Genie opener - decreasing range

[nathancarter]

Good afternoon,

I have a Genie IS550/A screw-drive opener that is 5 years old.

Over the past year or so, the remote range has been gradually decreasing. Within the past week, it is decreased to the point where I have to be within arm's length of the door for it to work. When it was new, I could open the door from several houses away.

I have changed the battery in the remote (the single-button ACSCTG Type 1), reprogrammed the remote with the receiver, cleared the memory on the receiver and reprogrammed the remote, and bought a brand new remote (the mini-sized GIFTD-1, which is on the 390MHz frequency switch, it won't even program with the switch set to 315MHz).

I have straightened the antenna, pointed the straight antenna in all directions, and coiled the antenna.

None of these remedies have made any improvement. With the old remote, I can open it from immediately outside the door. The new remote has even less range, I have to have line-of-sight and less than about 15 feet to the antenna.

Genie says I should just buy their GIRU upgrade kit for $50. The price doesn't bother me, but installation will be a hassle since I don't have another free power outlet near the location for the new receiver.

I'm leaning toward instead replacing the 34375R receiver circuit board, I can get a working used one for $20ish.

Any other ideas?

Any electrical engineers want to provide me with an appropriate wire length for an extended antenna, maybe 10x as long as the original? I could solder that onto the circuit board, replacing the existing short antenna.

Is it true that Bluetooth uses the same frequency? How about wireless home networking? (I'm not near a military base or airfield.)

Thanks for any ideas.

- Nathan

 

[jimvannoy]

Most remote controlled items are built and calibrated for the antenna length on the product. Changing it could cause even worse operation. Has anything been built around you recently? Power lines, microwave tower, other houses and/or buildings?

 

[Aircooled]

If you have any wireless networks for the computer, cordless phones, etc anything that sends a signal, that could be the problem. The most common thing I run into is a customer installing a radon unit and locating the fan i the attic/ space above the electric opener. Them things run constantly and the motor creates enough interference to cause what you are describing. Anything you added to your home since the issue began would be suspect...

 

[MrDigital]

All 3 of my remotes quit working for 2 weeks...
I unplugged the opener to try and re set it and that didn't work.
Just when i was getting ready to replace the opener it started working fine..
I guess the door needed a 2 week vacation.

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I heard a story on NPR about some town in the US where doors quit working or started going up and down on their own. Turned out the military was beginning to operate radio equipment in the save wave length of the remotes on garage door openers. Since a garage door opener remote control is "Class B" or whatever it's called, they have to accept interference from other equipment by FCC regs...so basically...the military just said "live with it."

Hope that isn't your issue!

Phil

 

[nathancarter]

Thanks for the input.

There have been other houses built in the area over the past 5 years, but nothing very recent in the immediate vicinity. (our phase of the subdivision was built out about 4 years ago)

I had also read about the military interference on this wavelength. As I mentioned in the OP, there aren't any known military bases or air fields nearby. The nearest one is MacDill which is 20 miles away, and it isn't really new. There may be something else nearby that I don't know about, of course.

I know that for RF devices, the antenna must be a certain length to correctly pick up the signal. That length is determined by the wavelength of the transmitter. But, if I recall correctly, there's no single correct length, as long as the antenna is a multiple of the wavelength of the signal. So, if I replace the antenna with a new one that's exactly twice as long, ten times as long, etc, then it should work. (This was actually recommended by Genie, although they just said to connect a second wire to the end of the existing antenna, which seems like a band-aid fix.) That's why I asked if anyone could specify a wire length that is longer than the existing, but will still work with the 390MHz or 315MHz remotes. (Otherwise, I'll go through the storage room and try to find my old electrical engineering books... yeah, good luck with that)

I'm still bothered by the fact that it seems to have gradually decreased. It didn't just stop working one day. That's why I'm wondering if there's a resistor or chip on the receiver board that is slowly dying.

I'll try turning off my wireless network equipment and see if that makes a difference... and I'll ask around the neighborhood, see if anyone else is having the same trouble.

Thanks, keep the ideas comin'

 

[timgr]

Mmm. I think the longer antenna might work for a while, but I expect it's more likely a bad component in the receiver circuit. The most common failure is an electrolytic capacitor - they have a comparatively short life. This could be in the amplifier stage - electrolytics are often used as coupling caps in modern circuits. Got a circuit diagram? Know how to use an oscilloscope?

Just a guess.

