tracked by our access control software.
Q: What features of the new remotes will improve security?
A: Several features of the new remotes will enhance our community’s privacy, security, safety, and help ensure our amenities remain available for our use:
- We’ll be able to maintain a record of active remotes, and our system allows for activation or deactivation of the new remotes as residents move into and out of the community, or when they are lost or stolen.
- They cannot be programmed into other remotes or vehicles, preventing the spread of unauthorized access.
- The new remotes, in conjunction with our recently upgraded gate system, provide future long-term opportunities for improved accessibility and security for other areas within our community (e.g., boat storage, boat launch, pool, etc.).
- They transmit a unique device code, which will be associated with your 4-digit code in the database, providing control and tracking in the event an incident occurs.
Q: How did the Security Committee decide on this option?
A: The Security Committee reviewed a variety of options to improve our current gate system security. This included meetings with our current vendor (for the front gate and gate code system) and the Uwharrie Point community Association Manager and Security Committee (for an orientation and tour of their gates and access control systems), and Heron Bay and Badin Shores community gate system overviews. Additionally, a comprehensive internet search was conducted to locate access control systems appropriate for our community.
Options evaluated include windshield and headlight tags, front license plate tags, access cards, guarded front gate, bar codes, and encoded remotes. The new encoded remotes option was chosen based on our community size, gate traffic, ease of use, and financial considerations.
Q: Why should I have to pay to replace my old remote?
A: We all have ongoing community access with our 4-digit gate code. This is provided to us as part of living in this community. Remotes were added as a convenient optional community access method with an associated additional cost. The new remotes will be sold at the actual cost to us, rounded up to the nearest dollar.
Q: What will it cost me?
A: The only cost is for the new remotes, and they are optional. You may continue to enter The Springs using your assigned 4-digit code. Should you want the new remotes, they are $32.50 each with a limit of 2 per household. The remotes come with a key ring, but visor clips are also available for an additional $2.50. Price for both is $35.00. Dates for when the new remotes will be sold will be communicated in The Springs newsletter. Payment must be in the form of a check payable to “Springs at High Rock HOA” or cash (exact change, please).
Q: Why can I only purchase 2 remotes initially?
A: We established an initial limit to ensure a fair and timely distribution of the new remotes to the full- and part-time residents who need them the most. We’ll maintain this limit until we’ve determined that the needs of the full- and part-time residents have been met. There will be a limit on the total number of remotes per household, and we expect that limit to be 3-4. The limit will be determined after a careful analysis of the usage and security features of the new access control equipment and remotes.
Q: The old remote is programmed into my vehicle’s HomeLink button; will it still work?
A: No. After the transition to the new remotes is complete, the equipment serving the old remotes will be taken out of service.
Q: Can I program the new remote into my vehicle’s HomeLink button?
A: No. The enhanced security features of the new encoded remotes make them incompatible with HomeLink.
Q: Will my 3-digit directory code change?
A: No, it stays the same.
Q: Will my 4-digit access code change?
A: No, it stays the same.
Q: Who is eligible to buy the remotes? Lot owners, residents, contractors, visitors, friends, realtors, utility workers, police, fire department, EMTs, mail carriers, delivery drivers, etc?
A: New remotes will only be sold to residents, i.e., those with a completed home in The Springs. All other personnel entering The Springs will use the gate directory, their existing 4-digit codes, or the yelp-activated gate opener (for first responders).
Q: Can the new remotes be mailed to me?
A: No. To ensure the new remotes are purchased by residents only, we regret we won’t be able to mail them. We will provide opportunities to purchase the new remotes in person before the old remotes are deactivated.
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2019 Social Committee Events
The Social Committee has announced the following 2019 events:
Cinco de Mayo Party
Saturday, May 4 at 6 PMJuly Fourth Party
Thursday, July 4 at 6 PMOktoberfest
Saturday, October 5 at 6 PMHoliday Party
Saturday, December 7 at 6 PMAll events will be at the clubhouse except for the yard sale which will again be in the boat storage area.
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Newspaper Delivery Options for The Springs
Newspaper Website Published Carrier Delivery USPS Delivery Asheboro Courier-Tribune www.courier-tribune.com Daily No Delivered next day after publication Charlotte Observer www.charlotteobserver.com Daily No Delivered same day of publication Denton Orator www.dentonorator.com Wednesday No Delivered on Wednesday Greensboro News & Record www.greensboro.com Daily No Monday-Saturday Delivered next day after publication High Point Enterprise www.hpenews.com Daily No Delivered next day after publication Saturday & Sunday mailing on Monday Lexington Dispatch www.the-dispatch.com Tuesday –Saturday Yes Mail delivery not practical Salisbury Post www.salisburypost.com Daily No Delivered next day after publication except Saturday & Sunday mailing on Monday Wall Street Journal www.wsj.com Monday – Saturday No Delivered same day of publication Winston-Salem Journal www.journalnow.com Daily No Delivered next day after publication Please note: All of the above publications have some form of online editions available.
