Comment by Mayor Casey Tanaka on September 1, 2010 at 11:58am

The explanation I received was that the frequency used by many garage door openers was a frequency reserved for use by the military. As the story goes, some garage door manufacturers used these frequencies in spite of their prohibition because there would be only a few instances where this corner cutting measure would be exposed. Unfortunately for us in Coronado, we are such an instance where a frequency issue could come into play, if this explanation, as it was told to me, is indeed accurate.

Comment by lisa on September 1, 2010 at 9:15pm

That happens all the time to my garage opener! Does it also affect car remotes? Many times I cannot get my car to unlock also.

Comment by Mike Rauber on September 1, 2010 at 9:36pm

The info provided to Mr Tanaka info may or not be correct depending who you ask? I have been in contact with my garage door company (Empire Garage Doors) for months now. The representative from Empire has installed dozens of garage door openers in new homes for me the past few years and his story is quite different. According to him and the manufacturer, the Navy is now using a frequency that was not suppose to be used. Supposedly, the Navy recommended that manufactures use the the particular frequency so there wouldn't be a conflict. I am having the same problems from new homes that we built in Banker's Hill also.

Like most stories, there are two sides, but unfortunately neither are preventing us from having to walk around our garages and hit the "hard wired" wall opener:(

I am hoping that the manufactures will be able to provide a fix, I will post as I get more info!

Comment by Walt Becker on September 2, 2010 at 7:06am

My car remote does not work. I am hoping the Navy will be considerate of its neighbors and provide a fix.

Comment by Buzz Fink on September 2, 2010 at 8:21am

After posting this at about 8 am, I went to work. When I came home at 5 pm, VIOLLA! They all work again.

Comment by CAPT Yancy B. Lindsey on September 2, 2010 at 10:42am

Naval Base Coronado has been unable to tie this interference to any specific Navy facility or equipment. As mentioned by the Mayor, the Department of Defense operates on a range of frequencies, some of which are used by garage door openers and car alarm systems. The manufacturers use the frequencies at their own risk, knowing that they could at any time receive interference from the licensed spectrum user. The DoD is the licensed spectrum user specifically assigned by the FCC to use the 225 - 399.9 MHz frequency range. As a result, some garage door openers and car alarm systems in the vicinity of Naval facilities may cease to function properly. If you believe your devices are affected by this, recommend you contact the manufacturer for guidance or assistance. They should be able to show you definitive proof that they are licensed by the FCC to use the frequency band they're using.

Comment by Walt Becker on September 2, 2010 at 3:28pm

Thank you, CAPT Lindsey for your explanation. I did some quick research and found that most automobiles in the U.S. use 315 MHz frequency for their keyless remotes. If the DoD is the licensed spectrum user for the 225-399.9 MHz range can they make a decision not to use the 315 MHz frequency to avoid interference with automobiles? There must be a way to solve this problem.

Comment by MIKE GAPP on September 2, 2010 at 4:56pm

There's got to be a line-of-sight remote working on IR frequency (or similar, like a Smart Phone or Droid application) that can deal with this. If not - there is a business opportunity waiting for some enterprising indivual.

Please tell me that was a joke about the 315mHz thing....LOL

Mike Gapp

Comment by William Bailey on September 2, 2010 at 5:12pm

Does this also explain the lousy cell phone reception?

Comment by jef on September 4, 2010 at 5:41pm

Here was my solution: I attached a wire to the antenna lead coming off of the garage opener (bare the wires and twist together). Then run that wire to the garage door opening in the upper corner then outside. I had wood moulding nailed to wood siding so I pried the moulding a little so I could stuff the wire from top-to-bottom behind that moulding. When the opener doesn't work from the vehicle then i pull up, get out, put the remote control RIGHT NEXT to the wood moulding and the garage door WILL open. The wire EXTENDS your antenna and putting the remote within millimeters of the extension allows the weak signal from your remote to operate your door and over-power the military's jamming signal. A keypad was not acceptable because Chamberlain did not make a hard wired keypad. All accessories (keypad, key-lock switch, etc.) are wireless. Chamberlain says they do have a new circuitboard available in the 400Mhz range but that would cost over $250 for the part plus labor if you don't do it yourself. My cost: $0. I had 50 foot of wire in my junk-box. Good luck.

Comment (keep it clean & on topic)

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