Walk-Through Metal Detector Support

Walk-through metal detector support from UproMax. Setup help, troubleshooting, rental logistics, parts and warranty — for MegaDetector MD500 (6 / 18 / 33 zone) gates bought or rented from us. Based in Doral, FL. We answer the phone.

Talk to a person

  • Phone / text: (786) 491-3611
  • Email: sales@upromax.com — include your order number and, if it's a technical issue, a photo or short video of the display
  • Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM ET
  • Warehouse / will-call: UPROMAX LLC, 8250 NW 25th St, Suite 1A, Doral, FL 33122

Event on a weekend? If you are renting from us, tell us the event date when you book and we will give you a direct contact for that weekend.

Quick links

Setting up your gate

  1. Check the box against the packing list before you throw anything away: two side panels, top control head, hardware bag, power supply, remote control, and manual. Missing hardware? Call us the same day.
  2. Assemble on the floor, then stand it up. Two people. Bolt the control head to both panels, seat the panel connectors fully, and tighten by hand plus a quarter turn — do not over-torque.
  3. Pick the location before you power it up. Leave at least 3 ft (1 m) of clear space on every side. Keep the gate away from metal doorframes, roll-up doors, rebar-heavy walls, elevators, vending machines, AC units, breaker panels and large speakers.
  4. Two gates side by side must be at least 10 ft apart, or they will interfere with each other and fire constantly. If you cannot separate them, call us — the units need to be set to different frequency channels.
  5. Power on and let it self-test. The LED zone bars sweep and the unit settles in a few seconds. Use a standard grounded outlet on a circuit that is not shared with lighting dimmers, generators or welding equipment.
  6. Walk it empty. Pass through with nothing on you. If it alarms with an empty lane, the location or the sensitivity is the problem, not the unit — see troubleshooting below.
  7. Set your detection level with a real test object, not with a phone. Use the item you actually care about (a knife, a handgun-sized mass) and raise sensitivity until it catches it every pass, then back off one step.

Sensitivity and zones — how to set it

Every zone (head, chest, waist, knee, ankle, etc.) has its own sensitivity level. That is the point of a multi-zone gate: you raise the zones you care about instead of raising the whole unit and drowning in false alarms.

  • Start low and climb. Set all zones mid-range, then raise one zone at a time until your test object triggers reliably.
  • Ankle zones are the usual troublemakers — steel shanks in work boots set them off. If your crowd is in boots, drop the lowest zones a couple of steps.
  • If everyone alarms, you are too sensitive. Belt buckles, phones, keys and underwire will trip a high setting. Decide what you are screening for and tune to that.
  • Keep a bin table before the gate. Phones, keys and belts in the bin cuts alarm volume more than any setting change.
  • Write your settings down once the gate is dialed in for your venue, so anyone can restore them after a power cycle.

Troubleshooting

Symptom Most likely cause / fix
No power, blank display Check the power supply plug at the control head — it works loose in transport. Try another outlet on a different circuit. Confirm the outlet is live.
Alarms constantly with nobody in the lane Environmental interference. Move the gate 3+ ft from metal structures, AC units and breaker panels; move it off a metal floor plate; separate it from a second gate by 10+ ft; lower sensitivity. Then re-test empty.
Alarms on almost every person Sensitivity too high for your crowd. Lower the offending zones (usually ankle and waist) and add a bin table for phones, keys and belts.
Misses obvious metal Sensitivity too low, or people are walking through too fast or off-center. One person at a time, centered, normal walking pace.
Random alarms that come and go Nearby radio, LED lighting or generator noise. Change outlet/circuit, move away from the noise source, or ask us to change the unit's frequency channel.
People counter is wrong The infrared sensors on the two panels have to face each other cleanly. Wipe the lenses, confirm the panels are square and nothing (a bin table, a curtain, sunlight) is blocking the beam.
Remote control doesn't respond Fresh battery, aim at the control head, stand within a few feet. If it still fails, settings can be entered on the control head panel.
Rain / outdoor use Only the IP65 weatherproof models are rated for direct weather. Standard indoor gates must be under cover — water damage is not a warranty claim.

Still failing after these steps? Send us a short video of the gate alarming with an empty lane plus a photo of your control head settings. That one message usually saves a day of back and forth.

Rentals

  • Coverage: Florida-wide from our Doral warehouse — Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Orlando area, Tampa Bay, Gulf Coast and Southwest Florida.
  • Pickup at Doral is free. Bring a vehicle that fits a crated gate, or ask us about box-truck loading.
  • Delivery + pickup (round trip), from: Orlando area from $595 · Tampa / St. Pete / Clearwater from $650 · Sarasota / Bradenton / Port Charlotte from $595 · Fort Myers / Cape Coral / Naples from $525. Final quote depends on the exact address, dates and number of units.
  • Deposit: rentals require a refundable deposit, billed as a separate line at checkout and released after the equipment comes back in the condition it left in.
  • Book early for event weekends. Availability is first come, first served — request a quote or call (786) 491-3611.
  • On-site setup: tell us the venue layout (doorway width, power location, indoor or outdoor) when you book and we'll tell you what you need before the truck arrives.

Shipping a purchased gate

  • Walk-through gates ship freight, not parcel. We contact you to schedule delivery and confirm whether you need a liftgate or an appointment.
  • Inspect the crate before you sign. Note any damage on the delivery receipt and photograph it — that note is what makes a freight claim work.
  • Report damage to sales@upromax.com within 48 hours with photos.
  • Accessories and small parts ship USPS/UPS/FedEx, processed in 1–2 business days. Free standard U.S. shipping over $50.
  • International orders are quoted case by case — email us before ordering.

Returns, parts and warranty

  • Returns: 30 days from purchase. Email or call with your order number and we send a prepaid label. Items come back with all accessories and original packaging; a restocking fee of 10–25% (typically 15%) applies if an item comes back in a different condition than it was sent. Full details in our refund policy.
  • Warranty: gates are covered by the manufacturer's warranty. Contact us with your order number and a description of the fault and we handle the claim with the factory — you don't deal with them directly.
  • Parts: power supplies, remotes, panel connectors and hardware are stocked or orderable. Tell us your model (MD500 18Z, MD500C18Z with camera, or 33Z IP65) and we'll confirm the right part.
  • Bulk / institutional buyers (schools, houses of worship, municipalities, security firms): we quote multi-unit orders and can work with POs — email sales@upromax.com.

FAQ

Do I need a permit to use a walk-through detector?
No permit is needed to own or operate one. Screening policy at your venue is your call — we can't advise on your legal obligations, but we can tell you how other schools, churches and venues run their checkpoints.

Is it safe for pregnant people, pacemakers or medical implants?
Walk-through detectors use a low-intensity magnetic field, not X-rays. Most manufacturers still recommend that anyone with a pacemaker or implanted device be screened with a handheld wand instead, as a precaution. Have a wand at every checkpoint.

How many people per hour can one gate handle?
A well-run lane with a bin table moves roughly 30–60 people per minute at low alarm rates. Alarms are what slow you down, not the gate.

Can I use it outdoors?
Only the IP65 weatherproof model in direct weather. Standard units need cover.

Can I rent first and buy later?
Yes — ask us about applying rental cost toward a purchase when you book.

Do you service units bought somewhere else?
Tell us the brand and model and we'll say honestly whether we can help.

UPROMAX LLC · 8250 NW 25th St, Suite 1A, Doral, FL 33122 · (786) 491-3611 · sales@upromax.com · Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM ET