 

[nathancarter]

Mmm. I think the longer antenna might work for a while, but I expect it's more likely a bad component in the receiver circuit. The most common failure is an electrolytic capacitor - they have a comparatively short life. This could be in the amplifier stage - electrolytics are often used as coupling caps in modern circuits. Got a circuit diagram? Know how to use an oscilloscope?

Just a guess.

This is my line of reasoning as well.

I don't have a circuit diagram, but it's a pretty simple board. I haven't used an oscilloscope in 15 years.

BUT, I can get a replacement board for $20

 

[nova65ss]

A 5 yr old Genie is on the 390 MHZ. One option is to try a new receiver sometimes they will gradually go bad. Receivers also like to "float" higher or lower than its frequency and the remote will usually "float" with it but not always. Inside of the remote their is a usually blue knob that you can turn this will raise and lower the frequency and sometimes help your problem. You must adjust it very gradually though trying it out in between adjustments. My bet is the receiver going bad, I would try it first.

 

[rsanter]

how many of the opener transmitters do you have (the part you keep in the car)
if you have more than 1, have you tried both?
what is the result?
I have some spare transmitters, what is the chance I have one that would work for you?
you can buy the replacement transmitters if you need and you can buy the transmitter/reciever sets as well. just need to figure out which you need..

get me a model number on the transmitter you have and I will look

bob

 

[carlosh]

I have the same issue with my scredrive from Genie also. Was workign from down the street, but now lucky at the end of the driveway. Also seems it will not accept my programming from my trucks Homelink also. It also drops the car and I have to keep reprogramming it too. Such a pain...in addition it has gotten NOISY..I mean you cna hear feel that thing open all through the house. Genie has GREAT customer service and is working with me on parts as I am still under warranty.

If you figure yours out, pelase let me know also!

PS they just sent out a new board that has the antenna on it and no change

 

[nathancarter]

how many of the opener transmitters do you have (the part you keep in the car)

Thanks for the offer, Bob.
However, as started in my first post, I have the original remote that came with the system, and a brand new remote I bought a week ago. They both work equally poorly.

I've ordered a replacement receiver board (used but with money-back guarantee). I'll let ya'll know how it works when it arrives.

Mine is still very quiet. From the garage it seems noisy, but I can't hear it from inside the house. But, I'm in Tampa, so the consistently warm temperature may help keep the lubrication in good condition.

I still may attempt to extend the antenna.

 

[kbs2244]

Screw drive or chain drive should make no diff. they use the same electronics.
But Tampa equals high temp and high humidy.
Neither is good for electronics.
As was said, I would expect a bad cap on the control board.
Your new board should fix it.
Where did you get it?

 

[nathancarter]

eBay

It's got a money-back guarantee, but it's used so I'm still a little skeptical. For only $21.98 including shipping, I won't be terribly upset if it doesn't work.

As long as I can open the door from inside the car, outside the garage, I'll be satisfied. And, if it improves AT ALL, then I'll know the receiver board is the faulty part, and consider buying a new one from Genie.

I just bought it last night, so it should be installed within a week.

 

[Willy Victor]

Just as a side note my door would go up or down whenever a cop would go by and key his mike.
PITA.


Willy

 

[nathancarter]

Received my replacement board.

It works exactly the same. I can open the door if I'm standing right next to it.

I think I'll try extending the antenna... I'll let ya'll know how that works out.

The existing antenna looks to be slightly more than 1 foot long, which doesn't seem like the correct length for a 390MHz wave.

http://www.crompton.com/wa3dsp/hamradio/antcalc.html
http://www.csgnetwork.com/antennaevcalc.html

I'll try a variety of lengths, one that's exactly twice the length of the current antenna, one that's 732mm long... do some experimenting, and see what I find.

 

[nova65ss]

We have had a couple of new Liftmaster openers with that same problem as you. We ended up changing the electronics to a 433MHZ and the problem was solved. Maybe Genie can send you the new 315 receiver and remotes to try, their cust. service is pretty good.

 

[nathancarter]

We have had a couple of new Liftmaster openers with that same problem as you. We ended up changing the electronics to a 433MHZ and the problem was solved. Maybe Genie can send you the new 315 receiver and remotes to try, their cust. service is pretty good.

Thanks for the advice. That'll be my next step if the extended antenna doesn't work. I'll just have to accept that there's just too much interference on 390MHz.

Unfortunately, I'm no longer under warranty, so any further replacement parts will be at my expense. Unfortunately, I'm a cheapskate packrat at heart, so I have to exhaust all my fix-it-myself options first.