Garage Door (yes another) Remote control range problem

16 years ago

I have a LiftMaster opener that I've had for several years and used to work just fine. Both remotes could open/close from the street. Well, I had a new door installed and the remote range instantly decreased to near nothing. The remotes have to be within @4 feet of the door! The new door is a Raynor - Centura, steel insulated. While I can understand this may cause interference this is rediculous.

So I went through all the suggested list of things to check, replace batteries, re-program the opener and remotes, check circuit frequency interference. Nothing helped. So, I ordered and installed a 'antanae extension kit' from Lift Master. This is a coaxial cable that attaches to the existing antanae and then extends outside the house and has @6" metal wand at the end. This did absolutly nothing. To verify, I detached. Range is still @4 feet.

Any suggestions?

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Comments (12)

don_1_2006
16 years ago
Does your range increase when the door is open? This really sounds like a logic board problem.
jerrypst
Original Author
16 years ago
No. Actually the range is about the same. The remotes have best range about head high, 4 feet from the door but to the side of center, and only slight increase with door open.
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I got a problem with my garage opener in past few days. I can close the door when I leave for work but cannot open the door when I come home. At first I thought the trouble is caused by cold weather. Then I thought is the board gone bad. However, when I get the remote close to the antena, everything works fine. Finally I observe that my garage door open/close indicater(Made by Craftsman) both lights are flashing(red and green). Therefore I disconnet the AC power on the receiver then test out the garage door remote. Surprisely, everything works like a charm. The trouble is caused by the unit that attached to the garage door runs out the battery. I bet the receiver unit was sending signal to find the door unit consistenly which interferences the signal of garage door remote control, including my keypad door opener. After I replace the battery on the door unit, everything is back to normal. Just want to share with anyone who has the same situation. Signal interference will cause the trouble to remote control.
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Here are some things to check. Limited range of your remote controls could be related to radio frequency interference that comes from something in your home or in the surrounding environment. Certain electrical devices can radiate interference; this could be almost anything that is plugged into an electrical outlet. Please keep in mind that the device can be brand new, or can be an item that has been in use for quite a while. Also, the item may continue to function properly as far as you are able to tell. The only problem with the item may be that it has started to broadcast the interference, with no other symptoms noted. Some devices are more likely to generate interference than others. This includes TV cable, cable amplifiers, surge protectors, fluorescent lights, battery charging devices (power tools, golf carts, etc.), anything that utilizes a timer (sprinkler systems, lights, alarm systems, etc.), and a myriad of others. If the problem seems sporadic, we can safely assume that the device responsible for the interference is only being operated during these times. Again, please keep in mind that the age of the device does not determine if it is capable of broadcasting unwanted interference. Any electrical device can be the source of the problem. The first step is replacing the battery in your remote. If the range on your remote does not improve, remove the wall control wires from the overhead unit. If the range does not improve you will likely need to replace the remote control. After replacing the remote, or if you have other remotes programmed in to the opener, and the range problem still exists, please proceed to the Power Down test. Multiple garage doors: If you have two garage door units and one is working just fine, you will need to start by unplugging the good unit. This will help determine if the unit with no range starts to function properly. If the range comes back to the bad unit then you will need to replace the logic board on the unit that was unplugged as it is emitting an RF signal that is over powering the other garage door opener. If the range does not improve after the "good" unit has been unplugged, replace the batteries and try programming some additional remotes to determine if the existing remotes are the issue. If the extra remotes do not have any range then you would need to replace the receiver logic board in the "bad" unit. Power Down test: To isolate potential sources of interference, turn the circuit breaker off to the garage and plug the garage door opener into an extension cord from another room. If the range improves, then the interference is coming from a device in the garage. If no improvement is seen follow the same procedure, this time turning off the circuit breakers to your home, with the exception of the garage and test the remote controls. If improvement is noted, turn the circuit breakers back on, one by one, until the range problem resurfaces. This will allow you to narrow down what room the problem device is in. You will have to go from there to isolate it further, by unplugging and re-plugging the items in that room. If you are unable to determine any source of interference, then the receiver logic board in the overhead unit will need to be replaced.
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The fact that both your remotes lost range at the same time is a pretty good indication that the logic board is bad. I don't see how a universal frequency remote would compensate for a bad board.
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You are doing the right thing by asking your neighbor to unplug his opener temporarily. It is not common for one opener to interfere with another. I am including some additional information for you to consider. Limited range of your remote controls could be related to radio frequency interference that comes from something in your home or in the surrounding environment. Certain electrical devices can radiate interference; this could be almost anything that is plugged into an electrical outlet. Please keep in mind that the device can be brand new, or can be an item that has been in use for quite a while. Also, the item may continue to function properly as far as you are able to tell. The only problem with the item may be that it has started to broadcast the interference, with no other symptoms noted. Some devices are more likely to generate interference than others. This includes TV cable, cable amplifiers, surge protectors, fluorescent lights, battery charging devices (power tools, golf carts, etc.), anything that utilizes a timer (sprinkler systems, lights, alarm systems, etc.), and a myriad of others. If the problem seems sporadic, we can safely assume that the device responsible for the interference is only being operated during these times. Again, please keep in mind that the age of the device does not determine if it is capable of broadcasting unwanted interference. Any electrical device can be the source of the problem. Limited range of your remote controls could be related to radio frequency interference that comes from something in your home or in the surrounding environment. Certain electrical devices can radiate interference; this could be almost anything that is plugged into an electrical outlet. Please keep in mind that the device can be brand new, or can be an item that has been in use for quite a while. Also, the item may continue to function properly as far as you are able to tell. The only problem with the item may be that it has started to broadcast the interference, with no other symptoms noted. Some devices are more likely to generate interference than others. This includes TV cable, cable amplifiers, surge protectors, fluorescent lights, battery charging devices (power tools, golf carts, etc.), anything that utilizes a timer (sprinkler systems, lights, alarm systems, etc.), and a myriad of others. If the problem seems sporadic, we can safely assume that the device responsible for the interference is only being operated during these times. Again, please keep in mind that the age of the device does not determine if it is capable of broadcasting unwanted interference. Any electrical device can be the source of the problem.
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don_1_2006
16 years ago
I was thinking the new door may have cut down on the range but your antenna extender should have compensated for that. I really feel it is the logic board at this time.
jerrypst
Original Author
16 years ago
Yeah I'm with that. However, the reasons I didn't think that is it, is 1) severe decrease in range happened immediately after install of door and 2) I thought if it was a logic board issue, then the opener would be having other funky symptoms.

