Upgrading and Customising Your Silent Gliss Autoglide 5100

The Silent Gliss Autoglide 5100 comes in four variants out of the box. What many people don't realise is that the system is modular - you can buy a basic version and add to it later, or start with a fully specified unit and expand it as your needs change. Here's what's actually available and what's worth having.

The Four Variants

The 5100 range starts with the B (Basic) model, which gives you wall button control only. From there:

• 5100B - wall button only, lowest entry cost
• 5100R - adds a handheld remote
• 5100T - adds a timer unit
• 5100TC - remote and timer combined

If you're not sure which to start with, the R is usually the right call for most homes. The remote gives you flexibility without committing to a timer you may or may not want. The TC is the one to go for in bedrooms where automated open and close times are genuinely useful - blackout curtains that open at 7am are worth having.

What You Can Add After Purchase

This is where it gets practical. You're not locked into your original spec.

Extra Wall Buttons

The standard 5100 comes with one wall button. If you have a room with multiple entry points - a lounge with a door at each end, for example - you'll want a button at each. Two product codes here:

• SG 11936 - 1-channel wall button (one track)
• SG 11937 - 6-channel wall button (controls up to six tracks independently)

The 6-channel button is useful in open-plan spaces where several tracks run across one large window expanse. See the full accessories range for pricing and availability.

Extra Handheld Remotes

Same logic applies to remotes. You can add more handsets to any installation:

• SG 11931 - 1-channel remote
• SG 11932 - 6-channel remote

The 6-channel remote is the one to get if you have more than one track. It lets you control each track independently - useful when you want the bedroom curtains closed but the bay window open, all from one handset. Multiple handsets can be programmed to the same system, so each person in a household can have their own.

Adding a Timer to a B or R System

If you bought the basic or remote-only variant and later want automated scheduling, a timer unit can be added. This brings the system up to T or TC spec without replacing the motor. Worth knowing if you're fitting out a rental property in phases, or if your requirements change after installation.

Radio Receiver

The standard 5100 uses infrared control, which requires line of sight. The radio receiver accessory converts this to a radio signal, which passes through walls and furniture. Practically speaking, this matters when the track is inside a recess or behind a pelmet, or when you want to control the system from an adjacent room. If your remote currently needs to be pointed directly at the motor to work, a radio receiver solves that.

Wave Curtain Heading

This is more of a fabric and heading upgrade than an electronics one, but it makes a significant difference to how the finished curtain looks. The Silent Gliss Wave system uses a specific hook and carrier arrangement to create even, uniform folds across the full width of the track. It works on any 5100 track and transforms a standard electric curtain into something that looks professionally dressed at all times, open or closed.

If you're specifying curtains for a client or a room where appearance matters, wave heading is worth factoring in from the start - it affects which fabric you choose and how the curtain is made up.

Fabric Choices

The motor doesn't care what fabric you hang, within reason, but the fabric affects the result:

• Blackout - complete light block, common in bedrooms and media rooms
• Voile - lightweight, diffuses light without blocking it, works well layered
• Flame retardant - required in commercial or rented properties under UK fire safety rules

Heavier fabrics add weight to the track. The 5100 handles this well, but it's worth confirming the fabric weight sits within spec if you're using particularly dense material.

Mounting Options

The 5100 track can be ceiling or wall mounted. The brackets differ between the two, so it's worth confirming your mounting preference before ordering. Ceiling mounting is cleaner where there's no wall space above the window reveal. Wall mounting is more common in standard installations. Neither affects the operation of the motor or accessories.

What the 5100 Does Not Support

The 5100 does not have app control or voice assistant integration. If you need to control curtains through a smart home system, schedule them via an app, or connect them to Alexa or Google Home, the Silent Gliss 5600 with Move Server is the product to look at. It's a different system built for that use case. The 5100 is wall button and remote only - that's its design.

For most residential installations that doesn't matter. Wall buttons and remotes cover everything a household actually needs day to day. But if smart home integration is a requirement, know upfront that the 5100 won't deliver it.