Homelink really this bad?
#1
Homelink really this bad?
My Homelink in my 2019 C4 with Chamberlain LIftmaster GDO is really really spotty. Some days it works as I am hundreds of yards up the street. The next, not until I get to the driveway. Then sometimes only if I back right up to the garage door. Then many days simply does not work at all.
I have read all the comments about lighting in garages throwing it off but I have never had issues before with other vehicles and Homelink, and nothing has changed in my garage setup. Are these cars just known to be this bad? It is really frustrating and I never would have expected this in a Porsche. (Engineered to the 9th degree)
I have read all the comments about lighting in garages throwing it off but I have never had issues before with other vehicles and Homelink, and nothing has changed in my garage setup. Are these cars just known to be this bad? It is really frustrating and I never would have expected this in a Porsche. (Engineered to the 9th degree)
Last edited by nicholascanada; 02-06-2020 at 11:13 AM.
#2
No issues with my Homelink.
Works consistently from 4 houses away.
Garage has LED bulbs FWIW
Works consistently from 4 houses away.
Garage has LED bulbs FWIW
#4
Nordschleife Master
Many issues reported with Homelink. It is hit or miss with lots of owners.
#6
No issues here.
Here is a pro tip: If you have a typical GDO, go up on a ladder and find what looks like a small wire hanging out of the unit, perhaps 10" long. Make sure the wire is as straight as possible, and pointed to the ground.
If it is not, take a plastic straw, and fish the wire through, then tape the end at the bottom. Point the straw to the ground as best you can.
What this wire is is the antenna for the GDO receiver. It turns out the length of the wire is matched to the frequency of the GDO transmitter. The straighter you can make the wire, and the more you can make it orthogonal to the earth, the greater the "gain" of the antenna and thus the greater range you can typically see in operating your GDO.
Here is a pro tip: If you have a typical GDO, go up on a ladder and find what looks like a small wire hanging out of the unit, perhaps 10" long. Make sure the wire is as straight as possible, and pointed to the ground.
If it is not, take a plastic straw, and fish the wire through, then tape the end at the bottom. Point the straw to the ground as best you can.
What this wire is is the antenna for the GDO receiver. It turns out the length of the wire is matched to the frequency of the GDO transmitter. The straighter you can make the wire, and the more you can make it orthogonal to the earth, the greater the "gain" of the antenna and thus the greater range you can typically see in operating your GDO.
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#9
No issues at all with my 991 or Macan. I do have new garage door openers with LEDs
#10
Rocky Mountain High
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Mine is a bit inconsistent. I have the same issue with my Audi. The homelink system in my GMC truck works flawlessly.
#11
Race Car
My garage opener is a Direct Drive by Sommer (German engineered/made!). Maybe that’s why it prefers to communicate with my Porsches instead of my GMC.
#12
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I extended the length of the garage door antenna by about 15 feet, with 2 lengths of small gauge bell wire. Still haven't tested with the Porsche yet, as it's in hibernation mode. But the LiftMaster fob worked from over a block away. Admittedly, the fobs always worked well. We'll see next month.
#13
Thank you everyone! For info, mine is a 2019 C4 with Chamberlain Liftmaster door opener. Very much inline with all the comments here of intermittent functioning. Work from miles away some days, other times only in driveway, some times only next to garage door, many many times does not work at all. I guess I won't bother mentioning during my next service or playing around with it.
#14
Advanced
Make sure you don't have LED bulbs plugged into your opener, or LED bulbs turned on in the garage (they are okay if turned off). Once I removed them, things worked much better, though mine is still inconsistent in my 2017.