Any way to verify?

What do you think about this antenna extender coax cable being soldered directly to board where current antenna is?

Or go back to original antenna and extend the length and keep it pointed down?
don_1_2006
16 years ago
The logic board in these units is the brain and controller of every function. Any one can quit at any time. You can try different combinations with the antenna.
jerrypst
Original Author
16 years ago
Another reason I didn't think it was logic board, is because remote does work, just very very short range. So, to me the function is ok. But I'm not dismissing your thought.

If I was to 'make' my own antenna and try different lengths, what kind of wire is suggested?
don_1_2006
16 years ago
Any wire will work for an antenna. I'm not bothered by your doubts. Besides it's fun to tinker and learn.
bdoggerx69
16 years ago
I had the exact same problem when all of the sudden my range went from normal to a few feet. Tried all the troubleshooting and no difference. Realized I had plugged in a small Coleman lantern to be charged about 8 feet from the motor unit. That was the problem. Amazing that a non-radio small appliance like that could cause interference, but I am 100 percent certain it was the problem. Think of anything new plugged in anywhere near the unit and I bet that's your problem.
nstrelch
15 years ago
I belive have a key to resolve that mystery, so I've spent last weekend to find out issue (LiftMaster H4000-07 Genie). Go to main power box in house (with switches) and reciproce wires from one switch to another like foyet light and outlet to garage and outlet. Sounds funny but it works for my case.
It probably relate to induction of high friequncy in wires.
In case of success let me know.
davidandkasie
15 years ago
you drag up a 2 year old thread to tell someone to do something they probably do not know how to do safely? and then on top of that you cannot even talk in words folks will understand?

NEVER jsut switch wiring around in a panel unless you know what you are doing. you could throw off a MWBC and cause an overload. you could switch a wire from a GFCI breaker to another circuit and lose GFCI protection as well as cause almost instant nuisance trips. garage outlets should be on GFCI circuits, while many interior circuits are not.
bearman
12 years ago
Ha ha ha - Well said! Guy sounded like "Peggy" from the Capitol One commercials.
Anyways, I am having the same problem w/ the garage remote in my new duplex. My neighbor told me he programmed his car's garage door remote fx & his door now opens up 1 block or so down the road! That's what I aim to try.

Good luck, let us know if you found another solution
ikwarq
8 years ago
I had the same problem and after reading this, I went into our bonus room above the garage and powered off the Wii. My range was restored to the ~200ft range we had originally. Apparently the Wii, even when not in use, was the issue.

Garage Door (yes another) Remote control range problem

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Garage Door (yes another) Remote control range problem

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