To ensure that your garage door remote works with your garage door opener, you need to understanding the compatibility between the two devices. It is possible for a garage door remote to not work with a garage door opener if the two device use different frequency and encryption methods. Chamberlain, the manufacturer of many garage door openers and remotes, have changed some of their systems over the years.
Because of these changes, it is possible that an older garage door remote will not work with newer garage door opener. To avoid using the wrong remote for your garage door opener, you can use a compatibility chart to determine which remote you need. The best way to determine whether your garage door remote will work with your garage door opener is to find the color of the Learn button on your garage door opener’s motor unit.
How to Tell If Your Garage Door Remote Will Work
The Learn button is located on the motor unit of the garage door opener. The Learn button may be behind a light cover. If the color of the Learn button is purple, the garage door opener use the Security+ system and uses a 315 MHz frequency.
If the color of the Learn button is red or orange, the garage door opener uses a Security+ 2.0 system and uses a 390 MHz frequency. If the color of the Learn button is yellow or green, the garage door opener is using older technology that use DIP switches. Each different color of the Learn button indicates a different frequency and security system for the garage door opener.
One of the primary reasons that a garage door remote may not work with a garage door opener is because of the frequency. Older garage door openers use a 315 MHz frequency. Since LED lights or WiFi routers can interfere with 315 MHz signals, newer garage door openers use a 390 MHz frequency because 390 MHz signals can travel through interference more effective than 315 MHz signals.
Additionally, while the type of drive for a garage door opener, such as belt drive or chain drive, will not impact the electronic compatibility between the garage door opener and the remote, the electronics on the motor unit of the garage door opener will determine the type of remote that will successfully operate the garage door opener. To program a garage door remote to work with a garage door opener, you must follow some steps. First, find the Learn button on the motor unit of your garage door opener.
Press the Learn button once. After you press the Learn button, an LED light will turn on. Within approximately 30 seconds, press and hold the button on your garage door remote.
After the garage door opener motor unit blinks or clicks twice, the programming is successful. If the garage door remote does not work with the garage door opener, check the battery for the garage door remote. A weak battery may cause the garage door remote signal to lack strength.
Additionally, check the antenna for the garage door opener motor unit. If the antenna is bent, straightening the antenna may help improve the signal of the garage door remote. Another way to control the garage door opener is through smart technology.
Many garage door openers use MyQ technology. The MyQ system allow you to monitor the status of your garage door opener through a mobile device application. The application will allow you to see if your garage door opener is open or closed.
Some garage door openers has MyQ technology built into the motor unit. For those that do not, you can purchase a MyQ hub that will allow your garage door opener to connect to the MyQ system. Another alternative for controlling the garage door opener is the use of universal remotes.
Universal remotes are constructed in a way that allow them to work with many brands of garage door openers, including Chamberlain and LiftMaster. If your garage door remote is not working with your garage door opener, there may be another solution besides simply purchasing a new remote. The motor unit of your garage door opener may need to be reset.
To reset the motor unit of the garage door opener, hold the Learn button until the LED light on the motor unit blinks. Holding the Learn button in this way will erase all the code that have been programmed into the motor unit of the garage door opener. After erasing the codes, each remote will need to be programmed again from the beginning.
If the garage door opener lost it’s programmed remotes due to interference from a power surge, the motor unit will need to be reset to reprogram the garage door remote. When you begin to purchase a new garage door remote, there are a few things that you should consider. First, consider the age of your current garage door opener to determine the type of technology your current garage door opener uses.
Additionally, consider what features you would like to the new garage door remote. For instance, if you would like a reliable signal from your garage door remote to control your garage door, you may want to look for a remote that uses a 390 MHz frequency and features rolling codes. Consider whether you would like to control your garage door opener with a smartphone application (in which case you should look for a remote system compatible with MyQ technology).
Finally, avoid any low-quality garage door remotes because they may not work reliable when the weather changes in your area.