Subscription and delivery options may change. Please contact the newspapers directly. -
Internet Options at The Springs
Internet Option Update:
Wanted to share some updates on what is happening with the search for internet providers for The Springs.
- ViaSat – is now providing satellite service from their new satellite with speeds up to 35 Mbps download speeds with various data limits per month. At least one resident in The Springs is connected to this latest service from ViaSat. Recommend to contact Stephanie Smith at Carolina Connections [866-360-1270], an authorized retailer for ViaSat, for the latest offerings from ViaSat or Hughes. Note: Although they represent both ViaSat and Hughes, she currently recommends ViaSat and has different (I think better) options that can be found at ViaSat’s website [http://www.viasat.com/internet].
- 4G Antenna Shop [4gantennashop.com] is a newly identified internet service provider who use AT&T cellphone towers to provide service to its receivers. If you have a good signal from AT&T this may be an option to look at as well. They claim speeds up to 35 Mbps, but a resident in The Springs who uses it says his experience is much less that this advertised speed, so signal strength to AT&T must play a major role in its success.
- Verizon Jetpack Mi-Fi 8800L [Verizonwireless.com] is a relatively new hotspot offered by Verizon to provide internet WiFi service to multiple devices via Verizon’s cell tower service. Several residents are currently using Verizon hotspots for supplemental or exclusive internet service. Signal strength from Verizon’s cell towers will impact the speed of service, similar to 4G Antenna Shop’s AT&T service. The latency speeds should be much better than obtained from satellite service providers due to their much shorter distance to the internet signal. Those residents using both hotspots and satellite providers find satellite service better for streaming and hotspots better for browsing the internet or VOIP phone service.
- Open Broadband LLC [openbb.net] is in discussions with the Board trying to provide The Springs with internet service. This option may be viable for The Springs in the future, as Open Broadband LLC has been conducting a site survey and is now suggesting using radio frequency transmitters rather than their earlier suggestion of a mesh network. There are still several technical questions that Open Broadband needs to address before they can provide the Board with any solid proposals for consideration.
Update: New Viasat-2 High-Speed Internet Option Currently Available
Ken Vander Schaaf Posted in Off the Cuff on October 10, 2018I have just received word from Stephanie Smith at Carolina Connections (formerly Country Cable) that Viasat is now finally offering high-speed internet service from their Viasat-2 satellite. For the first time, they are allowing the Springs to get a signal from their “small beam” which provides download speeds up to 30 Mbps and larger data packages before being de-prioritized.
When I tried to research directly from Viasat’s website, it showed that due to high demand no service was available at all from Viasat for area code 27239, but Stephanie confirmed that addresses in The Springs can indeed be installed by her company. If interested I suggest calling Stephanie Smith at Carolina Connections at 336-585-1314 to get the latest details.
Update: Excede’s New Satellite Still Not Operational
Ken Vander Schaaf November 6, 2017Just want to give those looking at satellite internet options an update on the status of Exede’s new satellite, Viasat-2. This satellite is still approaching its geostationary orbit and is therefore not yet operational. What is confusing is Exede is now offering some unlimited data plans, but they are still utilizing Viasat-1, their current satellite, not service from the new higher capacity satellite.
My recommendation to those who have not committed is to wait until early next year. That way you will probably receive the greatest enrollment options and install the right equipment to take advantage of this new satellite. For those who currently use Exede please be patient as you wait for their capacity to improve with the new satellite becoming operational.
The following report was prepared by Ken Vander Schaaf and presented to the HOA Board at its last meeting.
Review of Internet Options for The Springs at High Rock
As of April 13, 2017
Below are the findings of the potential options for internet providers willing to service the residents of The Springs at High Rock. As the technology continues to develop the options may change as well over time, but these findings are based on current knowledge. In the following summary, abbreviations are:
- MB: one million bytes, or roughly 8 million on-or-off signals. A high-quality digital picture is about 0.3 to 3 megabytes.
- GB: one billion bytes
- MS: millisecond (1000th of a second)
- Ping, or latency: measures the time for a signal to travel to its source and back; it is especially important in satellite transmissions
- 4G: fourth-generation cellular telephone system
Windstream
Windstream will provide internet service via DSL to some Springs residents. However they are not willing to expand their service to the entire neighborhood. Furthermore, their website indicates, and Customer Service has confirmed, that new service is not available for addresses on Healing Springs and Rocky Cove. Reported speeds for those currently serviced by Windstream are varied, depending on the amount of demand on the system. Typical speeds reported locally are 1-3 MB/s download, .7-1 MB/s upload and 20-116 MS for ping. A key advantage of Windstream is that they do not have a data cap on the amount of downloads provided per month. Reports of residents being unhappy with Windstream service are prevalent.
Windstream may be a viable service option for current customers, but is not an option available for all residents.
Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless recently introduced an Unlimited Data Plan to its 4G cell phone service. The unlimited data actually is for 22 GB/month at 4G speeds for cell phone data applications and then is throttled back to 3G speeds for the remainder of the month. It also provides an additional 10BG/month at 4G speeds for the cellphone’s hotspot connection to be used for other connected devices. The internet speeds are dictated by local cell tower activity level with slower responses during periods of high local cell tower activity. Local users of this service have experienced speeds of 7-9 MB/sec download, 4-10 MB/sec upload and .04-.08 MS latency speeds. Residents who have a strong Verizon Wireless signal appear to be satisfied with this service. With the “Unlimited” plan, their primary data limit concern may be mitigated.
Verizon Wireless appears to be a viable option for those residents with strong Verizon Wireless signal.
Hughesnet (Gen 5)
Hughesnet has launched a new satellite, the Echostar 19, on December 18, 2016. In March, Hughesnet started offering its “Gen5” service with service plans claiming 25 MB/sec download, 3 MB/sec upload and 500MS latency speeds. They offer differing data limits per month ranging from 10GB to 50GB. I am unaware of any local residents currently using this new HughesNet Gen5 service, so have no actual speed results. To have access to Hughesnet service there must be a clear line of sight to the satellite on the southern horizon.
Hughesnet Gen5 may be a viable option for residents who have a straight line of sight to the southern horizon.
Exede
Exede currently is offering 12 MB/sec download, 3 MB/sec upload, and 700 MS latency speeds with data limits of 12, 25 and 50 GB/month. They are currently experiencing technical issues with their ViaSat-1 satellite that services this area, resulting in much slower than advertised speeds. To have access to Exede service there must be a clear line of sight to the satellite on the southern horizon, similar to satellite TV service. Exede has a new satellite, ViaSat-2, at Ariane’s launch complex in French Guiana, originally scheduled to launch April 25, 2017, but now likely to launch in June. This new satellite should provide much improved capacity and speeds will again be offered at up to 25 MB/sec downloads and up to 150 GB data limits. Due to the recent launch delay, Exede no longer is offering this Freedom 150 plan.
Exede may be a viable option for residents who have a straight line of sight to the southern horizon, but it may be prudent to wait until their satellite capacity increases.
Time Warner (Spectrum)
Time Warner, now branded Spectrum, was contacted to determine if they were willing to provide internet service. After providing them the addresses of every home built in The Springs and several months of no responses they finally did indicate that they would be willing to provide service. Their preliminary proposal stated the construction required to connect one site in The Springs would include 25ft of new aerial, 6,065ft of fiber overlash and 375ft of fiber underground. However, their “Customer Contribution” would need to be $848,930.92. Even shared among all 99 residents in The Springs, the cost seems prohibitive.
Time Warner (Spectrum) does not appear to be a viable option for The Springs.
Open Broadband LLC
Open Broadband’s approach to providing internet service was to connect The Springs and Salisbury’s fiber optic internet service via a microwave antenna located on the Fire Tower. A second microwave connection would be installed in the boat parking area. From there the internet signal would be transmitted via a mesh network to the houses on the lower level of The Springs. For homes on the upper level the internet signal would be transmitted via another mesh network directly from the Fire Tower. Originally Open Broadband was planning to attach the mesh network to the existing street lights. It was then learned that Energy United owned the street lights and EU would not allow any network devices to be attached to the street lights. After that Open Broadband appears to have dropped any interest in the project.
Open Broadband LLC does not appear to be a viable option for The Springs.
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Activities and Volunteer Opportunities at The Springs
ACTIVITIES
Yoga: Mondays 6:30 PM – Denton Library
Exercise Class: Monday, Wednesday & Friday at 8 AM – Macedonia Church, Southmont
Contact: Evelyn Parks 336-859-4480Women’s Pickleball: Tuesdays – 9:30 AM Spring/Summer/Fall
Contact: Joyce Ish 336-859-5338Ladies’ Bridge: Wednesdays – 1:00 PM
Contact: Carol Svatek – 336-859-0697Line Dancing: Thursday & Friday – Denton Civic Center – 1-1:30 PM, Beginners
Contact: Ronnie Kruger 336-859-0692Springs’ Book Club (Coed): 3rd Thursday of the Month – 7 PM
Contact: Liz Roland 336-859-2795High Rock Book Club: Denton Library – 2nd Thursday – 10 AM
Contact: Kathy Sill 336-793-2359HOA Committees: See the Committees page of our website
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE AREA
Denton Elementary: Lunch Mentor Program (The “Lunch Bunch”)
305 W Salisbury Street
336-859-0599Middle & High School: Mentor Program for students at South: CSI (Community in Schools)
Kevin Firquin (kfirquin@davidson.K12.nc.us)Family Resource Center: 338 W Salisbury Street, Denton
336-859-5399
http://www.southdavidsonfrc.com/Denton Library: 310 W Salisbury Street
336-859-2215Meals on Wheels: Jacob L. Gordon, Volunteer Services Coordinator, Davidson County Senior Services
555-B West Center Street Ext., Lexington
336-242-2290
