Another Liftmaster Question. Poor Range

[Low50s]

Hello, I have a liftmaster 3900PLD that I have some serious range issues with my opener. I have tried to google an answer also tried google+ garage journal for an answer with zero luck.
Has anyone successfully extended the range on there opener? my range is so poor that I cant even open the door with the factory remote standing in front of the door outside where the opener is. I attempted to attach a longer wire to the antenna and run that outside with still no luck. I just dont know if any company makes a kit or is it just a junk opener?

 

[StreetGLi]

Hello, I have a liftmaster 3900PLD that I have some serious range issues with my opener. I have tried to google an answer also tried google+ garage journal for an answer with zero luck.
Has anyone successfully extended the range on there opener? my range is so poor that I cant even open the door with the factory remote standing in front of the door outside where the opener is. I attempted to attach a longer wire to the antenna and run that outside with still no luck. I just dont know if any company makes a kit or is it just a junk opener?

What kind of lighting do you have in/outside your garage?

Sent from my LG-H873 using Tapatalk

 

[Low50s]

What kind of lighting do you have in/outside your garage?

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Thats the thing I have ZERO lights in or on my garage right now. I am currently waiting for my electrician to come wire the building. I had him run wires for door openers and thats it no other lights. This is a metal post frame building with metal on the inside.

 

[drsung]

First thing I would try is removing the light bulb from the opener. If the range gets better they make special LED bulbs that don't interfere with the signal. Traditional LED and compact fluorescent have been known to affect the range.

 

[Low50s]

First thing I would try is removing the light bulb from the opener. If the range gets better they make special LED bulbs that don't interfere with the signal. Traditional LED and compact fluorescent have been known to affect the range.

My liftmaster 3900PLD does not have any option for a light bulb like stated Zero lights in the garage right now.

 

[StreetGLi]

Its probably because it's in a metal building with metal walls.. but it could be your control wires too.

You can order a kit to get the antenna outside the building.

There is a link in this link for the antenna but also other trouble shoots.

https://support.chamberlaingroup.co...close-to-the-garage-door-opener-1484145692760



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[cajunfirehawk]

Its probably because it's in a metal building with metal walls.. but it could be your control wires too.

You can order a kit to get the antenna outside the building.

There is a link in this link for the antenna but also other trouble shoots.

https://support.chamberlaingroup.co...close-to-the-garage-door-opener-1484145692760



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I **** spliced a similar wire to mine and ran it outside, can't really tell a difference BUT if I use my wife's remote it seems to have better range so I think maybe its in the actual remote opener, they each have to seem different results, in my results any way, YMMV

 

[gungatim]

here's a link with some good things to check: http://thedoorworks.com/index.php/g...ory-part-ii-rfi-radio-frequency-interference/

remember you are just transmitting a 300-400mhz signal, so just adding wire isn't a solution, the antenna should be properly sized for the frequency you are trying to get it to receive. I won't get into specifics but you can look up the calculation for a 1/4 wave antenna length for that frequency if you want (antenna building can be a whole 'nother hobby).

steel building is going to block a lot of the signal as will the steel door. also check the battery, mine takes an odd sized (2/3 length of a AA) battery that doesn't sell well so they get very old sitting on the store shelves and are half dead when I get them (at least the last 2 were) so check that. I've thought about modding my remote to take a larger battery for that reason.

 

[Low50s]

here's a link with some good things to check: http://thedoorworks.com/index.php/g...ory-part-ii-rfi-radio-frequency-interference/

remember you are just transmitting a 300-400mhz signal, so just adding wire isn't a solution, the antenna should be properly sized for the frequency you are trying to get it to receive. I won't get into specifics but you can look up the calculation for a 1/4 wave antenna length for that frequency if you want (antenna building can be a whole 'nother hobby).

steel building is going to block a lot of the signal as will the steel door. also check the battery, mine takes an odd sized (2/3 length of a AA) battery that doesn't sell well so they get very old sitting on the store shelves and are half dead when I get them (at least the last 2 were) so check that. I've thought about modding my remote to take a larger battery for that reason.

What I took from this adding a wire won’t work which is fine I am 100% mechanical but I understand the remote sends a signal at 300-400mhz anything else is over my head about radio frequencies lol

 

[Fasthotrod]

A metal building is a lot like a Faraday cage... it blocks the signals from getting inside. I'd think that the best thing to do would be to remove the antenna on your garage door opener and/or simply solder an antenna connector to it, then use a shielded coaxial antenna cable to extend outside the building. Then install an antenna that is based around the 315mhz frequency. (9.37" long.)

I'll be doing this soon for my Liftmaster... but I took the easy road and bought the antenna kit. I'll have to adapt it to work, but it doesn't look too hard based on the videos I saw on YouTube.

https://www.liftmaster.com/antenna-extender-kit/p/041A3504

Mark

 

[m3bs]

I have two LM 8500 openers side by side. Using the same remote, one door opens from 50 ft away, the other one I have to get out of the car and hold the remote up in the air in front of the door. Wood construction, similar placement, no lights, fiberglass doors.

 

[Low50s]

I called liftmaster today and the guy I talked to was very UN helpful I described my problems he put me on hold and told me I could buy antenna kit 041a4984 but from looking online it seems that 041a4984 is a logic board ? I then wrote an email to them and I am still waiting on a reply to see if I get a different answer. I pulled my cover off tonight and it does not look to have any coax spot on my board.